The Bath Magazine December 2018 by MC Publishing Limited

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ISSUE 195

thebathmag.co.uk

 DECEMBER 2018

£3.95 where sold

T H E C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T M O NTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE AND LIVING IN BATH

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Contents December 2018 5 THINGS

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Essential events to look forward to this month

A TASTE FOR GIFTS

THINKING ABOUT DRINKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Tristan Darby offers his top selections for the holiday, from aperitifs to after-dinner treats

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20 VA-VA-VOOM VINTAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

What local personalities would most love for Christmas

Somerset’s wines are gaining recognition, says Liz Lowe

THE PIMPERNEL STRIKES AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 CANINE POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Emma Clegg gets the lowdown on the egg’s Christmas production

WHAT’S ON

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Simon Horsford discovers how dogs are helping the University of Bath in its research on motion capture

Our guide to the top events happening around the city

MAKING HISTORY ARTS IN THE CITY

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Must-see exhibitions for December

GET BOOKISH

Saber Khan recommends six of the best gifts for bookworms ............................................................

Catherine Pitt puts your knowledge of Bath to the test

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The finest homes to buy or rent

Melissa Blease discovers what’s cool in festive cocktails

A STAR IS BORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Chris Cleghorn tells Melissa Blease about his journey to winning a Michelin star

Even more great content and updates online: thebathmag.co.uk

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ON THE COVER

Glass baubles, from £12.50, from Bath Aqua Glass, 14 Cheap Street Bath; bathaquaglass.com

104 106

Take a look at eight fresh ideas for walls

HOT PROPERTY

CHRISTMAS SPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Andrew Swift explores the ramparts of Dolebury Fort

INTERIORS

TREASURE HUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Georgette McCready salutes the work of local charities

FORT WALK

Neill Menneer’s portrait of artist Pete Brown

Professor Olivette Otele talks to Jessica Hope

FEEL-GOOD CHRISTMAS

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BATH AT WORK

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EDITOR’S PICKS TEN TREES

Bath Business Improvement District has placed ten Christmas trees around the city, one pictured here. Each is decorated in the style of a festive tune. Can you guess the ten tunes? If you have found all the answers, take your photo by a tree and post it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Tag @BathGitCard #TenTreeTrail to be in with a chance to win a £25 Bath Gift Card.

from the

EDITOR Editor photograph by Matthew Sterling

t’s nearly Christmas, guys! Whatever your perspective on the festivities, this time of year certainly brings with it a good sprinkling of magic. We’ve done our utmost to weave that magic into pretty much every page in our December magazine. First up we’ve hit the streets and asked some Bath personalities about their taste in gifts and their memories of their best present ever (see page 20). You will also find our annual treasure hunt on page 68, where Catherine Pitt has captured 20 photographic details of the city that we challenge you to identify. Be warned: you’ll find some things to flummox you, including camels and palm trees. The winner (whose name will be pulled, traditional-style, out of a hat) will receive afternoon tea for four at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel. Food and drink has naturally been on our minds as we contemplate December, especially that of the liquid variety. Liz Lowe tells us on page 80 about why some of our Somerset producers are expecting this year’s grapes to produce an exceptional vintage. Our wine columnist Tristan Darby has devoted a whole page to his festive recommendations on page 78 and Melissa Blease has investigated some of the festive cocktails being offered around the city on page 72. We love to celebrate people power, and we’ve excelled ourselves this month. Chris Cleghorn, head chef at the Olive Tree Restaurant at the Queensberry Hotel, talks to Melissa Blease about the newly arrived Michelin star that is now twinkling in the restaurant. Jessica Hope had an engrossing conversation with Olivette Otele of Bath Spa University who has just received her professorship in history, the very first black woman in the UK to do so (see page 94). And Simon Horsford spoke to Martin Parsons of the Centre for Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research & Applications at the University of Bath about his research on motion capture and how some local canines have helped him out (see page 90). Peter Pan is visiting the Theatre Royal Bath from 13 December to 13 January and at the egg there is a raucus production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I spoke to artistic director Emma Earle on page 40 about the production and how five actors are multi-roling in high wigs while surrounded by poodles. Whether your Christmas involves gathering together en famille, an escapade with friends, having a quiet one à deux, or escaping somewhere to ignore the fuss, we hope it brings your year to a warm and peaceful finale. Right, where’s the Prosecco? Emma Clegg Editor

All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

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SNOW SHOWINGS

Image © Snowman Enterprises Ltd

Join Bath Philharmonia on Saturday 22 December on their annual trip to the North Pole. The Snowman, first shown in 1982, has become an unparalleled Christmas tradition, and The Bear is a perfect counterpart telling the story of a little girl’s attempts to help an escaped polar bear return home. This magical double bill is the perfect Christmas treat for all the family with Bath Philharmonia playing Howard Blake’s scores live to Raymond Briggs’ amazing animations. £22/£14. Booking: 08448 889991; bathboxoffice.co.uk

NOT THE ANGEL GABRIEL, BUT PETER GABRIEL

A new exhibition called Clive Arrowsmith: Peter Gabriel Reflections opens at the Museum of Bath Architecture on 1 December. Running until 3 February, the show has a selection of not previously exhibited photographs of Peter Gabriel that were taken 40 years ago in Bath by Clive Arrowsmith. museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk

❝ Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. ❞ EDNA FERBER (1885–1968)

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ZEITGEIST

things to do in

December

Christmas countdown

Get your skates on Bath’s festive ice rink has returned to Royal Victoria Park, and this year it’s nearly 40% bigger! Open until 6 January, adults and kids alike can take on the skating challenge, and there’s penguin and seal shaped skate aids for anyone who needs one. Booking in advance is recommended. Admission £11/£10. Then walk next door to the glow-in-thedark mini golf, where the adventure golf course will be illuminated in the evenings, and see if you can get a hole in one with one of the glowing golf balls. £6.50/£5.50; bathonice.com

Walcot Parade by Nick Cudworth

Art insight Renowned for his paintings of Bath street scenes, created in a similar style to that of old master painters such as Vermeer, Bath-based artist Nick Cudworth – we’re biased, but he’s one of our favourites – will be opening a new exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery this month. Nick Cudworth: Bath Night Paintings 2003–18 features more than 20 of his wonderful works focusing on Bath during the nighttime light in the form of giclée prints on stretched canvas. The exhibition is free, and will run from 1 December – 17 February; victoriagal.org.uk

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What better way to get into the festive spirit than by grabbing a mulled wine and snuggling into one of the comfy seats of the Little Theatre Cinema in front of your favourite Christmas film? This month The Little is holding a special 12 Days of Christmas film screenings, showing classics such as Home Alone and It’s A Wonderful Life, as well as Die Hard and the one-man theatrical re-telling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Macaulay Culkin stars in the starring Simon Callow. There’s also Christmas classic Home Alone lots to keep the kids happy with The Greatest Showman Sing-ALong and the CBEEBIES Christmas Show. Go online to see the full programme and to book; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

All that jazz Multi award-winning jazz and blues singer-songwriter Katie Melua is heading to The Forum in Bath this month and will be joined by a cast of stellar musicians, as well as members of Gori Women’s Choir who featured on Katie’s silver-certified 2016 album In Winter. Expect top tracks including Closest Thing To Crazy – from her 2003 chart-topping debut album Call Off the Search – and Nine Million Bicycles, as well as brand new recordings and classics that have been adapted for stage. Takes place on 7 December, doors open 7pm. Tickets from £19.50; bathforum.co.uk

Walking in the air Join one of the UK’s most acclaimed children’s writers, Michael Morpurgo, to celebrate his re-telling of the much-loved story by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman, on 9 December, 5pm at Bath Pavilion. Michael will read an extract from his magical new novel and everyone will get the chance to do a live draw-along with The Snowman illustrator Robin Shaw. Plus The Snowman himself might even make an appearance. Ages 6+. £8; bathfestivals.org.uk

VA L E C A R P E T S , N O T AV A E P L AYS â&#x20AC;¦ L S I B WO D A L O D, NEW VA I A R L A M I N AT W U E A N D LV T N O WO E I V P O P I N TO T H E S H O P TO

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THE BUZZ THE BUZZ TRIUMPH IN BATH

MICHAEL PALIN

Julia Trickey is an award-winning botanical artist who paints in watercolours and exhibits internationally. She has designed a collection of stamps and runs classes on botanical art in Corston

We have a sunny garden in our house in Coronation Avenue, Oldfield Park and there are allotments nearby which boast fine views across the city. I like the features of these period houses and love being near the shops in Moorland Road. I first came to the area in 1982 as a student of Bath Academy of Art, which was in Corsham. Having got married in Bath my husband and I moved to south London in 1991 – it was great to return in 2004 to a less sprawling city.

We can’t wait to see Michael Palin, who comes to Bath in December to celebrate his new book Erebus: The Story of a Ship. HMS Erebus was one of the great exploration ships, but in 1848 it disappeared in the Arctic, and its fate was a global mystery until it was found in 2014. Tuesday 11 December, 7.30pm, The Forum, £20 including a copy of the book. toppingbooks.co.uk

When we have visitors, a trip to the viewpoint over the city from Alexander Park is a must. As I find getting round Bath easiest on a bike (despite the hills!), I am a big fan of the Two Tunnels cycle track and love the views along the river and the canal, particularly from Widcombe to Bathampton. It is great that I can visit friends in Batheaston, cycling almost door to door without using main roads.

GOOD CAUSE CARDS

I grew up by the coast so have always loved the summer; however in Bath I love the autumn. This is when some of my favourite painting subjects such as seed heads and autumnal leaves are about. And the autumn mists over the city can be magical when viewed from the slopes.

If you still need to get Christmas cards, Cards for Good Causes is running a pop-up shop at St Michael’s Without on Broad Street. Run by a team of local volunteers, the pop-up shop is part of a network of more than 300 shops run by the charity. They raise funds for over 250 charities including Cancer Research UK, Barnardo’s, NSPCC, Alzheimer’s Society and RNLI. Open until December 20. cardsforcharity.co.uk

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If I am working on my laptop, I’m partial to finding a corner in the Velo Lounge on Moorland Road for an Americano or a freshly squeezed orange juice. As a family the Velo is our go-to local venue for an impulsive all-day breakfast.

I have a copy of A Treatise of Painting by Leonardo da Vinci. As a botanical art tutor of many years, I have developed various ideas and theories as to what marks out a good painting. It brings me great pleasure to dip into Leonardo’s book and compare notes with what he thinks is important when portraying various subjects. I particularly agree with his opinions on the importance of light. My degree in Visual Communication at Bath Academy of Art wasn’t an ideal fit, so I

issue 195

Fading Anemones by Julia

Nicolas Poussin’s The Triumph of Pan, a muchloved work from the National Gallery’s Collection, will be visiting Bath from 11 April – 7 July 2019. The annual National Gallery masterpiece tour offers three museums and galleries outside London the opportunity to display a major work from the collection. The other two venues are York Art Gallery and Auckland Castle in County Durham. victoriagal.org.uk

My BATH

Trickey

ist

THE CITY

floundered a little and neglected my drawing and painting. After college I dabbled with various jobs, working for the local free paper at the time – The Bath Advertiser – as a graphic design assistant. I also worked at a toddler group and with adults with learning disabilities. I rediscovered my passion for accurate observational drawing after signing up for a course on botanical art when my children were little. From the first class I knew this was for me and within months I was exhibiting my work and began teaching botanical art a couple of years later. Botanical art combines both science and art and appeals to my analytical mind and way of working. While aiming to depict every nuance of a specimen, I try to choose unusual subjects such as fading flowers and to present them in a relatively contemporary way. My paintings are executed in watercolour. The watercolour is applied in several layers, working first with initial washes and more wet approaches. Darker areas and shadows are added in subsequent layers using gradually drier watercolour techniques. In 2014 my illustrations appeared on 16 stamps depicting British Flora. One unique challenge of this project was how to depict the subjects clearly, given that the images were going to be so small. This sometimes meant exaggerating the detail. I have awards for my botanical art but I am more proud of times when I have said ‘yes’ to things that terrify me! Earlier last year I was asked to lead some botanical art workshops in Moscow. I’m not a traveller by nature so was quite fearful of the unknown – cultural, teaching and language differences – especially as I was travelling alone. I was pleased with myself for not turning down the opportunity. It turned out to be a great experience and since then I have also taught in New York. n Julia is a member of the Bath Society of Botanical Artists (BSBA); bsba.co.uk; juliatrickey.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SATURDAY 8th DECEMBER GUCCI EYEWEAR EVENT COME AND VIEW THE ENTIRE GUCCI COLLECTION EXCLUSIVELY AT ELLIS & KILLPATRICK.

See more online thebathmag.co.uk

Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Emma Clegg 01225 424592 emma@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Email:

Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Health & Beauty Editor Email:

Crystal Rose crystal@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor Email:

Jessica Hope jessica@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact the Advertising Sales team tel: 01225 424499

COMPLIMENTARY BUBBLES AND NIBBLES SERVED ON THE DAY. GIFT WRAPPING SERVICE AVAILABLE.

Advertising Sales Email:

Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Email:

Jake Horwood jake@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: 01225 466954

The Bath Magazine is distributed free every month to more than 20,000 homes and businesses throughout Bath and the surrounding area. We also have special distribution units in the following city centre stores and coffee shops

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmag.co.uk Â© MC Publishing Ltd 2018 Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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ROVING REPORTER

THE C WORD: A SURVIVAL GUIDE

Our roving reporter braces herself for Christmas with a few essential tips for those who like to enjoy the festive season with a healthy dose of cynicism

ome people start enthusing about Christmas as soon as the schools go back after the summer holidays; others succumb to its charms once the first chocolate has been broken out of the Advent calendar. I am, however, part of a small band who actively dislike the whole Ho!ho!ho! enforced jollity. But, because I am cunning and have learned from many mistakes, I have worked out how to survive the festive season and I offer you some sage advice from the frontline of cracker pulling. BUY WHAT YOU LIKE When it comes to gift giving, rather than think selflessly of what the person you’re buying for would want, why not choose what you like? It will make handing over a gorgeous fake fur tippet, a hand-blown glass bauble or vintage bottle of wine, a real pleasure for you. After all, they say it’s the act of giving that counts and it will make your visit to the Bath Christmas Market more of a treat too. NOT LIKE IT IS ON TV I used to work with a woman who grew up as one of ten kids living in a small house in Twerton and she used to regale us with tales of how they all squeezed in for Christmas dinner, with the older five children perched one behind another up the stairs with their plates balanced on their knees. She always had a smile when she recalled those times and I think of her family when I see the TV ads urging us to buy a new sofa in time for Christmas. These muddling through homespun kind of family parties also remind us that no family is as squeaky clean and organised as the telly would have us believe, the smiling great-grandparents and helpful teenagers on screen are paid actors. FIND A CHILD It’s true what they say about Christmas being for children. Borrow a child who hasn’t yet got cynical ie doesn’t treat Santa as if he’s the Argos catalogue, and spend the festive period seeing it all through their delighted eyes. Happiness is turning a large cardboard box into a space rocket and sitting in it eating chocolate buttons, while ignoring all the expensive presents lying under the tree. A child’s Christmas should be spent shouting to Father Christmas up the chimney, swearing you’ve spotted a reindeer on next door’s lawn,

and fretting about whether to leave the big bearded fella a glass of milk or brandy by the hearth. It’s about going to bed on 24 December genuinely excited about what’s going to happen the next day. GO ICELANDIC In Iceland they have a glorious tradition called Jolabokaflod – the Christmas Book Flood – in which they give books (actual paper ones, not ebooks) to each other on Christmas Eve and then spend the long, dark nights reading and eating chocolate. Or you could adopt the Finnish custom, known as Kalsarikannit, which is basically staying home getting drunk wearing just your underwear. All the Nordic countries have their own customs for beating the winter dark, and my research shows that many of these involve alcohol. FAKE IT This is the perfect solution for families who can’t all be together on Christmas Day. Pick your own Christmas Day and arrange to hold a fake Christmas then. We started this about five years ago when one dear family member kept flying off to spend her Christmases in the sun. We pick a weekend in December, put the tree up, have a big old traditional roast dinner with crackers, give presents and play silly games. And if we’ve forgotten to buy cream or run out of beer, the shops are still open. The family members who like to go to church on Christmas Day are freed up to do that without anyone whining about when we’re going to open the presents. MAKE YOUR OWN TRADITION I once sat next to a rather grand chap at a dinner who politely asked me what were our family traditions for Christmas Day. I explained that we usually argue over whether we had to watch the Queen to please Granny and that we always have a humdinger of a Monopoly game that lasts hours with more deals brokered and broken than Middle East peace talks. I turned to said gentleman and asked what his family did: “Well we generally start with mass at Westminster Abbey,” he began. I felt like someone who’s been spotted in Tesco while still wearing their pyjamas. n

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FESTIVE | RAZZAMATAZ

A TASTE FOR GIFTS From snooker tables to electric bikes and a pampering spa experience to a cinema treat, some well-known local personalities share their memories of great presents, favourite shops and what they are secretly wishing to have in their stocking this year...

■ BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT “Aged eight, I constantly badgered my parents for a half-size snooker table. On Christmas Day, when my demands were answered, I promptly burst into tears and can clearly remember my (Scottish) father saying ‘Have a good cry, son – that cost a lot of money.’”

Jon Monie, starring as Smee in Peter Pan

Kate Cross, director of the egg theatre

Mike Killpartrick, Ellis & Killpartrick opticians

Eboni Usoro-Brown, trainee solicitor, dispute resolution, Mogers Drewett

“I’ll never forget receiving a plane ticket to go to Memphis, Tennessee, to go and visit Graceland. Elvis Presley along with other great American artists from the 60s are big idols of my childhood so going to immerse myself into the world famous music scene at Beale Street in Memphis was super exciting!”

Kartini Sutoto, Century Casino

“One year one of my sisters surprised my family by jumping out of a cardboard box. She had travelled from London to be with us at Christmas – the best gift ever!”

Sarah Dodd, head of legacies, trusts and philanthropy, Dorothy House “A family holiday in India which meant no cooking! Kerela in Southern India was heaven with lush green paddy fields, tea plantations and magical backwaters. Christmas with spice!”

Ashley Gray, Gray M.C.A. “My husband gave me an amazing Indian Dabloon diamond pendant necklace strung on rough-cut emeralds. He gave it to me the Christmas before we got married so I wore it on our wedding day.”

Alexandra May, Alexandra May Jewellery “A Mr B’s reading spa voucher from my husband. It was a treat to discuss my likes in books and then choose six titles. My e-reader has been put to one side as I now relive the delights of turning pages!”

Liz Westbrook, Bath Abbey churchwarden “When I received my first bike, a Chopper, I was chuffed to bits. A few decades later, I still cycle, recently acquiring an electric bike from Total Fitness, Bath, which has revolutionised my life and is, without question, the future!”

Kate Cross, director the egg

“A Lego set – I was brought up in the wilds of Scotland where there was not a lot to do in the winter months so I spent many happy days and weeks playing with Lego.”

Bill Vasilieff, Novia Financial “The first present from my then boyfriend, and now husband, William. It was a bright red pair of salad spoons, and we still have them. They are special because they have lasted for so long, and make me think about a very happy time in our lives.”

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath “My two best Christmas presents were a wooden toy fort and a wooden toy garage with a ramp so cars could park on the roof which my father made for me. Looking back I loved playing with them but I think I also must have realised how much time my dad had spent building these for me.”

Mike Killpartrick, Ellis and Killpartrick

■ WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS? “A hand-stitched leather gardening kit, with tools including secateurs, a hoe and a rake, would be the best present ever from Uber Clothing on Margaret’s Buildings. Or their fur and wool gilet for glamorous winter walks.”

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FESTIVE | RAZZAMATAZ

Liz Westbrook, Bath Abbey Churchwarden

Jon Monie, starring as Smee in the Theatre Royal Bath’s pantomime Peter Pan

Kartini Sutoto, Business Development Manager, Century Casino

Bill Vasilieff, Novia Financial and Novia Foundation

Sarah Dodd, Head of Legacies, Trusts and Philanthropy, Dorothy House

Ashley Grey, Gray MCA

“I like the Tag Heuer brand and their watches, so it would be a watch from Mallory.”

“I love Jolly’s since it was refurbished a couple of years ago. There is always so much choice, they have excellent customer service and deliver a great Christmas experience.”

Kate Cross “If someone was generous enough, a Hublot watch from Mallory would be an ideal choice.”

Bill Vasilieff

Luxury Christmas Hamper from Taste of Bath, £65

Mike Killpartrick “These days I feel slightly overwhelmed by ‘stuff’ but I’m a big foodie, so I would like a food and drink hamper from Taste of Bath.”

“I can easily spend a happy hour in Mr B’s Emporium on John Street. This brilliant bookshop is quirky, innovative and utterly charming. This Christmas I am hoping to find a copy of Shaun Usher’s Speeches of Note wedged into my stocking.”

Jon Monie “I noticed a fantastic independent jewellery stand called Roccabella at the Bath Christmas Market selling gorgeous natural stone costume jewellery. Absolutely brilliant pieces I will definitely be putting the large green stoned copper ring on my Christmas list.”

Kartini Sutoto “I would like some vouchers to spend with my personal trainer at Bath’s new independent gym, Stanza Fitness.”

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath

Bill Vasilieff “Many years ago I was caught in a terrifying stampede of wild sheep. The resulting trauma has caused me to crave the feeling of being crushed to death while simultaneously fleeced. I absolutely adore Bath’s Christmas Market.”

Jon Monie “I recently bought a beautiful scarf for my closest girlfriend from Portman on Milson Street – she absolutely loved it. I really admire that the shop was originally there only as a pop-up, but after being so well-received they decided to stay. I am now in there not just for gifts but looking for myself.”

Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 16, Mallory, £3,500

Kartini Sutoto “Nicholas Wylde. I recently took my wedding ring there to be engraved. Their customer service was impeccable and each ring had a professional finish. I also had a sneak peek at their collections and jewellery range – everything is so beautiful.”

Eboni Usoro-Brown, trainee solicitor, Mogers Drewett “The Oldfield Park Bookshop in Moorland Road is fantastic – it’s a bit like the Tardis in terms of size – and Harry and Philip are so enthusiastic and helpful.”

Sarah Dodd

Alexandra May

■ BEST FOR SHOPPING IN BATH

“The White Company is where I go to buy gifts. The staff always take great care to wrap the gift with care and attention to detail.”

Liz Westbrook “Rossiters – they have a huge choice, very friendly staff, I’ve never gone in there and had a bad experience.”

Wera Hobhouse

■ BEST BATH GIFT EXPERIENCE

“We love Article Bath on Bartlett Street. Everything is super-beautiful and we always find a perfect gift (more often than not something for ourselves finds its way into the basket).”

“I’d go for a trip to Jars Meze...it’s a Greek Restaurant on Northumberland Place, a family-run thing and a lovely little restaurant. I would highly recommend it!”

Ashley Gray

Wera Hobhouse

“Leak in Larkhall is a fantastic shop, with both locally sourced and European-designed gifts, all unique within Bath and in a brilliantly requisitioned and refurbed old public toilet.”

“I would buy a voucher for a session at the Royal Crescent Hotel Spa. There are different options on offer but the one that makes a lovely gift has a treatment and lunch as part of the package.”

Kate Cross

Liz Westbrook THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2018

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FESTIVE | RAZZAMATAZ

“I love a good voucher and it would be churlish of me not to recommend Theatre Royal Bath gift vouchers – the perfect present for patrons of performance from Pinter to panto!”

Jon Monie “I often buy Bath based experiences for friends and family just to make them visit the city. Apart from the obvious choices like Abbey Hotel, Thermae Bath Spa and the Romans Baths, I often send them off to watch a Bath Rugby or Bath City game. But a popular treat they all love is walking through the countryside down to the Bath Soft Cheese Company Farm Shop café in Kelston just for their incredible cheese toasties.”

Kartini Sutoto “A restaurant voucher! Spoilt for choice in Bath but two of my favourites are Moroccan at Tangine Zhor or Italian at Restaurant Martini, both offer great food, atmosphere and experience.”

Mike Killpartrick “I would like a spa day at Luckman Park Hotel – to enjoy pure luxury and pampering.”

RECEIVE THE BATH MAGAZINE BY POST

Bill Vasilieff “The Little Theatre Cinema is wonderful, it’s oldfashioned in a good way and the staff are really lovely – I love that you can take a glass of wine in and sit on a comfy sofa to watch a film!”

Sarah Dodd “Spa experiences and treatments at The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, please.”

Alexandra May “A Bertinet cooking course. There’s one coming up called Nordic Baking. I’d so relish that.”

Kate Cross “The Spa & Bath House at The Royal Crescent Hotel for a halfday retreat – an indulgent gift and total relaxation. Or The Beckford Bottle Shop for great wine, the best of British cheese and tapas-style charcuterie.”

Ashley Gray “I’ve recently been up the Bath Abbey bell tower for the first time – I’d buy everyone a voucher to do that!”

NEVER MISS OUT We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family, we offer a magazine mailing service.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM JUST £30 Subscribe now and receive a FREE Autumn/Winter edition of Postcard from Bath

Sarah Dodd

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT “My wife once bought me some flying lessons, I really took to it... so much so that I seriously considered pursuing the pilot licence. Experiential gifts can be an epiphany as well as a joy. Nowadays though, a half hour in a good steamroom does me fine. Simple pleasures – YOLO.”

Steve Miklos, publisher The Bath Magazine

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thebathmag.co.uk/subscribe or Tel: 01225 424 499

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MISC

Gifted

IDEAS

A selection of things for kids, the latest gifting system to hit the city and easier ways to pay. We’ve got it all... THE BATH GIFT CARD With more than 180 participating businesses, including national and international high street chains as well as independent businesses, there’s something for everyone with this Bath-centric gift card. The card can be loaded with amounts from £10 to £500. The Bath Gift Card is the perfect flexible present for any occasion. Launched by Bath Business Improvement District, it is the ideal option for those tricky-to-buy-for loved ones as it can be redeemed at a huge range of outlets across the city.

YOU’RE HIRED Rent, don’t buy. Hire a toy box from Hiremebaby that’s jam-packed with toys, books and games tailored to all ages and interests. Prices start from £10.

bathgiftcard.com

Hiremebaby, 07867 481769; hiremebaby.co.uk HOME SHIRT 18/19

PORCELAIN BELL

Don the player test shirt that’s worn on the playing field by the team. Perfect for Bath Rugby fans.

As the only Alessi gallery in Bath, grab this porcelain bell Christmas tree decoration from Quadri.

£95, Bath Rugby Shop, 1 Argyle Street, Bath; bathrugbyshop.com

£20, Alessi at Quadri, 16 Milsom Place, Bath; quadri.co.uk

NEXT STOP, CANDYLAND STRAWBERRY HAT

Enjoy two loose-leaf tisane mini gift cubes in Just Peppermint and Turkish Cherry and a limited edition teaspoon bookmark.

Handmade in Bath, this red strawberry hat is knitted in Up to Seven’s local workshop. With adorable roll edges and anti-tickle pure wool, these unique hats make a gift like no other. Available in five sizes.

£16, T2, 7 New Bond Street, Bath; t2tea.com

£15, Up to Seven, 6 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; uptoseven.co.uk

BABYOSHKA Have endless fun with these nesting and stacking dolls from Spotty Herberts. Includes four bright and durable stacking dolls. Babyoshka Nesting and Stacking Dolls, £24.95, 5 Queen Street, Bath; spottyherberts.com

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DRINK DRANK DRUNK Kickstart the party season with this fun-filled game from former Bath pupil Felix Mulder. This beautifully simple game, featuring over 200 hand-drawn cards is the perfect addition to any party; overflowing with cunning wit, mini challenges, and ridiculous social scenarios. £22.99, Sixes & Sevens, 8 Abbey Green, Bath; drinkdrankdrunkthegame.com

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JEWELLE

WORKS OF WEARABLE ART

Gifted

Find the perfect piece of arts and craft jewellery from a spectacular display of work at Gallery Nine. This lovely Pebble Fire Pendant is by Gail Klevan, and priced at £115.

IDEAS

Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; galleryninebath.com

Some cherished little treasures that will always be valued ORTON JEWELLERY

SET TO SPARKLE These beautiful 9ct white gold diamond and white topaz earrings are the perfect gift. £300. Bath goldsmith Jody Cory creates so many beautiful pieces at her workshop most are on display at her Abbey Churchyard shop, while a selction of work by local and UK designers can be found at her Northumberland Place shop.

Lee Orton is a master goldsmith with over 40 years’ experience at the bench. He creates wonderful, fine jewellery which is loved and cherished by customers around the globe. For someone very special, elegant platinum diamond bespoke rings such as the above can be made to order. £10,995 and £8,495 Orton Jewellery, 6-7 Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon; ortonjewellery.co.uk

Jody Cory Goldsmiths, 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath, and 15 Northumberland Place, Bath; jodycory.co.uk

BANGLES & BRACELETS FROM NICHOLAS WYLDE

QUADRI FOR GIFTS Quadri in Milsom Place is one of Bath’s favourite treasure troves, with wonderful and luxurious gift ideas of all descriptions. We love this matching Coeur de Lion necklace, £119, and earrings £45. Quadri, 16 Milsom Place, Milsom Street, Bath; quadri.co.uk

A visit to Nicholas Wylde’s Bath showroom is a must for well-chosen gift ideas and high quality jewellery. Shown here are a contemporary 9ct yellow and white gold ‘rail’ bangle, £515; and a simple yet modern update on the classic diamond tennis bracelet in 18ct white gold, £2,350. Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath; nicholaswylde.com

ALEXANDRA MAY For more than 20 years Alexandra May has been stocking and selling some of the most brilliantly stylish pieces and little treasures from her boutique jewellery store in Bath. We love this red coral crystal and enamel chain necklace, £550, and matching ring, £150. Alexandra May, 23 Brock Street, Bath; alexandramay.com GOLD & PLATINUM STUDIO

OCTOPUS RING Icarus Jewellery is an independent shop founded by talented designer Dilek Koroglu. Her silver pieces are thoughtful, intriguing and beautiful. This adjustable, hand-crafted silver Octopus Ring with amethyst eyes is both alluring and wondrous. £150 squid!

From the workshop above the showroom, goldsmith Michael Parsons and his team create beautiful handcrafted works. From delightfully simple designs such as this gold hammered disc necklace, £210, to the finest pieces of intricate detail and lavish bespoke commissions that celebrate a special occasion.

Icarus Jewellery, 27 Broad Street, Bath; icarusjewellery.com

Gold and Platinum Studio, 19 Northumberland Place, Bath; goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk

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CUP & CAB NECKLACES Goldsmith Tina Engell makes a full range of exquisite contemporary jewellery at her Bath showroom and workshop. These wonderful necklaces are made in silver goldplate with a white or grey moonstone. £225 each

THE SILVER SHOP OF MANY DELIGHTS The Silver Shop of Bath is one of the city’s most popular destinations for beautifully crafted silver gift ideas that are fit for any occasion. Shown here are a pair of delightful sterling silver spiral hoop earrings priced at just £66.95.

T H E

The Silver Shop of Bath, 25 Union Passage, Bath; thesilvershopofbath.co.uk

L I N G E R I E ,

SP Green, 7 Green Street, Bath; spgreen.com

I N

From SP Green’s Rosabella collection, these elegant 18ct white gold and diamond earrings are certainly set to dazzle. Priced at £1,445, the collection also features a matching pendant, £980. SP Green are a recent addition to Bath’s brilliant jeweller community and are a long-established favourite in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.

F I N E S T

ROSABELLA EARRINGS

B E A C H

Tina Engell, 29 Belvedere, Bath; tinaengell.com

N I G H T W E A R

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MALLORY, THE EMPORIUM FOR EVERYTHING WONDERFUL Mallory is well-known as 'the ultimate destination’ for fine and contemporary jewellery, luxury gifts, exclusive timepieces and so many beautiful, highly coveted accessories to dream of. And... it’s at Christmas that dreams can come true. A festive visit will excite the imagination. Shown here are gorgeous diamond drop earrings, £3,250. Mallory, 1-5 Bridge Street, Bath; mallory-jewellers.com

R O O M 7 Quiet Street Bath BA1 2JU T: 01225 330563 E: info@dressingroombath.com www.dressingroombath.com

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FASHION

Gifted

SCARF STYLING The perfect accessory this Christmas. Scarves in delicate pure silk and blended cashmere modal. Affordable luxury at its best. £74.95 each. From left: Bougainvillea Chilli Red, Poppies and Peonies and Autumn Wheat; krishnaashaym.com

IDEAS

Scarves, sparkling shades, designer bags and soft leather gloves. Here are some gift ideas for fashion accessories CUSHTY BAG The ultimate gym bag. With front straps designed for your yoga mat, internal compartments for wet kit, trainers and valuables, this bag is sure to keep you organised. £35, Cushty Bag, Boudavida, 17 Milsom Place, Bath; boudavida.com

DRIVING GLOVES Dents Woburn, men’s soft leather gloves with a contrasting coloured leather palm, perforated fingers, unlined for perfect fit and comfort. Available in a range of colours. £115, Dents, available at Jolly’s; dents.co.uk

BAGS OF LOVE We couldn’t love this Chopard handbag from Mallory any more if we tried. £2,230, Mallory Jewellers, 1-5 Bridge Street, Bath; mallory-jewellers.com

PEACOCK PJS Slip into this Olivia von Halle Bella set in peacock from The Dressing Room. £235, The Dressing Room, 7 Quiet Street, Bath; dressingroombath.com

GUCCI SHADES Enjoy these oversize acetate sunglasses with tortoiseshell frames and crystals. £635, Gucci GG0147S, Ellis and Killpartrick, 18 New Bond Street, Bath; ellisandkillpartrick.com CONTACTLESS PAYMENT

Paying has never been so easy with these bPay contactless payment bracelets from Tovi Sorga. Left: Marina, £75; right: Spectrum, £55; Tovi Sorga; tovisorga.com SURPRISE FOR THE EYES Why not treat someone special in your life to a new pair of glasses or sunglasses this Christmas with a voucher from Kathryn Anthony Optometry? Kathryn Anthony Optometry, 16 Pierrepont Street, Bath; kathrynanthony.co.uk

CASHMERE SHAWL

ANKLE BOOTS Ladies blue, red and green combination ankle boot with flower pattern. With fully functioning laces and a zip on the instep allowing for easy access. £65, Rieker, 3 Union Street, Bath; rieker.co.uk

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Finest 100% cashmere shawl, woven in historic British mills. £375, Clandar, 15 Cheap Street, Bath; clandar.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

or over four decades the team at Simon Harrison have created jewellery for a host of established brands including Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes, Swarovski, Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood. At the heart of the process is craftsmanship. With a dedicated team of master modelmakers, the design of each piece evolves, becoming much more than the original sketch. Design is a process with the modelmaker working like a sculptor. Collaboration is important to the team at Simon Harrison. The copmany’s limited addition Snake necklace is a celebration of this approach. Its visual impact is underlined by the complexity of its construction. It takes 78 interlocking elements and 535 hand-set crystals to create a truly 3D object that has full articulation. In many cultures snakes are believed to have mythical power, and are often associated with protection. The snake necklace closes by biting its own tail. This creates the ancient form of ouroboros, symbolising infinity, constancy, rebirth and renewal.

Fashioned with

The snake’s jaws open on a concealed spring and can be moved up and down the body to alter the length of the necklace. This item can also be worn as a bracelet by wrapping it twice around the wrist before clasping the head on to the tail. Colour is an important factor in Simon Harrison’s jewellery. Here Swarovski® crystals are set in a detailed ombré pattern. The delicate gradual blending of colour, with shades moving from rich sapphire hues to clear crystal, creates a striking statement. Available at Alexandra May £1,995. Alexandra May believes jewellery should be fun, an expression of natural confidence. Jewellery can be the perfect catalyst to spark a conversation between strangers. It is always a joy working with Alexandra May to create eye-catching windows that bring a smile to passers-by. Now installed on Brock Street, the theme this year is based on Victorian toy theatres and travelling players.

passion

Come and meet Simon and the team On Friday 7th December Simon and the team will host an evening with Alexandra May. An opportunity to hear the stories behind each design first hand. So join us for some festive fun and treats at Brock Street 5pm until 8pm. We hope to see you there! Alexandra May. 23 Brock St, Bath BA1 2LW

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Jewellers

S.P. Green &â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Co. 7 Green Street, Bath, BA1 2JY

Tel: 01225 442 495 Email: info@spgreen.com Family manufacturing jewellers Est. 1979

www.spgreen.com

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DESIGNER COLLECTIONS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

Reeves and Reeves, Silver with Gold Vermeil. Earrings £35. Necklace £55

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FOR THE

HOME

Gifted

LE JOURNAL DES ARTS – FRAMED

IDEAS

Beautiful, thoughtful and appreciated. Here’s some insipired gift ideas that are perfect homemakers INSPIRED HOMEWEAR

Celebrate the creation of contemporary art with a vintage cover of the iconic French magazine, L’Oeil. Measuring 56 x 46 cm. Many framing options are available to suit your style and decor. £50, The Bath Framer, 6 & 7 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath; thebathpictureframer.co.uk

This gorgeous and dramatic Ace glass bowl in gold adds a touch of lux to any room. Interiors and design specialists Woodhouse and Law have a great selection of glasswear and inspired gift ideas for the home. £240, Woodhouse & Law, 4 George's Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

SMEG + DOLCE & GABBANA Only available in Harrods, Harvey Nics, John Lewis, and (wait for it) ... Coopers Electrical in Bath. There’s toasters, kettles, blenders and juicers by D&G and SMEG. Coopers Electrical, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath; coopers-stores.com

FOR LISTENERS WHO LOVE STYLE The latest limited edition Ruark Audio R1 has arrived in a delicious wild plum colour. This iconic, little powerhouse of a DAB is made in Britain by a family-owned business remains one of the nations firm favourites. You think it looks good... it’s even better to listen to.

HANDS AT KNEES Make time to pop to Knees. As well as a full home and electrical store, the accessories department is full of great finds. This stylish Bloomsbury wall clock with a copper finish frame is fab.

Moss of Bath, 45 St James's Parade, Bath; mossofbath.co.uk

£34.99, Knees, Spitfire Retail Park, Bradley Road, Trowbridge; knees.co.uk VERVE LIVING

CUBE PATCHWORK LEATHER & WOOL BEAN BAGS

If you enjoy finding unique character pieces for your home, or thoughtful gifts for friends and family then you'll love a visit to Verve Living. These 40cm rustic wooden trays are just one of the delights to be found.

These useful little bean bag cubes have bags of personality! The cubes are roughly 50cm cubed (pun unintended), and made from good quality real leather. No two cubes are the same due to the qualities of natural products and the unique combinations of fabric in the mixed cube. The result is an unusual and handy little extra seat. Special oﬀer £119, TR Hayes, 15-18 London Street Walcot, Bath; trhayes.co.uk

£12.50 each, Verve Living, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath; verveliving.uk

RUGS, KILIMS, CUSHIONS AND MORE If you are looking for top quality authentic rugs, furnishings and fabrics then a visit to the huge Oriental Rugs of Bath showroom is a must. Fall in love with an exquisite Persian Mahal rug or pick up a piece of Middle-Eastern magic with a hand crafted accessory. A vast range awaits. Shown here a Kilim cushion. £45, Oriental Rugs, Bookbarn Building, Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Hallatrow, Bristol; orientalrugsofbath.com

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ING SOMETH NT E DIFFER

Gifted

IDEAS

Still stuck for ideas? Try something imaginative from this enchanting selection

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Make drying up after Christmas lunch just a little more bearable with the Taste of Bath charity tea towel. Designed by local artist Alex T Sykes, £1 from every sale will be donated to FareShare which fights hunger and tackles food waste. £6.95 Taste of Bath, online shop; Taste-of.co.uk

PARROT FASHION Whatever your tipple, this witty and elegant glassware is sure to enhance your enjoyment. Parrot carafe in smoke £200 Set of 2 Parrot glasses in smoke £120 Woodhouse and Law Limited 4 George's Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

AVENIDA FOR DELIGHTFUL HOMEWARE Avenida Home in Bath is the place to visit for unique kitchen and dining pieces that are colourful, artistic and beautifully designed. You’ll love their table mats, placemats, coasters, trays and other original pieces for the home. Shown here: ‘Four Cats’, a delightfully detailed birch wood tray, £30. Avenida Home, 27 Walcot Street, Bath; avenidahome.com

FOR THE SUPERHERO IN YOUR LIFE Add to, or start a collection with these Marvel figurines; Thor, Ironman and Captain America. Hand cast in pewter and part of a large range which includes a host of movie characters including a selection from Star Wars. £29 per superhero.

THE SPIRIT MEASURE OF CHRISTMAS

The Silver Shop, 25 Union Passage, Bath; thesilvershopofbath.co.uk

Known at the time as a ‘Burra-peg chota-peg’, (meaning large whiskey, small whiskey) this heavy, double ended spirit measure is made from solid silver. It’s beautifully detailed, originating from Rangoon, Burma, and dates back to c1880, £265. At Beau Nash Bath you’ll find a treasure-trove of facsinating finds and all things antique and interesting.

For more than 100 years the Moomin illustrations of Finnish artist Tove Jansson have enchanted children all over the world. This special, limited winter edition ‘Light Snowfall’ Moomin mug is no exception. £21. Christmas at Shannon, 7 Broad Street, Bath; shannon-uk.com

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Paul Green Hi Fi, Brassmill Lane, Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Bath; paulgreenhifi.co.uk

By Norton St. Philip pottery, this small Garlic Pot adds a touch of rustic French style pottery to grace any kitchen shelf... and will keep your garlic tasty for longer. £14.99 Norton St. Philip Pottery; amazon.co.uk/handmade/Norton-St-PhilipPottery

IT WOULD’NT BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT A MOOMIN LIGHT SNOWFALL

Hey Mr D.J! Let the audiophile in your life really focus on the sound with the Pro-ject Essential III turntable. Groove on…£259

LOCALLY THROWN

Beau Nash Bath, 31 Brock Street, Bath ; beaunashbath.com

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Where Christmas comes together Immerse yourselves in the magic of falling snow, festive feasting and Nordic delights at SouthGate Bath

et ready to celebrate! That special time of year is closer than you think. From stockings and seasonal sweaters to sequins and snowflakes, SouthGate Bath has everything you could wish for this Christmas.

Enter the Festive Forest together This year SouthGate, Bath's favourite shopping destination, is welcoming you to an enchanting wintry experience. With snow guaranteed to fall every hour, on the hour. • Step through a giant magical wardrobe into a scene of sparkling fir trees and icicle lights. Pose with fabulous faux fur coats for the perfect wintry selfie. • Make footsteps in the snow as you head to the Nordic bar to tuck into tasty feel-good treats, such as hot chocolate, mulled wine and Turkish delight. • Snuggle under blankets in the cosy heated cabins. • Take selfies and pose with a life size reindeer and polar bear! The Festive Forest experience is taking place from Thursday 15 November 2018 to Monday 7 January 2019. It will be a beautiful backdrop for all your festive shopping and dining this year. Get your gift list together At SouthGate Bath you’re sure to find amazing presents for all your family and friends, including silly secret Santa gifts for colleagues. From accessories and gadgets for Apple fans and drool-worthy Christmas make-up at MAC to top-trending toys at Debenhams and party-perfect jewellery at Pandora.

Put the perfect look together Wondering what to wear this coming party season? Come and try on the latest seasonal styles. From sparkly dresses to metallic heels and must-have clutches, you’ll find all kinds of dazzling outfits at AllSaints, H&M, River Island and Topshop. Sequins and shimmery velvet are the key trends this year. Get your mitts on cosy hats, gloves and novelty knits too - think pompoms, slogans and Fair Isle this year. It just isn’t Christmas without a festive jumper! Merrier Together SouthGate Bath is ready to help you with the countdown to Christmas. When you’ve filled up on fashion and festive treats, why not enjoy a delicious meal or drink at one of our wonderful restaurants? There’s plenty to tempt those taste buds at The Cosy Club, Graze and Franco Manca. SouthGate Bath has everything you need to make your Christmas extra special. For more information visit southgatebath.com n

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ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

18ct white Gold, Aquamarine and Diamond ring. Â£1870

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vintage furniture contemporar y styling

verveliving.uk

07785 332536

15 WALCOT BUILDINGS. LONDON RD. BA1 6AD

Christmas Gifts The Silver Shop is a ‘must visit shop’ during your time in Bath. Opened in 1952, it is one of the longest established independent businesses in the city and a favourite shop with locals and visitors. They have the largest range of silver jewellery in the city, with earrings from £5.95 to necklaces at £595, there is something for every taste and budget. Also a wide range of Watches from the Elie Beaumont range. They also stock a unique and enchanting range of gifts, from bears to bronzes, candles to clocks. Only 50 meters from The Abbey and Roman Baths, in Union Passage, behind Oasis and Nationwide.

25 Union Passage, BA1 1RD • T: 01225 464 781 • www.thesilvershopofbath.co.uk

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er Decemeb sal 50% oï¬&#x20AC;ugs r selectedand in online re sto

CHRISTMAS AT

S annon The Lamino chair and footstool by Yngve Ekstrom 1956,

We offer a special price until Christmas

THE POP-UP SHOP 7 B R O A D S T R E E T. B AT H B A 1 5 L J 01225 684458

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SHANNON-UK.COM

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Beau Nash Clockwise from the top

Handmade ‘Studio' Silver Pot, London 1931, £415 Cast Silver Table Bell, C.1770, £365

Silver Mounted Hip Flask, Sheffield 1893, £640

German Silver Teapot made by Wilkens & Sohne, C.1920, £495 Italian Silver Cocktail Shaker, C.1950, £780

Silver Mounted Whiskey Noggin, London 1904, £295

Open Monday to Saturday, 9am til 6pm 31 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LN | 01225 334 234 info@beaunashbath.com | www.beaunashbath.com beaunashbath

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THEY SEEK HIM HERE... As The Scarlet Pimpernel opens at the egg theatre for Christmas, Emma Clegg talks to Emma Earle of Pins and Needles Productions and discovers that the Pimpernel was the very first superhero in disguise

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THEATRE

introduce things that you wouldn’t necessarily expect with Georgian theatre.” Sir Percy Blakeney, the Pimpernel’s alter ego, is an excessively flamboyant character who dresses in the latest outrageous fashions and revels in being centre stage. He comes across as a little stupid and shallow, but this is his fake identity – he is in fact a master of disguise. The Scarlet Pimpernel has a secret league of 20 spies who in the book are all English nobility, but in this version the secret spy league is a global phenomenon. The special skills they bring range from conventional fighting skills like being a master swordsman or something a little crazier such as being an expert embroiderer. There is a plan, you see, to rescue a zany character called the Mad Count, who is trapped in a secret club outside Calais where he gives a performing poodle act every night. The secret league’s mission is to rescue the Mad Count and part of their plan involves a hot air balloon. So the expert embroiderer stitches together the skin for the hot air balloon. The villain is a character called Chauvelin, a representative of the French government, and he has a phobia of poodles. Enough said.

❝

The main aesthetic was to do with retaining some sense of period, but also giving it a bit of a punky edge, a bit of a modern overhaul

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he Scarlet Pimpernel, a novel written by Baroness Orczy and published in 1905, is set during the Reign of Terror in 1793–1794 after the start of the French Revolution. The Scarlet Pimpernel character is notable for being the first superhero in disguise – ahead of Zorro (1919), Superman (1938), Batman (1939) and X-Men (1953), he paved the way for the narrative model of the daring hero acting incognito. “That is one of the reasons we felt that the story would feel relevant and interesting in 2018, because we are so used now to the superhero character with the secret identity,” explains Emma Earle, artistic director of Pins and Needles Productions. There have been films, notably with Leslie Howard in 1934 and Anthony Andrews in 1982, but the story has not become associated with the stage: “There have been a few notable stage adaptations and a musical version of the Pimpernel over the years, but not a huge number. And this year the text itself is out of copyright. So we have the ability to be free to interpret the source material however we want.” Here is the unseen dramatic art of the theatre. So how do you go about adapting a book into a play? “We have spent most of the year developing a stage adaptation with the writer Christopher William Hill,” says Emma. “That’s what we love, cherry-picking the stuff that really inspires us and that we think is theatrical or will speak to the target audience, whether under sixes or the six and above family audience. The challenge is to make something that was written at the turn of the century feel relevant to people in 2018 and find the opportunities to mash it up a bit.” There is plenty of mashing up in this production. Described as ‘Blackadder meets The Incredibles’, it’s a swashbuckling tale of high wigs, disguise, intrigue, wordplay, puppetry, prancing, nonsense and (yes, indeed) lots of poodles. “The main aesthetic was to do with retaining some sense of period, but also giving it a bit of a punky edge, a bit of a modern overhaul,” says Emma. “So the costumes have a bit of Adam Ant, lots of clashing styles and colours and fabrics.” The same approach was used with the music, so a conventional set period piece might suddenly be interrupted with the screech of electric guitar or a thrumming dance beat. Based on a book written in the early 20th century, the script has gone through the same mash-up treatment. “A lot of the language might feel quite old-fashioned and suddenly one of the characters might pick up a microphone, or there’s a joke in the show about Sir Percy Blakeney coming back from his travels, and describing this piece of chocolate in elaborate detail and then you realise he’s talking about a Toblerone. There are lots of anachronisms within the script, which is fun because it means we can

There are only five actors, so there is plenty of multi-roling. “The actors are really put through their paces to create a lot of different types of character,” says Emma. “It’s a busy play with the staging and the music and there are some songs in the show as well.” Despite having such a compact acting crew, there are many people working on the show behind the scenes, so the rehearsals will be much more crowded than you might imagine with a lighting director, fight director, movement director, two main directors and the designer. There’s also an imaginative set with lots of secret flaps that are manipulated by the actors. One minute there’s a pub called the Fisherman’s Rest and Whelk Bar and another minute the audience is presented with the interior of Sir Andrew’s house in London. This is an important part of the Pins and Needles’ approach: “As a company we like to do things where the audience are part of the imaginative equation – it’s not just left laid on a plate. So instead of giving your audience absolutely everything design wise, it’s nice to leave some gaps for them to fill.”

The production is designed for a family audience of six plus. ‘How do you cater for such a large target audience?’, I wonder. “One of the major differences,” explains Emma, “is that a six plus audience requires a two-act play, whereas a production for under sixes will be a maximum of 55 minutes, so there isn’t an interval, and your storytelling has to work across that time frame. So by adding an extra act, the narrative becomes denser. There are more plots and more characters and more twists and turns.” And in dealing with the grisly context of the French Revolution, some sensitivity is needed to cater for the target audience. “There’s the whole backdrop of the guillotine and chopping people’s heads off to tackle. And it’s working out, if you’re a six year old, how playful you can be with the baddy within a show, how dangerous can it feel,” says Emma. “So we are really sensitive to that and a lot of this will come out through the rehearsal process. And we have a brief preview period once the show is up so we can assess how the audience is going to receive it, and fine tune things that don’t quite work.” Emma tells me that this Pins and Needles production was conceived as part of the egg’s incubator programme, which provides time, space and financial support to develop creative ideas. “With Pimpernel, Kate Cross [director of the egg] will be there on the first day of the first read-through and she’ll be back into rehearsals to watch us string things together for the first time and she’ll be giving us notes about concerns or recommendations she might have. It’s very much a joint process.” Pins and Needles’ production of The Little Mermaid, also developed through the incubator programme, last year won the UK Theatre Award for best show for children and young people. Emma recollects, “I made a point of saying when we were accepting the award in London that this feels so special because The Little Mermaid had been supported by the egg over a long period and for us that is such a gift, because sometimes you are just expected to churn out a show too soon, too fast and there is not enough investment to make sure you are developing and doing the right thing.” “You never really know with a new play and a title that is not a conventional Christmas offering how it is going to go down,” says Emma, in expectation of The Scarlet Pimpernel’s reception in Bath. With oodles of poodles, big wigs, foppish fashions, double disguises, witty wordplay and a secret hero mission that’s always going to be possible, it’s clearly going to make an impression. Just don’t lose your head. n

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Thursday 6 Dec to Sun 13 January, the egg. Tel: 01225 448844; theatreroyal.org.uk/venue/the-egg

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CINEMA | HIGHLIGHTS

TAKE TWO: FILMS

The Little Theatre Cinema’s December programme features two famous pairings, one tragic and one comedic. Emma Clegg evaluates the artistry of each one

Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okenedo: Antony and Cleopatra Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is steeped in history. First performed in 1607, the action covers a period from 44 BC to Cleopatra’s suicide in 30 BC and the plot was based on a translation of a work by the Greek essayist Plutarch. Great names have taken on the principal roles: David Garrick, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins and Patrick Stewart as Antony, and Lillie Langtry, Edith Evans, Vivien Leigh, Vanessa Redgrave, Judi Dench, Mark Rylance (yes, really) and Helen Mirren as Cleopatra. Here we see Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okenedo take on the tragic roles at the National Theatre (shown here as National Theatre Live) in contemporary dress, veering from Hollywood-style silken gowns, plunge pools and grand archways in Alexandria to sharp suits, marble boardrooms and tasteful artwork displays in Rome. It’s a long play – three and a half hours – with a total of 42 scenes. The length is offputting for even the most enthusiastic, so it’s a directorial challenge to keep an audience engaged. Director Simon Godwin binds it together by starting with the suicidal finale and presenting the whole thing as a long flashback. We all know what happens, so it’s not giving the game away and creates a firm plot circle. The protagonists keep us richly engaged, too. The Stage describes Okenedo as “magnificent, a kitten one moment, a tigress the next,

Stan and Ollie and The Music Box Laurel and Hardy starred in 117 films together from the 1920s to the 1950s including 23 full-length feature films. Their slapstick comedy double act – with their respective physical attributes and mannerisms, one childlike and one pompous – had a central place in the early classical Hollywood era. Their first movies were silent, but unlike other silent movie stars, they were able to transition fluidly into sound by selecting their

sensual, witty and ferocious”, and therefore a fulsome and exhaustive interpretation of one of the most complex female characters in Shakespeare’s portfolio. On Fiennes, Tom Birchenough from The Arts Desk says, “Fiennes’s performance, by its last stages, has attained an almost possessed inspiration that blends absolute lucidity of speech rhythm with flights of poetry.” And to keep you on tenterhooks until the very end, a real-life snake joins a cast of thespian legends and acts its part in Cleopatra’s suicide.

dialogue carefully and focusing on the visual physical comedy that had made their names. Their star waned in the early 1950s and it is this period that frames this new Laurel and Hardy film as they embark on a tour of British seaside towns and music halls. Audiences are at first sparse, but after promoting themselves on TV, their public following is reawakened and the film heads towards a noteworthy London finale. Steve Coogan as Laurel and John C. Reilly as Hardy immaculately impersonate these comedy giants as we remember them, but also in subtle interpretation as their real-life selves

off-screen. Nearing the end of their careers, they find themselves in drab hotel rooms and low-grade theatres and in the worst of British weathers. The film also shows the pair in their 1930s heyday, notably as modest, everyday performers undisturbed by an aggressive celebrity following. This offers a commentary on how the phenomenon of celebrity has changed – even big stars could go unnoticed in those days because life was slower, less exposed, and there was no social media. Also showing is Laurel and Hardy’s Academy award-winning short film The Music Box, a hilarious document of the pair delivering a piano up a ridiculously long flight of steps. The piano, needless to say, gets hauled up and then slides down, more than once. It’s classic Laurel and Hardy and timeless comedy. n

SHOWING TIMES Antony and Cleopatra – National Theatre Live Thursday 6 December, 7pm; Thursday 20 December, 1.30pm Stan and Ollie and The Music Box Saturday 22 December, 5.30pm (preview screening) Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael’s Place; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

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WHAT’S ON in December

Join Radio 2’s Clare Teal for a festive fiesta in aid of Julian House at Komedia

BATH GUILDHALL CHRISTMAS MARKET n Until 9 December, from 10am, The Guildhall Market, High Street, Bath Extending out of the building next to the Market Café, large, heated marquees appear in the car park this Christmas to host an array of fabulous seasonal gifts. There’s also a licensed seated bar serving locally brewed Abbey Ales, mulled wine and speciality Italian foods, as well as live entertainment; bathguildhallmarket.co.uk BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET n Until 9 December, Bath city centre With more than 160 twinkling chalets spread out around the city, enjoy wandering the streets with a mulled wine in hand, browsing for unique gifts, decorations, handcrafted jewellery, and foodie presents; bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

CULTURAL FILM SCREENINGS n Throughout December, The Little Theatre Cinema, Bath Cinema goers are in for a treat this month at The Little. Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra, starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo, will be broadcast live from the National Theatre, while Simon Callow takes on the challenge of performing Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in a oneman theatrical extravaganza. You can also see a preview of Stan And Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as Laurel and Hardy, and watch live as climber Alex Honnold takes on the nerve-wracking challenge of climbing the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope in Free Solo, followed by a Q&A with Alex and directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. See the full programme online; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

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CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT HIGHGROVE n Until 16 December, opening times vary, The Royal Gardens at Highgrove, Doughton, Gloucestershire Christmas shopping doesn’t get better than this at The Prince of Wales’ Highgrove. Stocked with unique gift ideas including decorations and stationery, to seasonal food and drink, home accessories and luxury clothing, you’ll find everything you need for the perfect Christmas. There are three unique experiences to choose from including morning shopping with a complimentary Mimosa, afternoon shopping with Champagne and lunch, and a festive cream tea option. Pre-booked tickets only; highgrovegardens.com CHRISTMAS AT AVON VALLEY n Until 24 December, 9am–12pm, Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham Whether you wish to be taken on an immersive, magical journey to the North Pole with Evergreen the Elf to meet Father Christmas, enjoy a tea party with Father Christmas and friends, or simply want to get into the festive spirit, there are plenty of activities and fun to be had at Avon Valley this season. Experience ticket prices vary, book online in advance; avonvalley.co.uk BATH ON ICE n Until 6 January, opening hours vary, Royal Victoria Park, Bath Get your skates on – it’s time to take to the ice as the skating rink returns for the winter, and this time it’s nearly 40% bigger! For those who need a little help, there will be penguins and seal skate aids available. Tickets: £11/£10. A bar will be serving up hot chocolate, mulled wine, pizzas and lots more when you’re in need of refreshment. You can also head next door to the adventure golf course for a spot of glow in the dark mini golf; bathonice.com

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Sip mulled wine and browse the bookshelves at Toppings’ late night opening

CHRISTMAS IN CORSHAM n 1 December, 10am–1pm, High Street, Corsham Christmas is coming and it’s time for all good boys and girls – and grown-ups, too – to make a festive wish and hope that it comes true. To help that happen, Corsham Town Council’s Wishing Tree will be open for business on the High Street on 1 December. Write your wish, pop it in a bauble and hang it on the tree. It’s free, but a donation to charity is gratefully received. FESTIVE FAMILY ARTISAN MARKET n 1 and 8 December, 10am–5pm, Queen Square, Bath Head to Queen Square for a festive market featuring more than 95 local makers, independent traders and food producers, selling unusual and unique gifts. Families can also enjoy a children’s area with free magical storytelling and Christmas crafts along with a Children’s Café serving lunch bags and coffee and cake; bathartisanmarket.com CHRISTMAS FAIR AT DOROTHY HOUSE n 1 December, 10.30am–3pm, Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford on Avon A spectacular Christmas Fair in aid of Dorothy House. There really is something for everyone with plenty of gifts, home decorations and foodie items. Get into the festive spirit with a glass of virgin mulled wine or enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake in the café. £2 entry; dorothyhouse.org.uk A BIGGER SPLASH n 1 December, 6.30–8.30pm, Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath A screening of Jack Hazan’s ground-breaking 1974 biopic of David Hockney (cert 18). Taking its title from Hockney’s most famous Californian swimming pool painting, this film tells the story of how Hockney was left struggling to paint after a difficult break-up. £7; holburne.org

Walcot Lantern Parade photography by Sammie Palmer

See the wonderful array of lanterns on show at the Walcot Lantern Parade

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THE ROAD HOME n 1 December, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, Bath On the eve of Advent, A Handful of Singers’ winter concert features music based on the theme of pilgrimage. New director Tomos Watkins’ inaugural programme includes Mendelssohn’s beautiful Psalm 43, Brahms’ powerful Warum ist das Licht gegeben and Rheinberger’s Abendlied. These works are interspersed with Elliot Carter’s Heart Not So Heavy As Mine, plus more. £25/£5; bathboxoffice.org.uk / ahandfulofsingers.org FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSIONS n 2 December, 9.45am–3.15pm, Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath For beautiful photographs of you and your children, book a 45-minute photo session with Roz Collins Photography. An opportunity to capture some natural images in a beautiful location and at no initial cost to you. Roz’s normal session fee is waived but booking is essential; rozcollins.co.uk/portrait-days THE ARTS SOCIETY BATH: THE ORIGINS OF OUR ENGLISH CHRISTMAS n 3 December, 1.30pm, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath This seasonal lecture by Roger Askew will highlight how the English Christmas stretches back through European history, combining the pagan traditions of the Roman and Scandinavian winter festivals. This lecture explores in words, images and music the various strands, pagan and religious, that have created this festival. £10 on the door; theartssocietybath.com DIAMOND PIN WORKSHOP WITH SPARKLECHILD n 3 December, 6.30–9pm, Spotty Herberts, Queen Street, Bath Make your own layered diamond Sparklechild pin, £10 per person, includes a glass of something fizzy. There will be 10% off in the shop all evening, and 10% of takings will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Email: kate@spottyherberts.com to book. THAT PRETTY GERMAN TOY: MUSINGS ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE n 3 December, 7.15pm, BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath The Christmas tree is arguably the most iconic aspect of our midwinter celebrations, yet how much do we actually know about its origins and history? Hosted by The Arts Society Bath Evening. Non-members welcome, £8; batheveningarts.co.uk THE NEW SILK ROAD WITH PETER FRANKOPAN n 3 December, 8pm, Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath Peter Frankopan’s The New Silk Roads follows history’s trail eastwards, from Europe through to China, by way of Russia and the Middle East. The book examines the future of a world that is changing dramatically. £14.99 with book; toppingbooks.co.uk THE BATH SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY OPEN DAY n 4 December, 2.15pm, Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath The Bath Shakespeare Society is a friendly play-reading group and would like to welcome a few new members. The group meets on alternate Tuesday afternoons and will be reading The Winter’s Tale, Henry VI Part 3 and Macbeth in the winter term. Meet the group at this open day, tel 01225 858630 for more information.

2018/19 Lecture Series

‘Eduard Manet and Music’

Music was a constant theme in Manet’s life. This lecture immerses you in artist Manet’s world of Art and Music

Lecturer: Lois Oliver at

LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING n 4 and 18 December, 3–9pm, Topping & Company Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath Enjoy this late-night opening of Toppings with a warming glass of spiced mulled wine, stollen, and hot mince pies, as you browse the shelves for gifts – or a present to yourself. The lovely booksellers will be on hand to give you plenty of suggestions, and there will be a free wrapping service with gorgeous wrapping, hand-tied with golden string. Free admission; toppingbooks.co.uk Continued page 46

1.30pm on Monday 7th January 2019 in The Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street Bath

Visitors welcome £10 at the door (No Booking required)

www.theartssocietybath.com

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Celebrating 50 years of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies

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WHAT’S | ON

Michael Palin talks about HMS Erebus at The Forum, Bath

Watch the David Hockney biopic A Bigger Spash at the Holburne Museum

Grab some delicious treats from the bar at Bath On Ice

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF GEORGE BERKELEY n 4 December, 7.30pm, BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath BRLSI member Jeremy Comerford gives a talk on George Berkeley’s idea of immaterialism and the questions it raises about the nature of God, perception, and knowledge. £4/£2; brlsi.org SERVICE OF LIGHT n 5 December, 6pm, St John's Church, Keynsham Every year, Dorothy House Hospice Care runs a Light up a Life appeal where you can sponsor a light on the charity’s Christmas tree at Winsley. To coincide with this campaign, this service will feature readings, carols and an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one; dorothyhouse.org.uk THE ARGYLE PLAYERS PRESENTS AGATHA CHRISTIE’S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE n 5 – 8 December, 7.30pm, Tovey Hall Theatre, Central United Reformed Church, Grove Street, Bath Eight guests who have never met each other or their apparently absent host and hostess are trapped in a house on a remote island, together with the two house servants. A mysterious voice accuses each of having got away with murder and then, one by one, the guests start to die. Statuettes of little soldier boys fall from the mantelpiece and break, one by one, as each guest in the house meets their death, in accordance with the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme. £10, includes programme and refreshments in the interval; bathboxoffice.org.uk CORSHAM CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON n 7 December, from 5pm, Corsham Town Centre Corsham will become a centre for festivities as the Christmas lights are switched on, and the town buzzes with a Christmas market, entertainment, live music, fairground rights, and Father Christmas and his reindeer will also be making an appearance.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: BATH SPA BAND WITH THE COLERNE AND CORSHAM MILITARY WIVES CHOIR n 7 December, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Without Church, Broad Street, Bath Join Bath’s own brass band and training band for an evening of seasonal entertainment, featuring special guests the Colerne and Corsham Military Wives Choir. The programme includes Borodin’s Danses Polovtsiennes and selections from The Greatest Showman as well as carols and Christmas songs. Raffle in aid of Macmillan. £10/£8, tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk CHRISTMAS ORIGAMI n 8 December, 2.30–4pm, The Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett Street, Bath Enjoy this fun family workshop for all ages where you can learn how to make origami tree decorations with recycled paper. £2.50 per person, booking required; meaa.org.uk SANTA AND ELF RUN n 9 December, 11am, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe, Bath Join the festive fun run for all the family and help raise funds for Dorothy House Hospice Care. Choose from 2.5km or 5km, children 0–4 can take part for free, £7.50 for 5–11 years, and it’s £15 for over 12s. All entrants will receive festive attire and refreshments after the run; santaandelfrun.org.uk WALCOT LANTERN PARADE n 9 December, 5pm, Walcot Street, Bath A procession of large and small lanterns with the Walcot Choir and Little Big Horns brass band. Starting at Walcot Gate, it will walk to outside the Hilton Hotel where there will be carols. The parade is co-ordinated by Bath Fringe and will include lanterns made by St Andrew’s School, Mentoring Plus, DHI, the Holburne Museum’s Gardener’s Lodge, Mencap, and other community groups, as well as professional artists. The parade will be followed by a special Christingle service at St Michael’s Church at 6.30pm, and The Little Big Horns will take to the stage at The Bell Inn.

ART ON MONDAYS: BATH NIGHT PAINTINGS n 10 December, 10–11.30am, Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath A free talk about Nick Cudworth’s new exhibition Bath Night Paintings, 2003–18, for blind and visually impaired visitors. No booking required; victoriagal.org.uk WINE TASTING: A CONVIVIAL CHRISTMAS n 10 December, 7.30–10pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Try some perfect wines for the festive season, as well as cheeses, cold meats, breads and nibbles – plus Christmas crackers! £25, pre-book by 3 December; chapelarts.org MICHAEL PALIN AND HMS EREBUS n 11 December, 7.30pm, The Forum, Bath HMS Erebus was one of the great ships of exploration, but in 1848 on Franklin’s ill-fated expedition, it disappeared in the Arctic, and its fate became a global mystery until it was found in 2014. Michael Palin – Monty Python star and television globetrotter – brings the remarkable story of HMS Erebus back to life, following from its launch in 1826 to the epic voyages of discovery that led to glory in the Antarctic and to the ultimate catastrophe in the Arctic. £20, includes a copy of the book; toppingbooks.co.uk

CLARE TEAL’S FESTIVE FIESTA IN AID OF JULIAN HOUSE n 11 December, 8pm, Komedia, Bath Clare Teal’s Festive Fiesta returns to Bath with her trio and special guests Jason Rebello, Pee Wee Ellis, Kate Dimbleby, Ben Cipolla and ROB.GREEN. Now in its 10th year, award-winning singer and BBC Radio 2 presenter Clare Teal serves up a programme of swing music to sublime ballads made famous by the likes of Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. In support of local homeless charity Julian House. £25; komedia.co.uk Continued page 48

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WHAT’S | ON

Watch The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker livestreamed at Wiltshire Music Centre

Get in the festive spirit with conductor Nigel Perrin and Bath Bach Choir

VICTOR SUCHAR XMAS LECTURE: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY n 12 December, reception 6.30pm, lecture 7.30pm, BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath Can we feed the world healthily, equitably and sustainably? In 50 years time, will we be able to maintain sustainable agriculture while promoting healthy diets? Sir Charles Godfray, director of the Oxford Martin School, will discuss the threats to food production and how we can tackle the difficulties ahead. £4/£2; brlsi.org

GBH BIG BAND’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT n 16 December, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon Now entering legendary status, GBH Big Band’s Christmas concert will propel your festive season into merry jazzy mode! Old favourites mix with new arrangements and a host of seasonal surprises as friends join in the party. Expect stunning soloists and guest singers for this annual cracker of a concert. £20/£7; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

THE SILVER RING CHOIR OF BATH CONCERT n 13 December, 7.30pm, St Saviour’s Church, Larkhall, Bath A traditional carol service by Silver Ring Choir of Bath with a retiring collection for the Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service which provides a free out-of-hours motorcycle courier service to hospitals in the South West of England. AN EVENING WITH JONATHAN RAY ON SPIRITS n 14 December, 8pm, The Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath Jonathan Ray – wine expert and Spectator drinks editor – hosts a spirits tasting evening celebrating the best in spirits and liqueurs from whisky to Tequila, rum and grappa. £14.99 with book; toppingbooks.co.uk

BATH BACH CHOIR’S CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT n 19 December, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Without Church, Broad Street, Bath, and 20 and 21 December, 7.30pm, The Pump Room, Bath As sure as we all love figgy pudding, Bath Bach Choir’s Carols by Candlelight will be back to mark the true start of Christmas. This annual feast of beautiful festive music from the choir includes audience carolling, children’s voices and young virtuoso instrumentalists – all wrapped up by conductor Nigel Perrin. Tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! n 14 December, 8–10.30pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Cult cabaret crooners 20th Century Foxes swing their sleigh ride into town for an unusual and uplifting blend of stylish swing with the spirit of Christmases past. £15/£17.50; chapelarts.org

CLYVE’S FUNKY CHRISTMAS PARTY n 21 December, 8–10.30pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Clyve is back at Chapel Arts for his fourth special Christmas party for an evening of soul, funk and seasonal favourites. Bring your dancing shoes as Clyve and his band are sure to get you up dancing to the likes of Chic, Chaka Khan, Motown Legends and Beyonce. A great way to start the Christmas weekend. £12.50/£15; chapelarts.org

BATH MINERVA CHOIR: WINTER CONCERT n 15 December 7.30pm, Prior Park Chapel, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath A special candlelit performance of Rachmaninov’s Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the beautifully atmospheric Prior Park Chapel. £15/£7.50. Tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk

1984: OVER 40S NIGHT n 21 December, 9pm, Second Bridge, Manvers Street, Bath Nightclub Second Bridge will be transformed into a nostalgic time capsule for this special over 40s night. Expect the greatest hits from the 80s and 90s played all night long. Hosted by IV League. Early-bird tickets £4, available via Facebook or online; secondbridge.co.uk

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THE ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER n 22 December, 2pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon The perfect festive treat for ballet fans – a livestream of Tchaikovsky’s yuletide extravaganza The Nutcracker, performed by The Royal Ballet. Running time: 2h 30m, with one interval. £15/£7.50; wiltshiremusic.org.uk THE SNOWMAN AND THE BEAR n 22 December, 3.30pm, The Forum, Bath Take a trip to the North Pole, meet Father Christmas and maybe dance with a snowman or two as Bath Philharmonia performs Howard Blake’s scores live to Raymond Briggs’ amazing animations of The Snowman and The Bear. £22/£14; bathphil.co.uk MOTORCITY GOLD: NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH SOUL! n 31 December, doors 10.30pm, Komedia, Bath Bring in the new year with a night of classic Motown, soul, funk, disco and rock ’n’ roll. Last entry at midnight. 18+. Pre-book online. £15; komedia.co.uk PLANNING AHEAD... THE ARTS SOCIETY BATH LECTURE: EDWARD MANET AND MUSIC n 7 January, 1.30pm, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath In the first Arts Society Bath lecture of 2019 Lois Oliver will discuss the life of French painter Edward Manet and how music played an integral part of his life and work. Visitors welcome, £10 on the door, no booking necessary; theartssocietybath.com THE BIG-HEARTED VALENTINE’S BALL n 9 February, 6.30pm, Apex City of Bath Hotel, James Street West, Bath A charity black-tie dinner and ball to raise funds for a fibre-optic laryngoscope to be used for treating heart patients at the NHS Bristol Heart Institute. Includes close-up magic from Peter Baffles, live music and the host is comedian Tank Sherman. £75, includes drinks reception and three course dinner. Main sponsors Bugler Coaches, tel: 01225 44422. n

Photography by Helen Maybanks/Roz Collins

Bring in the new year at Komedia’s Motorcity night

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WHAT’S | ON

WILTSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE LAUNCHES ITS SPRING/SUMMER SEASON 2019

riginally founded in 1997 as a rehearsal space for young musicians, over the last 20 years the Wiltshire Music Centre (WMC) in Bradford on Avon has blossomed into a professional concert hall of national repute. Each year the centre welcomes some of the world’s finest classical, jazz, folk and world musicians, alongside breakthrough young artists and local talent. The combination makes for a refreshingly diverse concert programme, which attracts more than 25,000 people every year. WMC has just launched its Spring/Summer 2019 programme, with a glittering line-up to welcome in the new year. Opening the classical season, new Young Quartet in Residence, the Marmen Quartet, give their WMC debut, together with Doric String Quartet cellist and mentor, John Myerscough (25 Jan). Classical music enthusiasts can also look forward to performances by virtuoso violinist Chloë Hanslip (16 Mar), renowned chamber orchestra London Mozart Players (11 May) and leading international string quartet, the Brodsky Quartet (31 May). Following a sell-out

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Violinist Chloë Hanslip visits Wiltshire Music Centre in March

performance in 2017, the Alumni of the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (26 Apr) return with an evening of incomparable a capella, including favourite works by Tavener, Holst and Vaughan-Williams. Jazz lovers can look forward to performances by new artists in residence, sensational jazz pianist Derek Paravicini (9 Feb), and Brazilian percussionist Adriano Adewale (24 May), who will perform alongside jazz pianists Gwilym Simcock and Jason Rebello in an all-star triple-header. Plus, jazz singer and BBC

Radio 2 broadcaster Clare Teal (9 Mar) returns with a brand-new show, full of sparkling material from the Great American Songbook. Folk fans can delight in toe-tapping performances from fiery Scottish group, Breabach (8 Feb) and The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc (6 Mar), as well as an intimate performance from Bellowhead violinist Sam Sweeney (10 May). The diverse season programme also includes highenergy world music performances by the Bollywood Brass Band (26 Jan) and the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers (15 Mar). There are brilliant family days out to be had throughout the Spring/Summer season, with the return of WMC’s free My Science Fair (3 Mar), Big Family Music Day (22 Jun) and a range of family shows suitable for children aged 3+. With a host of interactive workshops, intimate ‘live in the bar’ gigs and opera screenings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Wiltshire Music Centre in the new year. n General booking is now open. To view the full season programme, visit: wiltshiremusic.org.uk

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From 5 January - 2 February a new exhibition will highlight these ‘extraordinary’ women whose interesting and inspiring lives link to the city. Also on display will be paintings of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by artist Louisa Albani.

Japanese Ambassador World affairs through Japan’s unique perspective

H.E Ambassador Mr Koji Tsuruoka

15 January 7.30pm

Bath Box Oﬃce: Visitors £7 Members/Students £4 Further events listed on our website www.brlsi.org

Join BRLSI now and enjoy most talks in 2019 for only £2.00 The Victor Suchar Christmas Lecture

How Do We Feed the World? Professor Sir Charles Godfray Chair of the Oxford Martin Programme 12 December 2018 7.30pm

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Corking prices for wine and spirits

t could be all the gloom swirling around Westminster or the cold nights setting in or maybe it’s the beginning of the countdown to Christmas, whichever, prices for vintage wine and spirits seem to be particularly buoyant at the moment. “Bristol was an historical trading centre for wine and so it did not come as a surprise that in a recent Lawrences auction a parcel of 11 bottles of Cheval Blanc 1986 were consigned from the Axbridge area, near Bristol” commented Lawrences wine specialist, Neil Grenyer. But what was surprising is that they sold for £3050. Even more of a shock was that the vendor had found them in the attic of their new home when they moved there 10 years ago and had no idea what they were worth. One area that is seeing a boom of late is in spirits, probably fuelled by demand from the Asian market. A good example of this was a rare bottle of Brora Whisky, 1977, numbered 2990 from a limited edition, that was bought by its Somerset owner on a whim when visiting the Highlands. He recalls paying about £60 in the 1990s and, against an estimate of £500-700, his chance purchase returned an impressive £1090. “Good cataloguing and good marketing are key to making sure the right buyers are attracted to bid” commented Helen Carless, Lawrences managing Director. So, over the festive period, make sure you take the time to check your loft and your wine cellar Lawrences next wine sale will be in January. For more information contact Neil.Grenyer@lawrences.co.uk Or pop in to talk to one of our specialists at their monthly free valuation mornings at The Holburne. (see advert in this magazine for dates)

The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB T 01460 73041

lawrences.co.uk

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CITY | ARTS

A PLACE FOR A GALLERY

A new gallery specialising in the extraordinary arrives in Bath and a new book by Joanne Harris profiles the delicate illustrations of one of the gallery’s artists, Bonnie Helen Hawkins

orthumberland Place is a delightful cut-through from the High Street to Union Street – it allows you time to stop striding forward determinedly, slow down to a meander and linger a little through the windows of the myriad of independent shops. Well, there’s now a new one to add to the mix, a gallery called the Maven Gallery. Run by Mike Porter, it specialises in the work of three artists: Bonnie Helen Hawkins, Irene Marsh and Michael Talbot, all with very different specialisms and artistic approaches. Artist Bonnie Helen Hawkins is also an illustrator and her elaborate pencil drawings have recently been featured in a new novella by author Joanne Harris (best known for her novel Chocolat) called The Blue Salt Road. Bonnie and Joanne’s collaboration first started when a chance encounter between Bonnie and Joanne led to the commissioning of 24 exquisitely detailed illustrations for the folklore novella A Pocketful of Crows, published by Orion in 2017. Reviving the tradition of illustrated books for adults, the book was received to great acclaim. The Blue Salt Road, her second collaboration with Joanne Harris, includes another 24 of Bonnie’s illustrations. The novella combines the harshness of nature with the spookiness of a ghost story and the comfort of a great folk tale.

“Joanne and Orion were very brave to entrust this commission to a completely new, untested illustrator,” says Bonnie. For me it was a dream job – they gave me complete free rein as to what I drew. Doing these illustrations was incredibly rewarding – I am spellbound by folklore, love animals, and love drawing, and sometimes I work for 12 hours a day, so it was a pleasure from start to finish. “The Blue Salt Road was a wonderful book to illustrate especially for me as I have spent much of my childhood on the coast. Joanne particularly wanted fine detail illustrations and by choosing a traditional lozenge shape for many of the images we hoped each vignette would be reminiscent of a Victorian style.” Bonnie Helen Hawkins’ work, including pencil drawings, oil paintings and animal sculptures, can be seen at the Maven Gallery in Northumberland Place, along with the other two featured artists. The Maven Gallery also includes a secondfloor gallery that features a regularly changing showcase of artwork and sculpture. There is currently a singular range of Elizabeth Frink lithographs from the 1960s, a series called The Spinning Man on display. They are, of course, extraordinary. n

The Gunnerman, who is Flora's father, in this dark point of the story, kills the entire pilot whale family – Pilot whales are very small, friendly and often swim up to boats because they are curious

The Maven Gallery, 3–4 Northumberland Place, Bath; maven.gallery

LEFT: Flora on the Shore. Here Flora is sitting dreaming of a different life RIGHT: The Humpback Whale. One of the themes of the book is whale hunting, a vital way of life to those living at the outer edge of the world BELOW: Joanne Harris’ new novella, The Blue Salt Road

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BELOW: Puffins are synonymous with the far north where the story is set

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

CREATIVE CRACKERS A round up of the arts on show around the city over the festive period

GALLERY AND BARROW 118a Walcot Street, Bath Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 5.30pm Tel: 01225 311379, web: galleryandbarrow.com

WINTER SHOW Until 24 December A selection of diverse artworks by revered artists Robert Pereira Hind, Rennie Pilgrem, Magdalena Morey, Jos Haigh, Anna Harley and Ludmilla Gruslak. Find a unique piece of art at the gallery for a special gift this Christmas. Right, On The Surface 8 by Magdalena Morey

Brief Encounter by Nick Mackman

GRAY M.C.A BEAUX ARTS York Street, Bath. Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Tel: 01225 464850, web: beauxartsbath.co.uk WINTER EXHIBITION Until Christmas Beaux Arts welcomes back one of its most popular exhibitors, 2015 British wildlife artist of the year Nick Mackman. Her work adorns the collections of Chris Packham, John Cleese, Dame Judi Dench, among many others, and she has been commissioned by British Airways and the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Her sculptures this year include a family group of elephants and a pack of African wild dogs. Ceramics on display will include the beautiful porcelain works of Chris Keenan. The gallery will also be exhibiting a mixed group of painters and sculptors, among these Anna Gillespie, Beth Carter, Ruth Stage and Dawnne McGeachy.

MUSEUM OF EAST ASIAN ART Bennett Street, Bath Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 12–5pm Web: meaa.org.uk THE ART OF CHINA: A BRIEF HISTORY 4 December – 12 May China is a vast country – its modern-day territory is almost as big as Europe, and it has faced waves of invasion, trading wars, and the rise and fall of dynasties over the centuries. To mark the museum’s 25th anniversary, this exhibition celebrates its rich and wide-ranging collection that spans 7,000 years of Chinese history – from the Neolithic to modern times – and highlights extraordinary human inventiveness and creativity.

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5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath Open: Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm, Monday and Tuesday by appointment Tel: 01225 422117, web: graymca.com THE WINTER SHOW Until 31 January Gray M.C.A is the UK’s leading authority on original fashion illustration and artist textiles from the 20th century including René Gruau & Kenneth Paul Block, having established a reputation worldwide for uncovering rare and dynamic fashion illustration and textiles from private international collections, estates and archives. Its annual Drawing on Style exhibitions during London and New York Fashion Weeks enable international collectors to source the finest examples of fashion illustration by the most respected and sought-after artists. The Winter Show will spotlight the best of original fashion illustration and modern artists’ textiles. Above, right, Antonio Lopez (1943–1987) New York Times II, 1963, Charcoal on Paper, signed, Provenance The Estate of Antonio Lopez, Galerie Bartsch & Chariau, Munich Left, Bronze censer with deer and Three Friends of Winter, China, Late Ming dynasty (1550–1644)

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The Framing Workshop has been trading as an independent family run business on Walcot Street for over 28 years. We treasure you, our client, and spend time helping you to ďŹ nd the best way to display and protect your cherished objects, artworks and memorabilia. Creativity and respect for each artwork are core to what we do. Every picture tells a story. Come and share yours.

80 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 482748 www.theframingworkshop.com framing@theframingworkshop.com

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

Quince by Honor Jolliﬀe

GALLERY NINE 9b Margaret’s Buildings, Bath. Open: Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm Tel: 01225 319197, web: gallerynine.co.uk CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION Until 31 December

A new exhibition featuring a colourful and creative range of paintings, ceramics and jewellery. Robina Jack makes earthenware pots which she decorates in coloured slips and transparent glazes. Her work is driven by pattern and coloured animals, Necklace by Elizabeth plants and coastal motifs and Chamberlain finished with a patterned border. Nancy Rose Taplin’s delicate paintings of birds on antique books and papers evoke both transience and timelessness, while James Dodds’ paintings and prints are inspired by boat building. Jeweller Elizabeth Chamberlain works with silver, gold, semi precious beads and precious gemstones, and her jewellery is inspired by organic texture and form, whereas Cornelius Van Dop creates wonderful boxes and brooches from sheet metal, silver, gold, nickel, copper and bronze. Potter David Wright uses reclaimed wood and clay to make boxes, bottles and bowls, and Sarah Jenkins’ ceramic work is inspired by the changing light and weather, as well as her connection to the landscape.

THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Open: Daily, 10am – 5pm (11am Sundays) Tel: 01225 388569, web: holburne.org GAINSBOROUGH AND THE THEATRE Until 20 January Bringing together some of Gainsborough’s finest portraits of leading actors, musicians, playwrights, dancers and critics of the 1760s–80s, this exhibition will explore themes of celebrity, naturalism, performance and friendship. Gainsborough and the Theatre will include 37 objects, including 15 oil portraits by Gainsborough, works on paper (including satires, views of theatres and playbills) and ephemera from public and private collections across the UK. A significant aspect of the exhibition is devoted to the locations and theatres with which Gainsborough was linked, from Bath’s own Orchard Street Theatre to the London theatre synonymous with Garrick, Drury Lane.

Mrs Siddons by Thomas Gainsborough, The National Gallery, London

DAVID SIMON CONTEMPORARY 3 – 4 Bartlett Street, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm, closed Wednesday and Sunday Tel: 01225 460189 Web: davidsimoncontemporary.com MIXED WINTER EXHIBITION 3 – 24 December A floor-to-ceiling packed show of paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics by gallery artists and new faces, including John Croft CBE, Steven Hubbard, Parastoo Ganjei, Hugo Grenville, Sara Ingleby-MacKenzie, Honor Jolliffe, Alex Lowery, Mike Service, among others. Also on show is a selection of miniature ceramics by Yuta Segawa.

NICK CUDWORTH GALLERY London Street, top of Walcot Street, closed on Mondays Tel: 01225 445221 Web: nickcudworth.com Throughout December The December exhibition covers a selection of original paintings and prints by Nick, some of which portray Bath and the surrounding countryside during the winter months. The image, right, The Caterpillar – Winter is the name Nick has given to the beautiful row of beech trees on the skyline which are recognised by many as the sight that welcomes you into Bath.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

VICTORIA ART GALLERY

will have four books of his published projects and cards available during the show.

By Pulteney Bridge Open daily, 10.30am – 5pm Tel: 01225 477233, web: victoriagal.org.uk NICK CUDWORTH: BATH NIGHT PAINTINGS 2003–18 1 December – 17 February Nick is well-known in Bath for his portraits of celebrities and his paintings of local street scenes and beautiful landscapes. This new exhibition showcases 20 of his beautiful Bath night paintings in the form of giclée prints on stretched canvas. The artist’s brilliant eye for the effect of light on colour ensures visitors will want to explore the city’s beautiful buildings after dark. Using this new technique of reproduction allows Nick to bring together all his most well-known images (and some new ones) and to offer them to the true size of the original oil paintings as stretched canvases without frames. All works will be for sale, and Nick

ON PAPER: FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION 1 December – 17 February All the artworks in this fascinating exhibition are made from paper, used as a material in its own right rather than merely a surface to be painted or drawn. Among the leading artists featured are Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, Bridget Riley, Gillian Ayres and Eduardo Paolozzi. Included are large threedimensional objects constructed from paper such as Karla Black’s delicate and sensuous hanging structures and Brian Griffiths’ giant cardboard computer. Collage is wellrepresented with examples by Roland Penrose and Eduardo Paolozzi, among others. £4.50 entry, free for Discovery Card holders. Right, John Stezaker, Mask LXIV, 2007 © The artist, Courtesy Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London

AXLE ARTS Leighton Road, Weston, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–5pm by appointment Tel: 01225 461230, web: axlearts.com WINTER SHOW Until 9 December Axle Arts’ Winter Show 2018 opens with a selection of artists showing traditionally smaller artworks, perfect for giving as presents, alongside larger statement pieces. The exhibition will be installed at two locations this year – the studio at Leighton Road and at Tasburgh House Hotel on Warminster Road (open Monday–Sunday, 10am–5pm). There will be two open weekends at Leighton Road for clients to drop in; 1/2 Dec, 8/9 Dec. Exhibiting artists include Derek Balmer PPRWA, Lynne Cartlidge RCA, Jeannette Hayes PPS, Dorothy Brook, Rick Kirby, Kate Wade, Peter Ford RE, George Tute RWA RE, Frans Wesselman RE, Neill Curran and Melissa Kiernan. The Tasburgh House Hotel is offering a special deal for art–goers who would like a little pampering during the exhibition period. Stay one night and have the second on the house, call the hotel for more information on 01225 425096. Left, Summer’s Lease by Derek Balmer PPRWA

EMMA ROSE Upstairs at 78 Walcot Street, Bath. Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Tel: 07885 235915 or 01225 424424 Web: emmaroseartworks.com DECEMBER DREAMS Throughout December Celebrating colour and dreams, Emma Rose invites you to see her paintings, limited edition giclée prints and cards. December’s exhibition is built around her work Monet’s Dreams. A large proportion of her work echoes the land, sea, sky, gardens and the elements. Her unique work is a mix of Indian inks and acrylics, often using gold, copper and silver leaf. She is happy to talk through any commission ideas, now a mainstay of her work. Right, Monet’s Dreams by Emma Rose

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

BATH OPEN STUDIOS AT THE RUH Art at the Heart of the RUH, Central Gallery, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath Open: Monday – Sunday, 8am–8pm Web: artatruh.org

Flamingos by Paul Wilkins, Bath Open Studios – Combe Down

THE EDGE The Edge, University of Bath, Claverton Down Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm Tel: 01225 386777 Web: edgearts.org UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES Until 15 December An exhibition of two film works which reflect the complex, entangled nature of contemporary experience in a time where world events are so volatile and turbulent that it’s hard to predict what might happen next. View Maeve Brennan’s Listening in the Dark and Imran Perretta’s 15 days – both artists are recipients of the fifth edition of the Jerwood/FVU Awards. Free admission. Below, Still 10 from 15 Days by Imran Perretta

WALLER & WOOD 4 Abbey Green, Bath Open every day until 23 December, 11am–5pm, and during Bath Christmas Market the gallery is open throughout the market’s opening hours. Tel: 07803 033629, web: wallerandwood.co.uk TREASURE Until 23 December Waller and Wood present handmade clothing, scarves, ceramics and contemporary jewellery at this delightful independent gallery. The Christmas exhibition includes a collection of pots for plants such as cyclamen and succulents, organic scented candles, an extensive collection of colourful jewellery in unusual materials and silk scarves from £55. 62 TheBATHMagazine

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BATH OPEN STUDIOS AT THE RUH Until 17 January Artists and crafts people from the five Bath Art Trails are once again showing their works in the Central Gallery at the RUH. Paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics and mosaic will be available to view, with a third of all sales going towards the Art at the Heart programme. This is a great opportunity not only to buy those last-minute Christmas presents but to also support the vital work of Art at the Heart, which includes patient-led art workshops for both adults and children as well as live music. Donations received by the art charity go directly into maintaining and continuing the broad range of award winning arts projects on offer at the hospital. RIVER IS THE VENUE (RIV) 4 December – 17 January Art at the Heart of the RUH, 44AD and research academics at the University of Bath unique partnership project – River is the Venue (RiV) combines water science, art and information technologies, and has contributed a fresh and exciting perspective on the water heritage of the historic city of Bath. RiV has enabled local artists to communicate the flood history of the River Avon of the City of Bath through art installations, a sound piece, puppetry performance and participatory art workshops for communities in Bath. This range of evidence-based, flood-inspired artworks produced throughout the project will engage RUH Bath patients, visitors and staff on stories of the great flood of 1968 but also show the river as an asset for Bath and as a core element of its social history.

Painted clothing by Carole Waller, photographed by Egle Vasi

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nick cudworth gallery

Time Frames - Oil on linen. Prints available

DECEMBER EXHIBITION 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 29 December The image called Time Frames is The arch in York Street balanced against the Bridge of Sighs in Venice captured in the same afternoon light.

5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street), Bath BA1 5BU tel 01225 445221 / 07968 047639 gallery@nickcudworth.com www.nickcudworth.com

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CITY | READING

TAKE SIX READS

Saber Khan from Topping & Co picks out six books to appeal to different reading tastes this Christmas – choose from getting an insight into the last American first lady to a memoir about a journey to the top of a mountain FOR THE COOKERY LOVER

VEGETABLES ALL’ITALIANA

FOR THE INTREPID

Ben Fogle, hardback, £20, William Collins

Anna Del Conte, hardback, £20, Pavillion The cool, erudite Milanese Anna del Conte is widely recognised as the doyenne of Italian food writing. Her wonderful BBC programme with Nigella Lawson, The Cook Who Changed Our Lives won Programme of the Year. Vegetables all’Italiana is a wonderful fresh collection of recipes that praises the flavour and texture of all verdure from the classic panzanella, parmigiana di melanzane, fiori di zucca fritti to more adventurous dishes such as beetroot or pumpkin gnocchi. A vital little cookbook that chimes with the plant-focused way we are eating now.

TRANSCRIPTION

FOR THE DOUBLE AGENT

Kate Atkinson, hardback, £20, Doubleday Kate Atkinson has garnered many fans from her novels Behind the Scenes at the Museum, the twin novels, Life after Life and A God in Ruins and her hugely successful Jackson Brodie Series. Her latest, Transcription, is a thoroughly enjoyable cold war spy novel full of hijinks, double agents, secret cameras, bodies in the coal hole and men in astrakhan-collared coats. It follows plucky heroine Juliet who is recruited as a typist into MI5, and later as a children’s producer at the BBC. Atkinson is the master of the literary detective novel.

EREBUS

FOR THE TRAVELLER

Michael Palin, hardback, £20, William Hutchinson Michael Palin brings to life the voyages of HMS Erebus, from its construction to the part it played in Ross’s Antarctic expedition of 1839– 43, to its abandonment during Franklin’s ill-fated Arctic expedition and its final rediscovery on the seabed in Queen Maud Gulf. He explores the careers of the men who shared its journeys and describes what life on board was like. What could be better than action and adventure retold by a master explorer and storyteller?

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UP: MY LIFE’S JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF EVEREST

In April 2018, seasoned adventurer Ben Fogle, Olympic cycling gold medallist Victoria Pendleton and mountaineer Kenton Cool took on their most exhausting challenge yet – climbing Everest for the British Red Cross to highlight the environmental challenges mountains present. It would be harrowing and exhilarating in equal measure as they walked the fine line between life and death 8,000 metres above sea level. Part memoir, part thrilling adventure, Ben’s account of his ascent is told with his signature humour, warmth, and modesty.

IN A HOUSE OF LIES

FOR THE CRIME LOVER

Ian Rankin, hardback, £20, Orion Another first-class detective story from master crime writer, Ian Rankin. Rebus might be retired, but he’s far from finished. In this brand new mystery, the ex-DI returns alongside series stalwart Siobhan Clarke. A missing private investigator is discovered in a locked car, deep in the woods – however, the area had already been searched by police. As suspicions about the handling of the case fester and calls for the truth grow louder, the only man who knows where the trail may lead, and how dark its destination, John Rebus, is called to investigate. This case dredges up long-buried secrets which threaten to disrupt an even murkier present.

FOR THE POLITICAL OBSERVER

BECOMING

Michelle Obama, hardback, £12.50, Viking The Obamas changed forever the way the world sees black families. Michelle Obama, the former first lady, is loved across the world for her warmth, wit and intelligence. Becoming is her extraordinarily candid account of her life inside and outside the White House. She recalls falling in love; admits doubts about the presidency in 2008; reflects on being the first African American first lady; she embraces her vulnerability; states her love of the Queen; and writes about the highs and lows of life with Barack Obama. Irresistibly readable. n

Topping & Co, The Paragon, Bath; toppingbooks.co.uk

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A NAME MAKES Duncan Campbell HAS BEEN DEALING IN ANTIQUE SILVER SINCE 1986.

The values change while the art remains

he world of antique silver is a piece of cake to navigate compared with flat art and more recently, bronze. I have been avidly following the story of the Rothschild Bronzes, the pair of male figures riding panthers that, only 16 years ago, were sold to a collector for a paltry £1.8 million. Previous owners of the bronzes, including the Rothschild family, had wished and hoped for a premier league attribution, but only now, thanks to some careful research and technological innovation, we discover that they are by none other than Michelangelo. The value of the only known bronze sculptures by Michelangelo will, no doubt, exceed the sum of all lottery wins and bring a wide smile to their owner’s face. It can go the other way of course, as when a slew of Rembrandt paintings were de-attributed some years ago, causing their owners to feel rather sick. With the vast sums involved, it is no surprise that there has been much argument about all of this and some of the demoted paintings are now Rembrandts again. As with most matters financial and comic, timing is everything. Should any readers be considering the purchase of the Michelangelo bronzes, just make sure that no studious Renaissance academic, seeking a reputation, decides that they have been made by an unnamed sixteenth century also-ran as this would result in a painful nine figure loss. Talking of pain, I should like to use this column to thank sincerely our neighbours and friends in and around Brock Street, who were so very kind and helpful when, last Friday evening (9.15 pm!) our shop, Beau Nash, was raided for the second time this year, despite some new and costly security. Setbacks like this sadly do happen but the trauma really is much reduced by Bath’s wonderful community spirit. We are so grateful to the good people of Bath for their support – thank you and have a great Christmas. n www.beaunashbath.com, 01225 334234

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BATH @ WORK

Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work. View a gallery of Bath@Work subjects at: thebathmag.co.uk

Pete Brown

Painter

had a wonderful childhood in Berkshire, running free in the woods and the surrounding countryside. There was a lot of play with camps, dens, model railways and rabbits. I became obsessed with a fascinating book on the countryside called British Woodlands in the Seasons and from an early age copied the watercolour illustrations. I went to Newbury College and from there went on to an art foundation course at Sydney Place in Bath. David Cobb and David Atkinson were both very influential and I particularly enjoyed studying Sickert, Bomberg and Auerbach. The course covered many subjects and a variety of media, but whether it was life classes or landscapes, I really just loved to draw. I went to Manchester Art School and ended up being influenced by the modernist movements popular at the time. Artists like Clifford Still and the critic Clement Greenberg were promoted by my tutor David Sweet as the way to go. As a result I ended up producing 21 coloured squares for my degree show. My mother cried when she saw it! For two further years I created more squares but finally decided that teaching might be more rewarding than abstract shapes. Ultimately, this didn’t suit me either as the books I read on art history were just not me. Too dry, too academic and as far as I was concerned not what art was about. However, I had to earn a living, although selling satellite aerials which I did for a while wasn’t me either. I have no head for heights for one thing – and I wanted to paint. I came back to Bath one day and walking down Paragon I thought “I want to draw this place”. We moved into an attic flat in Grosvenor Place overlooking the valley at the back. I was nervous at first drawing in front of the public and drew the outskirts, gradually working my way into the centre. I was desperate to sell but also embarrassed. I had approached every gallery in Bath and all had sent me away. In my arrogance I concluded they were wrong and I’d sell straight to the public. I had a folder of work and a sign saying, “drawings for sale”. I’d sit with my back to it in Queen Square or George Street as I drew. I did this seven days a week and after three months someone bought a drawing for £45. Shortly after I remember being on Upper Borough Walls when someone asked if I was selling the drawings. “Yes” I said excitedly. “Oh dear” he said, “You can’t do that”. He was the street trading license enforcement officer! After much manoeuvring I got an ‘Artists Roving Licence’. Since those early days I have been blessed by the support of many ‘angels’: David Cobley who started Widcombe Studios, John Benington curator at Victoria Art Gallery who has given me eight one man shows, Peter Khufeld who introduced me to Bill Paterson of Patterson’s Fine Art in Albermarle Street who gave me important early exposure in London. Bob Brown helped me get elected to the NEAC (New English Art Club). I was elected president this year and I dearly want to bring one of their shows to Bath. David Messum did one recently which was called ‘The magic and poetry of everyday life’ – for me this says it all! • petethestreet.com PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic. Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151 THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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TREASURE | HUNT

CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT

The treasure hunt this year has a range of architectural details (and one sneaky landscape detail) to test your knowledge of Bath. How many can you identify? Compiled by Catherine Pitt

the problem with pub quizzes is that you have to have a team of inordinately well-informed people to have a cat in hell’s chance of getting a score that’s not below average. We’ve solved that problem by creating a quiz based on central Bath landmarks. You don’t need to be superclever for this, just to have local knowledge and be observant. There’s a suitably delicious prize to be be won for the winner of our treasure hunt – afternoon tea for four people in the plush surroundings of the city’s Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel. Please send your entries by post to The Bath Magazine, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED or by email to: competitions@thebathmagazine.co.uk by midnight on Friday 28 December. Please mark your entries Treasure Hunt 2018 and don’t forget to include your name, address, email and phone number so we can get in touch in the event of your winning. We will select the winner by putting all the correct entries in a hat and drawing one at random. n

1. You’ll find this photogenic plaque down a narrow street. Name the shop you can find it on.

3 3. What a vista from this unusual building. It straddles two streets but what is its actual address?

4. School’s out forever here, but what was the name of this former educational establishment?

2. Through the looking glass, the colourful back of this treasure house looks upon a mews, but what is the name of the mews?

5. Take a peek at this “Peculiar in Ordinary” and name this place of worship and the date it was completed.

7 6. Named after a beautiful view, these villas have this urn overlooking their garden. Name the building and architect.

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8. A bit of countryside in the city, name this former public house.

10 9. He wasn’t an idiot when he built these houses and put his arms upon it, although a few slipped away. Give the full name of the man who leant his name to here.

10. It’s not just any old iron. Where can you find this Victorian canopy?

12. You’ll be happy to find this entrance, but by what aﬀectionate nickname is this shop known as?

11. The city’s history isn’t just mapped out on its walls, but you can write home about it at this shop. Name the number and street this building is on.

13. Totally tropical – name the house these trees belong to. No palming us oﬀ… the full name please.

14. Some children can be naughty or nice, but to which saint do these little ones confess their sins?

15. Look up to spot this sign, it’s at a place not far north. What is the address of this building?

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TREASURE | HUNT

14. Bonus question: What was the name of the business that also purveyed liquid refreshment, but of a diﬀerent sort, from this building during the 18th century?

16. Don’t get the hump when trying to complete this quiz. This familiar dromedary is more common than you might think. What building is it opposite?

17. Commerce stands aloft looking upon Bath’s shoppers, but which street will you find this statue on?

18. Fit for a king to be, this shop now sells real estate rather than real leather. Name the address.

19. No longer a place to slake your thirst, but the sign remains the same. Name the street you’ll find this on.

WIN AN ELEGANT TEA FOR FOUR AT THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA HOTEL The first prize winner of our Christmas treasure hunt will be invited to take afternoon tea with three friends at the magnificent Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel to celebrate their success. They will enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the Canvas Room including finger sandwiches, freshly baked fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and homemade fruit preserves, and a selection of delicious cakes and pastries. The prize must be taken before the end of March 2019, subject to availability.

20. A word in your shell-like, this Queen Anne era doorway is the entrance to which continental sounding shop? 70 TheBATHMagazine

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If you are tempted to treat yourself or like the idea for a Christmas present for a loved one, call the Gainsborough Bath Spa (Beau Street, Bath) on 0800 5298 000; thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

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FESTIVE | DRINKS

ALL MUDDLED UP

Cocktails at Christmas? You bet. Bath’s best mixologists are experts in the midwinter muddle-up, so allow yourself to be guided all the way to seasonal satiation, says Melissa Blease WHERE: The Old Q Bar at The Queensberry Hotel WHY: Because it’s one of Bath’s most subtly glamorous ‘hidden gem’ bars: distinctly grown-up but never over-decorous, smart but artfully quirky... and a perfect precursor to The Olive Tree Restaurant's Michelin-starred dining experience. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Sloe Negroni – a festive twist on the classic Italian cocktail created by Olive Tree restaurant manager Owen Farr. “We use 25ml of 6 O’Clock Sloe Gin – a beautiful, Bristol-made artisan sloe gin – as the base for this cocktail,” says Owen. “The sloe gin is matured in the sloe berries for at least six months which gives it a beautifully fruity sweet, plum and cherry flavour, bringing a Christmassy twist to the classic Negroni, perfect for party season.” To make it yourself, simply fill a tumbler with ice and pour in equal measures of sloe gin, campari and Punt e Mes (around 25ml of each should do the trick). Give it a brief stir with a cocktail spoon (you don’t want to over-dilute the drink with melted ice), pour, and garnish with fresh orange peel or an orange slice . • olivetreebath.co.uk WHERE: The Montagu Bar and Champagne Lounge at The Royal Crescent Hotel WHY: Because the whole atmosphere subtly exudes an elegant, discreetly luxurious sophistication rarely experienced outside of London’s grand old dames of the five-star hotel scene. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Rudolph, created by Montagu head sommelier Jean-Marc Leitao, who describes it as “a smooth little number given a festive hint with a squeeze of orange and ‘significant’ raspberry.” This heady concoction contains Plantation Three Stars White Rum, Brown Cacao Liqueur, orange juice and ginger cordial – a tasty little medley indeed. It’s served with a warning from JeanMarc, though: don’t drink and sleigh! • royalcrescent.co.uk

WHERE: The Gainsborough Bar, The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel WHY: Because it’s a sparkling oasis of chic in an environment that epitomises A-list luxury – if you’re after that “feel like a million dollars” buzz, you’ve come to the right place. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Gainsborough’s Winter Rumcal, created by head barman Mateusz Dulko. “Made with a combination of rum, mezcal, and orange, it's a wonderfully warming drink for the winter months,” says Mateusz. “Deep in flavour, this beautiful cocktail brings to mind an array of Christmas aromas mixed with zesty orange. Inspired by The Dragon’s Heart cocktail, this special concoction offers guests a delicious, unique alternative to the traditional festive drinks.” Want to recreate a taste of The Gainsborough at home? Here we go: muddle three lime wedges, three drops of Angustora Bitters and 25ml Elderflower Cordial together in a cocktail shaker. Add 40ml Plantation Double Aged Dark Rum, 25ml Mezcal, 20ml Stone’s Ginger Wine and 40m orange juice; top up with ice and shake it all about. To serve, fine-strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange slice, either fresh or dehydrated. • thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk WHERE: Bar 15, No 15 Great Pulteney Street WHY: Set within one of Bath’s most vivacious boutique hotel experiences, it’s laden with wit, personality and genteel escapism, and decorated throughout with captivating contemporary art and intelligently quirky fixtures and fittings at every turn. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Cinnamon Sidecar, created by bar manager Ian Harman. “This cocktail is throwback to a classic with a festive twist – it’s fresh, strong, and balanced with lemon, with a lovely sweet finish,” says Ian. To make it, he puts 25ml of Cointreau, 40ml of Maxime Trijol Cognac, 25ml fresh lemon juice and 25ml of home-infused cinnamon sugar syrup into a

Old Q at the Queensberry Hotel

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The Old Q Bar's Sloe Negroni: sloe-ly seductive

The Gainsborough's Winter Rumcal, infused with heady yo-ho-ho aromas Boston tin before shaking it up, doublestraining it into a chilled martini glass and serving it garnished with a cinnamon stick and dusted with icing sugar. Cheers! • no15greatpulteney.co.uk

WHERE: The Ivy Bath Brasserie WHY: Because it’s an stunning, sparkly, uniquely stylish contemporary glamour a go-go environment offering all manner of reasons to be chic’n’cheerful. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Merry Martini (a winter-spiced martini made with Monin pumpkin spice syrup, Absolut vanilla vodka and Bailey’s Irish Cream, topped with whipped cream and ground nutmeg) and/or the GIN-ger Fizz (Plymouth Gin with ginger and lemongrass cordial, topped with Ivy Champagne and garnished with a lemongrass stalk). But then again, you might prefer

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FESTIVE | DRINKS

Vino Vino Winter Wonder: fire, ice and drama in one glorious glass

Vino Vino puts the fizz into the festive season

to keep it totes trad... in which case, a glass mug of the Ivy’s Mulled Wine – served from a cauldron – has got your name on it. • theivybathbrasserie.com

WHERE: Winter Wonderland at The Bird WHY: Because it’s a fun, fantastical festive venue that recreates a starry woodland setting dressed with real trees, giant decorations and herds of life-size animals, some of whom actually, erm, sing – think, Alice In Wonderland meets Willy Wonka and asks Elf to throw them a party, and you’re there. WHAT AM I DRINKING? Winter Wonderland bar manager Feliks Rahuoja’s Red Nosed Mojito. “This is a festive take on a classic mojito, which pushes the ‘sleigh’ out by using spiced rum (the Appleton Estate rare blend is the significant ingredient here) with a sweet orange and gingerbread finish,” says Feliks. If you’d like to push the sleigh out for four guests at home this Christmas, fill a large jug with crushed ice. Add 200ml Appleton Estate dark rum, 50ml gingerbread syrup, the juice of two limes and a handful of cranberries. Stir it all together and top up with Fever Tree spiced orange ginger ale; serve garnished with caramelised cranberries. “You could serve it in individual glasses or pour from a teapot for a bit of fun,” says Feliks. “Or find a super-Christmassy vessel like ours to share from!” • thebirdbath.co.uk

WHERE: Vino Vino WHY: Because it’s at the epicentre of the lively, sparkling Saw Close scene – if you’re in the vicinity, you can’t miss it. Featuring a spacious terrace furnished with superefficient alfresco heaters that make the need for thermals redundant on even the frostiest days, it’s the ultimate buzzing Bath chill-out zone (but without the chill – have we mentioned those super-efficient heaters?). WHAT AM I DRINKING? You’re spoiled for choice here as there are four Christmas

Cocktails to choose from. “The Salted Caramel and Coconut Espresso Martini was inspired by the classic Espresso Martini which is one of our most popular cocktail all year round, so we’ve turned it into something really indulgent and delicious for the festive season,” says Vino V manager Ben Goodman, who created the cocktails in partnership with Head Barman Przemek Chrzanograss. “The Winter Wonder cleverly imbues feelings of both warmth and chill, The Royale evokes memories of winter evenings spent curled up by a cosy fire and, because we’re wine and cocktail specialists, The Marlborough Verde links an actual wine to an actual cocktail!” The Salted Caramel and Coconut Espresso Martini comes garnished with salted caramel chocolate and coconut dust; the Winter Wonder brings vanilla vodka, chocolate and vanilla liqueur, milk and espresso coffee ice cubes together in perfect harmony, accessorised with star anise and chocolate dust; the Royale combines Grand Marnier and Cognac with Angostura bitters, orange peel and cinnamon, served with a lit cinnamon stick and dehydrated orange wheel; the Marlborough Verde introduces Sauvignon Blanc to vodka before being muddled with egg white, elderflower liqueur and fresh grapes, presented with a flourish of cucumber, grapes and edible flowers. • vinovinowinebar.co.uk

WHERE: Fidel Rum Bar WHY: This friendly, intimate, easygoing little bar is the place to acquaint yourself with all manner of varieties of the legendarily characterful tipple that we know and love as rum: the deeply rich, smooth, characteristically intense dark stuff that’s guaranteed to get the party started. WHAT AM I DRINKING? The Alohahoho, of course! Created by general manager Liam Bodde and made with dark rum, Aloha 65 (for a tart citrus bite), coconut milk (for creaminess) and orange bitters and served

dusted with a shaving of fresh nutmeg, it’s rum-related Christmas in a glass. • 3 Trim Bridge, Bath BA1 1HD

WHERE: At Home WHY: Because you’re having a party and want to offer a warm welcome to the Designated Drivers. WHAT AM I SERVING AS AN ALCOHOLFREE ALTERNATIVE? Seedlip Grove 42: the third non-alcoholic spirit in the Seedlip collection, described as “an adult, citrus blend of copper-pot distillates including bitter orange, mandarin, blood orange, lemongrass, ginger and lemon, resulting in a Celebration of the Orange.” The Seedlip range was created by entrepreneur Ben Branson to solve the dilemma of what to drink when you’re not drinking; today, it’s stocked in over 250 restaurants and many of the world’s best cocktail bars and luxury hotels. Buy it from high-quality retailers (including Waitrose) or online via the Seedlip website. The gorgeous Seedlip Cocktail Book, meanwhile, features cocktail recipes from some of the world’s best bartenders, and includes insight into the ethos, techniques and ingredients behind the recipes. Seedlip costs £14.99 for 20cl, or £27.99 for 70cl. The Seedlip Cocktail Book is published by Random House and costs £14.99. • seedlipdrinks.com n

The Grove Blossom Seedlip mocktail

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FOOD | INTERVIEW

COOKING ON A STAR

Chris Cleghorn, head chef at the Olive Tree Restaurant, has recently been awarded a Michelin star, the most revered accolade in the restaurant world. Melissa Blease chats to Chris about the path to stardom

Main image by Paolo Ferla

Michelin-starred restaurants (and price-tag thereof). Unless you’re a dedicated foodie who avidly keeps up with Michelin-related news, there’s a perception that star-spangled restaurants are more about pomp, ceremony and high prices than a modern fine dining experience that’s accessible to all – and a decade or so ago, this assumption might have had foundation. These days, however, this simply isn’t the case as the Olive Tree proves, as the menus (which include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) carry a refreshingly down-to-earth price tag. Fancy an impromptu two-course Michelin-starred lunch between Friday and Sunday? That’ll be £26.50, madam. When you factor in the seductive environment, the most welcoming, well-informed front of house staff and, of course, the quality and style of the food on your plate, it’s safe to say that we’re most definitely on bargain territory here.

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Chris describes his style as being clean, crisp, and bringing together the comfort flavours that he’s always loved with his own twists, turns and a subtle edge of modernity

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lermont-Ferrand, 1889: brothers André and Édouard Michelin founded a tyre company in central France. In a dazzlingly entrepreneurial effort to boost sales by generating an increased interest in motoring, the brothers produced a little guide packed with handy information for motorists, including practical tips such as how to change one of those all-important tyres alongside nifty little recommendations for where to eat or stay en route. Food world, 2018: The Michelin Guide – for which 120+ inspectors eat around 250 meals every year in more than 40,000 restaurants and hotels across three continents – is the indisputable, upper-crust foodie bible, responsible for the star rating that can make the fortunes of the chefs working in the hottest kitchens around the world. In October this year, Laurence and Helen Beere – head honchos of the super-stylish little independent restaurant that’s thrived for many years below (and as an intrinsic part of) the independent boutique hotel The Queensberry – announced some very big news. Having been head chef at the Olive Tree for more than five years, Chris Cleghorn had earned his kitchen a Michelin star – the only one awarded in Bath in the 2018/19 roll call, one of only 97 awarded outside of London, and one of only 15 new names to be added to the illustrious list this year. “To put it mildly, I’m still just over the moon about the news,” says Chris. “In a way, I still can’t quite believe it. But then again, the whole Olive Tree team have worked towards this moment for a very, very long time.” And it is indeed an accolade that requires a massive amount of hard work and dedication to earn. Despite the Olive Tree already being the holder of 3 AA Rosettes (a remarkable achievement in itself), Chris tells me that at the start of this year, he was at a point where he was thinking that if he didn’t get a Michelin star in 2018, he was never going to get it. So what did he do to change that mindset into a positive force? “To a degree, I think I know how I did it,” he says. “I gave myself the time to really develop, because I had a stronger than ever vision of what and where I wanted to be as a chef. I built my confidence, and worked really hard to get my dishes not only to the point where I believed they were good, but where I knew that they were truly ‘wow’ – and that, I suppose is what the Michelin ‘journey’ is all about. And now, for the whole team at the Olive Tree who work so hard day in, day out to do what we do, we’ve been granted a magnificent reward.” And it’s a reward that we can all grant ourselves... despite what you may think about

“We much prefer to offer amazing food at amazing value for money than price ourselves out of the market,” says Chris. “The Olive Tree attracts all kinds of guests, from locals who fancy a lovely night out to people celebrating very special occasions – and we want to be accessible to all. In most groups too, at least one person these days will be vegetarian, or vegan, or gluten-intolerant, and those people should never be sidelined, or made to feel as though their options are limited. So, even though our margins may be tight, we cater for everybody, all the time – and that’s another element that keeps us pushing forward. I used to worry a lot about putting dishes on the menu that people wouldn’t go for – my raw scallop dish, for example, or my beef tartare – but actually those dishes have proved to be our most popular. If I hadn’t have pushed those boundaries, we wouldn’t have evolved to the level we’re at.” So where does the inspiration for Chris’s dishes come from? “It’s a mixture of things, from noticing what kind of flavours and ingredients are trending, to just being brave and

trying out new ideas,” he says. “Also, I like to eat at restaurants which have chefs that I’ve always aspired to be [Chris was then looking forward to a dinner at Sat Bains’ legendarily innovative restaurant in Nottingham] – I like to be made to rethink what I’m doing, build the confidence to put dishes on the menu that I once doubted people would opt for, and just cook what I know is right – that’s how a chef develops his or her own style.” Chris describes his style as being clean, crisp, and bringing together the comfort flavours that he’s always loved with his own twists, turns and a subtle edge of modernity. But there’s definitely never any hint of style over substance on his menu; nothing that shouldn’t be on the plate will ever be there, and every single element counts. “If a process or ingredient doesn’t bring anything to the dish, it won’t be included, no matter how good it might look,” he says. And, when asked who his style of cooking might most appeal to, he’s similarly pragmatic: “Everyone!” he says. “Honestly, just everyone. Most of the time on any given service, I don’t know who might be eating with us – in the last couple of weeks, we’ve had food critics, other Michelin-starred chefs and directors from other leading hotels come to eat with us, and they don’t say who they are until the end of the meal. But it really doesn’t matter, because we treat every single diner in the same way. If we didn’t do that, we might as well just close our doors because we wouldn’t be who we are, doing what we do.” Once all the celebrations have died down, though, might it be possible that an extra edge of pressure creeps in? After all, a star only shines over any given restaurant for just one year; a handful of months down the line, the none-too-small matter of retention – or indeed, the possibility of a double-up – will be on Chris’s mind. Or will it? “I try not to think about that!” he says. “Ultimately, all I want is for people to come and eat at The Olive Tree, have an amazing meal and leave raving about what we do. If people keep doing that, everything else follows – I stress more about that than I do about guides and awards. For too many years I almost forgot that, because I aspired to so much, and wanted to make my mark professionally. It’s almost as though the moment I really realised that what’s most important is to have people eating my food and then going away thinking OMG! was the most important thing of all... then, I got the star. So as long as I keep doing the OMG! thing, I’ll always be doing something right.” n The Olive Tree at the Queensberry Hotel, Russel Street, Bath: 01225 447928; olivetreebath.co.uk

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FOOD &

DRINK

Gifted

IDEAS

There are foodie gifts and... there are foodie gifts. Here’s our pick of some of Bath’s tastiest

A CHEESE LOVERS’ DELIGHT

Artisan cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield’s Bath shop is the ultimate destination for all cheese lovers. Not only can you find the finest selection of beautiful cheeses available to buy individually, but it also houses a superb range of cheese gift items and luxurious hampers for the Christmas season. Shown above, The Piccadilly Hamper, £100. Paxton & Whitfield, 1 John Street, Bath; paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk A LITTLE TASTE OF BATH This makes a great gift idea – a little slice of Bath heaven in a mini Christmas hamper. Featuring a small Bath Gin, Bath white chocolates, vanilla fudge, Christmas morning marmalade and a mini Boxing Day chutney, £15. The Taste of Bath website features many more delicious sizing and pricing options and final delivery date for orders is 19 December. taste-of.co.uk

HIGHGROVE HOME FARM RUNNY HONEY

A delicious raw runny honey produced by bees on HRH The Prince of Wales’s Duchy Home Farm. Made in small quantities to traditional methods, this honey is presented in a rustic-style jar, finished with a Highgrove label. £6.50. Visit the Highgrove online shop for plenty of inspired treats and gifts; highgrovegardens.com

CHAMPAGNE TAITTINGER & GLASSES GIFT

PLANT-BASED COOKERY CLASSES Looking for the ultimate gift for the foodie in your life? The Demuths Cookery School Gift Voucher is a perfect Christmas present. Run by one of the UK's leading plant-based chefs Rachel Demuth, and oﬀering a wide variety of classes, across diﬀerent cuisines and skill levels, Demuths Cookery School inspires vegan ways of working with food. Their ethos is that food is a pleasure to cook, eat and share. Whether you’re V-curious, vegan or vegetarian, Demuths serves the perfect course. You can order a Demuths Christmas gift voucher online at demuths.co.uk or call 01225 427938

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One of the world’s most loved Grande Marque NV Champagnes. Stylish and undersated this is a great gift idea, presented with two elegant Taittinger branded Champagne flutes, all beautifully packaged in a smart Taittinger gift box. £40. Great Western Wine, Wells Road, Bath; greatwesternwine.co.uk

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Gascoyne House, Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RN. T: 01225 480042

Beau Nash House, Saw Close, Bath BA1 1EU. T: 01225 330030

www.amaroneristorante.co.uk

www.raphaelrestaurant.co.uk Monday-Saturday 12–2:30pm & 5:30–10pm. Sundays - Closed

Monday-Saturday 12–2:30pm & 5:30–10pm. Sundays - Closed

THE US DELICIO GUIDE LOOKING FOR RESTAURANT INSPIRATION? The Delicious Guide to Bath featuring all the fave eateries and foodie treateries is available online at our website www.thebathmag.co.uk

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DRINKS | COLUMN

TRISTAN DARBY Columnist Tristan Darby gets thoroughly into the Christmas spirit and chooses his top selections for the festive period, ranging from celebratory fizz to rich wines to quaff by the fireside

hile Christmas isn’t all about the alcohol, it does for many of us feature large in the holiday. Here are some fine choices for every part of the celebration timetable when alcohol could make an appearance.

FESTIVE FIZZ My first pick is a real crowd-pleaser that’ll really get the party started. Fruity, refreshing and gently sparkling Ruggeri, Prosecco Spago Frizzante (£12.75 at Great Western Wine) is full of delicious apple fruit aromas and flavours, with just a nip of sweetness and a pleasingly dry finish. The bottle is tied with string (spago) to hold the cork in place, not a wire cage because frizzante is a less fizzy style of prosecco. It’s elegant, dangerously quaffable and a sure-fire hit. If you’re a fan of drier fizz and looking for quality without splashing out on Champagne, then Tresor Brut Reserva Cava (£12.95 at GWW) is a smart buy. Aged in bottle for over two years before release, this is a more grown-up and mature cava than many at a similar price point. Fresh and elegant with fine bubbles and delicious notes of Bramley apples and toasted nuts. It’s delicious on its own, or a fine accompaniment to savoury nibbles and canapés. Taittinger, Prelude Grand Cru Champagne (£49.50 at GWW) would be my choice for a special toast or a sparkling gift. It’s made with grapes sourced from top Champagne vineyards and you can expect Taittinger’s trademark elegant style, with a rich and creamy texture, and delicious notes of brioche, stone fruit and honey on a long and fine finish. Guaranteed to hit the spot with even the most discerning fine fizz fans. AN APERITIF Regal Rogue, Daring Dry Vermouth (£18.95 at GWW) is an interesting Australian take on vermouth. Australian sauvignon blanc sets the aromatic and fruity base on which native Australian botanicals such as aniseed, myrtle, quandong and native thyme create a mouth-watering savoury and salty overlay. Mix it 1:1 with a classic dry gin for a delicious wet Martini, or serve over plenty of ice in a tall glass with Indian tonic water, a sprig of thyme and an olive for the perfect pre-dinner palate perker. TURKEY & TRIMMINGS Whites can be easily overpowered by all the rich accompaniments to turkey, so I’d always opt for a fuller bodied wine with a decent acidity to stand up to stronger flavours and cut through the food. Reasonably bold chardonnay is the classic choice and my preference. Les Mougeottes, Chardonnay (£9.95 at GWW) would do the job at a very reasonable price point – great news for those with many mouths to feed. For something a little more special, head for richer Puligny or Meursault wines from Burgundy such as Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault (£43 at GWW), rich and complex with bold fruit flavours and a crisp finish to refresh and help clean the palate between forkfuls.

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Red drinkers remember that turkey is a ‘dry’ meat, so there’s nothing much to soak up tannin, therefore, it’s best to seek out smoother wines. Pinot Noir, topnotch gamay or well-aged Rioja, Bordeaux or Chianti work best. Domaine de Vissoux, Beaujolais ‘Origine’ (£13.50 at GWW) is bursting with red and black fruit character – smooth, refreshing, classy and bold enough to serve on the big day. Those seeking mature Bordeaux would do well with Morgenster Estate, Lourens River Valley 2003 (£22 at GWW), which delivers quality mature right-bank style at a hard-to-beat price point. Showcasing red fruit, savoury herbs, cigar box and leather aromas and flavours it would also work well if you’re opting for beef or lamb instead of the traditional bird. For pinot try and avoid lighter elegant styles that will be overwhelmed, and look for richer wines from places like Australia, Chile or the USA such as J. Lohr ‘Falcons Perch’ Pinot Noir (£18.95 at GWW). Burgundy drinkers are best to buy richer wines from areas such as Gevrey or Volnay. A good choice would be Regis Rossignol Changarnier, Volnay 1er Cru 2013 (£44.50 at GWW). AFTER DINNER D’Arenberg, Vintage Fortified Shiraz (£21.50 at GWW) is a fantastic alternative to your traditional Christmas port. It’s rich and warming, with heady aromas and flavours of sweet ripe blackberries, black pepper and liquorice. Fantastic with good dark chocolate or blue cheese. FIRESIDE Deep, dark and malty Wiper & True, Plum Pudding Porter (£3.50 GWW) has dried fruit and caramel flavours leading the way to a long lasting toasty and malty finish. It’s not too heavy for a porter, with a nice level of fizz and zesty citrus character to refresh – a great fireside sipper. Keeping with plums, 6 O’Clock, Damson Gin (£35 at GWW) has fireside written all over it – amazingly plummy sipped on its own or topped up with Indian tonic, however, I like it with ginger beer and a big lime wedge squeezed in for a spicy and fruity festive serve. Domaine Brusset, Gigondas Tradition (£19.95 at GWW) from France’s southern Rhone is the perfect heady winter red for fireside contemplation. It’s rich, bold and complex, with brooding dark fruit pepper, liquorice and herb aromas and flavours. Give it at least an hour in a decanter, then grab a throw and hunker down with a glass. It’s a real Christmas cracker. n Join Tristan for a range of wine classes throughout the year at Great Western Wine. Visit greatwineschool.co.uk for information and booking.

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VA-VA-VOOM VINTAGE The wine industry in Somerset is relatively young, but its wines are gaining recognition. Liz Lowe talks to some of our local vineyards who say that their 2018 wines could be an exceptional vintage

View of the Mendips from Aldwick Estate

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LOCAL | WINES

s the last grapes are harvested under low autumn sun, the word in the vineyards is that 2018 could be one of the UK’s best vintages yet. “There’s an excitement among growers and winemakers,” says Master of Wine Victoria Stephens-Clarkson. Reports so far have been “incredibly positive,” she says, “in terms of the quality of this vintage, and also the large quantity of grapes”. Locally the mood is also one of optimism and anticipation. Aldwick Estate, Somerset’s largest vineyard, is based near Bristol in countryside surrounding the Mendip Hills. Managing director Sandy Luck has just overseen a record harvest, which began two weeks earlier than previous years’ and produced their biggest yield to date. Producers across the region have experienced similar good fortune. “This has certainly been the most exciting year since we planted the vineyard,” says James Cumming, owner and winemaker of Fenny Castle Vineyard near Wells. But in a year when many agricultural crops have suffered due to intense heat and arid conditions, why have the vines had it so good? Tony Cox has been making wine from Mumford’s Vineyard in Bath for more than 20 years and says this year has been “exceptional”. He explains that the favourable weather began not with high temperatures but low ones, as the prolonged winter delayed bud break. During this stage young shoots are particularly vulnerable to spring frosts which, just last year, caused some English vineyards to lose over 50 per cent of their crop. As temperatures rose the vines began their growth cycle and the warm, dry weather continued through flowering. Cold wind and heavy rain can damage flowers and affect pollination but this year a high percentage of flowers were pollinated, resulting in large bunches of grapes that were able to fully ripen. The sweltering summer wasn’t without challenges. At Dunleavy in Chew Valley near Bristol, Ingrid Bates manages her Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc vines as a team of one. Most of the vineyard management takes place during the warmest months and Ingrid says wryly: “If I had staff I probably wouldn’t force them to work in those temperatures; because it’s just me I have to”. Like Aldwick Estate, Ingrid sends her grapes to award-winning local winemaker Steve Brooksbank and will now have to wait for the first taste of her 2018 wines. She’s optimistic that her hard work will be rewarded though: “As long as you start with the best quality fruit,” she says, “that’s all you can do”. An exceptionally hot year can reduce grapes’ acidity; an important component which gives freshness and structure to

wines. Victoria Stephens-Clarkson explains this is unlikely to be a concern for UK growers operating in a marginal climate as “even in a good year, we have significant levels of acidity”. She adds with a smile, “The main pressure seems to be space in the cellar and fermentation tanks for all those grapes.” Not a bad problem to face. A recent survey commissioned by the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry, WineGB, shows the south west claiming just 11 per cent of the total area under vines, compared to 75 per cent in the south east. In Somerset the wine industry is still relatively young with mostly small, family-run producers, but its wines are gaining recognition. “The brilliant thing about Somerset is the quality of the still wines in the region,” says Ben Franks, co-founder of Bath-based online wine merchant Novel Wines. He explains how the West Country’s clay soils differ from chalky soils more typical in regions such as Kent and Sussex: “The clay leads to riper, fatter grapes and you have a much softer, juicier wine when you press it”. Ben cites Dunleavy’s excellent Pinot Noir Rosé as an example of a wine which exhibits riper tropical fruit flavours than its south east counterparts. This year’s stellar harvest could be good news for our pockets too, adds Ben. As most producers have large volumes in 2018, he hopes prices will remain stable. For consumers new to Somerset’s wines, Ben recommends trying the grape Bacchus which is “England’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc”. While some can be “very green and herby,” he finds west country versions, like Aldwick’s Bacchus, have a peachier, more approachable style. Other grapes which flourish in the region include fresh, citrussy Madeleine Angevine and pear and melonscented Ortega. It may be surprising to learn WineGB’s recent survey identified the most planted grape in England and Wales as a red one – Pinot Noir. It’s closely followed by Chardonnay and together they cover over 60 per cent of the total hectarage. Both are traditional Champagne varieties, favoured by the sparkling wine industry which accounts for over two-thirds of all production here. Pinot Noir is used for Aldwick Estate’s Jubilate and Fenny Castle Vineyard’s Brut Rosé, but at Dunleavy the first sparkling wine release is 100 per cent Seyval Blanc. It produces “really lovely crisp sparkling wine,” says Ingrid, and the variety’s resilience lends itself well to organic farming. Red wine production is notoriously tricky in the UK climate, but we are likely to see an increase in 2018: Fenny Castle Vineyard plan to use the ripest Pinot Noir grapes for their first ever red wine. Mumfords are hoping this year’s red will see similar success to their 2003, another scorching

vintage, which was served onboard HMS Victory during the 2005 bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. With a stand-out vintage and an innovative group of growers and winemakers, the future of Somerset wine looks rosy (or should that be rosé?). James Cumming believes a strong regional identity is beginning to emerge as “producers in the region work closely together sharing ideas and expertise.” Back in the vineyards the vines can rest until next year and we’ll have to wait to taste the fruits of their labour: most of the still wines will be released next year and the sparkling wines in two years. But with many local vineyards happy to receive visitors and arrange tastings, Somerset’s wine drinkers have plenty to fill their glasses with. n

Pinot grapes at Fenny Castle

CONTACT DETAILS AND WHERE TO BUY Aldwick Estate Redhill, Bristol BS40 5RF 01934 864404 aldwickestate.co.uk Fenny Castle Vineyard Panniers Farm, Castle Lane, Worth, Wells BA5 1NL 01749 678900/01749 678928 fennycastlevineyard.co.uk Mumfords Vineyard Shockerwick Lane, Bannerdown, Bath BA1 7LQ 01225 858367 mumfordsvineyard.co.uk Dunleavy Dunleavy Vineyards, Wrington, near Bristol 07779 085420 dunleavyvineyards.co.uk Novel Wines 11 Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JQ 01225 667311 novelwines.co.uk

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS STADIUM FOR BATH Stadium for Bath is to launch the final round of consultation on its vision to deliver a new sport, leisure and communityfocused destination in the heart of the city. The proposals include plans to breathe new life into the riverside realm between Pulteney Bridge and North Parade and to improve access to the city centre from that eastern bank of the River Avon, which sits adjacent to the Rec. The community-focused east stand will drive active involvement in grassroots sport by addressing specific social needs via targeted education opportunities for young adults, and supporting charitable organisations operating in Bath. Stadium for Bath held a consultation on the emerging concept designs in July. More than 1,000 people attended this event in person, with a further 16,000 engaging via social media and the Stadium for Bath website. The project team has since collated all feedback received during this time and fed it directly back into the design process. Following this, a preferred scheme from the emerging concepts has been developed. In order to progress these plans to both regenerate the riverside and create new world-class facilities for

FUN FACT The average time a visitor spends in Bath city centre is 75.2 minutes

everyone to enjoy at the Rec, Stadium for Bath is launching the final round of consultation. The public exhibition will be held in the Brunswick Room at the Guildhall in the centre of the city, from 12pm to 6pm on Wednesday 5 December, 11am to 7pm on Thursday 6 December and Friday 7 December and 10am to 4pm on Saturday 8 December. At the event there will be the opportunity to speak with members of the project team, ask questions and give feedback on the developed concept design. All of the information will also be available online with a feedback form. Chief executive of Bath Rugby Tarquin McDonald said: “We believe that we now have a developed design that is befitting to both our iconic location in the heart of the city and Bath’s World Heritage status. Stadium for Bath is the project that brings together Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby Foundation and Arena 1865. stadiumforbath.com

SERVICE HIGH Sharp Family Law has been singled out by The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2018–19 Rankings Directory as providing an ‘extremely high level of service’. This builds on previous comments that recognised the firm as ‘genuinely having its clients’ interests at heart’ and for its ‘practical and collaborative approach to family law’. These Clare Webb comments are drawn from client research undertaken for The Legal 500. Partner Clare Webb is also highlighted for being ‘extremely effective and focused’ and ‘delivering sensible and realistic advice’. The directory acknowledges the continuing growth of the firm, which has doubled in size in recent years and is now the largest and fastest growing niche firm of family law solicitors in Bath and Bristol. sharpfamilylaw.com

A WARM WELCOME The Bath Welcome Ambassadors have arrived on the streets of the city. This team of friendly faces will provide all visitors with a warm and informed welcome. Emily and Christine are the chief welcome ambassadors employed by Bath BID and they coordinate a team of volunteers. This is a brand new programme for the city spearheaded by the Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID). Dressed in their bright blue jackets, emblazoned with ‘Welcome to Bath’ and ‘Ask me!’, the team will be on hand around the city from Thursday to Sunday each week. bathbid.co.uk

BATH BUSINESS BAROMETER UPDATE: OCTOBER 2018

provided by

High Street Footfall

Source: placedashboard.com

(Month on month % change)

n Bath’s footfall in October dropped for the second month in a row, down 5.4% which is slightly lower than the rest of the UK which decreased by 2.3%. Further investigation as to the specific causes of this decrease is required to see what factors are impacting on these levels. We expect that recorded footfall during December will increase significantly due to the festive period and the Bath Christmas Market. At the Local Data Company’s (LDC) ‘18th Retail & Leisure Trends Summit’ in November, it was reported that the number of companies falling into administration in 2018 is projected to be lower than 2017. The continuing market turbulence across the retail industry is also creating conditions for newer entrants and concepts to flourish. Places that are responsive are more likely to do well and vacant units are creating opportunities as well as challenges.

Bath

-5.4% South West UK

-4.6%

-2.3%

Here in Bath, we are pleased to see a number of new arrivals to the city including BrewDog, S. P. Green, Penhaligon’s, Finisterre and the very glamorous looking Tivoli Cinema. Springboard Research Ltd.

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ocl A C C O U N TA N C Y

141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL Tel: 01225 445507

www.oclaccountancy.com

Have you read the budget?

Christmas giving that lasts a lifetime

Here are some interesting points that you may have missed from the recent budget (although details are to be confirmed by HMRC after consultation)….

Private residence relief. The budget provided two unhelpful changes that will apply when you sell your home for more than it cost, with both due to come into force from 6 April 2020. They are: • the exemption that had applied to gains attributable to the final 18 months will now only apply to the final 9 months • and lettings relief that potentially exempted up to an extra £40,000 of gain if your home was let at any time, will only be available if you occupied the property at the same time as your tenant On a positive note a new tax relief was introduced for expenditure on renovation, construction and improvement of commercial buildings where contracted on or after 29th October 2019.This new “structures and buildings allowance” will be an annual deduction on a straight-line basis at the rate of 2% of all qualifying expenditure

For tax saving tips contact us – call Marie Maggs, Hannah Pettifer or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 for a no-obligation meeting. See our website for more. BE READY FOR MAKING TAX DIGITAL

What our clients say:

“The team at OCL have been both pro-active and excellent in the delivery of their financial and advisory services for our business.We have now implemented the next step in our digital development plans with the support and expertise of our cloud accountancy partners OCL.” “They have advised and successfully transitioned our accounts to a cloud based solution using our preferred software provider.This move enables us to focus more time on our core business….We are now working with OCL on the next phase of our business development with real-time financial insight. (if only all companies could be as efficient!)”

And finally…… We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their support and business in 2018 and to wish them every success for the New Year. We would also like to wish all Bath Magazine readers the same and hope to meet more of you in 2019.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

At Christmas, many people choose to give a financial gift to a loved one. If you are thinking of doing so, it is important that you stay on top of the latest legislation so you know the best way to steward your money. For example, in the 2018 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a relaxation of the rules around gifting premium bonds to allow people other than grandparents and parents to invest on behalf of children. Also, from March 2019, the minimum investment in premium bonds has been lowered from £100 to £25 and the Junior ISA investment limit has been raised to £4,368 per year. Estate planning The holidays also provide a great opportunity to think about a longerterm approach to giving, particularly if your estate is likely to exceed the Inheritance Tax (IHT) threshold on your death. If you plan to make substantial financial gifts to individuals, in most circumstances you need to survive for more than seven years for the value to fall outside of your estate for IHT. There are however a number of useful exemptions to the seven-year rule. For example, in any year, you have a gift allowance up to £3,000. Gifts up to this amount, in a year, will immediately fall outside of your estate for IHT purposes. If you don’t use your allowance, you can carry it forward to the next tax year. You can also make gifts of up to £250 to any individual without impacting your £3,000 annual allowance. There are a number of other exemptions which are worth investigating, and it is worth bearing in mind that making a gift in excess of the allowances available may have no detrimental effect on the taxable value of your estate, even if you do not survive seven years. Establishing a trust Establishing a trust can be a good way to make more substantial gifts. There are many different types of trust but, for lifetime giving, discretionary trusts are a popular option as they are extremely flexible. The settlor (the person who created the trust) will name a number of potential beneficiaries and trustees who will manage the trust assets and decide when, if or how the potential beneficiaries will benefit. Estate planning helps identify effective and tax efficient ways to pass assets onto loved ones and it is important to not procrastinate as legislation changes all the time. At Mogers Drewett, we have been advising clients on estate planning and trusts for many years and we would be very happy to discuss your individual needs. For more information call us on 01225 750000 or visit www.mogersdrewett.com David Hill is Head of Private Client at Mogers Drewett

Call Marie Maggs, Mike Wilcox or Hannah Pettifer on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2018

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS AWARDS FOR LUCKNAM Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa has been awarded Best Hotel with Spa at the Condé Nast Johansens Annual Awards for Excellence. The hotel’s demi chef de partie, Gercelynn Mae Dionio, was also awarded South West Young Professional Chef of the Year in the 2018 South West Chef of the Year Awards. Gercelynn Mae Dionio also won the award for the Best Menu, which features pan-roasted brill, roasted partridge and frangipane tart. lucknampark.co.uk

NEW PARTNERSHIP Mogers Drewett has announced a partnership with specialist insurer and financial planning adviser Lloyd & Whyte, offering bespoke legal services to Lloyd & Whyte clients at discounted rates. Lloyd & Whyte, based in Taunton, offers insurance and financial planning advice to healthcare professionals and insurance for the owners of heritage properties and those with specialist interests ranging from amateur dramatics to classic cars. Lawyers from Mogers Drewett’s Private Client team will be available to offer legal advice to Lloyd & Whyte clients around a range of issues, including wills, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and trusts. Mogers Drewett will offer Lloyd and Whyte clients wills and LPA health checks. As part of a package deal, where a Lloyd & Whyte client takes two or more services from Mogers Drewett, they will be entitled to an exclusive 10% discount. mogersdrewett.com

HELPING THE WOODS The Woodland Trust is calling for the public’s help to save a wood threatened by disease. Avoncliff Wood is rare and beautiful ancient woodland flanking the River Avon just a few miles outside Bath. The rambling, ancient woodland has been untouched for generations which has allowed vast carpets of wild garlic to spread across the woodland floor. Alongside the wood is a further 26 acres of land, offering an exciting prospect to plant further trees and create a wildlife-rich mosaic of trees and open spaces. Woodland Trust site manager Joe Middleton said “It is rare to find a wood so completely untouched – a haven for wildlife including pipistrelle bats, greater and lesser horseshoe bats, green woodpeckers, kingfishers, swallows and song thrush. There are certain challenges ahead, not least the presence of ash dieback in the woods, so we want to plant new trees nearby.” The charity aims to raise £355,000 by the end of December. To help the charity raise the money for Avoncliff Wood go to: woodlandtrust.org.uk/Avoncliff 84 TheBATHMagazine

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DECEMBER 2018

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With Monahans Wealth Manangement youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in safe hands.

Our Family Wealth Transfer Advice can help to ensure your wealth is passed on through the generations to those you care about the most

Call Monahans Wealth Management now on 01225 472800 Lennox House, 3 Pierrepont Street, Bath, BA1 1LB www.monahans-wm.co.uk

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION NEWS PERFORMANCES WITH ART King Edward’s School, Bath has been shortlisted for its performing arts programme in the inaugural Independent Schools of the Year 2018 awards. The awards seek to highlight the quality of pupil experience in independent schools. A vibrant and inclusive performing arts department is at the heart of life at King Edward’s. The music department includes performance opportunities, instrumental or vocal lessons, alongside 28 different ensembles. KES also provides the largest proportion of boy choristers to Bath Abbey and works in partnership with Bath Philharmonia. KES Drama is equally innovative – a flourishing LAMDA programme has doubled in size and in the most recent exams all students received either a Merit or Distinction. Last year saw one of their most ambitious drama projects to date, with the production of POP! The Musical. kesbath.com

ALL CREATIVE All Hallows Prep School has been the only school in the south west to have been shortlisted for the national TES Creativity Awards 2019. Their recently opened Creative Centre encourages children to take a creative approach to all that they do. Projects are collaborative, innovative, cross-curricular, child-led, teacher-inspired and community focussed. Further craft, design and technology facilities encourage pupils to immerse themselves in an increasingly technological world; a flexible scheme of learning helps to develop knowledge, understanding and skills while embracing opportunities to work with outside artists and organisations. allhallowsschool.co.uk

CHILLING OUT AND CHIPPING STONE Four Bath College students competed in WorldSkills UK live, which held the UK national finals of more than 70 WorldSkills UK competitions, giving the most talented apprentices and students the chance to be named as the UK’s best in their chosen skill. The competitions challenge and assess an individual’s applied knowledge, technical ability and employability skills against a set of performance criteria. Two Refrigeration students, Chandler Davison Chandler Davison and Kevin Ballantine, made the top six for SkillFRIDGE. Two Stonemasonry students, Josh Underwood and Hartaj Hunjan, made the top eight for Stonemasonry in SkillBuild. Bath College was the only training provider in the 2018 SkillFRIDGE competition to see two of its students make the top six, with Chandler winning silver in the competition. bathcollege.ac.uk 88 TheBATHMagazine

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Most of our clothes are designed and made in our studio workshop here in Bath. We make and sell them exclusively in our shop on Pulteney Bridge. OPENING HOURS Monday – Saturday 10am – 5.30pm Sunday 11am – 4.30pm

01225 422333 info@uptoseven.co.uk 6 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX

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FAMILY | EVENTS

FAMILY DIARY IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN THIS MONTH FESTIVE FAMILY ARTISAN MARKET Saturday 8 December, 10am–5pm n Queen Square Head to Queen Square and enjoy a whole host of festive family activities. From a kids’ café and festive storytelling to Christmas arts and crafts workshops and face painting, there’s plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. There will also be glass-blowing demonstrations from Bath Aqua Glass, tasty street food and local makers; bathartisanmarket.com

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET Until Sunday 9 December, times vary n Bath city centre The whole family can enjoy over 180 twinkling chalets spread throughout the streets. Personalised presents, caramelised nuts and freshly baked doughnuts, there’s so much for you all to enjoy; bathchristmasmarket.co.uk PETER PAN Thursday 13 December – Sunday 13 January, times vary n Theatre Royal Bath A swash-buckling, unmissable Christmas treat that’s got everything from flying CGI effects to all the traditional Bath pantomime ingredients. Fly to Neverland and let the thrilling adventure begin! With Tim Edwards as Peter Pan and dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance, will be truly unforgettable; theatreroyal.org.uk SNOW MOUSE Thursday 13 December – Sunday 20 January, times vary n The egg Winter has arrived and the woods are covered in white. As a child hurries to play outside they find a sleeping mouse buried under the soft snowflakes. Sliding, tumbling and laughing they explore the winter

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MYSTICAL CREATURES AND MYTHICAL TALES Saturday 8 December, 3pm n Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DZ Join Mini Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for a mysterious adventure exploring the lands of mystical creatures and mythical tales through live music. Discover stories that are fluttering with ghosts, whooshing with wizards and crawling with creatures. Suitable for all ages. Adults £8, children and students £4; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Join Peter Pan and the gang at the Theatre Royal

wonderland together and keep each other safe and warm. Suitable for ages six months – four years. Adults £8.50, children £7.50. Lap seats are available at £1.50; theatreroyal.org.uk MAKE AND PLAY Friday 14 December, 10–11.30am n Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock Enter an imaginative world and create whatever comes to mind. Different materials will be provided to ensure creativity, exploration and messy play. Enjoy a free goodie bag of scrap to take home. Suitable for ages 18 months – four, younger children are also welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets £5.50; wiltshirescrapstore.co.uk PAPER PUDDINGS Saturday 15 December, 10.30am–12.30pm and 1.30–3.30pm n Victoria Art Gallery All the family can create paper pudding decorations using a range of art papers. This event is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult; victoriagal.org.uk FAMILY TAKEOVERS Saturday 15 December, 11am–2pm n The Edge, University of Bath Taking inspiration from the current exhibitions and special one-off themes, take part in drawing and making activities in the Resource Room. Drop in for ten minutes or an hour – it’s completely up to you.

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Materials provided, aprons available. Free. Suitable for four – 12 year olds; edgearts.org CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS Sunday 16 December, 10.30am–12.30pm and 1.30–3.30pm n Fashion Museum Create colourful Christmas stocking decorations and get in the festive spirit. Suitable for all the family. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with normal museum entry; fashionmuseum.co.uk SLEIGH-IN CINEMA & OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE Friday 21 December, 10.30am–12.30pm n The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9HX Build sleighs using scrap and craft materials before dashing through the snow and settling down to watch Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Standard price £7.50; poundarts.org.uk THE SNOWMAN & THE BEAR Saturday 22 December, 3.30pm n The Forum, Bath Set course for the annual trip to the North Pole just in time to see the Northern Lights, meet Father Christmas and have a dance or two with a snowman. This magical performance is perfect for all the family with Bath Philharmonia playing Howard Blake’s score live to Raymond Briggs’ animations. Doors open at 2.30pm. Adults £22, under 18s £14; bathforum.co.uk

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FAMILY | EVENTS

The Snowman & The Bear at The Forum

Create Christmas stockings at the Fashion Museum

REINDEER ON THE ROOF Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 December, 12pm, 2pm and 6pm n The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9HX As Darcy wakes up on Christmas morning she finds a stocking full of presents and a reindeer on the roof. Join Darcy on her epic adventure to get her new friend back to Lapland and discover the true meaning of Christmas along the way. £8/£7; poundarts.org.uk CHRISTMAS AT AVON VALLEY Until 24 December

n Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham Go on a fully immersive and theatrical 60minute magical journey to the North Pole with Evergreen the Elf to meet Father Christmas or have a tea party with the man himself. Prices from £22; avonvalley.co.uk

ICE SKATING Until Sunday 6 January, times vary n Royal Victoria Park Take to the ice and enjoy an hour of skating. Pre-booking is not required but it is advised especially in the evenings and on weekends. Skate aids are available for £5 per session.

Adults £11, children under 16 £10, family tickets £36; bathonice.com SOUTHGATE’S FESTIVE FOREST Until early January n SouthGate Think a magical walk-through wardrobe full of 15 real Christmas trees, a life-sized reindeer and polar bear, big fur coats and snowfall guaranteed every hour. If that’s not enough how about a Nordic-themed bar serving hot chocolate and cosy heated cabins complete with blankets and cushions? Enjoy a winter wonderland suitable for all the family; southgatebath.com

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UNIVERSITY | RESEARCH

SET IN MOTION

Motion capture – notably used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy to create Gollum’s distinctive movements – is being developed at the University of Bath with the help of some local canine friends, says Simon Horsford

n a small room festooned with cameras and with dark blinds shutting out the autumn light, University of Bath researchers have been monitoring the movement of dogs and opera singers, and actors from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. It’s all about motion capture – digitally recording the movements of people and animals – and applying their research to everything from films and video games to elite sports performers and rehabilitation technology. The team is part of Camera – the nifty acronym for the Centre for Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research & Applications – and its most recent project certainly captured the imagination. Researchers have been developing a new procedure that will use the movements of a two-legged human actor to drive a fourlegged animal character, so as to make animal animations more realistic on film and in video games. Martin Parsons, head of studio at Camera, says: “At the moment for animal animations, actors have to walk around on all fours and

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the software changes them into an animal. [Planet of the Apes, for instance, used motion capture techniques to transform the characters]. If it’s close to a human like a gorilla and bipedal then you can do something with that, but if the way the animal moves is fundamentally different, such as a four-legged animal, you need something a lot more sophisticated and that’s what we are trying to do.” Camera began life three years ago with Parsons being recruited by Professor Darren Cosker from the university, his role funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The animal project came out of a bid related to Andy Serkis’ company, The Imaginarium, which was making a new version of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Serkis, who played Caesar in the Planet of the Apes films and Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, “is a big fan of motion capture,” says Parsons, “and wanted to make Animal Farm using actors appearing as the animals. So what we had to do was take the human motion and convert

Buckbeak the hippogriﬀ first appeared in Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban it into animal motion. The way we do that is to take lots of animal data and teach the computer about how animals move and then feed in the human motion. It works a bit like a puppeteer with the actor using their body to drive the animal avatar.” The project began by studying pigs from a nearby farm at Newton St Loe – the pigs were too big and uncooperative for the studio – and tracking their movements using reflective markers on the animals and special cameras. “We also used actors from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School as we wanted

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UNIVERSITY | RESEARCH

Martin Parsons and Maggie

Maggie’s movements are picked up by the cameras

Maggie in the Camera studio to know how actors would perform as pigs, so that we had a better idea of what kind of human motion data we would be trying to convert.” Although that version of Animal Farm wasn’t greenlit (the film has now been taken up by Netflix), Camera continued their studies by moving on to dogs, using nine breeds from the nearby Bath Cats and Dogs Home. “We felt the easiest way forward for capturing quadrupedal motion in the studio was with a dog and we started with mine, Maggie, and then we thought of the Cats and Dogs Home, says Parsons. “Humans are much more cooperative wearing markers, but the dogs tried to bite them off, so we designed special coats with reflective markers attached to them denoting the hinge and shaft of the bone on their bodies. Infrared light then hits the markers which is then picked up by the cameras. We captured their movement with a standard agility set using ramps, jumps and poles to weave through.” Apparently, the dogs enjoyed their time in the limelight and were rewarded with numerous treats! Parsons and his team are still collecting data and processing it in their efforts to make a virtual dog. “There wasn’t much data before,” says Parsons, “and that is interesting in itself. It’s all about taking real world motion and making something that a computer can understand and also finding easier ways of doing that.” Camera, which liaises with other departments at the University of Bath, such as health and psychology, is also involved in sports research. One example is using motion tracking technology to measure the step length and foot contact time in runners. As one of the researchers, Murray Evans, puts it: “Someone like Usain Bolt is really tall and may do three steps less than everyone else during a race, but would he run faster if he did more steps?” However, it can be hard to monitor high performance athletes as the margins are so fine and they will apparently run differently if they are being watched and monitored. Similarly Camera researchers have been assessing the impact of tackles in rugby. In rehabilitation too, visual computer technology has been employed in looking at rugby players with spinal injuries and, more widely, in the fitting of artificial limbs and monitoring physical activity in amputees. The beauty of this research and technology says Parsons is that “there are lots of

different avenues where you can use it and Camera is about exploring these areas.” Parsons’ background is in visual effects. A trained artist with a fine arts degree, he worked in Bristol on BBC Natural History projects before switching to London working with visual effects companies on films creating spiders and dragons for the Harry Potter films and picked up an Emmy award for the 1999 TV movie of Alice in Wonderland. You understand Parson’s enthusiasm when you realise where the technology can be used. For instance, they are talking to psychologists about creating safe environments for people with virtual reality. Camera has also been working with the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal using a VR headset to re-imagine the way we interact with food – giving familiar foods a different form and texture. “You might have something like a piece of chocolate or a

protein ball, but it looks like an ice cube.” Camera’s commercial enterprises have also seen it work with a company to make use of virtual reality to introduce people to opera. “We got a singer from the Welsh National Opera in the studio, fitted her with marker dots – I used a cut up football net to recreate her flowing sleeves and she mimed the arias,” adds Parsons. The result saw visitors enter a specially designed shipping container and don a VR headset to be immersed into scenes from Madam Butterfly and The Magic Flute. In all there’s a lot going on behind those darkened blinds on the University of Bath’s campus and it could be coming your way soon. Don’t worry, though, we are still a long way off from the virtual environments imagined in sci-fi dramas and films like Westworld or Total Recall. n camera.ac.uk; bath.ac.uk

Fred’s movements are captured on the computer as he moves around the studio Grawp the giant in Harry Potter with Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

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CITY | EDUCATION

MAKING HISTORY

Recognised for her world-class research on transnational and European colonial and post-colonial history, Bath Spa University’s Olivette Otele recently became the first black female professor of history in the UK. But why has it taken so long? Jessica Hope caught up with the academic

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also plays a small part in correcting the under-representation of women and people of colour in UK universities, then we are delighted to be able to do this, it is not before time.” According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, only 25% of all professors in UK institutions were female in 2016/17. As a result, the news of Otele’s promotion was especially welcomed by notable historians including Janina Ramirez, Kate Williams and Helen Castor. “I have had outstanding support from very powerful and high profile women over the last year or so,” says Otele. And despite the criticisms, she has been bowled over by the amount of support she has received. “We focus a lot on the negatives, but the kindness and warmth of people can also be forgotten in the midst of all this,” she says.

❝

It happens to most women, and even more to black women. But what is the alternative? For me, as a black woman, do I just give up? I can’t do that.

❝

espite being recognised as the first black female professor of history in the UK, Bath Spa University’s Olivette Otele has faced criticism from a number of fellow academics following her recent promotion. While some have cited not having a long list of publications to her name as a reason for not deserving this promotion, others have ignorantly suggested her professorship has only been awarded because of her race and gender. Otele took to Twitter to speak out against what she called the “stuffy white men” who have lambasted her behind closed doors. She didn’t want to respond by naming and shaming these academics in public, so instead took to social media to voice her frustration and validate why and how she has gained this promotion. In a thread of tweets Otele addressed her “fellow women academics working hard in many ways w/o recognition” and, through listing her tireless job commitments, demonstrated how hard work can indeed lead to the recognition many academics deserve – especially those who are often overlooked in intellectual positions, most notably women and black and ethnic minorities. As well as becoming a professor of history in October, Otele was awarded a personal Chair position by Bath Spa University in recognition of her work, which has included securing millions of pounds worth of grants for research projects in recent years. And to add to her list of achievements this year, she was also named in the BBC’s 100 Women 2018 list of inspiring and influential women from around the world in November. Her promotion caused a wave of celebrations on Twitter when more than 8,000 people liked Otele’s tweet announcing her new position, many of whom recognising this as a significant milestone for black people and for female academics. Following the announcement, Bath Spa University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Sue Rigby said “If this well-merited promotion

Specialising in areas such as European colonial and post-colonial history, slavery, memory and politics, Otele is an eminent historian and expert in her field of study, yet throughout her career she has experienced racism and sexism. “I am more or less expecting it all the time,” Otele tells me. “It started when I was doing my PhD, with the kind of history I was doing, because I am a black woman people said this isn’t the type of history I should be doing because I would be biased. But then again with my

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Bath Spa University’s Professor Otele is currently researching transnational history, including the links between history, memory and geopolitics in relation to British and French colonial pasts

other interests in history like the French Revolution, other people would say that I can’t do that kind of history because it’s not really ‘my history’.” It was these kinds of comments that drove Otele to work harder and prove a point to those who doubted her ability to become an academic. “It’s unfair because it means that the recognition only comes after you work harder than anyone else, and you get half of the reward. It happens to most women, and even more to black women. But what is the alternative? For me, as a black woman, do I just give up? I can’t do that.” Otele was born in Cameroon, before moving to Paris when she was a child, and often visited Wales to see extended family members, as well as travelling to Cameroon to see her beloved grandmother. It was during these holidays that she became increasingly engaged in history. Her grandmother would sit her by the fire and recall stories from the past, many of which would have been influenced by family stories of Cameroon being under British, French and German rule. “She would tell us these stories, many of them very scary. But it was the reality of her life, growing up in Cameroon and going through different regimes,” she says.

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After completing her BA in literature and history from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris in 1998, Otele’s decision to study history for her MA and PhD came from, as she describes, “this urge related to social justice. I wanted to understand the root of racism and discrimination – this idea of hating someone for something they are not responsible for, something that is incredibly random.” With her grandmother’s stories clear in her mind, Otele wanted to deepen her knowledge of colonial history and the domination of the British and French empires on the world in past centuries, but knew that this would be a difficult subject to explore. “This is horrible history. It really shows the extent of human wickedness, greed and violence. When I was doing my PhD, it was probably the most difficult time because I would be in the archives reading examples of torture being greatly described. But it also taught me a lot about survival.” It is this notion of perseverance that Otele has had to champion throughout her studies and career. After six years of commuting between Paris and Newport, Wales (where her family and children live) for her PhD and work, as well as juggling a job as a teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, she secured a

full-time position as a senior lecturer in Bath in 2013. Otele enthuses about teaching students at Bath Spa University. “My work is really articulated around memory, history and the past, so I love teaching history covering long periods of time. You’re showing the students the ramifications of the past on the present,” she says. “A lot of young people are interested in history, but they don’t actually know it is history when they are speaking about it. When we talk about parliament and Brexit, the set up of the EU, or when you talk about the NHS and health, it seems to me that everything that matters to people is all related to things that have happened in the past. There is a history behind it all and it impacts on where we are now.” This is a key element to the teaching at Bath Spa University. “On the history course we challenge the current political contexts by looking back at the past and bring in the historical context,” says Otele. Showing how the past has impacted on the present is key to much of Otele’s work, both for the university and outside it. Since 2007 she has been considered an expert by the French government on the concept of how memory, politics and slavery intertwine,

and her PhD became compulsory reading for trainee teachers in France as part of their examination process. Otele has also been instrumental in securing vast sums of money for projects such as SLAFNET, which looks into slavery in Africa and the connections between European and African communities, and she is also researching how AfroCaribbean and African communities have settled in Wales in the 21st century. What does she hope to achieve with her new professorship? “I really want to be able to set up mentorship and funding for people who need it the most,” says Otele. “Figures show that the majority of the black population are working class, so I want to secure funding to support people who have no means, and who don’t believe that they can achieve.” Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, this is another project that Otele will be working hard to bring to fruition in the future. This will be the next challenge on Otele’s hands – all while conducting imperative historical research, addressing her critics, bringing up her children, teaching and finding any waking hour to apply for more grants. If anyone has proven they are worthy of such a promotion, Professor Otele has warranted it in leaps and bounds. n

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A FEEL-GOOD CHRISTMAS

During the season of goodwill, Georgette McCready salutes the local charities who make the lives of vulnerable people a little easier

It’s a simple gesture to drop “some extra chocolate, a tin of

sponge pudding or a packet of ready-made custard into your trolley and leave them in the Bath Foodbank bin by the tills

If experience is the seasoning that’s crucial to food-world longevity, Prue Leith is the The Christmas tree atleader Winsley,of partthe of the undisputed pedigree pack, Melissa Light Up a Life appeal by Dorothy House Hospice Blease chats to The Great British Bake Off judge ahead of her appearance in Bath

”

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CHARITIES AT CHRISTMAS

huge army of volunteers working largely behind the scenes in the Bath area have made it very simple for the rest of us to give a little this Christmas, and to help make a big impact on the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. While you’re trawling the supermarket aisles buying goodies for the family over the holiday period, it’s a simple gesture to drop some extra chocolate, a tin of sponge pudding or a packet of ready-made custard into your trolley and leave them in the Bath Foodbank bin by the tills as a gift to someone who will really appreciate them when times are hard. The Bath Foodbank, run by the charitable Trussell Trust, saw a 36 per cent increase in the number of local people needing help during the last 12 months. Thanks to donations of long-life food and bathroom items such as shower gel and toothpaste, volunteers were able to hand out 4,103 three-day emergency food supplies during the year – many of them to families with children. We’re all familiar with the sight of homeless people on the streets of Bath and at this time of year when we’re going home to well-lit, warm, safe homes, their plight seems all the more upsetting. One way to help those on the streets is to support the work of local charity Julian House. And there are many ways that our donations can help. During the severe weather conditions last winter when lives were at risk from the cold, Julian House provided 375 additional nights of accommodation at its Manvers Street hostel for 94 individuals in crisis. It also extended its day centre opening hours and ran extra outreach sessions. The hostel became very crowded, but from 1 November the charity now offers another 20 emergency bed spaces which homeless people will be able to use over the winter and which will have a significant impact on the level of rough sleeping in the city. The new Safesleep Hostel is next door to the Manvers Street hostel and will run until at least 28 February and will be open during the coldest parts of the night, from 10pm – 8am. Rough sleepers will be contacted by a team of specialist outreach staff and actively

The Santa and Elf Fun Run organised by Dorothy House

encouraged not to stay out in the cold, where their lives will be at risk. In addition to providing a safe alternative to rough sleeping this will also allow Julian House staff to engage more effectively with clients and provide better prospects for moving them on into sustainable accommodation. Julian House also responds when people report concern about rough sleepers in B&NES via Street-link: streetlink.org.uk. But homelessness is not just an issue at this time of year. It’s a major issue all year round. Julian House not only offers a bed for a night, they also provide supported accommodation and targeted support for clients with a wide spectrum of needs including domestic violence, learning difficulties, a history of offending, addiction recovery and long-term unemployment. The organisation is devoted to addressing the needs of its clients and helping to maximise the opportunity for them to make positive life choices. We can also help Julian House by attending a concert with award-winning jazz star Clare Teal, who is holding her tenth annual Festive Fiesta, an evening of music, wit and warmth, on Tuesday 11 December. For tickets tel: 01225 489070. Like Julian House, the staff and volunteers at Dorothy House Hospice work all year round. The ongoing fundraising programme is vital to keep the charity going and allow it to care for patients at the hospice in Winsley, but also in people’s homes in Bath and North East Somerset and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire. They also offer support for patients’ families during very difficult times. Mindful of how Christmas can be an emotionally challenging time, Dorothy House runs an annual series of services of light at churches across the region. This allows people to come together for a short service of around 45 minutes and to light candles in memory of family and friends. The annual Light Up a Life appeal provides a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the grounds at Winsley where its lights shine out until Sunday 6 January. All are welcome to visit the tree, which is best seen after dark. Fundraisers at Dorothy House also understand that people enjoy coming

Festive cookies made by the 3 Café in Three Ways School in Odd Down together in the run-up to Christmas and events such as the Santa and Elf Fun Run provide the chance to take part in something as a family and raise money at the same time. This year’s Santa and Elf Fun Run is on Sunday 9 December at 11am, with participants of all ages running or walking round the parkland at Bath Spa University. Spectators can also throw biodegradable snow over the runners, who will be wearing festive outfits. Sign up at: santaandelfrun.org.uk. The Dorothy House Hospice at Home service provides support for end-of-life patients so they can be cared for and die at home. Over Christmas the Hospice at Home carers will travel more than 6,000 miles and carry out more than 200 home visits, giving patients and their families the priceless gift of being able to spend Christmas together. A feel-good project set up by a Bath school combines giving its students work experience and offering a service to the local community. Three Ways School at Odd Down, which provides for children with special educational needs, runs its own catering business, 3 Café and Kitchen. The café gives students the chance to work alongside catering professionals, learning skills they can usefully employ in the workplace. The café’s range of delicious and reasonably priced food has won it a loyal local following of customers. In the run up to Christmas, 3 Café, which is open every day except Sunday, will be selling its range of chutneys, jams and cranberry sauce, alongside mince pies and customers can book in to enjoy a Christmas-themed cream tea. On Saturday 8 December the café, just along the road from Sainsbury’s, is hosting a Christmas fair between 10am and 1pm. Students from the University of Bath School of Management have helped organise the fair as part of the local Rotork Community Challenge. Meet Santa in his yurt and enjoy stalls, children’s activities and mulled wine. n To find out how to support some of Bath’s good causes visit: julianhouse.org.uk; dorothyhouse.org.uk; bath.foodbank.org.uk

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& HEALTH Y BEAUT THE ULTIMATE SLEEP

Gifted

Reach optimum relaxation levels with this Ultimate Sleep Collection from ESPA. Calm the body and mind and put your senses at ease. There’s soothing bath oil, body oil and a silk sleep mask to send you oﬀ to sleep. Allow the lavender aroma to comfort you from the overnight hydration therapy mask before you drift oﬀ. ESPA Ultimate Sleep Collection, £70 (worth £111) available from Lucknam Park Spa Boutique, Colerne; lucknampark.co.uk

IDEAS

Give the gift of beauty this Christmas, with great ideas from Bath’s local establishments

WELL GROOMED Infused with an invigorating thistle and black pepper scent, this Well Groomed Gift Set for men includes eau de toilette, aftershave balm and body wash. Well Groomed Gift Set for Men, £26, The Roman Baths, Stall Street, Bath; romanbaths.co.uk

FESTIVE TREAT Cleanse, hydrate and revitalise with this duo set from Clarins. Including minis of the Clarins men super moisture balm and shampoo and shower, his everyday skincare routine will be a breeze. Clarins for Men Festive Treat, £10, Frontlinestyle, 4-5 Monmouth Street, Bath; frontlinestyle.co.uk

HOLIDAY EDITION The party season is in full swing and this season Yves Saint Laurent has released its iconic Touché Eclat Holiday Edition. Don’t miss the limited chrome black packaging. £25.50, YSL from Jolly’s Bath, 13 Milsom Street, Bath

THE GIFT VOUCHER Why not give the gift of a pampering treatment from The Orangery this Christmas? All pricing options are available. The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic; theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

PRO-COLLAGEN

Enjoy an ELEMIS Pro-Collagen gift set, which includes pro-collagen advanced eye treatment, pro-collagen marine cream and pro-collagen cleansing balm. £150, Macdonald Bath Spa, Sydney Road, Bath; macdonaldshotels.co.uk

HALFETI COLLECTION For the fearless explorer, The Halfeti Christmas Collection consists of the Halfeti Eau de Parfum and shower gel featuring the fresh spiced rose scent, inspired by the black Halfeti rose. £175, The Halfeti Christmas Collection, Penhaligon’s, 14 New Bond Street, Bath; penhaligons.com

PEARLS OF WISDOM Hang on your tree, have as a stocking filler, secret Santa or as a special thank you. The Light Relax essential oil from Aromatherapy Associates includes ylang ylang and lavendar to calm, comfort and uplift your senses. £12, Pearl of Wisdom bauble, Aromatherapy Associates available at Thermae Bath Spa, Hot Bath Street, Bath; thermaebathspa.com

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SOOTHING SKINCARE

Containing the soothing cleanser, toner, moisture lotion and refining eye gel, revitalise and refine with healing aloe vera and seaweed extract. Perfect for ageing and dry skin. £20.99, Eve Taylor, Soothing Skincare Collection, CJ Beauty, 19a Westgate Street, Bath; cjbeauty.uk

frontlinestyle fp .qxp_Layout 23 20/11/2018 13:23 Page 1

style Boutique Salons & Spa Winner of Best Hair Salon & Best Day Spa in Somerset 2016

Gift Vouchers available online Frontlinestyle Hair and Beauty salons welcome both Men & Women. Our highly trained team cater for all your party & pampering needs. Popular treatments include: • Facials (Clarins, Caudalie & Phytomer) • CACI Synergy • IPL • Massage (inc. Wellness, Deep tissue & Sports) • • Slimming Wraps • Manicure • Footlogix pedicure • Waxing • Threading • Eyelash Extensions • • Spray Tanning • Clarins Makeup • Spa Packages • 4/5 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2AJ. T: 01225 478478

11 Broad Street, Wells, BA5 2DJ. T: 01749 672225

Book online www.frontlinestyle.co.uk

P100.qxp_Layout 22 21/11/2018 13:19 Page 1

CJ Beauty Offering a wide range of treatments massage manicure pedicure waxing tinting facials spray tanning hopi ear candles microdermabrasion

Owner Michelle previously Senior Therapist at Green Street House

15% off for new clients on their first treatment 19a Westgate Street, Bath BA1 1EQ 07840 864829

cjbeauty.uk

Christmas Beauty Gift Vouchers available for all the girls on your list

the orangery l a s e r

b e a u t y

c l i n i c

No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath Tel: 01225 466851 www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

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The Orangery fp December 2018.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2018 13:09 Page 1

Be Christmas ready.... Hydra Peel Infusion

Specialists in Ellipse IPL Permanent Hair Reduction Treatments

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No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath • Tel: 01225 466851 • www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

Health and Beauty News December.qxp_Layout 22 22/11/2018 11:57 Page 1

HEALTH & BEAUTY

HEALTH & BEAUTY NEWS A facial with the wow-factor and a few new faces in town. Crystal Rose shares the latest updates in the sector

WOW AT THE ORANGERY A new facial being offered exclusively at the Orangery’s laser and beauty clinic, called WOW, provides a six-stage skin treatment to cleanse, revitalise and protect your skin. The six stages make this a facial that is the opposite of ‘express’, with each stage requiring time and an expert application. Orangery owner Suzannah Chamberlain explains, “This treatment achieves the ultimate in luxurious skin quality, texture and luminosity. The facial is transformative for the skin without causing any damage or trauma”. The first stage of the treatment involves cleansing and the introduction of an acid to suit your skin type. Then comes the ‘dermaplaning’ stage, which removes dead skin and peach fuzz from the face, followed by the ‘electri’ stage, where small micro droplets of hyaluronic acid and succinic acid (both found naturally in the body) are injected just under the skin’s surface to hydrate, brighten, plump, firm and stimulate the body’s production of collagen and elastin. Next comes the LED light therapy where three colours of LED light are used to treat either acne, sun damage or sagging ageing skin. The WOW mask follows, a high-quality hyaluronic acid and collagen mask with anti-oxidants and peptides to hydrate, brighten and smooth and soothe the skin. The final stage uses a finishing spray and a healing sun cream to protect the skin from pollution and the sun’s harmful rays. • 01225 466851; theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

AESOP Australian luxury skincare brand Aesop has landed on New Bond Street. Known best for its iconic bottle design, Aesop is all about producing the finest quality products only using those with a proven record of safety and efficacy. Whether it’s skin, hair or body you’re looking to treat, there’s something for everyone. • aesop.com

PENHALIGON’S PERFUMERY British perfumers Penhaligon’s has recently opened its doors on New Bond Street. This stand-alone store oozes the brand’s eccentric yet quintessentially British store design. Offering a wide range of luxury fragrances for all, alongside scented candles and grooming products, prepare to enjoy a truly bespoke fragrance experience. Passionate about ingredients, the brand still manufactures its scents in England and uses the finest rare ingredients to create unique and innovative fragrances. • Penhaligon’s, 14 New Bond Street, BA1 1BE; penhaligons.com

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Looking towards the ramparts of Dolebury Fort RIGHT: Islay looking westwards towards the ramparts

DOLEBURY FORT WALK

Andrew Swift explores the ruined ramparts of Dolebury Fort and offers two walks – one long, one short – for an energising December trek before heading back to a cosy, traditional pub

oming up with a walk for December is always something of a challenge. Even on a clear, crisp day, some footpaths are likely to be near impassable after heavy rain. And with so much going on in the run up to Christmas, walks – if they can be squeezed in at all – not only have to be short, they really need to be more than just a dutiful tramp. In other words, they need to be that bit special. And ideally, they should also end at an unspoilt country pub, with a blazing fire, home-cooked food and local ales and ciders straight from the barrel. I feel reasonably confident, however, that this 3.5 mile walk round one of Mendip’s most dramatic hilltop forts, starting – and more importantly ending – at one of Somerset’s most resolutely traditional pubs, The Crown at Churchill, ticks all those boxes and more. And, if you are really pressed for time, I have devised a shorter version, clocking in at just two miles, which takes in the highlights of the walk before ending back at the pub. Don’t be fooled by the short distances, though. Whichever option you take, you will encounter muddy stretches, steep climbs and equally steep descents, which may be slippery, so be prepared. But the views, on a clear day, 104 TheBATHMagazine

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are definitely worth it. Suitably shod and wrapped-up children should love it, and, while sheep are likely to be encountered towards the end of the walk, it is ideal for dogs – although you may need to watch out for barbed wire bordering paths near the start. Dogs and children are welcome in The Crown – although they don’t welcome credit cards, so you need to pay by cash. The walk involves a couple of busy road crossings, but apart from that, it should be hazard free. The starting point at Churchill lies 24 miles west of Bath. To get there, head out of the city along the A4, continue along the A39, and at Marksbury take the A368. After 16.5 miles, when you come to Churchill, carry straight on at the crossroads with the A38, and 300m further on – just before the Nelson Arms – take the first left along Skinner’s Lane, where you should find parking before, or opposite, the Crown Inn (ST445596; 51.3328 -2.7980; BS25 5PP). Leaving the car, carry on up a lane called The Batch past The Crown. After 200m, turn left along a bridleway which heads downhill to the busy A38. Cross with care and turn left along the pavement for a few metres before following a footpath sign along Dolebarrow, a narrow lane leading away from the road before curving right uphill between high walls.

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After 175m, turn left by Walnut House and before long you will come to a gate (ST446590) where you have a choice. For the short walk, carry on through the gate and follow the track as it winds uphill through woodland to emerge at the entrance to Dolebury Camp. After passing through the ramparts, the track leads straight on up to the summit of the down from where the views are superb. After exploring the summit, you can either head straight back or follow a more circuitous track along the southern ramparts of the camp before following the track down to the A38 and back to The Crown. For the longer walk, do not go through the gate, but turn left up a track just before it. Ignore a track branching right a few metres further on, and carry on in the same direction for 700m. Just before you come to a stile in the fence ahead, turn right through a gate with a sign for Dolebury Warren and turn left along a bridleway (ST452591). The track emerges into the open, with views to the north, before another gate leads back into woodland. After 400m, after passing through a stand of conifers, follow the track as it curves up to another gate (ST456589). Go through it and continue through a succession of fields for another 500m. Follow the bridleway as it curves right

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THE | WALK

the gap. The drop on the other side of the ramparts is steep and underlines the strategic importance of the fort, as well as the scale of the prehistoric civil engineering project that created it. When you reach the gap in the ramparts (ST447589), head through it and follow the track as it winds steeply downhill, before crossing the A38 for the final climb back up to The Crown. n

Looking westward from the slopes of Dolebury Warren

Looking north across the ramparts

through a gate (ST461589) and carry on along a stony track alongside a fence. After 330m, when you come to a waymark, bear right uphill along a wide strip of greensward (ST465586). After 400 metres, follow a broad path through a copse of conifers. After re-emerging into the open, head straight on, go through a five-bar gate and follow a rough track towards the ramparts of Dolebury Fort. As the ground levels out and you approach a notch in the ramparts, you will see that it almost miraculously frames the distant island of Steep Holm, out in the Bristol Channel. And then, as you pass through the ramparts, the ground drops away and the view that greets you is quite literally breathtaking. Dolebury Camp, established around 3,000 years ago, is unusual, for instead of being

relatively flat like most hillforts, it was built on a steep hillside, so that those defending it commanded a view of an extraordinarily extensive tract of land. The ramparts of the fort, with the turf scoured from their stone banks by the merciless wind, lend a bleakness reminiscent of West Cornwall to this windy eminence. In the middle ages, when rabbits were an important source of fur and food, a warren was created here. The pillow mounds created for the rabbits to build their warrens are still very much in evidence, as are the foundations of the lodge where the warrener once lived (ST451589). From here, head straight on down through the camp, making for a distant gap in the ramparts on the far side – or, for a more spectacular conclusion to the walk, strike off to the left and follow the ramparts round to

Andrew Swift is the author of On Foot in Bath: Fifteen Walks Around a World Heritage City and co-author, with Kirsten Elliot, of Ghost Signs of Bath.

THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

FACT FILE Distance: Short walk – 2 miles (1–1.5 hours) Full walk – 3.5 miles (1.5–2 hours) Map: OS Explorer 141 Information: The Crown at Churchill (the-crown-inn.co.uk) is open all day, with food served from noon to 2.30pm. The Crown only takes cash – no credit cards.

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INTERIORS

EIGHT IDEAS FOR WALLS

Here are eight wall-themed ideas for your virtual Christmas stocking. You can paint a wall in Farrow and Ballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rectory Red for a warm festive vibe, create a tower of books against a statement wallpaper or stockpile ideas for the new year

Find wallpaper that stands out

1 Frame pictures you love

Paint a wall red for Christmas

Be bold with bathrooms

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OPPOSITE: top left, photograph by Toa Heftiba; top right, Ammonite and Blue Ground by Farrow and Ball; bottom right, Hornbeam wallpaper by Farrow and Ball; bottom left, Clarissa Hulse Sea Kelp bedlinen

THIS PAGE: top left, Cox & Cox Abstract Dots framed print; top right,Lime Lace Delft Baroque wallpaper; bottom right, Lime Lace Scratch wallpaper by Wonderbold; bottom left, Rectory Red by Farrow and Ball

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INTERIORS | AND | STYLE

Try a wall installation

Paint walls in two sections

8 Use books to make a statement

7 Create rich combos with walls and soft furnishings

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GET KITCHEN FIT Have you been promising yourself a new kitchen? Then make 2019 the year that you make the big change. If you like the idea of a bespoke solution, James Horsfall of Bath Kitchen Company will lead the way. Here is a recent kitchen the company designed and created for a 14th-century house with impressive period features

The end of each unit has a curved cabinet and door that is recessed back into the stone

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INTERIORS | KITCHENS

s the new year approaches, is it time to think about creating your own dream kitchen space? The Bath Kitchen Company specialises in bespoke kitchens, so if you need something that offers more than a standard fit, a kitchen that’s tailored to your taste and practical needs, then benefit from the quality recommendations of the company’s managing director James Horsfall. The kitchen that James and his team designed and installed for Pucklechurch Manor House in South Gloucestershire had its own set of challenges. The kitchen of the 14th-century property had strong period features – solid wood beams, deep-set windows, a timeworn pantry cupboard and a wooden table, chairs and benches that could tell multiple stories of the property’s history. The owners wanted to maintain and celebrate these elements, but their character was so distinctive that it was crucial that the kitchen around them did not dominate or interrupt their impact. The design also included a utility room and kitchenette within a new extension.

“We were never going to do anything that looked like it was 400 years old,” said James. “We wanted something that was clean and classical. We used a dark stone floor but we though it gave a good contrast to the wall and broke up the elements. And we used glazed units to the side of the old pantry doors.” Grey-veined white Silestone™ quartz worktops were used, contrasting with the beams and darker table. Polished nickel handles created a subtle contrast with the stone floors and the other matt finishes.

contemporary kitchenette. The challenge was to create an aesthetic and practical flow between the main kitchen, its utility room and the more modern entertainment area. To create unity between the old kitchen and the new extension, the handmade cabinetry shares the same off-white colour scheme. As this particular project demonstrates, James and his specialist team at the Bath Kitchen Company combine a one-to-one personal service with streamlined installation expertise. n

SPACIAL FLOW There were three elements to the project – the main kitchen, a utility room and a

Bath Kitchen Company, 7–9 North Parade Buildings, Bath; 01225 312003; bathkitchencompany.co.uk

The utility room is accessed from the main kitchen (at the far end). The exposed brick shown here is part of the exterior of the original house

THE SOLUTION The design concept – drawn up on specialist software that enables a detailed visualation for the clients – started with the introduction of light Shaker cabinetry to give space and prominence to the existing period details. The low ceiling was counterbalanced by the walls being left unadorned, with unobtrusive storage provided in the form of rounded cabinets against the old stone wall and bespoke larder cupboards with glazed doors to the side of the old pantry doors.

To keep the full impact of the character beams no wall cabinets were used in the main kitchen, allowing an uninterrupted view of the beamed ceiling. The stone floor is dark, but was chosen as a dramatic foil for the rest of the kitchen

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CREATE AT CHRISTMAS

Amamini wreath, from £50

f you love the decorative side of the festive season, and are happy to invest a bit of time and creativity into getting a look that not only oozes festive spirit, but also has the personal touch, then here are some tips. Firstly, decide on your look and colour scheme. Rustic charm with metallic glam is popular again this year; classic silver and white with flashes of brights never dates; or go with the trending colour green and take it beyond foliage, mixing it with deep reds or simple silvers and whites. Whichever scheme you go for, rethink your old decorations before buying new ones. Some you can reuse; others can be sprayed in the colour/s of your new scheme. Spray paint, available in metallics, works on most materials – baubles, vessels, branches/twigs from the garden, tealight holders, even the tree. Then supplement any gaps with a few new pieces. When it comes to wreaths, think indoors as well as on the front door and go large. A beautiful wreath is like a work of art so you could hang one on the wall as you would a picture. Dried flowers such as hydrangeas, and berries mixed with foliage that dries well, such as eucalyptus and ivy, will last much longer. Making your own wreath is a great way to create something unique, but if you haven’t time then buy locally – from Myrtle Mee (George’s Place), the Painted Flower (Green Park) or Amamini Flowers all offer a gorgeous selection. Or for a bit of fun, go for a red feather wreath from Verve. Add festive touches around the house using layering and texture. Drape fir branches and/or ivy on mantles, shelves and lights, and create pots of fragrant herbs in a variety of vessels from large urns and planters to small pots arranged down the centre of a table. Stack pine cones and logs by the fire, and adorn chairs and benches with sheepskin and throws. Finally for a smart-looking stash under the tree, start putting different sized boxes to one side and use them to put oddshaped gifts in – this makes them easier to wrap and the result is lovely stacks of presents rather than a sprawling heap … all in paper to complement your scheme.

Are you thinking of extending your home with a loft conversion or extension? Do you also need help and support through the planning and building control processes along with the production of plans? Whether you’re looking for inspiration or already know what you want, the first step to transforming your home is a consultation with Dimension 22. Tap into our experience to develop a bespoke solution that you’ll love.

Our services are targeted at home owners, property managers and local contractors in the domestic housing market and include; • Property Surveys • • Design & Construction Plans • • Agents for Planning Applications • • Plans For Planning & Building Control Applications •

• Verve, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD. Tel: 07785 332536; verveliving.uk

Brass geometric decorations, Verve Living, set of three £7.50

• Schedule of Works & Specifications • • Contract Tendering & Contract Administration • • Maintenance & Compliance Management •

71 Rush Hill, Bath BA2 2QT • 07872 016350 jeremy.lear@dimension22.co.uk • www.dimension22.co.uk

THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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GARDENING

Margaret Grant from Sheppards Gardens

Cyclamen, ornamental brassica and ivy

A planter featuring Heuchera, violas and ivy

A lush viola mix

A planter with Carex grass, golden tthyme and violas

GIFTS FOR GARDENERS

Do you still have presents to buy, but are struggling with ideas? There’s plenty of inspiration in the gardening world, from practical gardening equipment to self-styled pots, says Jane Moore

s the season descends rapidly upon us and the Christmas lists begin, I would like to share with you the fact that buying Christmas presents for my family is getting decidedly easier. How so, you say? Well, mainly because the kids are now teenagers so tokens and vouchers always go down well. But my new-found smugness also stretches to present buying for adults. Yes, for the grown-ups I have adopted a simple formula of drinkable, edible or horticultural gifts. Not rocket science I know, but this way I give them a gift with instant and obvious appeal, hopefully, and I don’t burden them with anything that can’t be recycled or re-used. While the obvious things are wine and chocolates, of course it’s the gardening gifts I’m going to tell you about. TOOLS AND GARDENALIA A good pair of gloves is essential for any gardener – I like the Showa ones which are

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wonderfully thin so you still retain dexterity but have waterproof palms and fingers so you don’t end up with spongy, wrinkled fingers when working in the wet soil. Alternatively a sturdy pair of lined leather ones are great for winter digging and, one of my favourite winter jobs, bramble bashing. Likewise a good pair of secateurs is a must. If you’re happy to spend a bit more money that is, as cheap secaturs are really not worth buying. The Bentley of secateurs is Felcos, but Burgon & Ball do some very nicely made ones. You cannot go wrong with a quality spade and/or fork. We gardeners are the very spirit of ‘waste not, want not’ and do tend to

Micro-pruner from Burgon & Ball, £12.99

iSSUe 195

muddle along with old tools forever. Some of these we may well love, so do your research and make sure that battered old specimen isn’t Great Uncle Albert’s beloved spade. Often we’ll happily upgrade to a newer, sturdier model. I prefer the smaller, border-sized tools as they’re easier to use in between plants. The top end of the scale is arguably Sneeboer but you have to really love someone to shell out for a Sneeboer fork. There are lots of other companies such as Kent and Stowe making some very presentable tools at more affordable prices. SEEDS AND BULBS The simplest gift of all for a gardener is a good selection of seeds in a tin. These are a simple but a lovely gift, rich with the promise of spring to come. Go veggie for the allotment holder in the family and find cut flowers for the florist. I guarantee that even the gardener who has everything will always appreciate some interesting and colourful seeds.

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GARDENING

Cosmos mix (£3), Calendula officinalis (£1.95) and Harlequin Sweet Pea mix (£2.25), from Sarah Raven If you have time, explore some of the mail-order companies for ideas, such as Sarah Raven’s droolworthy list of flowers for cutting. You can also find unusual vegetable varieties at Pennard Plants or Simpsons Seeds, both small independent nurseries. For flat dwellers or the less green-fingered, you could plant up an exotic Amaryllis or make up a little rustic bowl of ivy, indoor cyclamen and poinsettia. POTS AND PLANTERS Planting up little pots and planters as gifts is such an easy win if you have any sense of colour and style. You don’t need to spend vast sums on pots and containers – keep it simple with plain terracotta or even recycle some of your own old pots for a lived in, rustic vibe.

When it comes to the planting, you can go down the simple bedding route of violas, cyclamen and so forth which is always lovely. Of course you can always cheat and buy them ready-made at a garden centre near you, but it’s such fun to do that you should have a go yourself. It’s so much more personal when they are made by you. Do theme or contrast your colours if you can – it will look far more classy. My favourites of the planters I’ve put together in the past few years always include a shrub and/or a perennial as well as disposable bedding. It’s nice to give someone a long-term plant to keep for planting in the garden later and, if you know them and their garden, you can choose something that will make a good addition to their borders. You don’t need to spend a fortune either – I’m not suggesting a whopping great tree,

Traditional wooden trug from Burgon & Ball, £32.99

an exotic peony or even a David Austin rose, but something rather more mundane which you will then enhance wonderfully with your clever scheme. I’ve used grasses, Heucheras, red-stemmed dogwoods and the little black grass Ophiopogon to great effect in the past combined with contrasting little violas, pansies, cyclamen and primroses. You can make a lovely little woodland planter with a red dogwood, a fern or two, some ivy and a couple of red cyclamen. Grasses like the a chocolate Carex look great teamed with an autumnal russet Heuchera. Fill in the gaps with burnt orange or sunny little yellow violas peeking through the foliage and you have a sure-fire winner in the most basic of terracotta pots. One of my all-time favourite combinations is a lovely winter flowering, scented Christmas box planted with a deep green frondy fern alongside pale primroses and violas. Very simple and effective, though I say so myself. But don’t just take my word for it, let your imagination go and have a play around. It’s very much Blue Peter meets Gardeners’ World and a whole lot more fun than traditional Christmas shopping. n Visit: burgonandball.com; sarahraven.com Jane Moore is an award-winning gardening columnist and head gardener at The Bath Priory Hotel. Twitter: @janethegardener

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the directory

to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499

Electricians

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

Chauffeur/Private Hire

ONEMAGAZINEONECITYONEMONTH

KEIKO KISHIMOTO Holistic Treatments for Wellbeing

Aromatherapy • Reflexology/Facial reflexology Japanese Cosmo Facelift • Deep Tissue Massage We provide Bath Airport transfers to and from all major airports in the uk. We use only Hi spec vehicles and give a near on chauffeur experience at less than regular taxi prices. Airport transfers • City to city travel • Hi spec vehicles 1-8 seat vehicles available • Account work considered • Free Wifi in selected vehicles Card payments taken with Izettle • Prices start from as little as £39

For more information, please visit:

www.keikokishimoto.co.uk 07739 827186 contact@keikokishimoto.co.uk

Call or email us for a quote now!

@Romanbathprivatehire

Web: romanbathprivatehire.co.uk Email: Info@romanbathprivatehire.co.uk Tel: 01225 484346

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

Trowbridge & Neal’s Yard Bath

House & Home

Advertise your Business in this space for as little as £80 per month and get 2 FREE.

TEL: 01225 424499 Advertising that keeps working 114 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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PROMOTED CONTENT

THE RISE AND RISE OF THE SIP how Structural insulated Panels (SiPs) are helping to speed up the building development process while working to demanding budgets without sacrificing quality

outh Wales based Superior SIP is one of the fastest growing independent SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) companies in the UK, having completed more than 50 projects in 2018. The company is currently working in collaboration with local developers Emery's of Bath on the construction of luxury canal-side family homes in Bathampton. Superior SIP’s Managing Director commented “We are proud to be working with esteemed developers such as Emery's of Bath and hope to work on many more within the Bath and Somerset area in the future. We are ready and waiting to provide fast and competitive quotes to any local contractors interested in working with us and our SIP system”. Superior SIP’s mission statement is to provide the very best affordable and highest quality SIP build homes in the UK, working with the client in a close partnership to ensure the best result within the expected time frame and budget constraints. Among the benefits of construction with Superior SIP is the one skin technology (no need for additional brick or block skins), a strong structural build, fast build times, low running costs, affordability and safety (the panels internal and external face is Class A1 rated fireproof). The Superior SIP is the next generation of the traditional OSB Wood SIP that has been used globally for decades. It features a very high level of insulation between two boards that are MgO (Magnesium Oxide) instead of OSB. This offers a perfect solution for thermally efficient rapid builds that can be finished direct to the panel with no cavity required.

The SIP product and system is fully approved by building control and approved for warranty. The panels are extremely versatile and can be used for residential new builds, double/single storey extensions, flats, garden rooms as well as a variety of commercial projects. Visit the website superiorsippanels.co.uk for more information and to obtain a quote.

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

DECEMBER 2018

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PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

ortland Villa is situated in a quiet location just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre and St James Square. The immaculately presented end of terrace property offers accommodation over five floors, and provides a total internal floor area of around 307 sq. metres with additional vault space. The house has been decorated in a classic and contemporary style that complements the period features which include cornicing, window shutters and fireplaces. The generous and versatile family living space is laid out as follows: ground floor: drawing room, kitchen/dining room, cloak room. Basement: sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, utility room. First floor: two bedrooms, bathroom. Second floor: three bedrooms, shower room. Third floor: bathroom. The lower floor could potentially provide a self-contained one-bedroom apartment for a family member or for rental purposes. A large vault area provides very useful storage. Outside there is a courtyard area which is accessible from the lower ground floor and a mature goodsized, level walled garden with a patio area and lawn. There is also plenty of secure off-road parking. This lovely home is perfectly placed for good local schools, access to the city centre and also for commuting further afield. Full details are available from Bath agents Pritchards.

Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

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PORTLAND VILLA, PORTLAND ROAD, BATH • Beautifully presented • 6 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms and shower room • Potential for self contained one bedroom apartment • Level walled garden and off road parking

Guide price: £1,750,000

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PROPERTY NEWS GRADUAL GROWTH Savills has published its forecasts for the residential property market over the next five years. South West house prices are predicted to rise by 12.6% from 2019–2023. While price growth will not be as strong as in some other regions – the North and the Midlands in particular – its projected performance compares positively to that of the more subdued London, South East and East of England markets. That prices are expected to grow in double figures will be welcome news for local buyers and sellers. Affordability, not Brexit, is now shaping the longterm market – affecting growth but protecting the market from correction (a price decline of at least 10%). savills.co.uk

“Founded in 2011 by Marcus Spanswick, who already had 20 years’ experience in the industry, Mardan Removals and Storage Ltd is a, family run, professional full service removals and storage company based in Bath. Marcus wanted to build a company that he and his team would be proud of. The key to the company’s success is providing a personalised service, treating each customer as an individual to ensure they get an excellent removal service. Mardan have a fleet of vehicles allowing them to offer; commercial moving, local to international moves and storage”.

BYE GEORGE, HELLO CHELSEA Estate agents Nash and Co are relocating from their George Street office to new premises in Chelsea Road, Lower Weston. Director Duncan Nash says “We are excited about being part of a community that I have lived in for over 20 years. It will be business as usual, The Nash and Co team with the same team, but from this carefully chosen and highly suitable office space, which should cater for the company’s needs for years to come. We will still be open for business to sell properties in the whole of Bath and surrounding villages.” nashandcobath.co.uk

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • PACKERS • STORERS • SHIPPERS

NEW FRANCHISEES Winkworth has two new franchisees, Matthew Leonard and Lucy McIlroy, who have taken over the management of Winkworth Bath. Matthew and Lucy join the Winkworth Bath team at an exciting time of regeneration in and around the area. With more than 40 years’ combined experience at a number of other reputable estate agencies around Bath, and having both lived in the area for more than 20 years, Matthew and Lucy are well-placed to offer sound advice on all aspects of the local property market. winkworth.co.uk

BY GEORGE, WHAT A HOUSE Savills are offering to the market a Georgian property in Russel Street. The Grade II listed house was built in 1797. One of the features is ‘the blower’, a system of hollow pipes running from the lower ground to the first floor, with a whistle at each end. Used in the 18th and early 19th century by the lady of the house to summon her staff, this was the earliest form of the telephone. There is also a rare sauce oven, made from Bath Stone, thought to be one of only three remaining in the country. guide price: £2,350,000. savills.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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IN ST NE RU W CT IO N

Daniel Street

Summerhill Road, Lansdown

An exquisite Grade II listed 3/4 bed town house within a few minutes level walk of the city centre, beautifully presented with the added benefit of a courtyard garden and off road parking.

A fine individual 4 bedroom detached property occupying a peaceful tucked away position off a private road in one of the most desirable residential areas on the northern fringes of the city just over a mile from the centre of Bath. Good sized and most attractive gardens, principally facing south and west. Large detached garage and ample driveway parking. Within easy reach of a good number of well regarded schools. EPC C. Internal area approx. 2016 sq ft/182 sq m.

Guide Price: £1,250,000

Guide Price: £975,000 IN

S T NE RU W CT IO N

LD SO

pritchards-bath.co.uk

Raby Mews, Bathwick

The Palladian Victoria Bridge Road

A beautifully presented and recently refurbished and remodelled 3 bedroom Grade II listed mews house with integral garage and courtyard garden in a quiet tucked away location a level walk to the centre of Bath. Freehold. Internal area: 1313 sq ft/122 sq m (including garage). No onward chain.

An outstanding and beautifully presented 2 double bed penthouse apartment enjoying stunning far reaching city views from private balconies to front and rear, forming part of this prestigious Riverside Development just a few minutes easy level walk of the centre of Bath and with private parking space. Attractive communal gardens. Underground parking space. EPC C. Internal area: 1081 sq ft/100 sq m..

Guide Price: £725,000

Price: £695,000

11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB Pritchards December.indd 1

Tel: 01225 466 225

An established name you can trust

With all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year from Pritchards, Pritchards Apartments and Pritchards Lettings Are you looking to let a property or trying to find the perfect house or apartment to rent in or around Bath?

Sales | Apartments | Lettings Call Fiona Patton, Head of Lettings 01225 618860 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB | pritchards-bath.co.uk

Pritchards December.indd 2

20/11/2018 14:48

Wellsway A contemporary and stylish three bedroom family home, forming part of a recently completed development which has been finished to a high specification throughout. Situated in a popular residential area on the southern outskirts of Bath, the property offers convenient access to Bath city centre, the A36 and a host of highly regarded primary and secondary schools.

Reside Bath | 24 Barton Street Bath BA1 1HG | T 01225 445 777 | E info@residebath.co.uk | W www.residebath.co.uk

*An administration fee of ÂŁ420.00 inc. VAT applies.

RESIDE December.indd 1

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Why selling your apartment in winter could be the best decision you make Peter Greatorex, managing director of The apartment Company

T [SOUTH WESTERN] LIMITED

he temperature has dropped, the gloves are on, and whether we like it or not, winter is on its way. You may have considered moving home but then decided to wait until the New Year. Is this the right move? Or, could selling your apartment in winter be the best decision you make?

Beat the crowds As Christmas approaches the shops get busier and the crowds sometimes make it hard to find what we want. At the moment there are fewer properties on the market than at other times, so there isn’t the competition that there would be in spring. Selling your home in winter means it has a better chance of standing out and being noticed.

Let’s get serious There are times of the year when people dabble with the notion of moving, but the buyers who are out and looking in winter are serious. They know they want to move and won’t let the cold weather outside deter them from viewing a property. Winter buyers tend to have a clearer idea of what they are looking for, which means we’re able to match apartments and buyers easier.

Giving them that feeling That feeling that turns an apartment into a home you want to buy can’t be bottled. It’s different for everyone, but you can help your apartments trigger it by presenting the space in a way that screams ‘home’. With the winter chill, walking into a warm and cosy apartment that makes you want to sniggle with a cup of hot chocolate is bound to tug at your heart strings. If you have a fire, whether that’s gas or a log burner, try and have it lit for a wonderful welcome. Make sure any lamps as well as ceiling lights are on in rooms to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere.

Highlight features

Crafting beautiful homes

Bath | Somerset | Wiltshire | Cotswolds | Dorset

You will no doubt have some amazing features in your home, and no matter what the season it’s always important to highlight them. Whether you use candles, seasonal accessories or add some rich autumnal tones, you want buyers’ eyes to be drawn to those aspects of your home that you love.

A new start The busiest months for corporate relocation are January and February, so those buyers looking to find a new home in our city for work will hope to secure somewhere before their move. They won’t have the luxury of waiting just in case, they will grab a property they love so that they can get their family settled as soon as possible.

Why wait?

01225 791155 ashford-homes.co.uk

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Whatever your reason for wishing to move, don’t dismiss selling in winter. We are still achieving exceptional sales prices for our sellers at the moment, and it’s great to work with such motivated buyers. If you would like more information on selling your apartment this winter, come and chat to The Apartment Company, and you could be starting your new year in a new home. The Apartment Company Pg@theapartmentcompany.co.uk or call 01225 471144.

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Belvedere, Lansdown Road, Bath • • • •

Stunning Grade II listed Georgian townhouse Premium central location 4 bedrooms within the main house 1-bedroom self-contained lower ground floor apartment

£1,150,000 • • • •

Beautiful period features Open-plan kitchen diner Drawing & withdrawing rooms Far-reaching views and west-facing garden

• • • •

Near Bathwick St Mary’s Primary and King Edward’s School Undergone extensive renovation in recent years South-west facing rear garden with summer house Off-street parking for 4 cars

Forester Avenue, Bath • • • •

1940s semi-detached property 3 double bedrooms and a single Open plan living/dining room Great access to the city centre

£550,000

enquiries@nashandcobath.co.uk www.nashandcobath.co.uk Tel: 01225 444 800

NASH & CO

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Bear Flat

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Milton Avenue, BA2 £725,000

A first class family home finished to an impeccable standard set within Poets Corner, Bear Flat. Four bedrooms, two reception rooms bathroom, shower rooms, extended kitchen family room, landscaped garden. Energy Efficiency Rating: E

01225 805 680 bearflat@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Central

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Eveleigh Avenue, Somerset, BA1 Offers in excess of £550,000

01225 809 571

Andrews December.indd 1

A beautifully presented modern home with 1,877 square feet of accommodation. A fabulous 30’4 x 24’8 kitchen family dining room, 24’8 x 14’3 lounge, four double bedrooms - all with fitted wardrobes, two en-suites, family bathroom and cloakrooms. Perfect for the modern day family. Energy Efficiency Rating: C

central@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

19/11/2018 17:20

Camden

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Worcester Place, BA1 Offers in excess of ÂŁ460,000

A perfect blend of style and character, this two-bedroom, period terrace house with parking is located in a sought-after terrace close to Larkhall and tucked away behind a gorgeous mature garden, with stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

01225 809 868 camden@andrewsonline.co.uk

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

Newbridge Andrewsonline.co.uk SOLD STC

Locksbrook Road BA1 ÂŁ385,000

The exterior belies the wonderfully extended light interior, a great open plan kitchen, dining, living space flooded with natural light, a wonderful party room with a separate sitting room. Three bedrooms with a bathroom and shower room. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

01225 809 685 newbridge@andrewsonline.co.uk

Andrews December.indd 2

To view more properties and other services available visit Andrewsonline.co.uk

19/11/2018 17:21

NORTHFIELDS CLOSE, Bath

Price ÂŁ995,000

A light and airy four bedroom neo-Georgian detached house with gardens and garage, located in a small cul-de-sac on the desirable northern slopes of Georgian Bath. The house is within walking distance of St Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Primary School as well as two of the best private schools in Bath, Royal High School and Kingswood School. Neo-Georgian detached house | Desirable Lansdown location | Quiet cul-de-sac | Four bedrooms | Three reception rooms | Two bathrooms | Conservatory | South facing gardens | Garage | Off street parking | EPC Rating: E

Fine & Country December.indd 1

19/11/2018 15:54

WOODSIDE, Ashwicke

Price ÂŁ975,000

DOWNSIDE OLD CHURCH, Chilcompton

Price ÂŁ699,950

A Grade II listed three bedroom former Church (with two bedroom annexe) superbly converted in 2003 by a renowned architectural historian to a very high specification on the edge of the popular village of Chilcompton, 13.9 miles from Bath and 7.8 miles from Wells. Grade II listed former church | 3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | Dramatic large living room with stained glass windows | Popular village of Chilcompton | EPC: Exempt

Fine & Country December.indd 2

19/11/2018 15:54

Lamont House

£850 pcm

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £850 to £950 pcm · Communal gardens · Private garage · Allocated parking · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Council tax band C · Available now

T LE

Alexandra House

£925 pcm

Chatham Row

£1100 pcm

SALES

01225 471 14 4 The Apartment Company December.indd 1

LETTINGS

£1000 pcm

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £1,000 to £1,250 pcm · Two double bedrooms · First floor apartment · Off road parking · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Council tax band C · Available now

Gay Street

£1150 pcm

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £1,250 to £1,450 pcm · Top floor apartment · Allocated parking · Two double bedrooms · Communal gardens · Prime location · Agency fees £420 inc VAT

Green Park

£1150 pcm

01225 303 870

Russel Street

£1250 pcm

Unfurnished · PRICE £1,250 pcm · Two double bedrooms · Central location · Modern kitchen · Close to call local amenities · Agency fees £420 inc VAT

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £1,150 to £1,250 pcm · First floor apartment · Two double bedrooms · Residents parking permit · Available 17th of January 2019 · No students · Council tax band B

£1100 pcm

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £1,100 to £1,300 pcm · Two double bedrooms · Central location · Abundance of storage · Residence parking permit · Council tax band C · Available now

Northfields House

Upper maisonette · Georgian · Two double bedrooms · Grade II listed · Desirable address · Stunning views · First Floor Apartment · Bright and airy

Combe Park

T LE

Unfurnished · PRICE RANGE £925 to £975 pcm · Top floor apartment · Allocated parking · Two double bedrooms · Communal gardens · Prime location · Agency fees £420 inc VAT

Cavendish Place

£1350 pcm

Part-furnished · PRICE RANGE £1350 to £1450 pcm · Two bedrooms · Private courtyard · Residence parking permit · Available now · No pets and no students · Council tax band D

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

23/11/2018 11:52

The Paragon

O.I.E.O

£725,000

Georgian · Grade II listed · Four bedrooms · Period features · Central location · Successful holiday rental · Approx 1580 Sq ft

Russel Street

O.I.E.O

£475,000

St Patricks Court

Springfield Place

O.I.E.O

£345,000

O.I.E.O

£550,000

Great Stanhope Street

O.I.E.O

Catharine Place

O.I.E.O

£265,000

£450,000

O.I.E.O

£275,000

Georgian apartment · Grade II listed · First floor · One bedroom · Period features · Highly sought after location · Approx 567 Sq ft

Georgian apartment · One bedroom · Lift access · Views over Henrietta Park · Second floor · Flat walk to the city centre · Approx 418 Sq ft

O.I.E.O

Georgian apartment · Grade II listed · Central location · Three double bedrooms · Newly refurbished · Highly sought after location · Approx 950 Sq ft

£300,000 Henrietta Street

Connaught Mansions

Grade II listed · First floor · Central location · Two double bedrooms · Period features · Large windows · Approx 682 Sq ft

Two double bedrooms · Recently refurbished · Balcony with city views · Large private garage · Modern kitchen · Third floor · Approx 730 Sq ft

Georgian · Grade II listed · Two double bedrooms · Newly refurbished bathrooms · Beautifully decorated · Stunning views · Approx 1020 Sq ft

Grade II listed · Central location · Two double bedrooms · Well proportioned · Beautifully presented · Private entrance · Approx 964 Sq ft

Old Walcot School

O.I.E.O

£230,000

Georgian apartment · Grade II listed · Open plan living/kitchen · One bedroom · Modern interior · Central location · Approx 505 Sq ft

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

The Apartment Company December.indd 2

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