The Bath Magazine March 2019

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ISSUE 198 | MARCH 2019

£3.95 where sold

thebathmag.co.uk

Homes & Gardens SPECIAL EDITION

TH E C ITY ’ S B I G G E S T M O N T HLY GUI DE T O LI F E AND LI VIN G IN BATH

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Contents March 2019 5 THINGS

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BOOKS ON BREXIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Essential events to look forward to this month

Titles that reflect on Britain’s relationship with Europe

STEP INTO SPRING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

FAMILY DIARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

The top events, openings and fun things to look forward to this season

Fun things to do with the kids this month

THE MAN WITH GRAND DESIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

HEALTH KICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Melissa Blease speaks to Kevin McCloud about his latest projects

Crystal Rose on the latest in the fitness, health and beauty sector

KERR-CRAZY

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WALK THE WALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Melissa Blease chats to funny-man Micky P. Kerr

Andrew Swift explores the history of Frome’s pub scene

WHAT’S ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

COVER FEATURE

Our guide to the top events happening around the city

HOMES AND GARDENS SPECIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

OPERA SEASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

The top home trends for spring, design inspiration, and a guide to local interiors and gardens businesses

Emma Clegg talks to the owner of Belcombe Court, Paul Weiland, which is the new location for the Iford Arts Festival

GEORGIAN MARVEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

CITY ART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Architect James Grayley on applying Andrea Palladio’s vision to a Grade II property on Lansdown Hill

The latest art exhibitions from around the city

FLOWER POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 BATH AT WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Neill Menneer’s photographic portrait of cymbalsmith Matt Nolan

JOIN THE CIRCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Jane Moore talks to artist Kaffe Fassett about how the natural world inspires his work, ahead of his latest quilting exhibition

HOT PROPERTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 The finest homes to buy or rent

Melissa Blease talks to proprietor and Circus restaurant chef Ali Golden

INTERNATIONAL CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Georgette McCready speaks to those from around the world who have adopted Bath as their home

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

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Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine

ON THE COVER Poppy Garden by Kaffe Fassett

Follow us on Instagram @thebathmagazine

Glenn Dearing

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WONDERFUL WALLS

Skies and stars are one of the interior trends that Clair Strong identifies in her feature on page 90. In a nostalgic version of this, we love the pops of upholstered colour against this wallcovering of forest scene with sky beyond

EDITOR’S PICKS GLOVES ON Bath’s Fashion Museum has been honoured for its work in celebrating the rich history of glove-making. Rosemary Harden, the museum’s manager has been made an Honorary Glover by the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London and the museum was also presented with a Golden Glove Award to mark its outstanding celebration of the wearing of gloves. The Fashion Museum’s Glove Stories display runs from 2 March 2019 until 1 March 2020. fashionmuseum.co.uk

from the

EDITOR Above: Holy Cow Wallpaper Mural from Woodchip and Magnolia

Editor photograph by Matthew Sterling

I

’m so pleased you’re reading this page, because there was a lighthearted concern that our jazzy floral Kaffe Fassett cover might be so mesmerising as to stop the page-turning progress through the magazine.

No chance of that, mind you, because if you’re a Kaffe fan you will be compelled to feast your eyes on more of his work and Jane Moore’s interview with him on page 106, ahead of his quilting exhibition at the American Museum and Gardens opening on 16 March.

There is plenty of other unmissable content.

Melissa Blease chats to Kevin McCloud on page 26 (who she tells me is just as delightful as he appears on screen), asking him about his MBE, his current projects and why he loves the west country.

Melissa also interviews comedian and Britain’s Got Talent 2018 finalist Micky P. Kerr on page 30 about why being a comedian is in fact quite similar to teaching. Micky is embarking on a huge national tour and he’s in Bath on 3 April. We love the fact that he’s still teaching two days a week.

This issue is our interiors special. Clair Strong gives top tips for eight new trends for spring 2019, ranging from hygge, green rooms and sustainability.

It’s all about the natural, you see, as our interior products pages on page 24–25 attest. You can also turn to our special section from page 98, an essential homes and gardens directory with a dazzling selection of regional specialists who can provide for your every home and decoration need.

Jessica Hope has assembled an outstanding collection of events and openings on page 16 that will give you a spring in your step. Her line-up includes Katherine Jenkins at the Bath Forum, Pub in the Park, and plenty of top music and literature at The Bath Festival. See also our fit-to-burst what’s on pages on page 32.

As 29 March approaches we’re making a point of talking to the rest of the world. Georgette McCready assembles a collection of people from Europe, America and Asia who have settled in Bath and asks them what makes them warm to the life here. Her findings are on page 58. There’s also a fascinating collection of Brexit related books on page 60 so you will be able to absorb and/or counter all the political voices reverberating around you.

On the food scene, Melissa Blease talks to Alison Golden of The Circus Restaurant about the secret of the restaurant’s success – the answer is an ambience and menus that are accessible, informal and affordable.

Thank you for your company this month.

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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EXPLORER HUB

The Margaret Coates Centre is a centre for children with autism from age 4–11. They are putting on an exhibition of artwork from children, young people and adults with autism, as well as parents and carers, in association with Fosseway Special School, Venturers’ Academy, Mendip School, Threeways special school, Ralph Allen and Oldfield secondary schools and Bath College. The exhibition will be at Manvers Street Café, 23 Manvers Street, Bath, during March. There will also be a smaller collection of artwork on display at the Guildhall in Bath throughout Autism Awareness week from 1–7 April. autisticeye.co.uk

MARCH DAFFODILS

Daffoldils belong to the genus Narcissus and symbolise friendship.

All daffodils have a central corona that looks like a trumpet and a ring of petals all around.

The natural daffodil is golden yellow while the trumpet often appears in a contrasting colour.

Daffodils are, of course, best in a crowd, but they bring cheer wherever they grow.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIA TRICKEY The Bath Society of Botanical Artists; bsba.co.uk

‘When in doubt, ❝ My mottoaddis20always, more colours!’ ❞ KAFFE FASSETT (B.1937)

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ZEITGEIST

things to do in

March

Belly laughs

Celebrated artist Kaffe Fassett is returning to the American Museum and Gardens this month with a new exhibition showcasing 20 brand new quilts alongside the museum’s world-renowned collection of antique American quilts. Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts in America is open from 16 March – 3 November, admission £13/£7. Kaffe will also be delivering the museum’s annual Claridge Lecture on 3 April, 7pm, to discuss his new works and how the museum’s collection helped to inspire him. Tickets: £20. Find out more about how Kaffe’s garden has influenced his work in our interview with the artist from page 106; americanmuseum.org

Ash Wednesday: 8.30 am, 2004-5 by George Shaw

Be crafty Fans of cult magazine Selvedge will be glad to hear that the team behind the brand will be exhibiting more than 50 merchants and makers at The Assembly Rooms on 30 March, 11am–5pm. From rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery and skilfully handmade textile treasures, there will be something for everyone to marvel at. Advance tickets from £2.50, or admission is from £5 on the door. The Assembly Rooms Café will be open throughout for refreshments. Turn to page 28 to find out more; selvedge.org

Girl power Contemplate Join Turner-Prize nominee and one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists George Shaw in conversation with Professor Mark Hallett (Director, Paul Mellon Centre), as they discuss Shaw’s latest exhibition – A Corner of a Foreign Field – which is open at the Holburne Museum until 6 May. Shaw will talk about his remarkable paintings which focus on the Tile Hill estate on the outskirts of Coventry on 7 March, 7pm. Tickets £10, free access to the exhibition and Garden Café from 6pm; holburne.org

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Coinciding with International Women’s Day, comedic dance-theatre company The Hiccup Project present an insight, celebration and ode to being a woman in the 21st century on 8 March, 7.30pm at Bath Spa University Theatre, Newton Park. In their award-winning show Lovely Girls, Chess and Cristina open up the confusing pot of contradictions and expectations that face women today – have lots of sex, but not too much; strive for a good career, but make time for everyone else; have curves, but don’t be fat; be assertive, but not bossy… Blimey!

Tickets £5–£10; bathspalive.com n

Kaffe Fassett Studio/George Shaw courtesy Anthony Wilkinson Gallery, London, photo: Peter White

Marvel

You funny bone will certainly get tickled this month as the Bath Comedy Festival returns from 26 March – 14 April, bringing more than 150 shows and events to venues across the city. Popular impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner will open the festival at Walcot House, while multi-award-winning Jess Robinson, pictured, will be bringing her best celebrity impressions, top jokes and vocal gymnastics to Widcombe Social Club on 5 April. Other top names include Henning Wehn, Tracey Collins and Friends, Sally-Anne Hayward, Chris Arnold, and Micky P Kerr (read our interview with him on page 30).

You can also experience the most enjoyable disastrous dining experience of your life as the interactive Faulty Towers The Dining Experience comes to the Apex Hotel, where Basil, Sybil and Manuel will serve you a three-course meal with a side of shambolic service. See the full programme online; bathcomedy.com

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The city

ist

THE BUZZ THE BUZZ Glassy-eyed entertainment

My BATH

Jake Horwood has been volunteering as a Larkhall Athletic Youth football coach for eight years, and thinks Bath is a great city to bring up children I’m proudly Bath born and bred, never left and don’t plan to. I grew up in Newbridge and attended Beechen Cliff School. University never really interested me, so I decided to go straight into work.

Fancy a dinner, dance and glass blowing evening run by Bath Aqua Glass on 23 March? There will be glass blowing while you eat and dancing to the music of the Red Bandits and Viva Vocal Choir.

You can even blow your own bauble!

Arrive at Walcot Street Glass Blowing Studio at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. £35pp and all proceeds go to charity. To book tel 01225 319606 or email sales@bathaquaglass.com.

The club is run purely by volunteers and almost everyone involved is either a parent or an ex player for the club. We rely on fundraising and sponsorship, as well as subscriptions from players. Thanks to the generous support of The Bath Magazine, my team were provided with a brand new kit at the beginning of last season. If any business owners would be interested in opportunities I’d be happy to help point them in the right direction. And I encourage anyone out there who has a child interested in football to get in touch with the club and give it a go.

Hand-printed fashion

Textile designer Clare Walsh has been chosen to show her work at the Elegance In The Afternoon fashion show at the Guildhall on 13 April. Clare’s handprinted pieces include kimonos, linen coats, bags and cushions (clarewalshdesign.co.uk). Her work was chosen by Karen Walker, Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council, in a competition to find an emerging designer to feature among the established brands.

The compere for the afternoon will be BBC Points West journalist Imogen Sellers. Guests will enjoy tea, cake and fizz and proceeds will go to the Dorothy House Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Tickets £30, including tea and prosecco. To book, email: lorainemorganbrinkhurst consultancy.co.uk

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I’ve been coaching for Larkhall Athletic Youth for eight years and I absolutely love it.

We have a great group of 17 boys aged 14/15.

We train weekly and play matches on Sundays, and it’s very rewarding to be a part of. I unfortunately got a nasty knee injury playing football when I was 16, so going into coaching this early was never my intention.

When the opportunity to start an under eights team came up, I dragged my friend, Joe, and my dad, Steve, along for the ride...

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My wife and I love taking our son to Bath City Farm – it’s a brilliant spot with beautiful views (and if you go at the right time, you can catch a glimpse of the mighty Bath City FC playing at Twerton Park).

There aren’t enough social groups for dads out there, but I’ve heard great things about the Men Behaving Dadly toddler group which meet on the third Saturday of the month at St Swithin’s Church.

I think support for new parents and their mental health is something that needs work in the city. I didn’t have the best first year as a young parent and think this is mainly because there wasn’t enough easily accessible help. All new parents struggle at times, which is completely normal, however not everybody has the confidence to ask for help. If you know a new parent that is struggling, a simple

text asking how they are could make a world of difference. If anyone in a similar situation would like to reach out for support, my twitter handle is @Jake_Horwood93.

A personal favourite foodie spot has to be The Colombian Co on Abbey Green. It has the best coffee and best service in the city.

JP and his wife Veronica have created something special there. I also treat myself to a £5 pizza deal at Bath Pizza Co in Green Park Station far too often.

Traffic in Bath is a hot topic among locals.

I don’t think there is a way to make everyone happy, but something needs to change. I think more can be done to encourage people to cycle into work, and maybe add more undercover shelters for bikes.

One of the highlights of 2018 for me was Pub in the Park in June. It was a fantastic night with beautiful weather. My friends and I really enjoyed watching Mel C. I’m looking forward to seeing acts such as Texas and Basement Jaxx at this year’s event.

During the summer evenings, the view from Lansdown playing fields is beautiful.

However, my favourite view of the city is driving down the A46 from the motorway and seeing Bath all lit up in the evening – it instantly makes you feel like you’re home.

I’ve recently become an advertising sales executive for a national aviation magazine after three years of working at The Bath Magazine. I’m excited to see where my next career step will take me, and am looking forward to some new experiences.

My ideal dinner party guest list would consist of actor Mark Hamill, Steve Irwin, Ronaldinho, Stan Lee and Barbara Windsor – I challenge anyone to have a stranger list than that!

Who would play me in a film about my life?

I would want Chris Pratt, but I’d expect James Corden. n To find out more about Larkhall Athletic FC’s youth teams, visit: larkhallathletic.com

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The digital debate

Our roving reporter says going online may be quick and easy but it isn’t always the best option

T

LINDBERG create frames which offer discreet, classic elegance and carefully considered simplicity.

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he online vs the three-dimensional world discussion all began with my mother’s cookery books. She keeps them in a row along one end of her kitchen, effectively blocking the work surface, as one of her grandsons sharply pointed out.

Couldn’t she ditch the books and simply get all her recipes on her tablet, he asked, freeing up this area so she could make bread, or at least have less clutter?

She retorted that she would not be able to find all her favourite recipes on the internet. Google would almost certainly not have access to the handwritten recipes collected over the years, including such delicacies as Jimmy Young’s English pizza or my grandmother’s Seville marmalade instructions (the secret ingredient is two lemons).

This threw us all into a tizzy about what digital technology can and can’t do for us. I like the fact that I can turn to YouTube to find out how to put a piece of flatpack furniture together, but I also think a lot of the younger generation have lost their sense of space and direction because they only ever use a SatNav to find their way around, dismissing maps as old-fashioned and a waste of good trees. I think that a paper map gives you a real sense of where you are in relation to where you’re going and helps bring out your inner homing pigeon. When SatNavs dictate the route you can end up feeling lost and bewildered, especially if the signal drops out or a road is unexpectedly closed.

Recently I needed to know what was on the pages of newspapers in the 1870s. In days of yore I would have gone to a library where staff would have allowed me a leisurely page-turning voyage of discovery, poring over the small ads while searching for the specific stories I wanted. But now everything has been digitalised, it requires the reader to get eyestrain searching through closely printed text. Also, the onscreen system requires you to run a specific search, so gone is the pleasure of wandering and discovering along the way.

Until I had face recognition for online banking on my phone I was thrown into a panic every time my bank requested my digital pass key.

It would prompt me with questions such as ‘What was your first pet’s name?’ – leaving me to wonder whether that was the shrimp we inadvertently brought home from the seaside as children, christened Shrimpy, and held a full state funeral complete with recorder playing, or whether it was my uncle’s labrador puppy we would pretend was ours.

Internet banking’s not for everyone.

The more I talk to fellow analogue people the more I hear about the angst that surrounds remembering our passwords. We need passwords to access everything online, from our gas and electricity readings to our airline tickets. I was even asked to create a password when I was buying some rather gorgeous hydrangeas online the other day (that’s me, living the Croc’n’ roll dream of the middle-aged gardener). Someone told me you can use an app to apply a password for everything, but I expect you need a password for that as well.

The saddest downside of digital technology is that we’re not keeping things for posterity. Our emails will be lost in the ether, our texts wiped and our photographs forever frozen on our small screens. Our witty WhatsApp bon mots will never be recalled as though we were Stephen Fry or Sue Perkins. What will be the next generation’s bundle of faded love letters wrapped in a ribbon and kept in an old chocolate box? Or the albums of black and white photos of relatives long forgotten, which prompt older members of the family to point out that noses run in our family, or ‘isn’t that So-and-So who ran off with the nanny?’ Where are all the collections of postcards scribbled from happy holidays sending humour – and collectable stamps – home? I know lots of people who are delving into their family trees and I can’t help feeling there will one day soon be a big gap where digital doesn’t quite match up to reality.

Come the much-predicted Zombie Apocalypse, what will we be able to save from this brave new world that won’t require electricity or batteries to enjoy? n

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CITY | HAPPENINGS

STEP INTO

SPRING

The mornings are getting lighter, the clocks are going forward, and we can start to imagine drinking chilled vino on the patio in the warm evenings again… As spring is nearly here, Jessica Hope rounds up some events and openings that will add extra sunshine to this season

1 ARTS APLENTY

Find an item you will treasure forever at the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair

Arts and antiques lovers are in for a treat as numerous new exhibitions and fairs are coming to Bath in spring. Kicking off this month, the Bath Art Fair is on from 1–2 March at Bath Pavilion, showcasing the work of some of the best contemporary professional artists in the country. Tickets are £5 on the door. Those looking for that special period piece will be well catered for at Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, 7–10 March, which is celebrating its 30th year at Bath Pavilion.

Explore the vibrant mix of items from exhibitors from across the UK and Europe – expect everything from the rustic to refined English country house style; mid-century design to Swedish period painted furniture; and fashionable iron garden furniture to vintage pub signs and advertising collectables. The popular Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition is open from 18 May – 29 June at Victoria Art Gallery, displaying the best of the region’s artistic talent. The annual exhibition receives up to 1,000 entries, and all items on display are on sale – so you can even go home with one of the artworks!

Residents will also be able to peruse some of the best local talent at the Bath Open Studios weekends and art trails around Bear Flat, Larkhall, Newbridge, Widcombe and Combe Down. The trails begin in May, and you can visit the studios of local artists and see them hard at work.

For more: bathartfair.co.uk; bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk; victoriagal.org.uk; bathopenstudios.co.uk

2 OPERATIC TREATS The internationally renowned Iford Arts Festival is changing things up a little this year. The opera and proms season begins on 18–19 May with Johann Struass’s Die Fledermaus, starring legendary comic baritone Simon Butteriss in the glamorous Banqueting Room of the Guildhall, Bath. The season opener on 18 May will feature a gala Champagne reception with canapés in the Brunswick Room from 6pm. The festival will then continue from 30 August – 7 September at its new home in the beautiful grounds of the Grade I listed Georgian house Belcombe Court in Bradford on Avon. Pack a picnic and enjoy the cool jazz sounds of Clare Teal and her Trio, or laugh at Donizetti’s heart-warming comedy L’elisir d’amore. See page 38 for more.

The beautiful gardens of the Grade I listed Belcombe Court

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Tickets are now on sale, call Bath Box Office: 01225 463362 or visit: ifordarts.org.uk

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CITY | HAPPENINGS

4 SOARING SOUNDS Chart-topping Welsh mezzo-soprano singer and songwriter Katherine Jenkins is bringing her spellbinding classical tones to cities across the UK this year, including a visit to Bath Forum to promote the release of her first album in four years. Accompanied by London Concert Orchestra and conducted by Anthony Inglis, Katherine will be performing some of her all-time favourite songs, as well as tracks from her new album, Guiding Light, on 11 May, doors open at 7pm.

Tickets from £29.50, VIP packages available; bathforum.co.uk

3 WHAT A JOKER Hope your stomach muscles are prepared as England’s fastest growing comedy festival returns to Bath with more than 150 shows from 26 March – 14 April. The Bath Comedy Festival is bringing a broad programme for you to chortle at including Olivier nominated duo Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel’s homage to Morecambe and Wise, above, headliner Henning Wehn, a wine arts trail with Christopher Biggins, and multi-award-winning impersonator Jess Robinson. Britain’s best-loved satirical impressionist Rory Bremner will open the festival, while the opening and closing weekends will include gala shows featuring a mix of musical comedy and top stand-up.

Plus Bath’s famous, globe-trotting Natural Theatre Company will help the amusement spill out onto the streets of Bath.

Artist and professor Sonia Boyce, below, and director of the V&A Tristram Hunt, inset, will be speaking at the Holburne Museum

To see the full programme and to book tickets, visit: bathcomedy.com

Tristram Hunt by Will Whittaker

5 CULTURAL QUESTIONS To coincide with the Holburne Museum’s new Why Museums Matter exhibition which explores the way people interpret and value museums in contemporary society, the museum is holding a discussion with some of the UK’s leading experts on 11 April, 7pm. Tristram Hunt (Director, V&A), Sonia Boyce, (Artist and Professor of Black Art & Design at University of the Arts London), Maria Balshaw CBE (Director of Tate) and Chris Stephens (Director, The Holburne Museum) will explore the significant ways in which cultural engagement can enhance, shape and alter people’s lives. There will also be a symposium on Why Museums Matter for Mental Health on 5 April, 10am–4.30pm, analysing the benefits and challenges of health and heritage projects which use creativity to promote mental health and wellbeing.

For tickets to these events, visit: holburne.org THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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CITY | HAPPENINGS

6 MUSICAL HEIGHTS Put one of the world’s most distinguished musicians together with one of the most highly respected professional orchestras in the south west, and what do you get? A night of thrilling music you certainly won’t forget. Be transported to the city of Vienna as internationally renowned cellist Steven Isserlis performs both of Joseph Haydn’s cello concertos alongside Bath Philarmonia on 29 March, 7.30pm, at The Assembly Rooms, Bath. Two of Britain’s most celebrated living composers, Max Richter and Jonathan Dove, will also be featuring, as well as Mozart’s most popular overtures The Marriage of Figaro and Cosi fan Tutte.

Tickets: £5–£35, from Bath Box Office: 01225 463362; bathphil.co.uk

Internationally renowned cellist Steven Isserlis joins Bath Philharmonia

7 LAUGH YOUR SOCKS OFF If you need a right royal laugh this spring, then a trip to Theatre Royal Bath is highly recommended. The first major revival in over a decade of David Mamet’s Olivier award-winning Glengarry Glen Ross is coming from 18–23 March. Starring Nigel Harman and Mark Benton, below, it follows four salesmen as they are pitched in a high stakes competition against each other.

Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre and direct from the West End, The IT Crowd’s Katherine Parkinson reprises her acclaimed role as Judy in Laura Wade’s new comedy about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife in Home, I’m Darling, on from 16–20 April. Elsewhere, the latest smash hit from the brilliant brains behind the award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong – The Comedy About a Bank Robbery – is coming to Bath from 30 April – 4 May. It would be criminal to miss it!

For tickets, visit: theatreroyal.org.uk A cream silk satin wedding dress worn

by Emily Poor, 1900

Julia Frith and Liam Jeavons in The Comedy About A Bank Robbery

Fashionistas rejoice! From beautiful 17thcentury embroidered gauntlet gloves to a costume glove from the Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back, the Fashion Museum in Bath will be showcasing one of the best collections of gloves in the world from 2 March. Woven throughout the permanent exhibition A History of Fashion in 100 Objects, Glove Stories will display the breadth and depth of The Glove Collection of the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London. Then from 17 May, a new exhibition – Collection Stories – opens, revealing an exciting look behind the scenes of the museum’s outstanding collection of historical fashionable dress.

Entrance to the Fashion Museum is £9.50 for adults or free for Discovery Card holders; fashionmuseum.co.uk

Jean Baptiste Millot/Robert Day

8 GLOVES ARE ON

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CITY | HAPPENINGS

Will Young is headlining the Sunday evening at Pub in the Park

9 GOURMET GROOVES We had so much fun at last year’s Pub in the Park that when we heard it was coming back to Royal Victoria Park this June, we may have squealed a little… Top chefs like Tom Kerridge, Angela Hartnett and Josh Eggleton will be serving up delicious dishes from 21–23 June, and local producers will be showcasing the very best artisan produce that the west country has to offer.

And don’t forget the live music! Basement Jaxx and Gabrielle will be opening the festival on Friday night, with Scottish charttopping band Texas headlining the Saturday night, and Will Young taking to the stage on Sunday evening, as well as many more. With a G&T in one hand, Angela Hartnett’s rigatoni in the other, and with our dancing shoes firmly on, we’re ready to pub the park out!

For tickets, visit: pubintheparkuk.com

Stuart McIntyre/Pal Hansen/BBC Orchestra

10 FESTIVAL FUN Bringing the very best from the worlds of literature and music together, The Bath Festival’s 2019 programme won’t disappoint. Taking place in venues across Bath from 17–26 May, you can expect to see the likes of Jo Brand, Sir Michael Parkinson, Dame Darcy Bussell, Simon Armitage, Melvyn Bragg and Kate Williams heading up the literature sides of things. While in the music world, don’t miss a special live broadcast of BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night, or the series of hour-long concerts by some of classical music’s finest newcomers under 30 – including pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and Benjamin Goldscheider on brass. Opening the festival is Bath’s biggest night of free music – Party in the City – which features more than 2,000 performers across 30+ venues. And closing the festival on an almighty high is the Festival Finale Weekend at the Recreation Ground on 1–2 June, where Grammy winners and Brit nominated band Clean Bandit will headline Saturday, with legendary Van Morrison headlining the Sunday line-up. More music announcements to follow.

2014 BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist Isata KannehMason performs

Jo Brand talks about her book Born Lippy

Don’t miss the special live broadcast of BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night with the BBC Concert Orchestra

To see the full programme and for tickets, visit: bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival n THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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DESIGNER COLLECTIONS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

A superb collection of pieces by British designers

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Ma San Auction In Bath

AUCTIONEERS IN FINE ART, ANTIQUES AND LUXURY GOODS An 18th century Chinese bronze Buddha.

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INTERIORS

Back to nature Design trends come and go, but designers and artists have always used natural materials and depicted natural forms and images in their work. In a world where sustainability and protecting our environment is a priority, the natural ethic continues to run strongly within interior trends

Bordeaux Provence Limestone (left), from £118.80/m2 and Dijon Tumbled Limestone (right) from £29.99/m2, Mandarin Stone, 15–16 Broad Street, Bath mandarinstone.com Fernery wallpaper, POA, Allyson McDermott, 8 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath allysonmcdermott.com

River by Stewart Edmondson, acrylic on paper, £3,300, Beaux Arts, 12–13 York Street, Bath beauxartsbath.co.uk

Cirencester brown oak burr cutting board, £25, Timber Treasures, 5 Abbey Green, Bath timber-treasures.co.uk

Arundel Oak Bench £445–745, Neptune, One Tram Yard Walcot Street, Bath neptune.com

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INTERIORS

Tilbury six drawer sideboard, £959, TR Hayes, 15-18 London Street, Walcot, Bath trhayes.co.uk

Farleigh magazine holder in walnut by Charlie Caffin, from £149, Verve Living, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath

Harry Linen in Sand, Mortar and Storm, £49 per metre, Neptune, One Tram Yard, Walcot Street, Bath neptune.com

Embroidered ‘Stuff’ basket from The Basket Room, Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath

verveliving.uk

homefrontinteriors.co.uk

Beans wooden sideboard with four drawers finished in matte oak root, POA, Woodhouse and Law, 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath

Idele leather faux fur cuff gloves, £45 Handmade tambourine basket, £68, dunelondon.com Anthropologie, 1–4 New Bond Street, Bath

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anthropologie.com

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DESIGN | INTERVIEW

A man with grand designs

Kevin McCloud is a familiar face in our homes as the presenter of Grand Designs, and he’s just been awarded an MBE for his work on sustainability and energy saving. Melissa Blease asks him about his latest projects and his love of the west country n a good day, Bath reminds me of Vincenza in the summer; it’s a beautiful place,” says Kevin McCloud, the British designer, writer and television presenter best known for his work on the Channel 4 TV series Grand Designs, which he’s presented since the programme’s debut almost two decades ago. Although Kevin has lived in the west country (specifically the Frome/Warminster area) since 1987, he’s at home in another way entirely when we chat. “I’m currently on the 13th floor of high rise development in Vauxhall, London,” he says. “And there’s quite a lot of building development going on around me... which of course, I’m very used to. But no, I’m not putting my oar in on any of the building sites that I pass – I wear glasses and a flat cap when I’m out and about, and go around the word in disguise. I like a quiet life!”

Kevin’s life, however, has been far from quiet. He studied history of art and architecture at the University of Cambridge and went on to train as a theatre designer before establishing his own lighting design practice and manufacturing business responsible for lighting fittings in venues such as Edinburgh Castle and Harrods’ food hall ceiling. In early 2007 he created HAB Housing Limited (‘Happiness, Architecture, Beauty’) and led a consortium to purchase land to build a HAB housing development on the outskirts of Swindon. But in the direct public eye, Grand Designs (alongside early episodes of Home Front and the tall buildings/climbing series Don’t Look Down) brought him into our own homes on a regular basis.

“There will always be questions around whether television simply marks and records the passage of time or whether it determines the changes that happen over that time,” says Kevin, when asked about the series’ legacy.

“Programming may indeed be increasingly determining who we are, and how we all live.

But Grand Designs fits into a type of programming that’s based on very traditional storytelling; in each project we’re at the mercy of our contributors and the work that they’re doing, so I always hesitate to suggest that Grand Designs has been in any way responsible for changing tastes – we simply record what we see happening.”

Kevin readily acknowledges, though, that big changes have indeed gone on around him (and us!) outside of the Grand Designs ‘bubble’ since the series first began – and not all of them are positive. “Some amazingly

negative influences have impacted on British construction in the past 20 years,” he says.

“The two biggest factors are the abandonment of the sustainability goals that Gordon Brown adopted as prime minister. I’m shocked that the Department for Energy and Climate Change no longer even exists – it’s as though the current government has lost the people, the enthusiasm, the drive and the collective will for driving forward. Today it’s all about cash saving, and succumbing to the pressures of the market place – developers and house builders who want to save some money and not have to be compliant with so much regulation. I think it’s disastrous, and a massive retrograde step. The other huge issue is that in the 40 years I’ve been working in design and building, I’ve seen us move from a place where all our building trades used to employ apprentices on formal training programmes to a position where it’s all a bit of a free-for-all. For around 15 years, we’ve relied on migrant European labour from countries like Poland where people are still trained to a very high level, which has been very much to our benefit. As a result of Brexit combined with factors such as the Polish economy strengthening again, we’re going to find construction reverting back to a very crude, unskilled place if we’re not careful.

We’ve got a crisis in affordable housing, we have a crisis in planning, and we have a crisis in the construction skill base – we’ve taken some hugely retrograde steps.”

❝

The award sits in that little part of my mind where my conscience is, and reminds me what I should be doing next.

❝

O

“

Oh dear. Can Kevin see any silver linings to the clouds on the horizon? “Oh for sure, yes indeed,” he says. “There’s a lot of very exciting energy technology emerging in this country. The focus at the moment is about trying to squeeze heating, ventilation and hot water down into one small, super-efficient box. I’m very excited by developments in infra-red heating and 24-volt renewable energy systems as well. When I was trying all

this stuff out ten years ago, I’d have about five different suppliers to deal with, including an engineer, an electrician and somebody who dealt with the software; today, it’s all in one box with one phone number on the front of it, so if anything goes wrong you just ring one person directly. And it’s increasingly accessible to everybody; take the Mitsubishi air source heat pump – you just buy it, job done.

Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery is now standard in many homes”.

We can expect to be introduced to more on this subject when Grand Designs Live – the award-winning home event presented by Kevin and specialising in ideas, inspiration and expert advice on all aspects of the domestic built environment – returns to London’s ExCell from 4–12 May and Birmingham’s NEC from 9–13 October. This will be preceded by a brand new TV series (My Grand Designs) which follows ten different houses on a street at an innovative development called Graven Hill in Bicester: the site of a new town consisting of 2,000 self-build homes. “Right now, I’m poised at the start of a kind of maelstrom that’s about to whir into action,” says Kevin.

It doesn’t sound as though he’s going to have much time, then, to enjoy his preferred ‘quiet life’ in his west country base over the coming months. What does Kevin most miss about home when he’s on the road? “I rather enjoy the slightly chaotic nature of politics in the region, and the slightly chaotic way in which business such as farming is carried out – it’s not the agricultural farming country of Norfolk, it’s sort of … well, wilder! And I love the Mendips, and the Quantocks, and the extraordinary Unesco World Heritage stuff in Bath. I adore the west country.”

If Kevin is a (west) country boy at heart, he’s a humble one, too. “There are many people who find the honours system trite, or silly, or not worth responding to, but I find it very flattering; it’s just a lovely, lovely thing,” he says, when asked about his MBE for services to sustainable design and energy saving property refurbishment. “It does’'t change who you are, it doesn’t turn you into Superman, it doesn’t alter your health or bring fame and riches; it’s just a very lovely recognition of the things you believe in – and all the work that I do is very much about the things that I believe in. The award sits in that little part of my mind where my conscience is, and reminds me what I should be doing next. My work here is not done!” Grand news indeed. n

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TEXTILE | ARTS

Designs on fabric

The team behind the cult magazine Selvedge are bringing a collection of 50 merchants and makers to the Assembly Rooms in Bath on 30 March. Exhibitors will be selling a range of rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery and finely crafted handmade textile treasures. Here is an introduction to the work of three of the makers

MADDER CUTCH & CO.

CAMBRIDGE IMPRINT

Cambridge Imprint was set up by three sisters, Jane, Claerwen and Ali, who are all artists. “We all wanted to allow ourselves to make things that were unashamedly decorative, without the weight of anxiety that an art practice is sometimes fraught with,” says Claerwen.

The company makes patterned paper.

“It’s a matte ivory paper that is lithographically printed in hand-mixed colours which faithfully reproduce the handscreenprinted prototypes we make in our studio. The ink is vegetable-oil based and environmentally friendly, and the paper is fully biodegradable and recyclable, but also remarkably durable.”

Their design inspiration is wide-ranging including Enid Marx, The Omega Workshop, Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, medieval embroidery, the early days of Laura Ashley, Curwen Press; quilts, Arts and Crafts, hand-lettering, and Japanese paper.

The common thread is an interest in handmade domestic decoration using simple methods.

The sisters tend to develop their own patterns independently, but influence one another along the way. “And competitiveness is a great engine of creativity,” says Claerwen. “The Cambridge Imprint style is both sober and joyful.

Although our influences are eclectic, our patterns have a particularly English quality.

We supply shops in Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan – the world capital of beautiful patterned paper. I think that’s an indication that we’re producing something with a very distinctive flavour.”

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The idea behind Nicola Cliff’s company Madder Cutch & Co. was to use natural plant dyes within home furnishings. “With a love of the work of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement I set about my journey,” says Nicola. The first step was an MA in sustainable textiles at Chelsea College. “Here I learnt how to transform my skills as a chemistry teacher into a textile designer, with the advantage of being able to formulate my own dye pastes to screen print the linen fabric by hand in my garden studio/workshop. This enables me to keep the whole production process in house and keep things as sustainable as possible.

“I have always found inspiration for my designs from my surroundings. Small things catch my eye and trigger the first seeds of a design. My newest design ‘Olive’s Room’ was inspired by a snippet of wallpaper spotted in the rubble during a house renovation.”

Nicola prints her fabric by the metre, but also makes a variety of products to show off the designs and plant colours. “Our products are made using our offcuts and sampling prints. We hand make all of our products in Stamford, so each one is unique. They have an organic looking style that is very colourful. My best-selling products are the fabric buckets and the little boxes containing scraps. We will have Ernie dogs, cushions, zip bags, notebooks, aprons, fabric buckets, ipad cases and beeswax wrapping at the Selvedge Fair in March.”

CHALK WOVENS

The faces behind Chalk Wovens are Kerry Stokes and Richard Bush. They met at art college in the 1980s, while Richard was studying ceramics and Kerry textiles.

“Woven structures always fascinated me,” says Kerry. “My mother was an artist and teacher and my grandmother, who had worked in London fashion houses in the 1920s, had introduced me to a rich array of fabrics. The maths involved in woven textiles is definitely a key part of its allure.”

Richard’s career in interiors and Kerry’s experience designing woven textiles led them to set up Chalk Wovens, manufacturing a range of throws and cushions. Their Brighton studio houses a compact designer handloom, but they also use a traditional mill in Wales to produce the woollen fabrics.

Design inspiration often comes from the landscapes and seascapes of Sussex and sometimes from architectural plants and gardens. The style is modern, with a simplicity which belies the often complex structures.

More recently Richard and Kerry have been supplying fabric for curtains and blinds alongside their bestselling throws. and they also have a popular range of hotwater bottles and covers – you can even have a hottie to match your throw! n

Selvedge Fair, 30 March, The Tea Room, The Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath, 11am–5pm, entrance £7.50; selvedge.org

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INTERVIEW | COMEDY

Go Kerr-crazy at Komedia

Smart, quick, funny, different, original was how Simon Cowell described Micky P. Kerr’s final performance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. He’s bringing all that to Komedia in Bath on 3 April as he embarks on a huge national tour. Melissa Blease asks him about his BGT journey and his particular brand of comedy

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Photography by Steve Ullathorne

M

icky P. Kerr is one of those fortunate people who have an innate gift of being endearingly charismatic from the get-go; naturally affable and gently sharp, he has a way of making you want to smile even if he’s not trying to make you laugh. Little wonder, then, that Micky, his guitar and his super-quick wit made it all the way through to the Britain’s Got Talent final last year.

“I was belly laughing – ugly laughing! – all the way through your act,” Alesha Dixon told him, after his final moment in the BGT spotlight. “Everything that comes out of your mouth is hilarious,” Amanda Holden declared. “I absolutely love you!” David Walliams spluttered. As for Simon Cowell: “you’re so smart, so quick, so funny, so different, so original,” he proclaimed. “You absolutely nailed it!” So, Micky had all the judges eating out of the palm of his hand all the way along his BGT journey? Erm... maybe not quite.

“I was turned down in the first audition,” says Micky, talking to me in advance of his visit to Komedia, Bath next month. “But it was my own fault, really. I made a joke about a bag for life, and everyone ended up laughing at Simon a little bit too much for not knowing what a bag for life was. I pushed it a bit too far. I drove home really disappointed – I mean, what had I been thinking, pissing the main guy off? And then about a week later I got a private message from David Walliams on Twitter, saying he was going to sort it out – and he did! About a month later I got a call from the BGT producers saying they’d changed their minds. Without David – who is a genuinely nice guy who I’ve kept in touch with – none of this would be happening.”

By ‘this’, Micky means the huge national tour he’s about to embark on (Z-list Celebrity? – one can only assume that the title is ironic), followed by a headline stint at the Edinburgh Festival, the hordes of fans he’s more than happy to give selfie time to... and the fact that still being a primary school teacher for a couple of days a week might soon become completely untenable; yup, away from the bright lights, Micky P. Kerr is still just ‘Sir’ to many children. “The day job isn’t too far removed from my on-stage life, really,” he says. “There’s quite a crossover:

teaching is just a presenting gig but with a different age demographic – quite a lot of teachers end up dabbling in stand-up. But when I went back to the classroom after doing BGT, it was as though the kids were all suddenly a bit scared of me even though I’d been teaching them for two years – it

was weird! But after a few weeks it all died down and they were back to normal again, and I was just back to being Mr Kerr. The kids I don’t teach are far more excited to see me than my lot are!” And it’s not just kids who are excited to see him.

Just under 11-million people watched the

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INTERVIEW | COMEDY

Britain’s Got Talent 2018 final, in which Micky and fellow funny man Robert White were pipped to the post by a third comedian, Lost Voice Guy. Other acts in the final included acrobats the Giang Brothers, dance act DVJ, a choir and several singers; the lineup was, all told, quite a mixed bag, all of whom were supremely talented in very different ways.

“It was kind of a little bit stressful to be up against so much talent including other comedians in the same show, but we were all coming at comedy from different angles really, so you don’t tend to compare yourself,” says Micky. “Then there were the dancers doing their thing, and the weird acrobats doing theirs, and the singers doing theirs – you just have to chill, and focus on your own act and try and be the very best at what you’re trying to do.”

❝

The day job isn’t too far removed from my on-stage life. There’s quite a crossover: teaching is just a presenting gig but with a different age demographic

looks for – and supports – people who can go on and do well; they’ve got scouts everywhere, all the time, looking for all sorts of weird and wonderful acts.” And Micky’s act, it seems, ticked both of those boxes, with a hefty dollop of hilarious tying the bundle together.

Now that Micky – who’s been on and off the live music and comedy circuit since 2005 – is officially on the brink of huge commercial success in his field, might there be any downside to having to be funny on a full time basis? “Being a comedian is the same as doing any other job,” he says.

“If you’re feeling a bit down or you’re not having a good day, you still have to go into work and switch on, whatever it is that you do. And you don’t need to be in a good mood to make people laugh; you just have to have good material and present it well.

Stand up is as much a science as it is an art; you get used to knowing what will work well, and what won’t work well, and then you just get on and do your job.”

When it comes to inspiration for doing that job, Micky cites New Zealand musical

comedy duo Flight of the Conchords and Billy Bailey among his personal heroes (“a lot of musical comedians are a bit twee and there’s not that many good ones around, but Bill Bailey and the Conchords are up there with the greats.”) He’s grateful to his mum and his Aunty Karen for supporting him through the BGT process (“they got to meet Ant and Dec, who are just so lovely – honestly, they’re genuinely really lovely people”), and is massively excited about welcoming his second child to Kerr world. And if you too are keen to meet daddy Kerr, rest assured he’s looking forward to meeting you, too.

“My hands were slightly tied regarding what material I could use for BGT,” he says. “There’s a lot more to what I do when I’m not so, shall we say, restricted. I’m really looking forward to unleashing myself on the Bath audience.” I guess we have been warned... n The Micky P Kerr: Z-List Celebrity tour comes to Komedia, Bath on 3 April; komedia.co.uk/bath

❝

A tough gig indeed. Did he know what kind of stress he was letting himself in for when he first applied for the show?

“Various producers had asked me to audition five times before I did it,” he says, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the BGT process that may come as a surprise to many people. “I finally gave in because when I did my first Edinburgh show, I saw 2017 BGT finalist Jonny Awsum sell out his whole run while I was dashing around handing out flyers and trying to pull an audience. I thought, if that’s the power of BGT I may as well give it go. I knew they’d ask me again last year, so when they did, I was straight in.”

While the public BGT open auditions are still an integral part of the whole BGT TV bandwagon, things have changed since the show was first established back in 2007.

“They’ve stopped focusing on the ‘so bad it’s good’ build-up of acts that lead to the big shows because of our increasing awareness of mental health issues,” says Micky. “Okay, so some of the acts we’ve seen auditioning for BGT down the years may have made for some very funny TV moments, but what the actual person might have been going through when they auditioned – let alone what they went through afterwards – really wasn’t healthy entertainment. These days, the show simply THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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WHAT’S ON in March Award-winning character comedian Tracey Collins is coming to the Bath Comedy Festival

Mark Watson brings The Infinite Show to Komedia

STEPHEN BAILEY: OUR KID n 1 March, 7.30pm, Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath Stand-up comedy star Stephen Bailey is back on tour with his brand-new show Our Kid – a story full of northern warmth, some working-class guilt and a bit of blue. After supporting Katherine Ryan on her recent sold-out UK tour, Stephen brings his friendly brand of gossipy humour to his first critically acclaimed UK tour. £14/£11; rondotheatre.co.uk BEGINNERS’ PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP – GETTING STARTED n 2 March, 9.30am–4.30pm, The Makery, Union Passage, Bath If you’re new to photography or want a bit of a refresher course, this beginners’ photography workshop will help you improve your composition, discover how to perfect your exposures and understand how to use light. There will be a mix of classroom theory sessions and practical shooting on location with tutors Sam Gregory and Benedict Brain. £195. Book a place online; lightandland.co.uk ELVIS VS JERRY LEE LEWIS n 2 March, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath Who was the real king of rock n roll? Elvis the Pelvis? Or The Killer – Jerry Lee Lewis?

This is your chance to decide as the two come head to head, performing their energetic tunes to an audience which get to choose the winner. £16/£18; chapelarts.org BOTTICELLI’S FLORENCE n 4 March, 1.30pm, The Assembly Rooms, Bath Paula Nuttall will explore the career of one of the Renaissance’s best-loved artists, Botticelli, in this Arts Society Bath lecture.

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Botticelli’s artistic world. Visitors welcome, £10 at the door, no booking needed; theartssocietybath.com THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BRITISH RAJ n 4 March, 7.10pm, BRLSI Bath Evening Arts Society presents a lecture examining the evolving attitudes in India towards the British Empire, and towards the buildings which survive, with a whistle-stop tour of colonial buildings in Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay). Bombay’s economic boom of the 1860s coincided with the high point of the Gothic Revival. Nowhere else in the world can claim to have as magnificent an assemblage of Gothic Revival buildings. £8/£5; batheveningarts.co.uk THE SINGULAR ANN FORD THICKNESSE: A WOMAN AHEAD OF HER TIME n 7 March, 7.30pm, BRLSI Ann Ford, one of the most accomplished women of her day, was a gifted musician and singer. She defied her father by arranging and playing in public subscription concerts, and scandalised society with her published rebuff to the Earl of Jersey’s proposal to be his mistress. Bath society was further shocked when Gainsborough painted her with crossed legs, her ‘masculine’ viol de gamba by her side. Marie-Louise Luxemburg will discuss Ann’s extraordinary life in this talk. £5/£2; brlsi.org CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI n 8 March, 6.15pm, Waterstones, Milsom Street Christopher Paolini, bestselling author of Eragon, will be in Bath to discuss his new collection of stories The Fork, The Witch, and the Worm. Paolini became a number-one bestselling author aged 19, and spent the next decade immersed in the world of Alagaësia, following Eragon’s success with

Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance. £15, includes entry and a copy of the book (exclusive signed poster with book purchase); £6 general admission; £4 Waterstones Plus Cardholder; waterstones.com KEN LOACH AND GEORGE SHAW IN CONVERSATION n 8 March, 7pm, The Holburne Museum Join acclaimed director and activist Ken Loach in conversation with Holburneexhibiting artist and Turner-prize nominee George Shaw as they talk about the links between their works. Best-known for his films Kes (1969), and I, Daniel Blake (2016), and his treatment of social issues such as homelessness, poverty and labour rights, Loach’s work has inspired Shaw, whose retrospective at the Holburne focuses on the suburban Tile Hill council estate where he grew up. £10; holburne.org THE MUSIC OF LUDOVICO EINAUDI n 8 March, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon The Bristol Ensemble performs some of the most famous pieces composed by Ludovico Einaudi to the backdrop of beautiful images of nature. Scored for piano and strings, the ethereal works create a meditative atmosphere. £25/£12.50; wiltshiremusic.org.uk BATH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n 9 March, 7.30pm, Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School Bath Symphony Orchestra’s second concert of the season features Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture, one of Stravinsky’s early ballets, The Firebird, and Rachmaninov’s final composition, Symphonic Dances. £15/£7; bathboxoffice.org.uk ANTIGONE NA H’ÉIREANN n 9 March, 7.30pm, Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath

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Bath Philharmonia teams up with King Edward’s School for The Bath Orchestral Gala Concert

© RUH or Art at the Heart of the RUH. Image taken by Pete Stone

CULTURAL FILM SCREENINGS n Throughout March, The Little Theatre Cinema, Bath From live Met Operas to iconic classics, the Little has something for everyone this month. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic sci-fi classic Alien on 4 March, or watch Bolshoi Ballet’s resplendent Sleeping Beauty on 10 March. Inspired by a true story, the award-winning musical hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be broadcast from the Apollo Theatre on 17 March. Historian Dan Snow will host a commemorative evening marking the 75th anniversary of the real-life POW escape from the Stalag Luft III prison on 24 March, followed by a screening of The Great Escape. And to mark International Women’s Day, there will be a showing of Maiden and a live Q&A on 7 March with Tracy Edwards, who became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. See the full programme online; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

Following a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run, this new Northern Irish adaptation of the myth comes to the south west for the first time.

A hard-border Brexit has severed Ireland in two. Driven by faith to resurrect the IRA, Annie battles to bring her family the honour they deserve. In the shadow of her father and the memory of the disappeared, faith, family and factions collide. £14/£12; rondotheatre.co.uk BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS n 9 March, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Big Sandy is a stone cold legend and has played with everyone from George Jones, Johnny Cash, Morrissey to The Monkees. The FlyRite Boys also features stalwart of the UK rocking scene and virtuoso guitarist extraordinaire Ashley Kingham. This seated cabaret evening is ideal for both the hardcore rocking crowd while crossing over into contemporary rockabilly, country, Americana and Western swing. £15/£20; chapelarts.org SUNDAY WALK: BATH AT WAR IN BATH n 10 March, doors 10am, Topping & Co Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath Join Bath-born authors Nigel and David Lassman on a journey into the heart of wartime Bath to celebrate the launch of their new book, Bath At War 1939–45, which is a comprehensive account of the city’s experience of the conflict, covering in detail life on the Home Front set against the background of the wider theatres of war. £12.99, includes book; toppingbooks.co.uk STONES IN HIS POCKETS n 11–16 March, times vary, Theatre Royal Bath A small village in rural Ireland is turned upside down when a major Hollywood film studio descends to make a historical blockbuster on location. The story is told through the eyes of Charlie Conlon Continued page 34

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WHAT’S | ON

The sell-out Edinburgh Fringe production Antigone na h’Eireann comes to the Rondo Theatre

Croft & Pearce: Double Take stars at the Bath Comedy Festival

and Jake Quinn. Often hysterically funny, thought-provoking and witty, this wonderful comedy has won numerous awards including both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best New Comedy, as well as three Tony nominations on Broadway. From £20.50; theatreroyal.org.uk

concert of the season with Beresford KingSmith’s Psalm Symphony. The choir will also sing Gerald Finzi’s rhapsodic Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice and Francis Poulenc’s thrilling Gloria! The in-house orchestra will also play Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane. £5–£15; bathboxoffice.org.uk

MARK WATSON: THE INFINITE SHOW n 14 March, 8pm, Komedia, Bath Cluster-bombed with yoghurt on Taskmaster, half-killed on Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Island, Watson returns to what he’s best at: being indoors. As scrawny and impassioned as ever, one of the UK’s most beloved acts offers some suggestions, with his usual notoriously high joke- and-rant-perminute rate. From £19; komedia.co.uk

BATH PHILHARMONIA: THE CONCEPTION, CREATION AND GROWTH OF AN ORCHESTRA FOR 21ST-CENTURY BATH n 18 March, 7.30pm, BRLSI Bath Philharmonia, which gives 25 to 30 concerts each year in Bath and elsewhere, is a semi-professional orchestra, established in the 1990s. This talk by its music director and chief conductor, Jason Thornton, outlines its emergence and discusses approaches to repertoire and concertplanning. £5/£2; brlsi.org

TROUBLE LOUNGE PRESENTS THE CUBAN BROTHERS n 15 March, doors 7pm, Komedia, Bath The musical foursome The Cuban Brothers bring their hypnotic dance moves, opulent fashion and funky tunes all the way from Havana to Bath, bringing a party of colour and soul to warm up these shores. £20; komedia.co.uk

JANE LILLEY SINGERS AND SILVER RING CHOIR OF BATH n 16 March, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Bathwick Two of Bath’s best known choirs, one ladies and one mixed-voice, will be holding a joint concert to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Enjoy an eclectic programme of music, with drinks available during the interval. £10. For tickets, call: 01225 310861 or visit: janelilleysingers.com BATH CANTATA GROUP: GLORIA! n 16 March, 7.30pm, St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown Road, Bath Bath Cantata Group present their second

NOVELIST VALERIA LUISELLI n 18 March, doors 7.40pm, Topping & Co Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath Named as one of Topping’s books of the year, Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive is an extraordinary and virtuosic achievement of writing. It is at once a road novel, a deeply affecting family drama, a commentary on migration and the displacement of populations, and a rumination on the power of art and literature. Valeria will discuss her inspiration for the book and her other works. £7/£16.99, includes book; toppingbooks.co.uk A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: THE BATH ORCHESTRAL GALA CONCERT n 19 March, 7pm, The Guildhall, Bath Join the city’s resident professional orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, together with King Edward’s School Senior Orchestra, as they perform together in this year’s Gala Concert.

Along with Jason Thornton, conductor of Bath Philharmonia, 20 members of the professional orchestra will play side-by-side

Big Sandy & His FlyRite Boys at Chapel Arts Centre

with KES pupils in a programme of highly accessible and thrilling repertoire themed around A Night at The Movies. £14/£5.

To book call the King Edward’s School box office on: 01225 464313 or email: boxoffice@kesbath.com RISING STAR: ADAM HERON ON PIANO n 20 March, 2.10pm, The Holburne Museum 2018 BBC young musician of the year finalist Adam Heron performs his debut piano recital at the Holburne with a programme of works to include J. S. Bach. Heron has established himself as one of today’s leading musicians, having won the Irish Heritage Music Award in 2017. £6; holburne.org AN EVENING WITH THE HAIRY BIKERS n 20 March, doors 7pm, The Bath Forum All round to The Hairy Bikers’ for a night of cooking conversation with Si King and Dave Myers. Big-hearted, down-to-earth cooks with a love of good food, Si and Dave have been cooking and travelling the world together for more than 20 years. Now they’re embarking on a nationwide tour to talk about their love of food, while bringing some brand new recipes with them. From £19.50; bathforum.co.uk JACK LUKEMAN n 20 March, 7pm, Arts Café, Komedia, Bath Described by Edinburgh Spotlight Magazine as “The most magnificent and enigmatic of performers,” Jack Lukeman is a platinumselling Irish singer-songwriter and performer who has toured with the likes of Imelda May, Jools Holland, The Proclaimers and Neil Sedaka. £15; komedia.co.uk A TALE OF THREE PATIENTS, TWO MEDICS AND AN ARTIST n 21 March, 7.30pm, BRLSI William Hoare’s painting A Tale of Three Patients, Two Medics and an Artist has hung Continued page 36

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WHAT’S | ON

The Cuban Brothers at Komedia

See Anita Harris in concert at Chapel Arts Centre

Caroline’s Kitchen at Theatre Royal Bath

in Bath’s Mineral Water Hospital (RNHRD) for more than 250 years. Dr Roger Rolls, chair of the Bath Medical Museum, explains how it provides a visual synopsis of Bath’s success as an 18th-century spa in this lecture. £5/£2; brlsi.org DINNER DANCE AND GLASSBLOWING CHARITY EVENING n 23 March, 6.30pm, Bath Aqua Glass’ Glassblowing Studio, Walcot Street, Bath Enjoy an evening of glass blowing while you dine and dance to the wonderful music of The Red Bandits and Viva Vocal Choir.

Booking early recommended. £35pp; bathaquaglass.com THE HANDFUL: A CHILD’S PRAYER n 23 March, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Bathwick Contrast the most intense of Byrd’s Masses with the deeply personal Howell’s Requiem, written following the death of his son in 1935. Add A Child’s Prayer, James MacMillan’s poignant response to the Dunblane massacre, and Tavener’s The Lamb, dedicated to his nephew. Mix this well with Gorecki’s double-choir motet for Pope John Paul II, Totus tuus, and Purcell’s anthem, Remember not, Lord, our offences, written for the choir of Westminster Abbey, and you have the perfect recipe for a fascinating, intimate and emotional programme. £15/£5, tickets from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org TROWBRIDGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n 23 March, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon TSO celebrates English music of the 20th century with a programme featuring Vaughan Williams’ English Folksong Suite, Elgar’s popular Cello Concerto, and works

by Purcell and Britten. £17.50/£9; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

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FAELAND PLUS SUPPORT SEALIONWOMAN n 23 March, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Fusing deep folk tradition and acoustic instrumentation, Faeland bring their innovative and subtly experimental approach to contemporary folk music to Bath. Hear the acclaimed debut album All My Swim performed on an all-acoustic line-up. £8/£10; chapelarts.org BEAUTIFUL ME WORKSHOP n 24 March, 10am–3pm, BRLSI This Danish coaching workshop will guide students to look after their appearance with confidence and joy. £125, with £25 deposit, includes four personalised skincare products.

For information, call Anna on: 07811 956685; annachristensen.co.uk CAROLINE’S KITCHEN n 25–30 March, times vary, Theatre Royal Bath Caroline Mortimer is the nation’s favourite TV cook. In the glow of the studio lights, she has it all. But when the camera turns off, the truth comes out and when an unexpected guest disrupts a night of celebration there is more to spill than the wine… Direct from its hit London run, this searing, sharp, state-ofthe-nation comedy stars Caroline Langrishe, Aden Gillett, James Sutton and Jasmyn Banks. From £20.50; theatreroyal.org.uk JONATHAN JAMES DISCOVERING MUSIC n 26 March, 11am, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon Addled by physical and mental illness, Schubert produced some of his most surprising works in his very final years.

His last quartet is filled with the tension, harmonic invention and eloquence we associate with this final period. In this lecture Jonathan James will explore this work and put it in the context of his late style. £8; wiltshiremusic.org.uk

BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL n 26 March – 14 April, venues around Bath Get ready to giggle as the funniest festival in Bath returns this month with more than 150 shows. The line-up includes the self-styled ‘German Comedy Ambassador in London’ stand-up comedian Henning Wehn at The Bath Forum on 11 April. After a five-star run at Edinburgh Fringe and sell out performances at The Museum of Comedy, award-winning character comedian Tracey Collins is back in Bath on 29 March, while the nation’s favourite Frenchman, Marcel Lucont, returns to Widcombe Social Club on 5 April with a brand new show. Or be transported to The Nags Head for some wheeling, dealing and eating at the Only Fools The (cushty) Dining Experience at the Abbey Hotel on 1 April. Plus there’s much more to laugh your socks off at. Go online for the full programme and to book tickets; bathcomedy.com

SIMON WINDER ON EUROPE n 26 March, doors 7.45pm, Topping & Co Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath At the heart of western Europe lies a huge swathe of land, stretching from the mud and fogs of the North Sea coast, down through countless market towns, ports, fortresses and ancient cathedrals, through a mass of river systems and forests. Divided by their languages, religions and frontiers, everyone living there shares one thing: that they are inhabitants of a lost part of Europe – Lotharingia. Simon Winder explores the extraordinary history of this land. £7/£20 includes book; toppingbooks.co.uk Continued page 38

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WHAT’S | ON ARE WE REAL? CONSCIOUSNESS AND FICTION n 27 March, 5.15–7pm, Chancellors’ Building, 2.6, University of Bath In this IPR Public Lecture, Professor Markus Gabriel will discuss fiction as a component of human thought and ideology, drawing on his published works including his latest book I am Not a Brain. And he will dismantle the assumptions motivating views about ourselves as minded agents that claim that we are subject to some kind of userillusion created by the brain. Free entry, register online; bath.ac.uk STEVEN ISSERLIS AND BATH PHILHARMONIA n 29 March, 7.30pm, The Assembly Rooms, Bath In a unique performance, internationally renowned cellist Steven Isserlis performs both of Haydn’s cello concertos. Bath Philharmonia also presents two of Mozart’s most popular operatic overtures and music by Max Richter and Jonathan Dove. £5–£35, tickets available from Bath Box Office; bathboxoffice.org.uk ANITA HARRIS IN CONCERT n 29 March, 8pm, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Anita Harris has had a breathtaking career spanning more than 50 years which includes treading the boards in Las Vegas as a mere teenager, starring in two Carry On films, gracing the top of the pop charts with hits such as Just Loving You and Dream A Little Dream of Me, and featuring in Cats in the West End. Anita Harris in Concert is a wonderful cocktail of song, glitz, chat, nostalgia and humour. £16/£18; chapelarts.org SELVEDGE FAIR n 30 March, 11am–5pm, The Assembly Rooms, Bath Explore the wonderful items and works of more than 50 merchants and makers at Selvedge magazine’s gorgeous fair. It offers a rare opportunity to shop for hand-crafted products, browse collections of vintage fabrics and to pick up some truly special textiles. Advance tickets from £2.50, tickets on the door from £5; selvedge.org QUIZ NIGHT n 30 March, 7pm, Bathampton Village Hall, Holcombe Lane Get your brainiest friends together for this fun quiz night. £12.50pp includes two course dinner. First prize is £30. Teams of four-six, or individuals welcome to join a team on the night. Cash bar and raffle, all proceeds to the Village Show. To find out more, call: 01225 465781 or 01225 335088.

BATH BACH CHOIR: AN EVENING WITH J. S. BACH n 30 March, 7.30pm, Bath Abbey In this intimate concert, to be presented at the newly-restored east end of Bath Abbey, Bath Bach Choir will showcase two contrasting genres of Bach’s genius. Interspersed with the choir’s performance of four of his outstanding German motets, Marcus Sealy will perform two of Bach’s most scintillating organ works. £15; bathboxoffice.org.uk PLANNING AHEAD...

UB40 n 6 April, doors 7.30pm, The Bath Forum Birmingham’s world-famous reggae stars UB40 are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a 40-date tour around the UK. Expect to hear greatest hits such as Food For Thought, One In Ten, Kingston Town, (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You and Red, Red Wine, among others. Tickets from £37.50; bathforum.co.uk DS:UK: IN TRIBUTE TO DIRE STRAITS n 9 May, 7.30pm, Komedia, Bath dS:uK brings the experience of one of Dire Straits’ most iconic concerts and albums, Alchemy, to Bath in this tribute show. Playing the Love Over Gold concert in its entirety, dS:uK will play selected hits such as Tunnel of Love, Romeo and Juliet and Private Investigations. Early bird tickets £16; komedia.co.uk; direstraitstribute.co.uk n

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The house and gardens at Belcombe Court – the geodesic dome will be positioned on the land on the other side of the ha-ha, shown here

Paul and Caroline Weiland

The grotto

Image by Glenn Dearing

The Hebridean sheep

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ARTS | INTERVIEW

Epic opera with a ha-ha

Iford Arts has built up a reputation over 25 years for its world-class opera performances. The festival continues its journey this year in two new venues, one being the 18th-century grounds of Belcombe Court. Emma Clegg talks to Paul Weiland, Belcombe Court’s owner, about the idea of epic opera being performed in his garden cloisters was rather special,” explains Paul, “So the plan this year to recreate the sound is to have a geodesic dome – which is currently being specially constructed in the Emirates – that will have great acoustics and will seat about 220 people, way more than the 80 that was possible at Iford Manor. The dome is going on agricultural land on the other side of the ha-ha. It’s a flat space with a beautiful view of the house, gardens and ponds.

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The Hebridean and Kerry Hill sheep will love the opera.

They are all pregnant so there will be lambs around as well, adding to the aesthetic

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B

elcombe Court in Bradford on Avon was built in the early 18th century for Francis Yerbury of the Yerbury clothier family. The family made their money from cassimere, a light wool fabric woven in flexible, hard-wearing twill. In the 1740s the Yerburys employed John Wood the Elder to extend the house in the Palladian style, one that was characterised by Corinthian columns, pediments, scallop shells and symmetry.

There are nearly 60 acres of land, including woodland walks and parkland. The inspiration for the landscaped gardens was the gardens at Stourhead, resulting in a personal landscape with features such as a ha-ha, a grotto, a ruined ‘temple’ and a rustic cottage.

Belcombe Court owner Paul Weiland OBE, the motion picture and TV director – known for work such as Alas Smith and Jones, Blackadder and the long-running ad series for Walkers Crisps – comments, “Probably at this time this style of garden was seriously frowned upon and seen as bad taste, but now it’s quirky, a rococo statement with a grotto and a rotunda and a pond.”

Paul has had a long-held fascination with gardens and gardening. “I wasn’t that clever at school and they weren’t sure what to do with pupils like me. So we did a lot of gardening, because they thought we’d become gardeners. That started my fascination with gardens and the countryside.”

When Paul and his wife Caroline bought Belcombe Court in the mid-1990s, the house and gardens needed considerable upgrading and repair, which took more than 10 years.

“No-one had spent any money on the property for about 100 years, I’d say. So it was falling down, and being a Grade I listed property, every move we made had to be approved with the Secretary of State.”

Paul and Caroline are now using Belcombe Court more and more as a venue for special events and weddings, including charitable events for the Red Cross. “Last time we did it we had almost 2,000 people turn up. So it was pretty mad, but the garden can take it, as it seems to swallow people.”

The big news at Belcombe is that it will be hosting six days of opera from 30 August, welcoming Iford Arts and their opera programme into the gardens. This is a change of venue for Iford Arts, who previously performed at Iford Manor. Their dramatic plans for the festival will easily match up to the size of this historic venue. “The sound in the Iford Manor location with its enclosed

“The music will be beautiful because it will be played in a valley. I’m pretty excited to be fortunate enough to have the space to invite these people in and make a success of it.”

The 2019 Iford Arts programme opens on 18 and 19 May at Bath Guildhall’s Banqueting Room with a performance of Johan Strauss’s classic operetta Die Fledermaus, a comic story of revenge, seduction and mistaken identity starring

legendary comic baritone Simon Butteriss and Nadine Benjamin with maestro Oliver Gooch as musical director and on piano. The first event at Belcombe Court is the Picnic Prom with Clare Teal and her Trio on 30 August, bringing a rich jazz infused repertoire and an eclectic song list to the gardens. Then on 1 September you can enjoy Iford Arts New Generation Artists in Concert, curated and accompanied by Oliver Gooch. Concluding the 2019 festival will be four performances of Donizetti’s comic masterpiece L’elisir d’amore on 31 August, 3 September and 6 and 7 September. In order to encourage future generations of opera goers, under 18s will be welcomed for free for the first time.

Is it possible that the Hebridean and Kerry Hill sheep in residence in the parkland might take exception to the strains of evening opera?

“The sheep will love the opera,” says Paul.

“They are all pregnant so there will be lambs all around as well, adding to the aesthetic.”

Just imagine the expectation, as an Independent journalist did last year: “As the lights dimmed and the stars came out, and nobody in the audience was more than 20 feet away from the musicians, it was wonderful.”

The question is, will the sheep agree? n The Iford Arts season runs from 18–19 May and 30 August to 7 September. Booking: 01225 463362; ifordarts.org.uk Belcombe Court also has an open garden weekend on 18 and 19 May in aid of the Red Cross. Find out more: belcombe.com?

Clare Teal

Oliver Gooch

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CINEMA | HIGHLIGHTS

Take two: films

Our two film choices for March feature two individuals who have big dreams of stardom. One defected from Russia and became a powerful artistic icon, the other overcomes disadvantage to find herself, morally and musically, says Emma Clegg

White Crow White Crow is an early life biopic of Rudolph Nureyev, an origin story focusing on his childhood, training and his visit to Paris with the Kirov Ballet in 1961, when he made the decision to defect. Nureyev (1938–1993) was a Russian dancer of extraordinary talent, the most outstanding male ballet dancer of his generation and a highly original choreographer. His was the first defection of a Soviet artist during the Cold War and it created an international stir. He went on to dance with The Royal Ballet in London, famously partnering Margot Fonteyn, and from 1983 to 1989 served as director of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Nureyev had a fiery ego, was notoriously difficult, and his behaviour was often extreme and uncompromising, He reportedly threatened to commit suicide when his KGB handlers announced they planned to cut short his tour and send him back to Moscow. White Crow, directed by Ralph Fiennes and scripted by David Hare, has therefore a big character to project. Some have criticised the film for taking too subtle a stance with this passionate and difficult performer: “As a director, Fiennes favours low-key psychological subtlety over hyper-agitated showmanship” (Peter Debruge).

The hardest challenge was always going to be the dancing. When Nureyev danced he had a riveting, mesmerising stage presence.

“When he burst on the scene, with his long hair, hollow cheeks and fiery expression, he performed with an intensity that startled and excited dancegoers” (Jack Anderson). Ukranian dancer Oleg Ivenko

Wild Rose Wild Rose stars Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn, a young Glaswegian with dreams of stardom, country songs and Nashville.

Directed by Tom Harper (War and Peace), Julie Walters plays Rose-Lynn’s mother and Sophie Okonedo her employer and chief musical encouragement who decides to help set her on the path to fame. The film’s atmosphere is optimistic, light and warm

plays Nureyev, but imitating Nureyev’s stage presence is really a pirouette too far – Oleg’s version is technical, clean, accomplished, but it doesn’t have the rugged, sensual power and passion of Nureyev.

The film aims to get to the heart of the dancer’s defection, but critics generally feel none the wiser about his decision. For years it was thought that Nureyev premeditated his defection, but this film interprets it as a spur-of-the-moment decision. We shall perhaps never know. We are lucky that we can remember his dancing on film; this is another way of doing that.

as Rose-Lynn tries to overcome a ne’er-dowell background – including a spell in prison – to reach the big time she dreams of.

Walters as Rose-Lynn’s put-upon mother Marion, in protecting her two grandchildren manages to undermine and question her daughter at every turn and so is unable to support her in her dreams.

Just like many young musicians nowadays, Rose-Lynn gets her big break with an hour-

long webcam video that sees her travelling to London to discuss her musical future. The film overcomes the cliché of the story with immense warmth and colour, “championing the value of believing in your friends and pursuing a dream while showing that perfect happiness can come by finding the balance with your existing life” (Nicole Taylor). Life never quite turns out the way you think it will – most of us will recognise this – but sometimes with the right friendships and support there’s a really, really good compromise. n

SHOWING TIMES White Crow plus Satellite Q&A Tuesday 12 March, 6.50pm Wild Rose preview screening Sunday 31 March, 2.45pm Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael’s Place; picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART From art and antique fairs to new exhibitions, here is the latest from the arts scene in Bath

BATH ART FAIR Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Web: bathartfair.co.uk Friday 1 March, 11am–7pm, and Saturday 2 March, 10am–6pm More than 85 professional artists from all over the country (and one from Berlin) will be showing their original art to visitors.

This award-winning fair (now in its third year and at a new city centre venue) gives you the chance to chat to the artists and buy original art including hand-finished prints, paintings, sculpture, glassware and ceramics in an informal and relaxed setting.

Left, I can see for miles by Alce Harfield

VICTORIA ART GALLERY

By Pulteney Bridge Open: Daily, 10.30am–5pm Tel: 01225 477233 Web: victoriagal.org.uk

BATH DECORATIVE ANTIQUES FAIR Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Tel: 01278 784912 Web: bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk 8–10 March Celebrating its 30th birthday, the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair will bring an exciting mix of enticing and quirky decorative, vintage, antique and mid-century furniture and objects for the home and garden, from the 18th to the 20th century, from the UK and Europe. Expect to see humble early pottery and samplers, a wide variety of garden urns and planters, stylish 20th-century Falcon leather chairs, French chateau dressers, Persian carpets and kilims, modern and contemporary art and upholstery. Pricing from £10 to £10,000. Complimentary tickets available via the website. Licenced bistro on site.

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SHARMANKA TRAVELLING CIRCUS Until 7 May Sharmanka, from the Russian word for barrel organ, is a performing mechanical theatre that will delight young and old. Sound and movement combine with striking images to make for a humorous and at times slightly macabre experience. The sculptures are the work of artist and inventor Eduard Bersudsky. Collaborating with theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya and light and sound designer Sergey Jakovsky, Eduard began producing his kinetic sculptures in 1974 as a protest against the prevailing Soviet ideology. The works incorporate pieces of old furniture, metal scrap and grotesque carved figures. Performances take place every hour.

LOUISE BOURGEOIS PRINTS Until 7 May Accompanying Sharmanka is this Hayward Touring print exhibition by one of the most important and influential artists of recent decades, Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010). She is best known for her powerful, emotionally charged sculptures.

ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT CREATIVE RECYCLING Until 7 May With inspiration, ingenuity, humour and skill, artist Val Hunt has created a fascinating selection of sculptural pieces of animals, exotic birds, fish, Mosquito by Louise Bourgeois dinosaurs and species of flora, all threatened or extinct. These have been made from a selection of throwaway material, especially Val’s favourite medium, drinks can metal. This exhibition presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation, raising awareness of why the creatures on show are endangered or extinct. Free entry.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

AXLE ARTS Leighton Road, Weston, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–5pm by appointment Tel: 01225 461230, web: axlearts.com LYNNE CARTLIDGE RCA 11 March – 14 April Open weekend 16–17 March Lynne Cartlidge returns to Axle Arts with a collection of flower studies, focusing on the widely loved and admired English rose.

Cartlidge works predominantly with a restricted palette, layering soft translucent colours. Her studies are gently abstracted, her sensitive and broken lines revealing influences from Chinese brush paintings and calligraphy. Form is subtle but ever-present in her work with geometric shapes introduced in the form of tables, windows and blocks of light.

Cartlidge’s paintings are widely collected and form part of many private collections, including celebrity designer Sophie Conran.

Right, Roses in a White Jug with Striped Bowl by Lynne Cartlidge

GRAY M.C.A 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath Open: Wednesday – Saturday, 10am–4pm, Monday and Tuesday by appointment Tel: 01225 422117 Web: graymca.com

NICK CUDWORTH GALLERY London Street, top of Walcot Street, closed on Mondays Tel: 01225 445221, web: nickcudworth.com

THE WINTER SHOW Throughout March Gray M.C.A continues to exhibit a mixed show of 20th-century artist textiles from artists as diverse as modern British master William Scott to 1950s textile work from Pablo Picasso. See the best of original fashion illustration including Gray M.C.A’s latest illustrator Isher Dhiman. The gallery will also be exhibiting at Messums Wiltshire’s Material Textile exhibition (9 March – 28 April), and you can hear Gray M.C.A director, Ashley Gray, talk about collecting textiles on 27 March. Tickets: £10–£35. To book, visit: messumswiltshire.com. The gallery is also featuring fashion illustrations and textiles at the exclusive BADA in London from 20–26 March; bada.org/bada-fair

Throughout March This month’s exhibition at The Nick Cudworth Gallery features an oil painting of a section of The Roman Baths at night with Bath Abbey in the background, where the viewer is taken into the historical images that are at the centre of Bath’s famous history.

Right, Arundel by John Piper (1903–1992), 1960, Woven Linen

LIZ CARSON The Roper Gallery, Bath Artists’ Studios, The Old Malthouse, Upper Bristol Road, Bath Open: weekdays, 12–5pm, weekends by appointment Tel: 01225 482480 Web: lizcarsongallery.co.uk 8 March – 16 April In some collages scraps of newspaper are torn, layered and overpainted, as stories are lost. People have always left their marks on surfaces and the theme of time permeates in Carson’s work, currently on show at Bath Artists’ Studios.

Bath Night by Nick Cudworth

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2018/19 Lecture Series

Monday 4th March 2019

‘Botticelli’s Florence’ Lecturer Paula Nuttall

Florence, the City that shaped Botticelli’s Art. Putting his paintings in that historical context

Monday 1st April 2019

‘Understanding Ancient Egyptian Art : Wall Reliefs and Murals’ Lecturer Eileen Goulding

Investigating splendid wall reliefs and paintings made over 3000 years ago

All Lectures at 1.30pm in The Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street Bath Visitors welcome £10 at the door (No Booking required)

www.theartssocietybath.com

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

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

ART AT THE HEART OF THE RUH

Flower Power by David Ringsell

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park, Bath Open: Monday – Sunday, 8am–8pm Web: artatruh.org / real-images.com NEW VIEWS ON FAMILIAR PLACES West Gallery (Zone B), until 31 March The harmonious architecture of his home city Bath has inspired many recent paintings in David Ringsell’s latest exhibition, which provides a contemporary take on classic architecture. The works are created in mixed media by combining acrylic paint, pen and pencil. The underlying pencil marks used to draw the composition remain visible in places. Originals and custom prints are available for purchase in a range of sizes. A percentage of each sale will go to the RUH. JASON DORLEY–BROWN Central Gallery, until 28 April Jason’s work has been influenced by his years in the photo industry and the wonderful people he has worked with. He has a passion for colour, symmetry, abstract and pop art along with using and mixing old school and modern techniques to create imagery. Although all of his work has a photographic genesis, he considers himself an image maker as opposed to a photographer since 90% of his work has been manipulated in Photoshop.

THE EDGE

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 Until 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.

EMMA HART: BANGER 16 February – 27 April Emma Hart makes art about the routines and spaces of everyday life. Banger is a new body of ceramic works that continues her investigation into relationships and domestic life, in this case the car as the interior space where so many family dynamics are played out. Beyond the windscreen there are urban scenes clamouring with signs and instructions and rural horizons with endless possible routes to navigate. In Banger the relentless velocity of decision-making is as inescapable as the changing weather. Free admission.

Photo by Ruth Clark

The Edge, University of Bath, Claverton Down Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm Tel: 01225 386777, web: edgearts.org

Right, Bronze censer with deer and the Three Friends of Winter art motiff, China (1550–1644)

EMMA ROSE Upstairs at 78 Walcot Street, Bath. Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–5pm Tel: 07885 235915 / 01225 424424, web: emmaroseartworks.com EXTREMES Throughout March In response to the winter months, Emma Rose’s latest exhibition features depictions of extreme weather including storms, snow, sea and sky, built around her highlight painting, The Perfect Storm, right. Her unique work is a mix of Indian inks and acrylics, occasionally using gold, copper and silver leaf. Emma welcomes visitors to view her paintings, limited edition giclée prints and cards in her gallery.

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A BIG LIE

nick cudworth gallery

Duncan Campbell has been dealing in antique silver since 1986.

How not to collect

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have a very good friend in New York who works as a specialist advisor on the works of Fabergé. He told me of a fascinating saga involving a wealthy man from Florida who collects the larger, outstanding and monumental works of Karl Fabergé.

The collection had been put together over a number of years and had been bought almost exclusively from one particular dealer who apparently became a good friend of the collector. The sorry tale began when a newly acquired piece was randomly intercepted and examined by customs officers at Miami Airport. Due to the high declared value, the item was shown to an appraiser who suggested that it was a fake.

As you might imagine, this set off loud alarm bells for the collector.

He immediately wrote to his friend, the dealer, seeking some comfort that the appraiser was wrong. The dealer was unable to offer any proof or provenance as there wasn’t any and in truth, the item was, as the appraiser had suggested, a fake.

Presumably, already anxious that he was going to have to refund a large sum of money the dealer waited to receive the object back. He was then extremely shocked to get an email saying that rather than send the item back, the collector had decided to settle the matter by taking the disputed piece to a specialist in New York, along with his entire collection while he was about it.

Knowing that he had been selling his ‘friend’ expensive, bogus Fabergé for years, the dealer must have gone into an advanced state of panic assuming that it was only a matter of time before the authorities were beating on his door with a fraud charge.

Having prepared himself for his inevitable bankruptcy and perhaps even a stretch in prison, the dealer then received a further email from Miami with an update. The collector explained that all the items had been shown to the Fabergé specialist in New York and that all of them had been declared as copies and fakes. The collector went on to say that he would have paid attention had the specialist picked on one or two suspect pieces, but since he dismissed all of them out of hand, the man was clearly far too cautious, not any sort of expert and obviously didn’t know what he was talking about.

Many apologies were offered for having wasted the poor dealer’s time and calling his reputation into question.

Furthermore he would very much like to be offered any more Fabergé that came the dealer’s way in the future.

The Corridor Oil on linen-prints available

MARCH EXHIBITION 1 – 29 March

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

If you are going to tell a lie, make it a big one and nobody will believe you’d dare to to have made it up. n www.beaunashbath.com, 01225 334234

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

DAVID SIMON CONTEMPORARY 37 High Street, Castle Cary, BA7 7AP Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am–6pm Web: davidsimoncontemporary.com LYDIA CORBETT: INNER VISION 3–30 March For the launch of David Simon Contemporary’s second gallery space in Castle Cary, Somerset, this major solo exhibition of paintings by Lydia Corbett includes her latest series of oil paintings and watercolours with ink. In her 85th year, many of her new paintings have a sense of looking back, both on her own painting practice as well as the model/painter relationship that she had with Pablo Picasso in the 1950s.

MARGARET LOVELL: BRONZE SCULPTURE 16 March – 27 April The first solo sculpture exhibition at the new gallery sees a retrospective collection of bronze sculptures by Dr Margaret Lovell. This internationally acclaimed sculptor has brought together a retrospective collection of contemporary head forms, which she first developed in the 1960s, demonstrating the diverse range of her stylistic approach.

White Still Life by Lydia Corbett

THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Open: Daily, 10am–5pm (11am Sundays) Tel: 01225 388569, web: holburne.org GEORGE SHAW: A CORNER OF A FOREIGN FIELD Until 6 May George Shaw makes remarkable paintings of Tile Hill, the council estate in Coventry where he grew up in the 70s and 80s, which reveal the latent beauty even in the most mundane subject matter. Shaw’s hyper-realist paintings record the run-down and overlooked aspects of modern life.

Where Constable and Turner found majesty in pastoral settings, Shaw does so in abandoned garages, huge England flags in windows and suburban woodland. This is the first major retrospective of Shaw’s work, and the Holburne Museum is the only European venue for this exhibition.

WHY MUSEUMS MATTER Until 19 May An exciting installation in the ballroom as a visual response to more than 1,000 ideas and comments by visitors on the subject of ‘Museums matter to me because…’, allowing us to understand what people value about museums in contemporary society. In the Wirth Gallery, there will be a display of the artwork of those who have engaged with individual objects from the Holburne’s collection, examining the connection between museums, creativity, mental health and wellbeing.

BEAUX ARTS 12–13 York Street, Bath Open: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Tel: 01225 464850 Web: beauxartsbath.co.uk NEW PAINTINGS AND CERAMICS Throughout March A new exhibition by painter Nathan Ford is often the most eagerly awaited event of the year at Beaux Arts. He does not disappoint again this year with haunting, emotive portraits, dramatic urban landscapes and sensitive still lifes. For the first time, Beaux Arts will also be exhibiting an amazing repertoire of renowned ceramicist Christiane Wilhelm. n Right, Joachim 11.18 by Nathan Ford

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Scenes from the Passion: The Blossomiest Blossom by George Shaw © George Shaw, courtesy Anthony Wilkinson Gallery, London / Photo: Peter White

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‘BORING BROWN’ IS NOW ‘APPEALINGLY ANTIQUE’ Lawrences’ first Fine Art sale of 2019 drew to a close with a good selection of clocks, works of art, furniture and carpets. Throughout the sale there was a good feeling of ‘eagerness to buy’, always a good sign in an increasingly selective market. Mainstream pieces like Davenports, better Georgian chests of drawers and sideboards were finding buyers at carefully judged estimates and it was gratifying to see that the valuers’ assessment of market conditions ensured that 87% of the furniture on offer was sold. “The phrase ‘boring brown’, long used to dismiss a lot of Victorian furniture as out of fashion, may now be replaced with a feeling that some of it is ‘appealingly antique’,” says Neil Grenyer, furniture specialist. “Good pieces are durable, dependable, well-designed and quite desirable once more.”

A pair of George III mahogany hall chairs made £3,660; a Continental walnut and inlaid chest, possibly Italian, c.1800, was bid to £7,320; a Georgian mahogany chest on chest, mid-18th Century, appealed to many before making £4,880; and a Louis XV-style kingwood and brass mounted bureau plat went over estimate at £6,700.

The sale’s top price was paid for an Aestheticstyle armchair in the manner of Dr Christopher Dresser.Consigned for sale from a Dorset vendor, the chair made a very comfortable £13,400.

Useful Beautiful Silver

Lawrences hold monthly FREE valuation mornings at the Holburne Museum.

Contact andy.sagar@lawrences.co.uk for more details and dates

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

lawrences.co.uk

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PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic.

Visit: capturethespirit.co.uk, tel: 01225 483151

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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

Matt Nolan

Cymbalsmith

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was brought up in Blackburn and had what would now be considered quite an old-fashioned childhood. Playing outdoors with go-carts, climbing trees, mucking about outside with friends and reading multiple Beano magazines. All ‘too risky’ for kids nowadays, but great for developing the imagination. My dad was a great ‘tinkerer’ and had a workshop in a shed full of wonderfully intricate tools, switches, cogs, knick-knacks, junk and clocks. He specialised in repairing these in his spare time, although he was actually in the vending machine business. There was a time when there were big plans to create 24-hour shops that were fully automated but I think this was an idea ahead of its time.

I went to school locally at St Augustine’s Secondary in Billington. It had a great reputation for music, and under the guidance of a brilliant man called Peter Rose we won a Pebble Mill competition with an original script by Anne Conlon called The Daughters of Pendle – it was a tale of our local witches. This led to The World Wildlife Fund commissioning a new musical called Ya No Ma Mo. It was put on at the Barbican in 1986. I was in the 150-piece choir and throughout my involvement with these musical productions learnt many things. Discipline, hard work (intensive rehearsals every Sunday!), logistics (I had to set up the instruments and stands everywhere we went) and then ultimately the drums! We travelled to the United States with the musical and played at The Kennedy Centre, the zoo, The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and Trinity College, Washington. The parents contributed time and money and local companies sponsored us to make it all happen. We later successfully nominated Peter for an MBE for services to education.

All this musical background and love of instruments and mechanics inherited from my father led me down the technical route and while studying for A levels in Blackburn I formed and joined many bands including Alter Ego and No Hot Ashes – with marketing placed on dustbin lids!

I came to study electronics and engineering in 1992 at the University of Bath. My first job was for Pioneer in Bristol; I have since worked for a number of other tech companies including Pico Chip in Bath where I designed two patented chips. While there I had the freedom to work from home in the daytime so was able to make lots of noise with my new toy.

Since then it’s all been very exciting trying to turn my hobby into a full-time business. I went to the Frankfurt Musikmesse in 2008 and met some kindred spirits and even took a few orders. I then went back in Easter 2009 with the help of a UK Export Grant. I got a big order from La Baguetterie in Paris, not a baker but a well known drum shop. I now make cymbals for orchestral percussionists; gongs of numerous types for drummers, orchestras, as art pieces and for meditation or sound therapy purposes; triangles; tubular bells; bell plates; new hybrid instruments; and authentic recreations of ancient instruments.

I just look forward to the day when I don’t have to do my own accounts...

PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic.

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CHEF | INTERVIEW

Circus life

A local restaurant with an outstanding gastronomic pedigree, The Circus has always aimed to create high-quality menus that are accessible, informal and affordable – Melissa Blease talks to proprietor and chef Alison Golden the time was largely quite a formal affair.

So, she aimed to create a venture with an ambience and menus that were accessible, informal and affordable – an ethos that’s still pushed to the fore at The Circus today.

“I think the secret of our success is that we serve really high-quality food that people really want to eat at prices they can afford, served by well-trained, charming staff,” she says. And what's not to love about any of that? But just because Ali’s much-loved modern bistro has earned itself institution status in Bath, she knows she can’t rest on her laurels.

“As there’s so much competition in Bath these days and more and more chains opening all the time, we strive to show off our independent status as much as we can,” she says. “My menus have definitely become more original, inventive and probably a bit more British as time’s gone by, and we work hard to prove that we really do try to source as locally and seasonally as possible – a mission that most restaurants only really pay lip service to. I’m all for people having choice and it’s great that there’s a thriving, buzzy eating out scene in Bath – we all benefit from that. But I think we’ve reached saturation point, and the amount of choice we have is diluting the pot for everyone. But then again, every day is a challenge in the restaurant game, regardless of the climate around you.

The Circus Restaurant entrance on Brock Street

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The secret of our success is that we serve really high-quality food that people really want to eat at prices they can afford

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n the last six months, six new restaurants have opened in Bath, leaping into the gap in the market created by six restaurants that closed in the same time frame. This spring, another raft of new ventures will sail into the city, including one that claims to have “reinvented the concept of the pub,” and a new, smart hotel restaurant in a soon-to-beunveiled new, smart hotel; ah, the Bath food scene is a swiftly changing landscape indeed.

Given all the brouhaha around which restaurants are hot (and which are very much not) in any given week, it’s heartwarmingly reassuring that The Circus Restaurant on Brock Street remains as consistently popular, fresh and integral to Bath’s independent restaurant scene today as it was when it first opened.

“I always wanted The Circus to be a local restaurant for local people – and it’s definitely become that,” says proprietor/chef Alison Golden. “It’s wonderful that we see the same faces that have become part of our story on a regular basis – some of them even drop by daily. We attract some tourist trade as we’re in a brilliant location for visitors, but the locals are our backbone, including a group that I like to call The Royal Crescent Massive!”, she says.

Prior to opening the doors to The Circus, Ali had noticed that eating out in the city at

I think it was the late-lamented restaurant critic AA Gill who, when asked why he didn’t have his own restaurant, said that he’d never want to do that because there’s always something breaking down – if not the machinery, then the staff... and that’s absolutely true! And there are very few businesses that have the time pressures that a restaurant has; we have to be ready with our product at its best for every lunch service, and then again at 5pm come hell or high water, or snow, or deliveries going astray, or no oven, or no electricity – you get the picture! In the past 12 years we’ve had all these things thrown at us time and time again. But the show must go on.

“I remember a Saturday night when I was standing in the kitchen alone at 6pm with 100 people booked in to eat, not knowing why my chef hadn’t come back from a break and why she wasn’t answering her mobile; it turned out she’d blacked out and concussed herself in the shower. So this business is most definitely not for the faint-hearted. You just have to get on with it and cope somehow.”

And before we move on to the upside of Circus life, there’s one modern-day bugbear in particular that really makes Ali’s blood boil. “People not honouring bookings is becoming a killer for independent restaurants,” she says. “These days, people often book two or three places for a Saturday night and then decide which one they’re going to on the evening itself, often without even cancelling the other places.

Because of this horrible ‘trend’, we had to start taking fully refundable deposits at weekends and on our internet bookings as we were losing thousands of pounds a year to no-shows. Some people aren’t happy with this development, and yet I find it amazing that the same people wouldn’t bat an eyelid if they were asked to pay in advance for other leisure pursuits such as tickets for a film, the theatre or a sporting event – but

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CHEF | INTERVIEW

The upstairs restaurant at The Circus

they blanch when asked for a small refundable deposit to ensure they honour their booking with us!” Grrrrr indeed.

But really, you’d have to be totally crazy (let alone downright rude) to not honour that booking at The Circus. Ali cites Jane Grigson, Elizabeth David, Fergus Henderson and food writers Diana Henry and Skye Gyngell as her personal food heroes, alongside Joyce Molyneux, who Ali is proud to say is a friend as well as a regular Circus diner: “Joyce was one of the first women in this country to get a Michelin star (at The Carved Angel in Dartmouth). She has a natural flair and feel for food that we could all do well to emulate,” says Ali. With such bright leading lights of the food world inspiring her, it comes as no surprise that Ali’s own menus sparkle with vivacity, integrity and totally tasteful twists on tradition.

“I design our menus to appeal to a broad cross-section of diners by including familiar crowd pleasers alongside plenty of original, fresh, more modern dishes,” says Ali. “I always feel that there’s no point in going out if you could eat better at home, so I try to do dishes that one wouldn’t necessarily make yourself, or include ingredients that are often difficult to source. A lot of people come to us for our fish dishes, because our fish and seafood orders are delivered nightly direct from Cornwall, whereas a lot of restaurants use farmed fish which just isn’t the same at all. Our foodie fanbase love seeing something that they haven’t come

across on our menus before, but I never serve something just for novelty value only, or to follow a trend. We return to our perennially popular ‘old favourites’ on a regular basis throughout the year – our smoked haddock kedgeree, for example, and Whim Wham, the 18th-century trifle recipe. We always have a different crème brulée on the dessert menu, and the savoury cheesecake seems to win approval from our regular ladies who lunch. We’ve recently added some innovative vegan dishes to our menus as well, as people really are sick of the tired old cliché that is mushroom risotto!”

Are you hungry yet? You’ve come to the right place in more ways than one. In terms of ambience options, The Circus’ modern, subtly glamorous brasserie-style street-level dining room could be described as cosy in a bright’n’breezy, contemporary way that makes it stylish rather than snug, and if you head downstairs, you’ll discover the kind of warmly welcoming environment that gently envelopes you in a soft, seductive comforter of bonhomie; it’s safe to say that there’s honestly nothing like The Circus elsewhere in Bath.

“I’m really proud that The Circus has survived thus far despite ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’, as an awful lot of places who had powerful PR machines working for them and much higher profiles than ours have disappeared,” says Ali. “It’s fantastic to have ongoing support from publications such as The Bath Magazine, and of course we really appreciate all our

accolades from the AA, The Good Food Guide and Michelin too. But the most important thing to us are our regulars who choose to eat with us time after time – their lovely comments make all the hard work worthwhile.”

Roll up, Bath; The Circus is in town... and whatever sideshows may pop up around it, let’s make sure it’s here to stay. n The Circus Restaurant, 34 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN. Tel: 01225 466020; thecircusrestaurant.co.uk

Ali Golden helping herself to fresh herbs in the kitchen

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TRISTAN DARBY Columnist Tristan Darby samples some hearty, robust wines to fit the character of the season

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traddling the seasons between the long cold nights of winter and sunnier skies of springtime, my meal choices at this time of year sit firmly in the category of hearty, warming and nourishing. My choice of wine follows suit – along with more mouth-filling robust styles.

This month I’ve been taking vin-spiration from the ancient winemaking territory of France’s Rhône. Situated south of Lyon, and stretching down towards Provence, the Rhône is France’s second-largest AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) area with thriving vineyards found on both sides of the eponymous river. The region is split into two parts, northern and southern, separated by a 60-mile stretch of vine-free countryside. The north is best known for prestigious wines such as Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas while the south provides the overwhelming majority of the volume and includes the superstar appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

We’ll start in the south with a white made from 100% viognier, a Rhône grape, by one of the region’s star producers. Domaine de la Janasse, Viognier IGP (£15.95, Great Western Wine) is a stylish, smooth white that has a clever counterpoint between its southern Rhône richness and an elegant dry, fresh finish. Classic viognier characteristics of apricot and honeysuckle are complemented by a lovely creaminess on the palate from a portion of the wine being aged in oak barrels. It’s the weighty textural white I love at this time of year, delicious with creamy fish pie, chicken and tarragon dishes, chicken tagine or a mild creamy Indian curry such as korma.

One of France’s smallest appellations, Brézème is a hidden gem. Found at the southernmost edge of the northern Rhône, about 10km south of Valence near the start of the Alps, its vineyards are on a steep, terraced, south-facing hill planted with Syrah vines that bathe in sunshine during the day before being cooled by cold night air passing through the Drôme valley. Charles Helfenbein, Brézème Côtes du Rhône (£18.25, GWW) is a fantastic example of the quality on offer, boasting a smooth and deep classic northern-Rhône palate packed with flavours of herb-tinged blackberry fruit, black olive tapenade, smokey meatiness and a touch of peppery spice. Pair this with herby roast lamb in a rich red wine gravy, braised ox cheek and creamy mash or a rich lamb stew or hotpot.

If you like wine with more heft, look towards the famous wines of Châteauneuf, and head 10km northeast to the village of Gigondas to the rich, bold Grenachebased reds. Domaine Brusset, Gigondas Tradition Le Grand Montmirail (£19.95, GWW) has an almost cassis-like, intense blackberry flavour backed up with herbs and a touch of pepper spice. It sits quite plumply in the mouth and I’d recommend popping it in a decanter for an hour or two before serving alongside a hearty rack of lamb, rib of beef or peppered steaks. I’d also buy a few bottles to sit on the wine rack for a few years – there’s even more pleasure to come from this wine with some bottle age. n Learn more about the world of wine with Tristan on a course at Great Western Wine; greatwesternwine.co.uk/events



The Watersmeet Hotel in Woolacombe is a four star hotel on the waters edge with an indoor and outdoor pool & spa.

Our two restaurants include a bistro and a fine dining option both with stunning views to the sea.

Our current ‘Ramblers Package’ offer is superb value and a great time to visit the North Devon coast in Spring The fabulous 3 night break includes the following:

• delux sea view room • 3 course dinner • complimentary cream tea • £715 per couple

the delicious guide the best places in the city to eat, drink and enjoy

The Delicious Guide to Bath featuring all the fave eateries and foodie treateries is available online at our website www.thebathmag.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine

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INTERNATIONAL | BATH

An international perspective

Bath is the adopted home for people from all over the world. How do they view the way of life here and what makes them warm to the British national character? asks Georgette McCready and then I recalled Alan Partridge having to fill 20... long ... seconds before the news. The nervousness evaporated. The ability to mine social embarrassment to get laughs – and somehow managing to combine cruelty with humane observation – is something that I find most attractive about this country.

❝

You love your rules, don’t you?

You always cross the road when the ‘walk’ light is on, and you queue at bus stops. In Italy, everyone just piles on the bus

❝

A

merican Sean Connolly has lived in the UK for many years, but he still finds some things amusing and bemusing about the Brits. He says: “When my flight from Boston touched down at Heathrow, both the US President and the UK Prime Minister had the initials JC, so you can work out the year (give or take one or two).

I’m still here, thanks to a drunken London publisher offering me a job (I was on my way to Ireland) and marrying a Bathonian.

I’ve remained in the world of publishing ever since and at times it can be a professional advantage being American, since a number of books need to be ‘Americanized’ for the US market. I need to view this country through the eyes of an outsider, unfamiliar with many of the terms and customs.

That means that I always think of Charles Manson when I see a sign for a ‘family butcher’, and feel a note of panic on a London Underground platform when I read ‘No Way Out’. And I guess it’s cheaper to put a sign saying ‘Oncoming cars in the middle of the road’ than widening it. Does it mean that a pub is up ahead?

The great thing is that British people can see the funny side of all this, and their contribution to world of humour is deserved.

I once found myself waiting for an appointment, nervously watching the second hand on the wall clock crawl along the face,

What do I miss? Well, it’s probably more to do with New England than with America as a whole. Apart from childhood friends, I’d say in no particular order: affordable seafood, fall foliage, the Red Sox, skating on lakes, the ‘funnies’ in Sunday papers, people thinking it rational to drive 20 miles for home-made ice cream... and the complete absence of Marmite.”

Italian Laura Doria came to Bath in 2015

after several years spent in Australia. Laura, who runs The Italian Food Hall deli and café in George Street with her Italian business partners, both called Luka, says although she loves living in Bath and has been made welcome, she does not enjoy the weather when the skies are overcast.

“I don’t like to look up and just see grey over Milsom Street”, she says, but she does enjoy watching the British. “You love your rules, don’t you?”, she teases, “You always cross the road when the ‘walk’ light is on, and you queue at bus stops, too. In Italy everyone just piles on the bus.

“I think zebra crossings are interesting because British drivers slow down when they approach them, trying to guess whether the person walking on the pavement is going to use the crossing. I admit I have sometimes crossed when I didn’t intend to, because I felt sorry for the driver slowing down.”

It took a little while for Laura’s two daughters Emily and Becky to get used to the UK after the laid back way of life in Australia.

But the girls have settled well and are enjoying school and friends in Bath. Among Laura’s newly discovered British pleasures are Sunday roasts in pubs (“I love gravy but I have yet to learn how to make it”), pantomime (“I just laugh and laugh, it’s so funny!”) and the Jane Austen Festival – “I like to see all the women dressed up with their bonnets walking around the city streets. It’s a lovely sight.”

Veronica Ganan Burgoa with her husband JP

Sean Connolly

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Bridget Sterling

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INTERNATIONAL | BATH

And what, if anything, would Laura do to improve her adopted city? “I would reduce the number of cars. The traffic is the main problem in Bath.”

Spanish born Veronica Ganan Burgoa came to Bath as a graduate nurse 20 years ago. She currently works in the critical care team at the Royal United Hospital and is part owner of The Colombian Company coffee bar with her Colombian husband JP, who has taken British citizenship and cheerfully sees himself as half Colombian, half British and equally at home in both countries. And while Veronica misses some aspects of Spanish life – “sitting out in the sun on the terrace, the outdoor way of life” – she says her three children are all Bathonians and she enjoys living in Britain.

Her favourite things about the British are that we are accepting and tolerant of other people’s culture and beliefs, and that people here have a lot of freedom. “I like that you can see a man with a man, or a woman with a woman, walking down the street holding hands and nobody thinks anything of it.” She also thinks we have a finely developed sense of humour, often laughing about difficult situations. “The British are very welcoming and they are very individual – I like this.”

Veronica observes that there is much more litter in the UK than you would see in Spain, “We were all taught from an early age to put your rubbish in your pocket and take it home.” And she says the Spanish authorities take a tough line on rough sleepers. “They would not be permitted to sleep out on the streets, they would be forced to go to a hostel,” she says, before telling me about the Spanish nuns who are the custodians of the Spanish food bank system, which runs very efficiently.

South African Bridget Sterling came to the UK to live after falling in love with London during trips with her parents to her AngloIrish father’s family. Bridget, who is the

Laura Doria

A group of Siqi Li’s Chinese students visiting the UK director of Bath gallery Axle Arts, moved to London in her 20s and says: “I was intoxicated by London’s enormity and sophistication. I loved the Underground and the buses and I was particularly charmed by the selection of chocolates available!”

Bridget came to Bath in 2008 when she discovered the historic city’s good looks and its cultural life. “I think though, that although Bath has a rich cultural scene it’s not really properly supported by the authorities. We have so many graduates doing creative subjects at Bath’s universities, but in order to get jobs they have to go to London or Bristol.”

After the big open skies and sunshine of South Africa, surprisingly Bridget does not mind the British weather. “It is funny to think how we grew up with the idea of a Northern European Christmas, with robins and snow on our Christmas cards and people still having roast turkey and ham, even in the heat.

But when we have a hot summer in Bath I

Siqi Li

can’t help feeling, by association, as though it should be Christmas because it’s hot and sunny.”

Bridget says the British are friendly and welcoming although they are not as easygoing as South Africans. “A lot of South Africans live out in the sticks and are so grateful to see a new face that they want to rush out and make friends with them. It’s a young country too. The British don’t feel the need to instantly make friends so much.”

As an art historian and lecturer Bridget is always excited to discover emerging artists, but says she would like to see her home country producing more new artists with international appeal. (Visit: axle arts.com) Chinese born Siqi Li is the managing director of iForm Education which helps care for Chinese students in the UK. She spent five years living in Bath, but has recently relocated to Cardiff. We asked her what she likes about Bath and what areas of city life could be improved. She said: “I like the heritage culture of Bath. Also because it is small I like that people are close and kind to each other.

Because I had my first child in Bath I found out that the NHS gives a very high standard of service. For the future I hope that Bath can become more diverse and multi-cultural, to embrace people from different cultures and backgrounds.”

“People in Bath are friendly overall. What do I find interesting? That you guys have such light breakfasts and lunches, yet most of the people are still very strong and tall.”

She said she generally offers the same advice to her Chinese students when they are to stay with their British hosts. “I tell them to follow the house rules of where they are staying. In China most families have one child and that child is more spoiled, so they have more freedom and don’t have very strict rules at home. Food and mealtimes are different for the visitors too. You eat only bread and cereal in the mornings and have a very light lunch, which you eat late, then a late dinner. At home the Chinese have lunch at 11.30am or 12, while dinner is at 6pm or 7pm. So Chinese students usually feel starving!” n

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CITY | READING

The political outlook

From free movement to backstops; member states to the customs union; terms such as these have become familiar in our everyday lives over the past three years. As the UK plans to leave the European Union, here are some titles that reflect on Brexit, Britain’s historic relationship with Europe, and the democratic challenges that lie ahead

Britain’s Europe: A Thousand Years of Conflict and Cooperation

Reflect

Interpret

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, £9.99, paperback, Penguin

Brendan Simms, £9.99, paperback, Penguin

How does a democracy die? What lessons does history teach us? In the 21st century democracy is threatened like never before.

Drawing insightful lessons from across history – from Pinochet’s murderous Chilean regime to Erdogan’s quiet dismantling in Turkey – Levitsky and Ziblatt explain why democracies fail, how leaders like Trump subvert them today and what we can do to protect our democratic rights. Described by Barack Obama as “A useful primer on the importance of norms, institutional restraints and civic participation in maintaining a democracy – and how quickly those things can erode when we’re not paying attention.”

Britain has always had a tangled, complex role in Europe’s history.

It has invaded and been invaded, changed sides, stood aloof, acted with both brazen cynicism and the cloudiest idealism. Brendan Simms describes the highlights and lowpoints in Euro-British history, from the Dark Ages to the present including the issues around relations with the EU.

Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of Brexit

Observe

Why We Get the Wrong Politicians

Craig Oliver, £10.99, paperback, Hodder & Stoughton

Gimson’s Prime Ministers

Andrew Gimson, £10.99, hardback, Vintage Publishing A concise, sharp-witted and illuminating account of the lives of Britain’s prime ministers from Walpole to May, illustrated by Martin Rowson. This Sunday Times bestseller is ideal for those who have heard of big political names such as Gladstone and Disraeli, or has drunk in a pub called the Palmerston, but wants to find out more about the PMs who have influenced British politics over the centuries. This entertaining and satirical read brings our fascinating parliamentary history to life.

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Identify

Isabel Hardman, £18.99, hardback, Atlantic Books

David Cameron’s director of politics and communications, Craig Oliver was in the room at every key moment during the EU referendum – the biggest political event in the UK since the Second World War. Unleashing Demons is based on his extensive notes, detailing everything from the decision to call a referendum, to the subsequent civil war in the Conservative Party and the aftermath of the result. This compelling book was the inspiration behind the Channel 4 drama Brexit: The Uncivil War.

Learn

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Award-winning journalist Isabel Hardman’s revealing work won at the 2018 Parliamentary Book Awards, as well as being shortlisted for the 2018 Waterstones’ Book of the Year and featured in various newspapers’ top books of the year lists. Politicians are consistently voted the least trusted professional group by the UK public. They’ve become embroiled in scandals around sexual harassment and expenses. But, with some exceptions, they are hard-working people, doing a difficult and demanding job. Filled with forensic analysis and revealing writing, this accessible book lifts the lid on the strange world of Westminster and asks why we end up with MPs with whom we are so supposedly unhappy.

Evaluate

Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of Pain Fintan O’Toole, £11.99, paperback, Head of Zeus

In exploring why people voted for the UK to leave the EU, Fintan O’Toole finds himself discovering how trivial journalistic lies became far-from-trivial national obsessions; how a country that once had colonies has redefined itself as an oppressed nation requiring liberation; and how prawn-flavoured crisps have a strange political significance... This highly acclaimed book is an intuitive commentary on Brexit, the concept of heroic failure, and the consequences the nation faces. n

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CITY | NEWS

CITYNEWS LAW PROMOTIONS

GHOSTLY SUPPORT

AWARD WINNERS

Nicholas Wragg and Lucy Terrell have both been promoted to associate solicitor at Bath-based law firm Mowbray Woodwards.

Lucy Terrel joined the firm in 2017 as a solicitor in the family team and has experience in separation and divorce with specialist knowledge of matters involving children and domestic abuse. Nicholas Wragg is a criminal lawyer experienced in dealing with high-profile cases involving serious violent and sexual assault. He has developed a specialism in indecent images cases and appeals against the revocation of firearms licenses. mowbraywoodwards.co.uk

South Westbased law firm Mogers Drewett is sponsoring the latest film

by Bristolbased film production company Early Day Films. The support will help produce the film Hard, Cracked the Wind, a ghost story being filmed in rural Cornwall. Early Day Films was founded by two co-producers of the BAFTA winning short film September, Kate Byers and Linn Waite. In 2018, Kate and Linn completed their first feature film Bait, which has been selected for Berlinale 2019 (the Berlin International Film Festival). mogersdrewett.com

The Roman Baths and Pump Room has triumphed at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, winning three awards: gold for Large Attraction of the Year, gold for International Visitor Experience, and silver for Bath’s Historic Venues in the Business Tourism and Venue category.

The Olive Tree Restaurant, part of the Queensberry Hotel, won the silver award for Restaurant/Bistro of the Year in the awards, which celebrate the best in tourism in the south west. The Queensberry also received highly commended in the Small Hotel/Boutique Accommodation of the Year. romanbaths.co.uk; olivetreebath.co.uk; thequeensberry.co.uk

OUTLET BOUTIQUE

A NEW HOME

Luxury homeware company Yves Delorme is re-launching its boutique at Milsom Place as an outlet.

Current offers include a 40% discount on the Bouquet collection and up to 60% off the bed and bath brands Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Laurence Tavernier and Iosis. uk.yvesdelorme.com

After three years of business Ma San Auction has moved its premises to George Street. Previously only auctioning items mainly of Asian origin, Ma San Auction is expanding its sales market to English and European antiques and luxury goods.

Monthly auction sales will be held in the new premises. Buyers and sellers are welcome into the showroom which has a constant display of upcoming sale items.

The next sale takes place on 13 March, with more than 300 lots. Live bidding will be taken from the room, as well as online bidding being available. Catalogues will be available online two weeks prior to auction days. masanauction.com

DID YOU KNOW? Union and Burton Streets enjoy the most footfall

The Olive Tree team receiving their award

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY The Little Theatre Cinema is offering dementia-friendly screenings so that people with dementia and their carers can attend the cinema in a safe environment. Events are open to everyone, but lights are left on low, there will be no adverts, and people are free to move around. The screenings take place on the first Monday of the month at 11am, with the first one My Sister Eileen on 4 March. Tickets are £4, with carers free. picturehouses.com/cinema/The_Little

BATH BUSINESS BAROMETER

UPDATE: JANUARY 2018

High Street Footfall

provided by

(Month on month % change)

n The January drop off in footfall is not a surprise after the Christmas shopping season. In 2019, this decrease was not as stark as the same period last year. The footfall count was approximately 334,000 higher in January 2019 than 2018, representing an 8.5% increase. The sunnier weather of January 2019 may account for some of this. Footfall is on the rise in February 2019 and we anticipate a good half term due to the weather.

Hopefully this trend will continue as many exciting events continue to boost footfall.

Bath

-29.6% South West UK

-24.8%

-18.6%%

In March, the Bath Comedy Festival kicks off on the 26th. Don’t miss it!

Springboard Research Ltd.

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ocl

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

www.oclaccountancy.com

Further changes to workplace pensions

A C C O U N TA N C Y

As you will know, every employer now has to include eligible staff in a workplace pension scheme and contribute to it. For staff to be eligible they must be between 22 and state pension age and earn more than £192 per week.

Now the minimum contribution is about to increase significantly, when from April 2019 the rates reach their final level. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure the increase is correctly put into effect and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) can issue a fine if you get it wrong.

From 6 April 2019 the minimum total pension contribution rises from 5% to 8% of employees’ earnings, although not all earnings necessarily have to be subject to auto enrolment. The employer will pay 3% (up from 2%) and your staff must pay the difference between your contributions and the 8% (or higher figure) - or they must advise you in writing that they don’t want to be included in your pension scheme. It’s good practice to advise your workers of the new rates as soon as possible.

In practice, the actual contribution rates are decided by your business pension policy & employment contracts; if these don’t cover the new contributions level you’ll need to make changes so that you are compliant.

Employers have auto enrolment safeguarding obligations; there are things to do to comply - and there are also things you mustn’t do. For example, your staff may not be happy about the higher rates and may be entitled to reduce their contributions below the minimum rather than drop out of the pension scheme altogether. Auto enrolment would then stop applying to them or to you as a consequence of which - and subject to your pension policy/contract - you could reduce your contributions and save some cash. However, you must be careful that it doesn’t appear that you are encouraging your staff to drop out. The Regulator would see this as a breach of the safeguarding rules and levy a significant fine.

For tax saving tips contact us – call Marie Maggs, Tom Hulett or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 for a no-obligation meeting. See our website for more.

BE READY FOR MAKING TAX DIGITAL

We look forward to meeting you - and see our website for more, including FREE download guides.

What our clients say:

“As a business that works with a wide range of clients from private to public-sector organisations including pharmaceuticals, banks, local and national government and the NHS, our accountancy partners OCL have been instrumental in improving our financial systems.

They stepped forward to modernise our accounts, moving us online with QuickBooks cloud accounting software.They were on hand to give us advice every step of the way and their knowledge of QuickBooks is superb.We have worked with OCL for several years and

throughout they have always been professional and easy to work with a business partner we trust.”

our business development real-timeor financial insight. (if only on Call of Marie Maggs, Mikewith Wilcox Hannah Pettifer 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting 64 TheBATHMagazine

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“Finding the best mortgage for your circumstances can be a tricky task” say Chris Arbery who owns AscentiaUK, an expert and trusted whole of market mortgage advice firm. “Mortgages are complex financial products that may be difficult for the ordinary borrower to understand – allowing us to help you not only means we can guide you through the myriad of options available but we can also be your point of contact for all your associated financial needs” With over 19 years in the mortgage industry it is fair to say that Chris Arbery has a huge wealth of knowledge at his fingertips.

Why you should contact AscentiaUK Offering professional advice with solutions specifically tailored to your individual situation, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver a friendly and professional service, one that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

As everything can be completed by telephone and email you don’t have to live nearby for us to be able to help you – in fact, we have many clients up and down the UK who use our service time and time again.

Whether you are a first-time buyer buying a new property, remortgaging, a next time buyer, a buy-to-let investor, or are simply curious about the different types of mortgages and protection insurance products available to you, we understand that your circumstances are unique. We aim to make the process as effortless as possible, helping you overcome any obstacles you might face on your mortgage journey. Not being tied to any lender means we have access to an unrestricted range of mortgages from across the market and ensures we are able to get the best solution for your situation.

In addition, we can provide professional advice when it comes to the most suitable protection policies. When it comes to mortgage and protection advice, we have your back and we are confident that you will find our service truly exceptional.

For expert impartial advice, why not give AscentiaUK a call today 0800 612 3533 www.ascentiauk.co.uk Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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READER OFFER

The common law marriage myth

Millions of co-habiting couples across the UK currently believe that they are in a ‘common law marriage’. Although a popular legal myth, a common law marriage does not actually exist in England or Wales meaning that these people are largely unprotected should the relationship break down.

According to Resolution, a national organisation of family lawyers, as many as two-thirds of co-habiting couples believe that they are entitled to the same rights as married couples. Unfortunately, if they separate, cohabiting couples have no legal responsibility to provide financial support to one another. Child support is however payable in England and Wales through the Child Maintenance Service, as parents have a financial responsibility to their children.

To outline how couples would divide shared assets and commitments to provide peace of mind and protection should the relationship come to an end, they can enter into a cohabitation agreement. A forwardthinking approach to living with a partner, the agreement can help limit the emotional and financial drain should the relationship end and combined property, assets and finances need to be separated with legal support.

The agreements also reduce the likelihood that a Court application would need to be made and provide a clear agreement on issues such as: • Financial support post-separation, including child maintenance payments or maintenance payments for the other partner.

• The division of bank accounts and liabilities.

• The family home, including who will pay the mortgage and bills post-separation and existing the contributions made to the property.

Alongside cohabitation agreements, it’s vital that both partners seek advice to draft wills and put in place additional protections and measures for the unfortunate event that one partner should pass away.

At Mogers Drewett we have a dynamic and collaborative team that can assist with making a will and inheritance planning. Providing supportive advice across the South West, we take a sensitive and forward-thinking approach to help couples enter into cohabitation agreements to protect finances and assets – with the hope that, much like an insurance policy, the agreement will never be needed.

Victoria Strode and Simon Walker, Associates in the Family team, Mogers Drewett

Time for lunch

The first few months of the year can be hard to get through, so how about planning some treats for your diary? Here’s a special offer from The Bath Priory that’s just the ticket

A

n uplifting lunch treat with a friend could be a wonderful way of celebrating Spring and focusing on the good things in life, especially good food. You’ll find such a treat at The Bath Priory, which until 30 March is offering a complimentary apéritif when you have a three-course lunch, at a cost of £35 between Monday and Saturday or £39 on Sundays.

Readers of The Bath Magazine having lunch at The Bath Priory in this period can choose a complimentary aperitif from the bar menu: a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne; a cocktail from the house menu; a bottled beer; a glass of sommelier’s choice wine; or a soft drink. The aperitif will be served alongside some delicious canapés in one of the beautiful sitting rooms in front of an open fire. You’ll then move through to the dining room to enjoy a three-course lunch prepared by executive chef, Michael Nizzero and his team.

The Bath Priory’s seasonal menu includes dishes such as butternut squash terrine with goat’s curd and hazelnut to start. Mains feature braised pork belly, salt-baked swede and Bath ale sauce; or pan-fried stone bass, Asian shellfish bouillon, cauliflower and pak choi. Desserts include orange soufflé and cardamom ice-cream or a selection of artisan cheeses, chutney and homemade breads.

Set within four acres of mature award-winning gardens, The Bath Priory offers the best of both worlds with a country house hotel feel, set just a short stroll across Victoria Park from the centre of Bath.

Take time to enjoy the gardens before or after your lunch, or sink into one of the sofas in one of the luxurious public rooms adorned with the private art collection of owners Andrew and Christina Brownsword.

Known for its excellent restaurant and extensive wine cellar, this exclusive lunch offer from The Bath Priory is the perfect way to start off 2019 in style. n To book, call The Bath Priory on 01225 331922 and quote ‘The Bath Magazine lunch offer’. The Bath Priory, Weston Road, Bath BA1 2XT; thebathpriory.co.uk

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CITY | READING

Three modern voices

“Sometimes ... a piece of writing will identify a part of you that you have never have been able to define before.”

Matthew Leigh from Topping & Co bookshop profiles three new works of contemporary fiction that, for him, do just that

T

he joy of reading is discovery: discovering new information, new ideas and new understanding, not only of the world around us, but of the worlds that exist within each of us. Great novels not only transport us, they identify us.

Through fabrication, they show truth – truth that is both universal and deeply personal.

Valeria Luiselli defines this aspect of reading in her new novel Lost Children Archive: “I kept having those sudden, subtle, and possibly microchemical raptures – little lights flickering deep inside the brain tissue – that some people experience when they finally find the words for a very simple and yet till then utterly unspeakable feeling.” In this sentence she describes, better than I ever could, the effect that her own writing has on me.

In 2017, Mexican born Valeria worked as a voluntary translator for young Central American migrants seeking legal status in the United States. She catalogued this experience in her non-fiction book Tell Me How it Ends, and the experience also informs much of Lost Children Archive – a book that is at once a

road novel, an intertextual exploration of the meaning of art and a meditation on family and displacement. We follow a family as they drive from New York to Arizona. Their exchanges are replete with the beauty, and ugliness, of truth. “Why is there always a little hum of hate running alongside love?” questions the narrator at one point, weary of the abrasive competition omnipresent between her and her husband.

Honesty is, perhaps bizarrely, the greatest asset of fiction. When nothing is real there exists no reason to hold back on telling the truth, or at the very least, telling a truth. As defined by Valeria in her debut novel Faces in the Crowd, “the only way to save all the planes of the story, is to close one curtain and open another: Change the characters’ names, 68 TheBATHMagazine

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remember that everything is or should be fiction. Write what really did happen and what did not.”

Joanna Walsh inhabits this sentiment in her debut novel Break.up. Philosophical rather than self-pitying, the narrator mourns the death of a relationship. She wonders what it means to love, and what it means to move away from love. Her mind unspools with a virtuosic ability for expression, the prose suffused with melancholic beauty. Once again, this is writing that invites liberal use of a highlighter.

Break.up is also a novel about travel, about impermanence, and about the craft of writing.

“I’m not sure how to begin to make art out of love,” the narrator writes. “‘That’s why it’s been hard, hard to write these first few paragraphs, so hard I’ve sometimes had to turn away from the page, so hard I’ve run words together, unable to type them so they mean something anyone else could read...or it’s what not to write, it’s what to leave unwritten, how to narrow life to the width of the page.”

This is a novel that self-consciously treads the thin line between anguish and beauty – and successfully identifies one in the other.

Ariana Harwicz, the Argentinian author of the Man Booker International nominated novel Die, My Love, finds this beautiful anguish not in melancholy but in extremity. Comparable to Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, her writing is cutting and intense: “A breath of irrationality had set fire to my existence”, the narrator explains as she spirals into something close to insanity, driven there by the unreasonable demands of wifedom, motherhood and conformity. Hers is prose that drops into your stomach like a lead weight, brutal in its intensity, discomfiting in its humanity, always pushing against the limits of acceptability.

In her second novel, Feebleminded, the reader is immediately warned: “The trouble with my brain is I can’t hold it back, it rolls on and on through the spiky undergrowth like a bulldozer.” Ariana’s writing is grotesque and

explicit. It is also searingly honest and devastating in its beauty. Like the narrator, it refuses to conform, to submit to expectation.

“Understanding one another is too violent. It’s better to keep quiet, play dumb”, says the narrator of Die, My Love. Ariana’s novels boldly inhabit the opposite of this sentiment.

Her prose rides the violence of understanding and refuses to keep quiet. It exists, once again, in that niche of contradiction that the best literary fiction often so happily inhabits.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, a piece of writing will identify a part of you that you have never been able to define before. It will give sense to the insensible, and in doing so will unlodge something that until that moment had been static, unmovable. Good writing shakes you, it unsettles you, but it also reminds you of the joy of discovery.

It’s as Valeria Luiselli writes in Lost Children Archive, “When someone else’s words enter your consciousness like that, they become small conceptual light-marks. They’re not necessarily illuminating. A match struck alight in a dark hallway, the lit tip of a cigarette smoked in bed at midnight, embers in a dying chimney: none of these things has enough light of its own to reveal anything. Neither do anyone’s words.

But sometimes a little light can make you aware of the dark, unknown space that surrounds it, of the enormous ignorance that envelops everything we think we know. And that recognition and coming to terms with darkness is more valuable than all the factual knowledge we may ever accumulate.” n

Events: Valeria Luiselli is at Topping & Co bookshop on 18 March, 8pm; Joanna Walsh is at Topping & Co bookshop on 20 March, 8pm; and Ariana Harwicz is at Topping & Co bookshop on 24 April, 8pm.

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

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Leadership Skills for Tomorrow’s World University of Bristol offers part-time Masters in Strategy, Change and Leadership for senior professionals

The University of Bristol is offering a part-time Masters programme in Strategy, Change and Leadership. This part-time programme is for aspiring senior managers and is designed to fit around the demands of a busy job.

Today’s leaders are facing the most challenging operating circumstances for a generation. The necessary skills and competencies have shifted from the motivation of employees in a buoyant economy to change management and strategic leadership in this landscape of budget cuts, increased hours, more sophisticated technology and leaner workforces. Few organisations have escaped these changes whether they are in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.

The University of Bristol has recognised this and designed a bespoke Masters degree in Strategy, Change and Leadership aimed at providing senior managers with the tools and techniques they require in order to navigate their organisations through such demanding times.

Programme Director, Helen Ballard says “I am delighted that we are able to offer this type of programme. Excellent leadership is critical in this challenging climate, and high performing organisations are recognising the need to further develop their managers. This practical Masters degree will offer a return on investment from day one.”

To find out more about the programme, come along to our open evening at the University on Wednesday 27th March from 6pm – 8pm. Contact Cheralyn Dark for details: efim-scl@bristol.ac.uk

For further information about the course please visit: www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/2019/ssl/msc-strategychange-leadership/ THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION NEWS MONKTON RAISE A ROOF

THE KES ROSE OPENS

Old Monktonian Seth Thomas has received a traditional title from Nigeria for raising £50,000 to build a much-needed health clinic. Seth, who left Monkton last year, first visited the Asso village in October 2017. Asso is in the South Kaduna region of northern Nigeria, home to the Fulani militia, who target the villagers with violence in order to take their land and homes.

While Seth was there he met Jude, a 15-year-old boy who had a badly infected leg after carrying a bullet in it. Seth set about raising the £50,000 needed to build a clinic. He proposed that the clinic be Monkton’s designated charity for 2017–18 and a number of events were set up including a Colour Run which raised just over £4,900, and a programme of fundraising by all pupils. Monkton raised nearly £15,000 towards the project and in just over a year since his visit, Seth has managed to raise the remainder of the money and the clinic is now built. monktoncombeschool.com

The Rose, a new stateof-the art drama centre, was opened at King Edward’s School

by Tom Morris OBE, artistic director the Bristol Old Vic. Incorporating a new studio and a breakout teaching space, the two-storey facility provides a new hub for drama at the senior school and will be used in conjunction with the established Wroughton Theatre as a specialist teaching setting for Drama and LAMDA lessons, as well as a performance venue. kesbath.com

EGGSELLENT ENGINEERING

DRAMA MASTERCLASS Kingswood recently welcomed former student and actor Wilf Scolding back to work with their drama pupils.

Wilf left Kingswood in 2008 and after training at the Royal Welsh Academy, he pursued his career as an actor. He has had great success in Skins, Game of Thrones and The Archers, among others. Wilf worked with lots of students throughout the day, leading energetic warm-ups, exploring comic timing, giving insightful tips on getting into character and advice on delivering monologues. Students were also treated to a Q&A session where Wilf told pupils about his career in the television, radio and film industry. kingswood.bath.sch.uk

FEEL-GOOD FILMS Visit Bath has partnered with students from Bath Spa University to produce eight videos to support their Feel-Good Bath campaign.

Film, television and digital production students worked in groups to create films with themes such as food, mindfulness, outdoors, spa and retail. The first in the series can be viewed here: youtu.be/ 6N_N2hOn_W8; visitbath.co.uk/ feel-good 70 TheBATHMagazine

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Year 5 at Kingswood School recently took part in a fun space experiment led by a STEM Ambassador, Rachel Keefe.

The children had to be design engineers and design a rocket which would safely return an ‘eggstronaut’ (Neil Eggstrong) back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).

The group had to work as a team and figure out how to cushion the egg from impact using as few materials as possible. They had half an hour to design and make the best rocket using a range of materials including bubble wrap and balloons. Year 5 needed to make decisions about the properties of the materials and tested their craft for impact absorption, aerodynamics and visual appeal. The creations were then dropped from a balcony to find out how they would perform. kingswood.bath.sch.uk

HEAD TEAM Matthew Way has been appointed as the new head of Stonar School and Robert Cunningham joins as head of prep. Both appointments take effect from 1 September.

Matthew joins Stonar from Milton Abbey School in Dorset where he is currently the deputy head. Matthew’s innovative approach to curriculum development and his strong vision for a modern, independent, globalised education resonate with the educational values of Stonar. Rob Cunningham has 15 years’ experience across all stages of primary education and is currently deputy head at The Mead School in Trowbridge, which was graded as outstanding in all areas at its last Ofsted inspection.

Dr Sally Divall, who has led the school for the past four years will be stepping down to retire. After ten years at Stonar Prep School, head Mark Brain is taking up a headship at Westbrook Hay Prep School in Hertfordshire. stonarschool.com

LEARN TO LEAD

Do you or want to become a better leader?

The University of Bristol offers a part-time MSc in Strategy, Change and Leadership, a practical master’s degree providing a thorough grounding in leading high-performing teams, managing change and developing robust strategic direction. The programme is designed to fit around the demands of a busy job with eight intensive three-day workshops that run across two years. efim-scl@bristol.ac.uk

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Calder House have just rated ed fst O S! row.

ES STOP PR third time in a (2019) for the ng di an st ut O as

• Co-educational day school for pupils aged 5-13 with

dyslexia and other specific learning/language difficulties.

• Located in Wiltshire between Bath and Chippenham.

CReSTeD approved.

• Fully qualified specialist teachers with maximum class size of eight - reducing to one-to-one as required.

Call 01225 743 566 or visit www.CalderHouseSchool.co.uk 72 TheBATHMagazine

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FAMILY | EVENTS

Family diary IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN THIS MONTH FAMILY TAKEOVER DROP-IN Saturday 2, 16 and 30 March, 11am–2pm n The Edge, University of Bath Take part in a series of fun, free and informal creative activities exploring Emma Hart’s exhibition Banger. Whether you stay for ten minutes or an hour, get stuck in drawing and making in the Resource Room with artist educator Victoria Willmott. Suitable for ages four to 12; edgearts.org

Catch a star at The egg

MINI RANGERS Tuesdays and Fridays, 11am n Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham Blow away the cobwebs and get back to nature as you join one of the animal keepers on their daily rounds with the friendly farm animals, reptiles and small furries. Adults £6, toddlers £3, children aged two to 16 £6.50 and babes in arms go free. Dress for the outdoors and enjoy a cup of squash and a biscuit afterwards; avonvalley.co.uk BIG BATH SLEEP-OUT Friday 8 March n Alice Park Ditch the comfort of your bed and sleep out for just one night under the stars. Join Julian House and hundreds of others while raising vital funds to make an incredible difference to those forced to sleep out every night.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Entry forms can be picked up from Julian House charity shops in Walcot Street and Shaftesbury Road, or Alice Park Café; bigbathsleepout.co.uk JUNIOR ASTRONOMERS’ WORKSHOP Saturday 9 March, 1–4pm n BRLSI Calling all junior astronomers, enjoy a workshop filled with investigations of the history of the universe and discover how humankind uses technology to discover the secret of outer space. Suitable for ages eight – 11 years. £10; brlsi.org

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© Anita Murphy 2018

ARTY BABIES Every Monday from 4 March – 1 April, 1–2.30pm n The Holburne Museum This group provides a relaxed, creative space for parents to meet others over a cuppa and make something different each week while their babies enjoy sensory play. Suitable for ages up to nine months. £60 for six weeks, block bookings only. You can do a trial session (£10) ahead of booking the rest of a block; holburne.org SPRINGS TODDLERS Monday 11 March, 10–11.30am n The Forum Play, sing, enjoy storytime and lots of other fun in this morning toddler group. Open to all and run by Bath City Church. 01225 443 114; bathforum.co.uk CHEF GHERKIN AND HIS MAGIC MIXING MACHINE Thursday 14 – 15 March, 10am & 11.15am n The egg What delectable delight will a French chef and his magic mixing machine russle up when he is visited by the fussiest of eaters – Princess Pompusknickers? Lap seats are available for ages up to six month for £1.

Suitable for ages six months – four years. £4; theatreroyal.org.uk HOW TO CATCH A STAR Saturday 16 – 24 March, times vary n The egg There was once a boy who was always looking up. He dreamed of having a star as a friend. Based on the beloved book by awardwinning Irish author Oliver Jeffers, this non-verbal adaptation combines puppetry and a magical original score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire. All performances are suitable for children with various sensory and communication disorders or learning difficulties. It is also suitable for any deaf or hard-of-hearing patrons. Suitable for ages over four years. Running time 40 minutes. £8 children; theatreroyal.org.uk

MEN BEHAVING DADLY Saturday 16 March, 9–10.30am n St Swithin's Church, The Paragon Head to the crypt, meet other dads and have some quality time with your little one.

There’s toys, games, toast for the kids and coffee and bacon butties for the dads. £3 per dad. Pre-school children only; stswithinswalcot.org.uk BUBBLEMANIA Saturday 16 and 17 March, 10am–6pm n Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham See the world’s tallest Bubbleologist and be captivated by bubble tricks galore. Expect giant bubbles, teenie tiny ones, bubble sculptures, smoke bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, bubbles with their bare hands and lots more. There will be two 30-minute bubble shows daily and two interactive sessions where kids can get inside their own bubble. Included in standard admission prices; avonvalley.co.uk FAMILY WORKSHOPS Sunday 17 March, 1.30–4.30pm n BRLSI Celebrate the life and work of Doctor Oliver who raised money to establish the Mineral Water Hospital and was appointed the first physician in 1740. Visit his old home and find out more about Bath Oliver Biscuits, good diet, how the hot spa is good for rheumatic diseases and join in with hands-on activities. Suitable for all the family; brlsi.org

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FAMILY | EVENTS

Get creative at The Edge this month

Head to Bowood House and Gardens this Mother’s Day

TYNTETOTS: THE LITTLE RED HEN Wednesday 20 March, 10–11.45am n Tyntesfield Sow seeds, play with farmyard friends, create your own paper hen to take home with you and hear the story of The Little Red Hen. Suitable for ages two to five; tiny tots are welcome and free of charge when accompanying an older sibling or companion. Appropriate outdoor clothing is essential. Adults free, children £8; nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield TALES OF BRITAIN Saturday 30 March, 12pm

n Widcome Social Club, BA2 6AA Enjoy an hour of the funniest British folktales with Brother Bernard and Sister Sal, as part of Bath Comedy Festival. £3/pay what you feel. Children under six require supervision; talesofbritain.com

MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND Saturday 30 – 31 March, 11am–4pm n Bowood House and Gardens Head to the Gardener’s Bothy, design a personalised card for Mum, plant a sunflower to take home and book into the restaurant for a family lunch on Mother’s Day weekend. Recommended for under 12s.

Included in day ticket price, free to season ticket holders; bowood.org LOVE TO PLAY! STRINGS Saturday 30 March, 6pm n Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1DZ Enjoy a selection of themes from movies from the Wiltshire Young Musicians Junior String group. Plus, if you’re a beginner violin, viola, cello or double bass player you can join in for part of the day and get a taste of an ensemble. £6/£3 for under 18s. info@wiltshireyoungmusicians.org.uk; wiltshiremusic.org.uk n

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FITNESS & WELLBEING

FITNESS & WELLBEING NEWS An immersive spin from the comfort of your own home, understanding your aches and pains, a new opening and a helping hand in acheiving results – Crystal Rose shares the latest in the sector

A WHOLE NEW CLASS The latest health and fitness offering to hit the city – CLASS – has opened its doors at Bath Riverside. The boutique members-only fitness studios are open from 6.30am–9pm and offer a packed timetable of classes to promote a culture of health and movement.

CLASS is also the home to the Vital Café; a health food café created by the team behind local foodie staples The Grocer and Rooted. The café is open to non-members and offers fresh salads and snacks. If you’re in the need of a post-workout pick-me-up, members can pre-order delicious recovery smoothies. A great new addition to the city’s fitness and wellbeing scene.

• class-bath.co.uk

PEDAL WITH PELOTON Bringing live and on-demand boutique-style studio classes to the comfort of your own home, Peloton is an immersive spin bike that features realtime motivation and curated playlists.

Founder and CEO John Foley created Peloton when he and his wife could no longer manage to fit studio classes into their busy schedules.

Having recently launched in the UK, the Peloton bike brings fitness classes home, so you can access the motivation, power, and intensity of the classes anytime. Plus, with an almost silent belt drive, there’s no danger of disturbing sleeping children in the evening while peddaling at home.

With no sign-ups needed, you can jump on and train with expert fitness instructors through the 22-inch touchscreen. There are more than 10,000 classes available and 14 daily live classes. There’s also a real-time leader board which allows you to track your progress against other riders and your own personal record.

• £1,990 plus £39 per month for unlimited classes; onepeloton.co.uk

HIP AND KNEE TALK If you’re suffering from hip and knee pain, Circle Health Bath is on hand to help.

Through two events this month, find out more about the causes of these pains, diagnosis and treatment and the future of knee and hip surgery from two consultant orthopaedic surgeons. Non-surgical treatment will also be discussed by senior physiotherapists on hand.

Both events are free, but places are limited so be sure to book ahead.

• Hip pain talk Tuesday 12 March, 7–8.30pm; Knee pain talk Wednesday 27 March, 7–8.30pm; Circle Health Bath; circlehealth.co.uk

A HELPING HAND Exercise and a balanced diet are the foundation to a healthy body, but sometimes we need a little help in achieving the results we want, especially as we get older and lose the elasticity in our skin.

Victoria Rawlinson is an experienced personal trainer and wellbeing practitioner who believes there is huge benefit in modern non-invasive aesthetic treatments.

At the Body Clinic, at The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic, Victoria offers a full range of treatments that blast fat cells,

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reduce cellulite, tone muscles and tighten and rejuvenate skin tone. These treatments restore your body to a more youthful physique, with visible results after the first session and without any downtime. If you’re looking for a little help in time for the warmer months, now is the perfect time to seek it.

• Contact Victoria for a free consultation.

The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic, 01225 466851; theorangeryclinic@gmail.com

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The Orangery fp March.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2019 10:06 Page 1

Established for over 25 years we are the experts in skin health, aesthetics and advanced beauty treatments in Bath.

WE SPECIALISE IN THE FOLLOWING AESTHETIC & BEAUTY TREATMENTS The WOW facial

The ultimate WOW factor treatment 6 stages of the most advanced skincare technology leaving the skin glowing, luminous & regenerated.

Permanent Hair Reduction Treatment

No more waxing or depilatory creams. Safe and effective, even on fragile or delicate areas. Free consultations and patch test.

20% off IPL courses during March 2019

Dermapen To refine pores, reduce scarring and collagen induction. It also firms the skin and reduces fine lines.

Cryotherapy Flawless skin in a matter of seconds, removes unsightly skin tags, warts and age spots for that perfect finish.

All our consultations are free of charge so please feel free to book an appointment to see which is the right treatment for you.

Treatments performed by one of the medical team from the Dr Rita Rakus cosmetic award winning Clinic as featured in Tatler www.drritarakus.com

36 Gay Street, Bath • Tel: 01225 466851 • www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

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The Body Clinic...

by Victoria Rawlinson, Heath & Fitness Practioner Bespoke Nutrition & Lifestyle Plans available

Jaime Brain Dip CDT RCS (Eng) GDC 142490

Not happy with your dentures?

Are your dentures loose or painful?

We can help regain your confidence and your smile

Eat to suit your bodies needs. Loose body fat and enjoy abundant energy without feeling hungry all the time.

Come and meet Victoria for a friendly relaxed chat. Find out how easy it is to begin the journey to a slimmer more vibrant and energised you.

WE OFFER • FREE Consultation • New Dentures direct • Flexible dentures • • Denture repairs • Saturday appointments •

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION ON

01225 311 681

27 Walcot Buildings (Weymouth Street), Bath, BA1 6AD

www.jbdentureclinic.co.uk

CJ Beauty

Cavislim ~ Ultrasonic Liposuction & Radio Frequency This non-invasive treatment helps to reduce body fat and stimulates collagen to tighten & tone your skin.

Offering a wide range of treatments massage manicure

LPG Endermologie ~

to reduce cellulite, tighten & firm the skin.

pedicure waxing tinting facials spray tanning Owner Michelle previously Senior Therapist at Green Street House

hopi ear candles microdermabrasion

15% off for new clients on their first treatment For appointments at our city centre office call 07840 864829

cjbeauty.uk

Ultratone ~

to reshape & recontour the body.

36 Gay Street, Bath • Tel: 01225 466851 www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

HEALTH & BEAUTY NEWS A local luxury launch, at-home skin peels, Somerset skincare and a facial to top them all. Plus, with Mother’s Day on 31 March, Crystal Rose picks a few products to fit the bill and discusses the latest goings on in the beauty world

ALWAYS UBIETY We headed to the Ubiety launch night at Always Sunday House and recently became smitten with this luxury skincare and wellbeing range – including the handwash below. From the beautiful blooms provided

by Blomme Flowers to the divine canapés, the night was the perfect representation of the brand – we especially loved the retreat vault. What’s more, we got to dig a little deeper into the roots of Ubiety from CEO of Dorothy House John Davies. A great new addition to the beauty scene.

• Enjoy hints of clementine, spearmint, grapefruit, geranium and angelica with this Clementine & Spearmint Uplifting hand wash, £18, Ubiety. Available online at findubiety.com and in-store at Graham & Green

Image by Adrian Campbell-Howard

Balance, uplift, cleanse, hydrate and soften your skin with this curated rose edit from Aromatherapy Associates. Includes body wash, gel, cream, face oil and a hydrosol sheet mask.

• Renew and Nourish Rose Edit, £33, Aromatherapy Associates. Available at Thermae Bath Spa Shop

PICK ‘N’ CHOOSE

SIGNATURE FACIAL

Recently launched, the Fragrance Combining palette from Jo Malone is an effortless travel companion, perfect for grabbing that scent while on-thego. Pair two solid perfumes from a selection of ten mostloved fragrances and you’re good to go.

Spoil mum with an indulgent, revitalising Clarins Signature Facial this Mother’s Day and recharge dull, tired and stressed skin. Why not make a day of it and join her for half price? Plus, all guests will receive a Clarins gift to take home worth over £35.

• Fragrance Combining Palette, £24, Jo Malone; jomalone.co.uk

POLISH AND PLUMP

• £68 for 1 hour and 10 minutes, Frontlinestyle, 4/5 Monmouth Street; frontlinestyle.co.uk

If an at-home polish and plump peel is up your street then look no further than this HydroPeptide collection.

Enjoy a gentle microdermabrasion, light chemical peel and a pampering facial in two steps from the comfort of your own home.

CLOSE TO HOME Made in Somerset and inspired by the beauty and naturally therapeutic properties of plants, Bramley features the finest essential oils and includes naturally derived base ingredients from raw sugar and coconut.

Leaving no greasy residue, this moisturising hand cream has a blend of lavender, geranium and petitgrain essential oils leaving hands soft and lightly scented.

All essential oils from the range are fair trade and sustainably grown, ingredients are biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable.

The products are also made in small batches to ensure that there is little wastage.

• Hand Cream, £14 for 250ml, Bramley. Available at Beckford Bottle Shop; beckfordbottleshop.com

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• Pick up the Anti-Wrinkle Polish & Plump Peel: Two Step System for £62 from Enhance Medispa; enhancemedispa.co.uk

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PROMOTED CONTENT

Shoulder pain Shoulder trouble? Understand the underlying causes and the potential treatments for shoulder pain at Circle Bath Hospital’s event on 30 April

T

he shoulder is a complex joint and there are many aspects which can go wrong, resulting in varying degrees of pain and loss of movement. It’s critical to identify the source of the pain correctly.

Mr Gavin Jennings, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Circle Bath Hospital is encouraging people to consider their posture and coordination of movement when exercising to protect their shoulder joints.

He explains: “The most common issues that occur are problems with the deep tendons, which surround the shoulder, known as the rotator and cuff tendons. Other common problems affect the ball and socket joint, such as ‘frozen shoulder’ which affects the joint lining. Arthritis, as in other joints, affects the joint surfaces. These problems can look and sound the same. The skill of the surgeon is in working out the specific problem so that a treatment plan can be agreed.”

There is a limit to what shoulder specialists can do to prevent joint problems. However for tendon issues there are preventative measures we can take to reduce the risks of developing further problems.

Not only is the shoulder a complex joint but it interacts with many other parts of the body. Good shoulder health relies on good posture and is dependent on mobility, strength and positioning of the spine, pelvis and hips. Shoulder health is also dependent upon the correct and coordinated movement of the shoulder blade. To maintain good shoulder health, we need to focus on shoulder exercises and on exercises to do with shoulder blade movement and other distant, but related joints.

Diagnosis and cure Mr Jennings says: “As a shoulder specialist I deal less with the prevention of and more with the diagnosis and cure of shoulder problems. Initially, diagnosing the problem correctly is the priority.” A shoulder specialist will usually be able to achieve this by listening to the patient and asking questions.

Physical examination of the patient will usually then confirm the diagnosis.

The aim is always to plan the treatment so that the patient gets back what they want for their lifestyle in a way which is least painful.

Treatment “Treatment can often be instigated straight away,” explains Mr Jennings. “In some instances, we may need more information by performing investigations. Traditionally this may have involved going for an x-ray or a scan. Fortunately, new technology has added greatly to our ability to diagnose problems immediately. We can now look directly into the shoulder joint using a miniaturised arthroscope (joint camera), known as MiEye2, at the first clinic appointment. As the camera is small, we can put this into the joint fairly painlessly. The patient can then see live video of the inside of their own joint as the surgeon describes what they are seeing.

“The treatment will depend on the problem, but frequently may not involve an operation.

Although surgery is often incredibly successful, not everyone wants an operation. For many, an injection and physiotherapy will remedy the problem. Non-surgical treatment may be another approach.”

If an operation is recommended by the surgeon, treatment can often be performed through a keyhole approach. This can treat the tendon problems mentioned above as well as other problems such as frozen shoulder. In the case of arthritis, a spectrum of treatment strategies can be used from physiotherapy right up to joint replacement surgery.

Shoulder replacements are becoming more and more common and the designs are advancing all the time. Last year over 7,000 replacements* were performed in the UK and computer navigation is now used regularly in complex cases.

In summary, shoulder problems are very common, but some can be prevented. If a problem does occur, there are many highly successful treatments available.

Come and meet the experts at Circle Bath’s free patient event on 30 April. circlebath.co.uk

Event details: Do you have pain in your shoulder?

Date: Tuesday 30 April Time: 7pm to 8.30pm Venue: Circle Bath Hospital, main atrium with Mr Gavin Jennings, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and senior physiotherapist Darren James Who should attend?

Each event is free, and open to the general public, but places are limited, so book ahead. Please come if you are: • wishing to understand underlying causes of their shoulder pain • looking for conservative treatments to reduce shoulder pain • looking for insights into the latest advances in shoulder surgery • requiring further treatment following diagnostic investigations • wishing to understand diagnosis of their shoulder pain Specialist shoulder surgeons in the specialist Shoulder Unit: Mr Gavin Jennings, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Simon Gregg-Smith, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Andrew Chambler, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon What can I do to preserve my shoulder?

Performing the wrong exercises or performing the right exercises wrongly, can result in making your shoulder problem worse. It can be helpful to seek advice from an expert such as a physiotherapist, sports therapist, osteopath or chiropractor to ensure you are coordinating your movement correctly.

Confirm your place at bath.events@circlehealth.co.uk or call 01761 422288. Places are limited.

Reference: * www.njrcentre.org.uk/njrcentre/Healthcareproviders/Accessing-the-data/StatsOnline/ NJR-StatsOnline

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No 15 hp March.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 11:14 Page 1

A time to relax

Emma Clegg has her pampering expectations dramatically surpassed at No. 15 Great Pulteney

N

owadays there are pampering opportunities at every turn. If you want to be reminded of the true art of relaxation, however, an experience that transports you to a transcendent level, then pay a visit to Spa 15 at No. 15 Great Pulteney.

Start with an hour in the hot tub tucked

The Coral Room, one of Spa 15’s treatment rooms

away in the wood-clad basement. The only requirement is to press the bubble button every 10 minutes or so, and let your mind unfold against the warmth of the water. And sip water occasionally. Result: pretty relaxed.

Second, be escorted to your treatment of choice, in my case the ila glowing radiance organic facial, in one of the three feature rooms.

Afternoon tea arrives on a hanging cake stand with three tiers

This 60-minute treatment includes an aloe vera and pomegranate cleanse, a gentle blackcurrant and honey exfoliation followed by the application of Damascena Rose Otto and sandalwood oils to stimulate the skin cells. It also used specialised marma massage techniques and a green clay mask to leave the skin glowing and radiant. Result: the skin indeed glowed, along with the body and spirit.

Third, have afternoon tea in Bar 15. Forget mere finger sandwiches and scones, however, as this is a power tea: Champagne; sandwiches with smoked salmon and chive crème fraîche, coronation chicken and egg and cress; chorizo sausage roll; feta and red pepper tart; salted caramel tart, lemon posset with seasonal berries; red almond dusted battenberg; triple chocolate opera cake; and freshly baked scones with jam, lemon curd and clotted cream. Oh yes, and a choice of 11 teas. Action: down the Champagne, relish everything edible with elegance, admire the eclectic artworks and head home feeling like the very best version of yourself. n Luxury and wellness with afternoon tea, £149.

No.15 Great Pulteney, 15 Great Pulteney Street, Bath; tel: 01225 807015; no15greatpulteney.co.uk

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Kaliyoga FP.qxp_Layout 1 25/02/2019 11:22 Page 1

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Feet first

The feet and ankles are the foundation of the kinetic chain of interconnected parts that is a person. So, whether we have a foot misalignment or a medical condition, we need to give them plenty of support, Emma Clegg discovers at FootBalance

I

worry about my feet. I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 40 years and have peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation), caused by the reduction in the blood supply to the feet linked to my diabetes. I also have rheumatoid arthritis which has resulted in a reduction of muscle tone, especially in my toes. Diabetic foot care guidelines recommend inspecting your feet daily, using lukewarm and not hot water for bathing and moisturising regularly. I do all these things. But is there anything more I can do to give my feet the very best support as they continue to do their daily job?

Katie, my podiatrist at FootBalance, explained, as she gave me a diabetic foot assessment, that a good insole can make a world of difference, not just to feet affected by medical conditions such as diabetes or plantar fascilitis, but for any feet that aren’t supporting the alignment of your body adequately. Katie told me that she has flat arches. She has been wearing custom-made insoles from FootBalance for eight months and in that time her arch has heightened significantly, making her feet support her body more effectively – so much so that she’s just had another pair of insoles made.

Over 75% of the population suffers from some sort of foot misalignment, such as overpronation (when the arches of the foot roll inwards) or excessive supination (when the foot rolls outwards).

Footbalance, a Finnish company founded in 2003, offer insoles developed by

medical professionals in collaboration with doctors, physiotherapists, podiatrists and professional athletes. They provide natural foot support and alignment, enhanced performance, personalised comfort and better foot health. The process involves a free foot analysis, where the arches are assessed and a clear visual is provided of where the pressure is being put on the feet. Then a custom-made insole is moulded, taking just 10 minutes.

There are three different insoles, which range from £45 to £135: leather insoles for leather shoes or shoes that taper off; fabric insoles for leisure shoes; and medical insoles where the plate is more rigid, suiting those with foot problems. You can get them at FootBalance for use with existing shoes, or buy suitable shoes in the shop. These include brands such as Hotter, Ecco and Softinos, all chosen for their good-for-health designs.

The stand-on technology platform, called a

Top, The FootBalance shop; left, Ecco Exostrike L boot; below left, the podoscope assessing pressure points

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podoscope, where my feet were assessed projects an image of your feet underneath the surface, highlighting the main pressure points.

Katie then moulded my medical insoles on a moulding form placed on the platform. It was all delightfully quick. I am – my analysis report received later that day by email, told me – an overpronator with a low arch. It also told me that the body is a kinetic chain of interconnected parts and the feet and ankles form the foundation of the chain. FootBalance can strengthen your foundation. n FootBalance is offering an exclusive promotion to readers of The Bath Magazine with a 50% discount on a podiatry or chiropodist treatment for the first 500 bookings. Quote code POD50 when booking.

FootBalance, 20 Green Street, Bath; 01225 333545; footbalanceuk.com

Below, the custom-made insole moulding process; below right, the FootBalance insoles

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Butler and Tanner’s print works

Trinity Street and Holy Trinity Church

Passing the bitter

As a heritage destination, Frome keeps a low profile, and yet it has 371 listed buildings – more than any other town in Somerset. Andrew Swift explores the town’s independent shops and historic buildings and its rich pub heritage

F

rome’s glory days arrived in the mid-17th century when it became a boom town for the weaving trade. When Daniel Defoe visited in about 1725, he found it “prodigiously increased” and “now reckoned to have more inhabitants than the city of Bath”. Around 80% of these were nonconformists – mainly Baptists and Congregationalists – who built an extraordinary number of chapels. They must also have been thirsty, as they opened an astonishing number of pubs.

The weaving trade eventually collapsed in the 19th century, but many weavers’ cottages and grand clothiers’ houses still survive, along with the pubs and chapels. This is not just because they were well-built; it is also the result of local residents’ determination to resist their destruction.

This determination manifests itself in other ways. Frome’s streets are lined with independent shops, its town council consists entirely of independent councillors, and once a month a street market, known as The Frome Independent, takes over the town.

All this makes Frome a fascinating and vibrant place to explore on foot. This walk starts at the station, where the first historic building greets you as you step off the train.

Opened in 1850, Frome Station was built of wood, with an overall roof. The GWR built dozens of similar stations, but this is the only one in use today.

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Leaving the station, head along the approach road and turn right. The building across the road is College Place, built about 1790. Cross at the traffic lights and carry on under the railway bridge. After 200m, just after crossing the River Frome, turn left along a footpath. The old building across the river, now converted to housing, is a surviving fragment of Wallbridge Woollen Mills.

Carry on under two railway bridges, and after 150m bear left into Rodden Meadow.

At the end, follow a path under the railway and along Willow Vale, lined with cottages, clothiers’ houses and former textile mills.

At the end, turn left across Town Bridge, built in 1821. The Blue House on your left was built in 1724 as an almshouse and charity school.

After passing the Blue Boar Inn (1691), you enter the Market Place. The Archangel (originally the Angel) on the left, is even older, with a history going back to 1665.

Take the second left along Cheap Street, with water coursing along it and some of the oldest buildings in Frome. No 11, now called Amica, is mid-16th century, and has Tudor roses carved into its beams.

Turn right at the end and head up steps past Old Church House. Carry on up Gentle Street, once a main route into town, and now surely one of the loveliest streets in England.

Argyll House, on the right, was built for a clothier called Mary Jesser in 1766.

Further up, the Chantry and the Hermitage, built in the late 16th century, were once one property – the townhouse of the Marquess of Bath. Next door is the former Wagon & Horses, open by 1568 but closed in 1959.

As you turn right at the top past the former Lamb Brewery, you can see the imposing Wesley Methodist Church of 1810 across the road. After turning right downhill past the Cornerhouse, look across to see an even more impressive building. Rook Lane Congregational Chapel, built in 1707, had a thousand-strong congregation by 1717.

Closed in 1968, it now houses offices and an arts centre. The cottages below it, shaded by tall trees, are 17th century.

After crossing at the pedestrian lights, carry on down Bath Street. Look out for the early 20th-century Devon House butcher’s on the left, and, across the road at the bottom, two sets of ghost signs – for a photographer’s and a china and glass showrooms.

Across the road is The George, a coaching inn dating from 1650. The Nat West bank next door was built around 1820 with assembly rooms for The George upstairs, and open arches for a covered market below.

A left turn up Stony Street leads into the heart of Frome’s independent shopping district, with Just Ales, Frome’s first micropub, on the right. Turn right up Catherine Hill, and after 100m, opposite Frome Hardware, turn left up steps and

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THE | WALK

through an archway into Sheppard’s Barton.

The Sheppards, once Frome’s biggest employers, built these houses for their workers in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the end, turn left and follow the road as it curves right along South Parade, passing a former Baptist chapel on the right and a converted textile mill at the end.

Turn right and right again into Wine Street. Follow the street round and head back along Sheppard’s Barton to continue up Catherine Hill and on into Catherine Street.

The Greek Revival facade on the left dates from 1813, and was the entrance to another Baptist chapel. The Sun Inn beyond it is 17th century.

At the end, The Artisan – which was once called The Ship – was open by 1633. As you bear right, look up to see, on 6a Badcox, a superb collection of recently revealed ghost signs. Carry on along the pavement as it curves away from the main road, and after 130m when you come to the corner of Selwood Road, look ahead to see a row of 17th-century houses, one of them bearing the inscription ‘Time Trieth Troth June ye 3 JD 1697’.

Turning right along Selwood Road, enter the Trinity area, which was developed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and is one of the earliest examples of industrial housing in the country. Towards the end is the former print works of Butler & Tanner, which was

constructed between 1866 and 1876.

Just before the print works, turn left along York Street, and left again along Naish’s Street, passing another former Baptist chapel. Turn right at the end and second right along Gould’s Ground. Turn right at the end and left along an alleyway to Holy Trinity church, designed by H.E. Goodridge of Bath and built in 1838.

A right turn leads along Trinity Street, originally known as Trooper Street after the Trooper Inn at No 11. There were once three more pubs along here – The Crown & Sceptre at No 38, the Bell at Nos 7–8 and the King’s Head at No 1.

Carry on past the print works and turn left at the end past the Lamb & Fountain, open by 1753 and one of the most unspoilt pubs in town. At the bottom, turn right along Whittox Lane, passing Melrose House, which was built about 1690, on the left.

Beyond it is a Congregational chapel of 1810, given an Italianate facade in 1888.

Turn left down the alleyway between them and right along Cork Street at the bottom.

At right angles to the road, you’ll see that 18th-century Monmouth House has a side door leading into Brewed Boy, Frome’s other micropub. Next door is Monmouth Chambers, where the Duke of Monmouth lodged in June 1685. If you plan to stop for refreshments at this stage, bear in mind that you should allow at least 25 minutes –

possibly more – to walk back to the station, which is two-thirds of a mile away.

To get there, cross the Market Place and turn into King Street by The Archangel.

Follow the road as it curves uphill past the 16th-century Three Swans and swings left.

Turn right at the T-junction and after 275m, when you come to the main road, carry straight on. After another 300m, cross at the traffic lights, continue in the same direction, and after passing the petrol station, bear right to the station. n 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

FACT FILE Distance: 4 miles The Frome Independent street market is on the first Sunday of the month from March to December (thefromeindependent.org.uk) For information on train services to Frome, visit nationalrail.co.uk

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BRING STYLE HOME Every year we see a slew of brand new trends hit the interior design scene. From the return of Art Deco, to the continued love of all things green to the championing of sustainable living, Clair Strong walks us through the ones that are set to take hold this year. And on page 94 Nick Woodhouse highlights his findings from the January 2019 Maison et Objet show in Paris

Yellow velvet lamp with fringe by Abode Living

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INTERIORS | AND | STYLE

ART DECO

Taupe sheepskin rug, Idyll Home

Aspects of Art Deco have been celebrated for years and the style is poised to take centre stage in 2019. Rooted firmly in the not too distant past, this trend is racing into the present. Its popularity is aided by an inherent glamour that utilises metallic finishes, geometric design and block colours to bring a room to life. This trend also sees dark wood and statement furniture skilfully bringing artful decadence into living spaces with just a few key pieces.

HYGGE

Amber Art Deco sideboard, Atkin andTthyme

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y Sustainable design continues to maintain a top profile with many industries – including fashion, tech and interiors – looking at new, environmentally friendly ways of designing must-have items. In interiors we’re seeing an ever-growing love of upcycling, buying pre-loved and vintage, and using reclaimed materials. Sustainable materials include bamboo and rattan, while recycled metals and plastic are being skilfully reworked into bespoke accessories.

Sustainability, with its roots in Scandinavian and bohemian design, will be the highlight trend of the year.

The Danish trend of hygge translates to living comfortably. The style continues be popular due to its celebration of cosy comfort and warm, bright spaces. Hygge pairs simple elegance with a welcoming aesthetic, focusing on cultivating a calming abode that promotes positive wellbeing. It’s less about a specific approach to design and more about a mood and atmosphere. It’s guaranteed to be pulled into sharper focus in 2019 as a focus on good mental health remains prominent.

PA S S E M E N T E R I E Eclectic fringes, trims and pom poms have enjoyed consistent popularity over the years and many designers – locally and internationally – work with textiles to create unique accessories featuring passementerie. The style is set to evolve in 2019, with statement fringing featuring on unlikely objects around the house.

This trend is particularly fun as it can be easily achieved by a nonprofessional, instantly becoming a creative hobby. Think tassel-laden cushions, fringed lamp shades and decorative wall-hangings.

Sustainable furniture range, Lessmore Woven fringed cushion, Cox & Cox

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S TA R S A N D S K Y

G R E E N S PA C E S

Inspired by astrology and zodiac signs, constellation-themed interiors will be adding an ethereal touch to homes in 2019. This trend runs with star-print wallpaper, cushions and accessories, as well as skyinspired tapestries and framed prints. It’s easy – and relatively cheap – to perk up your home with a hint of the theme and shops like Etsy, with its abundance of independent traders, is the go-to for finding bespoke pieces. Less of a style to transform the whole house, constellatio- themed interiors are about adding small touches that speak volumes, look eye-catching and become a focal point of a room.

Over the past couple of years keeping plants in the home, specifically cacti and succulents, has become a super-trend, but in 2019 ‘biophilia’ is set to take off, the concept of connecting humans with nature through the use of organic materials and plenty of greenery. It’s said that we humans inherently crave this connection, which explains why plant life has proven so popular.

House plants add a serene and calming feel to indoor spaces but even just painting your walls green has a profound effect.

Mantis bookcase, John Lewis & Partners

LESS IS MORE Minimalism and maximalism have been vying for dominance for the past few years but it looks like ‘less is more’ is prevailing. The year of material reduction, 2019 has a focus on clutter-free spaces and repurposing throwaway items. Minimalism doesn’t have to mean stark, empty spaces, though. It’s more about creating a sense of tidy peace and reminding us we don’t need more than we already have. n The Sky’s the Limit blue wallpaper mural, Woodchip and Magnolia

Chevron oak bedside table, Cox & Cox

BLACK BEAUTY Dark kitchens and bathrooms are set to take off in a big way this year. Paired with a minimalist approach, blocks of matt black and grey create a sophisticated elegance, echoing the homes of Scandinavia while creating a clean, tidy feel. For those not wanting to go all out with black walls and floors, play around with the trend by injecting black accessories (or taps) and industrial-style lighting which beautifully offsets white woodwork and furniture.

Terrazzo washbasin, Tikamoon

Clair Strong Interior Design is a small, friendly, creative business based in Bath and London, providing services for residential and commercial clients. Visit: clairstrong.co.uk or contact: clair@clairstrong.co.uk 92 TheBATHMagazine

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Kelly Marie has more than 15 years of experience in the kitchen design industry. She has had the pleasure of working on many luxury kitchen projects in the Bath area and now owns her own unique and creative business from an endless list of 'word of mouth' recommendations. Her technical aspects of design with an intrinsic creativity, allow spaces that are functional yet beautiful.

With a vast portfolio of luxury contemporary hacker german kitchen projects & bespoke 1909 painted shaker kitchens.

Kelly works with each client’s particular budget, providing personalized attention throughout the design process.

“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE DETAILS”

Kelly’s approach combines purposeful variations of colour, textures and finishes. Her careful selection of these elements enhance the home with a sense of harmony, all while reflecting your own individual style.

Kelly Marie Kitchen Interiors 8 Pulteney Terrace, BATH, BA2 4HJ Tel: 01225 481881 Mob: 07796554466

kelly@kellymariekitchens.com

Follow us on Instagram

www.kellymariekitchens.com

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INTERIORS | AND | STYLE

On trend at Maison et Objet

Nick Woodhouse from Woodhouse and Law reports back on the interior trends that featured large at Maison et Objet 2019, the lifestyle, decoration and design trade fair in Paris

DECO GLAM There was certainly a huge presence of Art Deco influences at Maison & Objet this year, inspiring both textile design and furniture silhouettes. Pink velvet was spotted across everything from curvaceous chairs to plump sofas, poufs and opulent cushions and was infused with a grown-up elegance when paired with soft smoky sage greens, blue greys and touches of rust and oxblood.

The precise patterns of Deco design were seen across lighting, wall coverings and statement pieces of furniture, with metallic embellishments and fringing only accentuating the look.

PLANTS MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY

GETTING WARMER Colours felt fresh and sophisticated with a key focus on rust, rose, and shades of burgundy, in everything from wall colours to furniture hues, artwork palettes and accessories tones, off-set against soothing backdrops of greys and silvery greens.

Bullock sideboard by Ana Roque Hubsch plant hangers are a great way to add visual appeal to your home

The love for all things botanical showed no sign of abating with plenty of green on green inspiration, vast foliage print wall coverings and house plants of every description, and size, proving perennially popular among the stands. Whether it’s hanging a fresh bunch of eucalyptus in the shower – great for adding deliciously scented, and relaxing steam to your morning routine – making your own terrarium or injecting your interior with some well-placed tropical print textiles, bringing the outside in is an easy way to lift your living space and your mood.

Bedside table, part of the new Cloud Room collection by Circu

P E R F E C T LY IMPERFECT One trend we were drawn to was eclectic, off-kilter displays. Console tables with centred and symmetrical elements were eschewed for off-centre groupings – candlesticks, vases or favourite items – often accentuated by low-level lighting. n

1970s REVIVAL There was also a return to the heady, colourful days of the 70s, a decade which featured curves, chrome and saturated colour, heavily influenced by New York’s legendary night club, Studio 54. Bold, graphic designs managed to look both retro and contemporary in equal measure and came with a real sense of decadence, nostalgia and joie de vivre.

Woodhouse & Law is an interior and garden design company based in Bath. Visit: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk or contact info@woodhouseandlaw.co.uk 94 TheBATHMagazine

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The Succulentus Anthracite wallpaper by Mind the Gap in a room styled with a refreshed 1970s vibe

Biloba sideboard with green Guatemala marble by Green Apple Home Style

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KITCHEN | CASE STUDY

Perfect designs

We visit a spectacular, octagonal-shaped kitchen/dining room in Batheaston; a recent installation by Kelly Marie Hawker-Hicks who specialises in high-end, super-detailed kitchen designs, to see the finished result

Kelly Marie at her showroom on Pulteney Terrace

W

hether it’s a west-country manor house in need of a statement new kitchen, a Georgian townhouse, Victorian terrace or bespoke contemporary super-home, Kelly Marie Hicks has probably designed a beautiful kitchen for most of them.

With over 10 years experience Kelly Marie has faced pretty much every challenge when it comes to designing and installing kitchens, and working with a hugely skilled team of quality tradesman no obstacle is too great to give the customer the kitchen they dream of.

Fast-forward to one of her most recent designs for a splendid 1930s detached property to the east of the city. In the process of being lovingly updated by the new owners, the property has been extended over the years and features an octagonal kitchen/dining space which, although truly spectacular, was in need of a completely new look to bring it up-to-date and make it modern and magnificent. As one might imagine, the 135º angles were not the standard 90º angles that most installations are made to.

Working with the client, and designing and planning every detail, comfort and fine angle, Kelly Marie has achieved a light, open-plan room of the highest quality, showcasing not only octagonal elements but helping to

accentuate the delightful features of the original lantern window at the top and the sliding glass doors that open on three (of the eight) sides to the gardens and lawns.

The contemporary, German-made white lacquered and warm-walnut slab kitchen is both impressive and robust. It’s a stunning space and is anchored by an island that is the hard-working heart of this great family kitchen. The contemporary look and use of exposed wood beams make it the perfect place for work and play.

Owners Sarah and Dan say, “We knew we had a wonderful space but were keen to work with someone who could make the most of it.

Kelly was great – she listened to our own ideas, but also brought in fresh ones that we wouldn't have been brave enough to try!

The end result is a beautiful, practical kitchen and entertaining space that we are really proud of. The installation team were brilliant too – neat, tidy, friendly and clearly experts.” n

To find out more: Kelly Marie Kitchen Interiors 8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath BA2 4HJ Tel: 01225 481 881 kellymariekitchens.com

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Meet the maker: Charlie Caffyn SINE FELT PENDANT WHITE / GREY

BY VITA COPENHAGEN

R

ecent years have seen a growing appreciation for contemporary handcrafted pieces that celebrate the use of natural materials and are built to last; our future antiques, you might say. One such modern artisan is Charlie Caffyn who designs and makes elegant solid wood furniture from his workshop in Bradford on Avon.

Charlie champions the skills and values of craftsmanship, which ensures that his clean, sculptural pieces, created from sustainable sources and made individually by hand with the utmost attention to detail, will last generations. “My aim is to design pieces that are relevant in the here and now but that will also be appreciated in the future,” says Charlie, and you only have to glimpse the collection to see that his aspiration is not misplaced: its simple yet distinctive aesthetic oozes quality and originality. Charlie was always inventive and knew at the age of 19 that he wanted to be a furniture maker, so grabbed the chance to study at Swedish design house Steneby Skolan. From there his career took him around the world for many years until in 2004 he decided to return. He settled locally and began designing and making his own pieces – and he has never looked back.

“I’ve always been influenced by architecture and structures, and I believe a piece of furniture can be really special if you understand how the structure works and then play with it.

As well as being useful, I want my designs to be mini pieces of architecture.”

With his furniture collection up and running, Charlie recently turned his skills to lighting and this month the Atworth desk lamp launched, a standout piece that, along with the Farleigh magazine rack, has captured the attention of the press. n Charlie’s collection is now on show in Bath for the first time at Verve Living. Enjoy a glass of fizz and meet Charlie at Verve on 7 March, 5.30–8pm. To register visit meetcharliecaffyn.eventbrite.co.uk • Verve, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD Tel: 07785 332536; verveliving.uk

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LIGHTING SPECIALIST 8 BATH STREET, FROME. TEL: 01373473555 WWW.FIATLUX.CO.UK TUESDAY – FRIDAY 9.30AM – 5.30PM, SATURDAY 9.30AM – 5.00PM

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THE LITTLE BOOK OF

HOMES, INTERIORS AND GARDENS our guide to the best businesses and services

spring

/summer 2019 PROMOTED CONTENT

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BATH HOMES & INTERIORS | GUIDE 2019

FIAT LUX 8 Bath Street, Frome BA11 1DH Tel: 01373 473555 Web: fiatlux.co.uk Let there be light... Fiat Lux opened its Frome showroom in 2003, and since then it has been the go-to place to see a huge range of superb lighting, from traditional fittings and shades to the most up-to-date trends in contemporary lighting designs. For interior lighting projects there are fixtures and fittings, bulbs, coloured cords and cables in every possible combination as well as a full display of exterior lighting ideas. Fiat Lux work with leading manufacturers such as Vita, Original BTC and many more and are an established favourite with property developers, architects, interior designers and all lighting aficionados, professional and domestic. Whatever your style, mood or interior desire then a trip to Fiat Lux will really light up your ideas.

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN Old Orchard, 88a Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BD. Meetings by appointment.

Tel: 01225 426905, Mob: 07855 797311 Web: clairstrong.co.uk Clair Strong Interior Design Ltd is a small, friendly and creative business based in Bath that provides a wide range of services for residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad. Its portfolio includes projects of all sizes, from smaller-scale jobs, such as staging a property for sale, to complete interior solutions for homes and businesses. Recent projects have included the interior design of an advertising agency's office in a former industrial building in Bristol, the design of an upcoming spinning studio in Bath, and design services for a number of local residential properties and developments. The team enjoys a collaborative approach with clients, working with them to create spaces that meet their needs, improve their home or work life and exceed their expectations.

FIRED EARTH 11 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 471212 Web: firedearth.com Sometimes we all need a little help from an expert. That’s where the Fired Earth Bathroom Design Team steps in. From advice on product choice to helping you design a bathroom that truly reflects your personality and meets your needs, they are here to help. Fired Earth’s bathroom designers love nothing more than working with you to create a beautiful room. Their award-winning technology ensures it’s easy to imagine, plan and tweak your design. Watching your new bathroom unfold before your eyes is a uniquely exciting experience. Improving your home should always be an absorbing and rewarding pleasure.

This is exactly what the Fired Earth Bathroom Design Service is there to ensure.

TOTAL BATHROOMS Unit 2, Brassmill Lane Trading Estate, Bath BA1 3JF Tel: 01225 462727 Web: totalbathrooms.co.uk Total Bathrooms has a mission to transform every bathroom in their community into a sanctuary that meets their clients’ needs, wants and budget. With their large showroom on the Brassmill Lane in Bath they’ve been doing just that since the turn of the millennium. There are over 60 displays to inspire you and Total Bathrooms provide a one-stop shop, including all those extra items to complete your project like tiles, flooring, wall panelling, lighting, accessories and extractor fans. In addition, they can offer free site surveys to give you peace of mind and full installation services are optional, too, for those wanting complete project management. Uniquely to the south west, Total Bathrooms offers a large range of ex-display and end-of-line products with stock available to take away. Whether you are a retail customer, a tradesman, or a large contractor, Total Bathrooms can help you find all of the products you require at the right price so that they can transform your day, every day!

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TR HAYES 15-18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX Tel: 01225 465757 Web: trhayes.co.uk TR Hayes has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years and has a reputation for good-quality and good service. The large store features many well-respected brands, with an amazing array of furniture of all types on display – sofas and chairs, dining and living room furniture, beds and mattresses (including Hypnos, Vispring and Tempur). Styles range from classic to contemporary, with ranges to suit all budgets. Did you know that there are also highly respected carpet and curtain departments?

We can supply and fit carpet and wooden flooring, provide made-tomeasure curtains and blinds, and also help with poles and accessories.

With friendly and knowledgeable staff to help guide you, and excellent aftersales care, you can rely on TR Hayes.

BONITI

LUMEN DOMUS

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA Tel: 01225 892200 Web: boniti.com

Tel: 07903 135230 Web: lumendomus.com

Run by Giles and Simon Lunt, Boniti is a high-quality interiors (and exteriors) business. The showroom is a destination for all types of natural stone, porcelain and timber flooring, as well as decorative tiles, stoneware, Kadai firebowls, garden furniture, homeware accessories and the highly desirable Everhot range cookers. Boniti has an impressive client list of property developers and offers a specialist bespoke service that will supply and fit worldwide. For large, small, and all projects, the Boniti team are masters of their profession and it shows in every detail. The showroom is easily reached from junction 18 of the M4.

Lumen Domus is a Bath home organisation service run by Kimberley Delius. Meaning ‘bright house’, the business has now been going for 14 years, helping local residents sort out their homes. Whether it is assisting clients prepare for selling their home, moving house, decluttering – getting rid of items which have either built up over time or quite often dealing with belongings from a bereavement, Kimberley takes the stress out of tasks that are difficult facing on your own. She prides herself on her friendly service, working gently and methodically but also getting lots done in a short timeframe.

So if you and your home are in need of some TLC then do contact Kimberley and see what she can do for you.

KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS 8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath BA2 4HJ Tel: 01225 481881 (Mobile: 07796554466) Web: kellymariekitchens.com Kelly Marie has more than 15 years of experience in the kitchen design industry. She has had the pleasure of working on many luxury kitchen projects in the Bath area and now owns her own unique and creative business from an continual list of ‘word of mouth’ recommendations. Her technical designs with intrinsic creativity allow spaces that are functional yet beautiful. With a vast portfolio of luxury German kitchen projects, Kelly works with each client’s particular budget, providing personalised attention throughout the design process. Kelly tells us; “It’s all about the little details,” and her approach combines purposeful variations of colour, textures and finishes. Her careful selection of these elements enhance the home with a sense of harmony, all while reflecting the individual style of the client she is working with.

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WOODHOUSE & LAW 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath BA2 4EN Tel: 01225 428072 Web: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk Woodhouse and Law is a well-established full service interior and garden design partnership. From the showroom and studio on Bathwick Hill, the company offers every component necessary in the delivery of a project from concept to completion, ensuring the highest quality throughout. The unique service combines the expertise of in-house interior and garden designers with that of a highly skilled team of local craftsmen and technicians. So, whether your project is residential or commercial, the team at W&L can help with a wide range of services to transform your space. From making up soft furnishings to a full design service and project co-ordination, everything is delivered with exceptional attention to detail. To arrange an initial consultation, get in touch or pop in to meet the team.

SCHMIDT KITCHENS 1 Park Road, Bath BA1 3EE Tel: 01225 337276 Web: bath.home-design.schmidt Established for over 30 years, Schmidt Bath offers a wide range of made-to-measure solutions, including kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, from leading European kitchen and interior solutions brand, Schmidt. With every project being bespoke, the highly customisable units they offer can really transform your home. Choose from over 214,461 possible colour combinations thanks to Color Mix from Schmidt, and make your new kitchen completely unique. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen, revamp your bedroom or create the perfect home office, the experienced design team will be happy to provide a free quotation. Visit to their showroom on Park Road in Bath to find out more.

BEAR INTERIORS Tel: 07977 548340 Web: bear-interiors.co.uk Bear Interiors owned by Lynette Labuschagne is a well-established, small, approachable company based in Bath. Drawing on more than 25 years experience in the industry, it can offer a broad range of services for all types of residential and commercial properties. From expert advice on a room-by-room basis to complete house renovation, the company works with their clients to create individual affordable solutions. Project Management services include: design and build, CAD, surveys, kitchen and bathroom design, flooring, lighting and soft furnishings. To arrange a free consultation please call: Lynette Labuschagne on 07977 548340 or email her at: lynette@bear-interiors.co.uk

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HOUSE OF RADIATORS 22 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 2AA Tel: 01225 424199 Web: houseofradiators.co.uk House of Radiators sell traditional and designer radiators that can be off-theshelf sizes/finishes, or bespoke sizes and colours. This popular, family-run business opened its Bear Flat showroom in 2011 and not only sells to Bath areas but throughout the UK and overseas.

Following a recent re-fit there are over 100 radiators on display and due to increasing popularity the traditional cast iron and column radiator range has expanded. With over 45 years’ experience in the heating and radiator industry they offer a friendly and high level of customer service. This is key in helping customers choose the right radiator for their home that will not only look amazing but will heat their room and do its job. Because they work with 20 of the leading manufacturers and distributors in the radiator industry, there’s always something to suit all budgets and styles. Locally they offer a free, at-home consultation where they’ll measure up and work out the correct heat requirements and size up radiators accordingly.

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DIBLE & ROY INTERIORS

VERVE LIVING

Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1BY Tel: 01225 862320 Web: dibleandroy.co.uk

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

Let the excellent team at Dible & Roy guide you through a world of curtains, blinds, shutters and flooring. With over 40 years’ experience of furnishing all styles of homes from country cottages, town houses to new-build properties; their personal service offers complete bespoke interior design solutions from free home measures, design consultations to installation and after care. With one of the largest fabric libraries in the area, the fabulous showroom has a wealth of fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, wooden flooring, furnishings and accessories.

Located on London Road in Bath’s artisan quarter, Verve is an interiors store with a difference. This creative hub is all about mixing it up: an ever-changing collection of one-off character pieces sits alongside carefully chosen contemporary furniture, lighting and textiles. Verve is also proud to showcase work by local artists, ceramicists, designers and makers. Its aim is to offer affordable style at its best, and the ranges on sale here are not available anywhere else in Bath. Styling ideas and advice plus regular free events complete Verve’s approach to creativity which is all about sharing. Pop in – a warm welcome awaits and coffee is on the house. Open Weds to Sat, 11am – 5pm or by appointment.

BEN ARGENT KITCHENS Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA Tel: 01225 892270 Web: benargentkitchens.co.uk Creators of bespoke contemporary kitchens that successfully combine functional design with elegant simplicity. Ben has a background as a designer/maker and has extensive experience in the specialist furniture industry. He launched the company in 2007 with a clear understanding of the subtleties and technicalities required to achieve sophisticated and highly individual contemporary kitchens. Their beautiful new showroom is conveniently located near M4 J18 with plenty of free parking. Please contact them to arrange a viewing.

MBG GOLD REFURBISHMENTS Tel: 07515 389147 Web: Mbggold.com Mariusz Omachel started MBGGOLD in 2012 having moved to Radstock with his family. He wanted to create a company that specialised in every part of the building and refurbishment process, with an emphasis on attention to detail and quality.

The company aims to work with private individuals and companies, offering a premium quality service on projects in and around the city of Bath to a radius of approximately 30 miles. The highly experienced team provides skilled and dedicated labour using locally sourced materials. Each project is individually estimated and all construction is supervised by a manager on site. MBG Gold works with several highly respected partner firms in the area. To view examples of their work visit the website or phone for more details.

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AVONVALE CARPETS

IGNIS STOVES

37 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA Tel: 01225 427057 Web: avonvalecarpets.co.uk

Fire Engine Shed, Unit 6 Colliers Yard, Radstock BA3 3PT Tel: 01761 437366 Web: ignisstoves.co.uk

The choice of flooring is vital in transforming any room and the range of options can sometimes overwhelm. Luckily Avonvale Carpets is on hand to assist. It has served homeowners and businesses throughout the city of Bath and Wiltshire for 47 years now, providing an excellent choice of flooring, in-depth expertise and perfect fitting. An independent, familyrun business, Avonvale Carpets only works with trusted, locally based, professionally trained fitters, and deals directly with major manufacturers, offering customers a great selection of quality flooring that’s truly second to none – woollens, naturals, stain resistant, vinyls, laminates and tailor-made options, too. You will be amazed at the variety on offer in the shop, located just off Kingsmead Square.

Situated in a beautiful old fire engine shed and offering a range of carefully selected wood burners to suit all styles and budgets you will find Ignis Stoves. Brands such as Jetmaster, ACR, Parkray and Di Lusso are on display and, as well as beautiful stoves, Ignis also supply and install fire surrounds and hearths in a variety of materials. With over 10 years’ experience in the industry Jake and Emma offer a more personal touch, working closely with clients, builders, interior designers and architects, guiding them through the process from initial contact through to installation and completion.

JOEL BUGG FURNITURE & SPACES Tel: 07779 236242 Web: joelbugg.co.uk Joel Bugg Furniture & Spaces design and create elegant, bespoke fitted furniture and interiors, which are architecturally thoughtthrough to seamlessly fit and suit your property. Joel and his team offer a fully managed service from initial space planning and concept designs, using teams of skilled cabinet makers in their manufacture through to final installation. Additionally, they will recommend, source and provide lighting, flooring and other finishing touches as required. Their expertise spans all interiors from kitchens, bathrooms, libraries and boot rooms and as well as working directly with clients they work collaboratively with architects and interior designers to deliver a truly tailored solution.

HEIDI REIKI FENG SHUI FOR HARMONIOUS LIVING SPACE Tel: 07776 255875 Web: heidireiki.com The greatest architects and artists throughout the ages have understood that our homes and living spaces have a deep connection with our bodies and this can be reflected in what’s going on for us both emotionally and physically. The principle of balance is used to create harmony in living spaces, using Feng Shui and reiki. Heidi has over 15 years’ of experience and can help you live with joy in your life and surroundings. Covering Bath, Bristol and London, the customer reviews are enthusiastic: “My family's experience of Heidi’s professionalism and expertise and knowledge is beyond compare. Combined with her kind and caring personality, it made the whole process of reiki and Feng Shui for our home a very positive experience, I only wish we had done it sooner!”

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PERFECT SPACE CARPENTRY Unit 3a The Workshops, Lymore Gardens, Bath BA2 1AQ Tel: 01225 310403 Web: perfectspacecarpentry.com

THE BATH FRAMER 6 & 7 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD Tel: 01225 920210 Web: thebathpictureframer.co.uk This friendly, boutique picture framer offers a bespoke framing service with a strong emphasis on interior design. Whether you know exactly what you want or just need a little inspiration, there’s a wonderful collection of frames to choose from and to help you display your artwork beautifully. With 25 years in the picture framing industry, shop and studio owner Kelly brings a wealth of experience to all aspects of framing and has established a strong client base of local residents and businesses in Bath, Bristol and beyond. The shop and gallery space sells stationery by local and international design brands, including hand-printed cards, wrap, tags, journals and notebooks alongside many more beautiful, interesting and useful items for the desk and home.

Their London Road framing studio and the shop next door are within easy reach of Walcot Street and has the benefit of free parking nearby.

Perfect Space specialises in the design and manufacture of bespoke furniture. Their fitted and freestanding designs are elegant, fresh and built to fit your homes and spaces perfectly. Located in Bath, Perfect Space is owned by Cady Dodds-Smith, a talented designer and maker with over 20 years’ experience. The business started in London and moved to Bath 12 years ago with clients across the south of England. Perfect Space are passionate about what they do and aim to create pieces that are right for each individual client and their requirements. Using the best-quality materials and fittings, their furniture is built to love and last. Every project from small alcove units to large fitted wardrobes and hand-made kitchens are custom designed and built in their workshop. Perfect Space is mindful of the environment and works hard to minimise their footprint. The workshop runs on green energy and materials used are from more sustainable sources. Call or email Cady to discuss your woodwork project. E: cady@perfectspacecarpentry.com

ELMORE KITCHENS 5 Saracen Street, Bath BA1 5BT Tel: 01225 335600 Web: elmorekitchens.com Elmore Kitchens work with some of the best German and British makers of kitchen furniture, which have been personally chosen because of their high product quality and the level of service offered. Elmore Kitchens firmly believes that getting the design right, however long it takes, is paramount to a successful kitchen installation. Its spacious design studio in Bath (formerly in-toto), has five fantastic displays over two floors that encapsulate the very latest in kitchen design and product innovation. The philosophy of Elmore Kitchens is to make exquisite kitchens affordable.

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HURLEY ENGINES AND GRASS CARE Unit 7, The Maltings Industrial Estate, Brassmill Lane, Bath BA1 3JL Tel: 01225 336812 Web: hurleyengines.co.uk

BATH BESPOKE Hartley Farm, Winsley, BA15 2JB Tel: 01225 920900 Web: bathbespoke.co.uk

Hurley Engines and Garden Machinery have been trading in Bath since 1967, providing services such as engine machining and re-manufacturing in their fully kitted-out engine machining workshop. A little while after opening, Hurleys made a move into garden machinery where they began to supply and repair commercial and domestic products and are still doing so today.

Hurleys are also a main dealer for some of the world’s leading compact industrial engine manufactures such as Kubota, Yanmar and various other brands. So, whether you’re after a new machine for your garden or your business, in need of your engine re-manufactured, need parts, or your machines serviced or repaired then they are the team to call.

With a dedication to considered design and sustainable craftsmanship, the multi-award winning Bath Bespoke delivers distinctive and imaginative design solutions to create truly unique living spaces.

Founded 10 years ago by Bath locals, Tom Jones-Marquez and James Etheridge, Bath Bespoke works in partnership with architects, interior designers and private clients. Their skilled, passionate team use their extensive experience to create traditionally handmade, beautifully bespoke furniture from carefully selected, sustainable materials. Be it a handcrafted kitchen or a bespoke piece of built-in furniture; highquality, hardwood flooring, handmade joinery or authentic sash windows to complement the character of your home, every project is designed and crafted with its own character by expert craftsmen with an unprecedented attention to detail.

SHUTTERCRAFT Tel: 01749 649171 / 07765 854353 Web: shuttercraft-somerset.co.uk Shuttercraft Somerset us a local business with a great understanding of their products, and the requirements of different properties in Bath and Somerset. They don’t believe in high-pressure sales techniques, working with you to determine the right product to match your needs, ensuring that you will only receive the right products for your home.

The Shuttercraft team pride themselves on customer care and communication throughout the installation process, from initial meeting to project completion. Simon Moody comments, “As the owner of Shuttercraft Somerset Ltd. I am proud of the reputation we have gained for our professional, honest approach and competitive pricing. We supply market leading S-Craft products to homes and businesses across Bath so give us a call for a free survey and quote.”

RED DOG GLASS DESIGN Tel: 07827 525450 Web: reddogglassdesign.com An exciting new collection of original limited-edition glass panel designs straight from the easel of fine artist, Sally Coulden. Red Dog Glass Design offers a beautiful range of bespoke, extremely versatile, toughened glass panels. Whether it’s a stunning kitchen splashback, a spectacular bathroom feature or perhaps you may want to bring impressive abstract imagery into a communal reception space or commercial building. Prices vary depending on specific requirements – a large splashback from the standard collection to fit behind a double stove would be in the region of £700. Please feel free to contact Sally directly to discuss any questions you may have. If you would like to take a look at the contemporary glass panels close up, head to the open kitchen at Alchemy198, Gloucester Road and The Kitchen Man showroom, Waterloo Street, Clifton Village.

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BLOSSOM & BRUSH

HOMEFRONT INTERIORS

Tel: 07980 881381 Web: blossomandbrush.com

10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP Tel: 01225 571711 Web: homefrontinteriors.co.uk

Blossom & Brush window film offers a stylish alternative to net curtains, blinds or plain frosted glass. Their range of ornate patterns provides privacy in your home without compromising natural light. Each order is redesigned to suit the proportions of your window, so they can fit anywhere, from large, modern glass doors to old sashes with multiple small panes. All are available on clear or frosted film made from high-grade, self-adhesive polyester which is durable, semipermanent and can be easily cleaned. They’re ideal for bays that look onto the street, bathrooms that require privacy or feature windows. The film is simple to fit at home and can transform an overlooked area into a private room in minutes. To get 10% discount online, please use the code: SPRING10.

Now in its third year, the eclectic Homefront Interiors has continued to grow with an ever-changing selection of homewares, gifts and cards. This little independent store may be small but it has a wide range and a regularly updated stock of new and vintage homewares and follows a simple ethos of sustainability. This could mean recycled materials, fair-trade origin, small-scale production or simply showing a little love and care to vintage finds. It is the clever mix of vintage and contemporary alongside an ever-growing selection of handmade pieces from local artists including textiles, ceramics, jewellery, art prints and cards that makes Homefront such a great destination. Ideal for gifts and unique finds for your own home. Homefront is also the Bath stockist for Grand Illusions chalk paints, which are perfect for upcycling furniture.

THE BUILD BRISTOL GROUP Tel: 0117 9091969 Web: thebuildbristolgroup.com The Build Bristol Group is a privately owned construction company which specialises in residential refurbishment, renovation, extensions and new-build construction. The company undertakes projects in Bristol, Bath, the south west and London. A group of architects, designers and builders provide a full design and construction services for both commercial and residential projects.

“I hope the pictures speak for themselves as to the workmanship and quality of finish in our beautiful new space. What you can’t see is the conscientiousness that Dom and his team applied throughout the build. Dom’s experience shone through as did the trust he has in his team. Thank you Dom, Hannah and the Build Bristol team, you have helped us realise a dream!” – Ed, Redland, Bristol.

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY 7–9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS Tel: 01225 312003 Web: bathkitchencompany.co.uk Established in 1987, Bath Kitchen Company is a well-regarded, family business based in Bath. With vast experience, it takes great pride in its understanding, close attention to detail and what each client requires; whether individual tastes, home or lifestyle, the team will find a bespoke kitchen that strikes a perfect balance between aesthetic and practical requirements. Consequently every kitchen is unique, beautifully designed and perfectly functional.

Handmade using premium materials and to the highest standards, a beautiful kitchen can be carefully crafted to make the most of available space, existing features and the latest technology. Whether designing for Bath’s oldest private homes or cutting-edge city apartments, the principle is the same – Bath Kitchen Company will create a place that enhances your lifestyle.

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ANNA DESIGN CURTAIN AND SOFT FURNISINGS Tel: 01761 471663 / 07779 951691 Web: anna-design.uk Anna Fraenkel has 16 years’ experience making soft furnishings, 11 of which have been working with her main client Jane Clayton. Anna will visit, advise, chat through a client’s project, and for those who are not exactly sure what they want, she can step in and help, interpreting ideas and helping them to find out what would suit the room and their taste. Fabric can be costly and having bespoke soft furnishings takes time and expense, so it’s important to get it right. Her advice is to “pick your fabric before you pick wall colour and only pick what you love. What you really love will give more pleasure in the future than having everything matching or what’s in vogue, dictated by magazines and media. It’s what makes your home individual and unique”.

Anna will take the time to ensure your soft furnishing ideas are made to perfection.

STEPHEN GRAVER Elmsgate, Edington Road, Steeple Ashton, BA14 6HP Tel: 01380 871746 Web: stephengraver.com Stephen Graver Ltd. specialise in creating stunning interiors for each of their clients. From bespoke kitchens and beautiful bathrooms to listed renovations and commissioned pieces of handmade furniture, they offer a solution for everything. The design is the starting point and the foundation from which the project grows; taking time and care over every project, ensuring that the functional requirements are met, while always looking for features to make every project personal and unique. The end result of what they do is beautiful to look at, completely original and totally designed around your needs. But, unlike other companies, they feel that what separates them and makes them stand out is the journey you go on to reach that end result. Everything is designed and manufactured at the workshop in Steeple Ashton, and while their craftsmen work on your kitchen, you can arrange a time to come and see your project taking shape.

Stephen Graver Ltd. put their heart and soul into providing you with your dream project, delivered to perfection.

KINDLE STOVES Glenavon Farm, 331 Bath Road, Saltford BS31 3TJ Tel: 0117 924 3898 Web: kindlestoves.co.uk At the heart of your home should be the perfect stove.

Kindle Stoves is a local specialist in stoves approved for burning wood in Bristol, with a wood-burner to suit every home and every style. The team stock the super-efficient Clearview, Contura and Rais models as well as many more, offering a full installation service – from fireplace alterations, to slate hearths and stone fireplaces. Their lovely new showroom, situated just outside Keynsham, has one of the largest displays of wood-burners in the south west and is open seven days a week. Pop in for advice and brochures or to book a home survey. They also sell seasoned logs, gas fires, the Big Green Egg outdoor cooker and Aga Rayburn range cookers.

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KNEES HOME AND ELECTRICAL Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge BA14 0AZ & High Street, Malmesbury SN16 9AA Tel: 01225 754161 Web: knees.co.uk Loved locally since 1879, Knees offer a one-stop-shop to update your home.

They sell the top appliance brands and beautiful furniture and pride themselves on spending time with their customers to help find the right product for their needs (and their budget). Knees regularly have great offers as well as a price match promise so that you can be sure you will receive the best deal available. Plus, buying from a local family business means that it takes customer care seriously. With a fabulous showroom in their flagship store in Trowbridge you can see a wide range of appliances, home furniture and accessories. You can also drop by for one of their regular free cooking demonstrations where professionals are on-hand to provide expert advice.

JOHN BOYCE PLASTERWORK

MANDARIN STONE

Unit 5, Channel View Farm, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6US Tel: 07970 278028 Web: john-boyce.co.uk

15–16 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ Tel: 01225 460033 Web: mandarinstone.com

John Boyce Plasterwork Ltd is a locally based company with over 30 years’ experience in the plastering trade, tackling any size of job from a simple repair to a complete restoration project. The team has a large range of moulds built up over the last three decades and is capable of matching and reproducing any type of plasterwork.

The company also has a large range of stock cornices and ceiling roses to pick from, with something to suit most tastes and budgets. They carry out ceiling surveys and repairs, lime plastering and rendering and bespoke one-off pieces; offering free, noobligation quotes and advice. Visit the website for a small taste of what John Boyce Plasterwork can offer.

Renowned for its comprehensive natural stone collection, Mandarin Stone has gained quite a reputation for its on-trend and beautifully designed porcelains. Ranging from those that cleverly mimic materials such as wood, concrete and marble to striking glazed and patterned tiles, the collection has endless surface design possibilities. Established for over 25 years and with 10 inspirational UK showrooms, it offers dependable specialist knowledge as well as technical expertise. Almost the entire natural stone and porcelain collection is held in stock in the UK, so lead times are short.

CATRIONA ARCHER Tel: 07823 884945

Web: catrionaarcher.com

Catriona Archer believes that interior design should be accessible to all, which is why she provides professional, affordable interior design that makes the most of your existing possessions and space before determining additional items that could be introduced. With over 25 years of styling experience, Catriona offers practical and creative interior solutions that listen to your lifestyle needs and reflect your own personal style. In a half day or full day consultation, hands-on styling will start the ball rolling. You can then choose to implement the suggestions yourself or take advantage of the broad range of services offered. Simply contact Catriona to discuss what works best for you. For homes, property sales, B&Bs and holiday rentals.

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ARCHITECT YOUR HOME Tel: 0800 849 8505 Web: architect-yourhome.com Architect Your Home’s service kicks off with an initial design consultation – this is where your project starts. The consultation will include an in-depth discussion to fully establish your requirements and aspirations. You will also be provided with sketch drawings of a properly considered and collaborative design proposal. The practical implications of your design will be explained in detail and you will be equipped with the necessary tools so that you can move your project forward confidently to the next stage. You will also receive advice on issues with planning permission, listed building consents and structures. At the end of the session you will have an agreed proposal and recommendations on the next steps and on how to move the project forward.

RP DECORATING OF BATH Tel: 01225 429992 Mobile: 07894 331181

FRAMING WORKSHOP 80 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BD Tel: 01225 482748 Web: theframingworkshop.com In 28 years of trading on Walcot Street, The Framing Workshop has framed many weird, wonderful, beautiful and fascinating objects and collections, all of which have their own story to tell. What do you have tucked away that you could have framed and displayed to tell its own story? Paper, canvas, fabric, objects, memorabilia – go and be inspired!

Established since 1988 Rob Price runs a small professional painting and decorating business. Based in the city of Bath and serving its surrounding areas Rob will deliver a very high standard of work and personal customer service. His work has included Georgian houses and manor houses, grade-listed buildings, apartments, family homes and new builds.

He is also able to take on jobs of all sizes, both commercial, rental and domestic, whether it is interior or exterior. He can work with customers’ paint or can supply quality paints including designer paints such as Farrow & Ball, Little Green, etc., He’s also a specialist in wallpaper hanging and can repair and line ceilings with a reinforced lining paper to prevent it from cracking. Free quotation available.

HEARTWOOD SAUNAS Tel: 07903 116673 Web: heartwoodsaunas.com Heartwood Saunas make the highest quality and most energy efficient handmade outdoor saunas in the UK, available as wood-fired and electric-heated. The sauna designs are 100% handmade in the workshop in Machynlleth, Wales, where Heartwood build each one to order and deliver it ready to go. Beautiful cedar cladding allows the sauna to blend naturally into its surroundings, while inside thick natural sheep wool insulation and a unique vapour barrier ensures maximum energy efficiency. The glass wall gives breathtaking views to the world outside as you relax and enjoy the health benefits of a traditional sauna. Surrounded by the incredible knotless Western Red Cedar walls inside, you cannot help but relax and let your stresses melt away. Heartwood Saunas use the highest quality materials and design their saunas to last. The majority of the timber used is felled, milled and processed from a local private woodland. Heartwood offer high-quality saunas to hire, to buy or bespoke design. Get in touch and make your dream sauna come to life!

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BATH HOMES & INTERIORS | GUIDE 2019

PIETRA WOOD AND STONE The Old Filling Station, 400 Ham Green, Holt BA14 6PX Tel: 01225 783527/782408 Web: pietrawoodandstone.com Experts in both supply and installation, Pietra has over 25 years of experience in providing surfacing solutions to retail and professional clients. Their knowledgeable and helpful staff can help advise you on the best option for your home, as well as expert estimates using architects’ drawings and site measuring. Their strength is that they offer the full range of wood, stone or porcelain flooring options which saves time and money and allows them to specialise in new-build and refurbishment projects. With strategic partnerships with quarries and factories across Europe and the UK, Pietra ensures quality materials and competitive pricing.

GARDEN AFFAIRS Trowbridge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 ODT Tel: 01225 774566 Web: gardenaffairs.co.uk Garden Affairs specialises in made-to-measure, high-quality garden buildings. The extensive display of top-notch garden offices, posh sheds, summerhouses and gazebos can all be made to the size and style you require – flexibility is what it’s all about.

Take a look at their range of garden rooms which feature a contemporary concept that solves the problem of space constraints, especially in city gardens. The Linea range of modern Scandi style cabins are perfect for all uses, and comply with most planning guidelines, and look great too. Garden Affairs offers a fixed price installation service throughout the UK, or choose a DIY kit delivered to your door.

ETONS OF BATH 108 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BG Tel: 01225 639002 Web: etonsofbath.com Founded in 2006, Etons of Bath is the UK’s only specialist interior design practice focused on refurbishing, renovating and reinvigorating Georgian and Regency homes and hotels. Their team of 12 interior designers, planners and project managers can help you plan, design and deliver classically inspired interiors that add value, turn heads and improve the use of space. The showroom and studio are packed with ideas, inspiration, know-how and experience.

They cover projects of all shapes and sizes from large country homes to Bath townhouses, boutique hotels to bijou boltholes combining creative flair with solid experience together with a passionate and friendly team.

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BATH HOMES & INTERIORS | GUIDE 2019

GARDINER HASKINS Brunel Rooms, 1 Straight Street, Bristol BS2 0FQ Tel: 0117 929 2288 Web: gardinerhaskins.co.uk Inspiring homes since 1825, Gardiner Haskins interiors boasts multi-department, luxury interiors showrooms that have everything you need to create your dream home. Design your very own luxury fitted kitchen or bathroom with the help of their design experts or create your own bespoke curtains or blinds in the made-to-measure department. Add finishing touches with a huge range of big brand beds, flooring and paint that will allow you to turn your house in to a beautiful home. Open seven days a week with free customer car park. Well worth the visit.

Visit

GRAHAM & GREEN 92 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BG Web: grahamandgreen.co.uk

the Graham & Green Warehouse Sale - Saturday 30 March – 9am til 4pm at Bumpers Way, Chippenham

Inspired by a love of travel and design, family business Graham & Green opened their first home interiors store in the heart of Notting Hill in 1974 and their style and influence has being growing ever since. Graham & Green’s expertise in furniture design coupled with strong family values translates into the unique quality furniture and accessories you see online and in-store at Graham & Green today.

The company has its headquarters in a 19th-century former bake house on Walcot Street which is also home to their first store outside London. They often host workshops and events in-store for the local community of Bath and beyond.

ORIENTAL RUGS OF BATH Bookbarn International, Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Hallatrow, Bristol, BS39 6EX Tel: 01761 451764 Web: orientalrugsofbath.com Rugs and textiles brought to the heart of the West Country. Show off the soul of your home through one of Oriental Rugs’ incredible pieces. They selectively source their rugs from all over the Middle and Far East: Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, India, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. All rugs are handmade from entirely natural fibres and use mostly vegetable dyes, following centuries-old traditions and designs.

You can discover more through the website but for a more hands-on approach, visit the shop nestled in the countryside between Bath and Bristol and explore a huge selection of colours and sizes to suit everyone, as well as furniture and furnishing fabrics.

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THE BATH MAGAZINE to advertise tel: 01225 424499 email: sales@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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contemporar y furniture classic styling

Fire Engine Shed Unit 6 Colliers Yard Radstock BA3 3PT 01761 437366

STOVES – We supply and install a range of quality stoves. Some of our brands include: Parkray, ACR, Hunter, Jetmaster, Di Lusso and Avalon

MEET THE MAKER: CHARLIE CAFFYN THURSDAY 07 th MARCH 1730-2000 register at meetcharliecaffyn.eventbrite.co.uk or call 07785 332536

FLUES – Supplying and installing flexible flue liners and insulated flue systems of the highest quality FIREPLACES – Our suppliers have a range of fireplaces available. We can also supply hearths and slip sets in various materials

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DESIGN | INTERIORS

Designs on a drawing room

Sarah Latham is founder and creative director of Etons of Bath which specialises in Georgian and Regency homes and hotels.

Here she gives her tips and insights on the interior design approach for a morning (or drawing) room EAST IS BEST

LIGHTING

When a room faces east and you are fortunate enough to have large Georgian sash windows, you’ll enjoy ample natural light. This room in our client’s house was aptly named ‘the morning room’ as it was used and enjoyed mostly during the day.

Use a combination of central pendant, wall lights and table lamps to allow you to layer light as you need to, depending on the time of day and what you’re using the room for.

RESTORE ORIGINAL SHUTTERS

SILK WALLS

While we love a beautiful window dressing, sometimes a window and its original features, are too good to cover up. If you have an abundance of natural light, make the most use of the Georgian characteristics of the windows, shutters and architraves. These windows with their elegant glazing bars and attractive shutters were restored and decorated to be a main feature in the room.

Silk was a traditional wall covering used by the Georgians. This is one of De Gournay’s plain silk wall coverings. It lifts the space in a way that a flat emulsion could not, as well as giving it a tactile quality.

With no fabric used at the windows, these walls also aid the acoustics in the room.

OFF-WHITE WOODWORK

PATTERNED FABRICS

Rather than using a standard white paint on woodwork, do think about what will create the desired effect within the colour palette. Using an off-white paint with the soft green creates a more luxurious palette that is rich and creamy.

To create a calm and peaceful space keep the colour palette soft but add complementary patterns to create interest. Each sofa and chair, as well as the ottoman and cushions, have individually specified fabrics that work together to create a harmonious scheme.

Photograph by Adam Carter

WOODEN FLOOR AND RUGS We used reclaimed Georgian boards to create an authentic floor in this room. But leaving too much exposed would have felt cold and the acoustics would have suffered. So we designed a bespoke rug that fills the room except for a 90cm border around the perimeter that allowed the salvaged boards to be featured.

FLOWERS This may seem obvious, but think about the colour of the flowers you buy in relation to the colour of the interior space you intend to use them in. These soft pink flowers are a perfect complement to the pale green in the walls and upholstery, but add a lovely contrast within the room.

Etons of Bath, 108 Walcot Street, Bath; etonsofbath.com

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CITY | ARCHITECTURE

Georgian refresh

How do you rework a Georgian property in a contemporary way? Architect James Grayley explains his firm’s design approach to a Lansdown Hill property whose design was influenced by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio

D

uncan Cottage is a Grade II listed Georgian house on the northern slopes of Lansdown Hill. Dating from the late 18th century, the house had subsequently undergone a number of illconceived extensions and reworkings of the interior during the 19th and 20th centuries that had compromised its original character and qualities. In 2002 the property was purchased by Hilary Alexander who wanted to reorganise and refurbish the property to create a home for her family.

Hilary approached our practice James Grayley Architects, after we had recently completed a radical contemporary re-working of her neighbour’s property, Prospect House on Sion Hill, and together we devised a brief to create a contemporary light-filled house that understood and respected its historic significance, yet was ambitious and rigorous in its own right.

It was important for us to study and understand the existing building and everything that had happened to it during its life, in order that we could then make informed proposals on how we might set about repairing the damage caused by previous extensions and adaptations. We needed to get under the skin of the existing building, quite literally in places, to understand how and why the building was built in the way it was, to gain an understanding of the original architects’ intentions and allow this understanding to influence how we might approach working with the building in the 21st century.

On visiting the property for the first time, it was immediately apparent that parts of the house had been designed to very specific proportions and carefully considered geometries and we came away with a sense of excitement and anticipation of what we would discover. We were lucky in that Hilary allowed us the time to carry out research into the house and the first months of our appointment were spent searching archives

for documents that might help us piece together the history of the property.

Unusually for Bath, we turned up very little, until several weeks in, the Bath Record Office found documentation that revealed the house had a former name, Duncan Cottage. With this new information a wealth of original drawings and documents were discovered that allowed us to piece together the history of the house, from its very first construction in the late 18th century to its last major extension and reworking in the late 1980s.

Of great significance was the discovery that the house had originally been designed by John Palmer, a prominent architect in Bath in the Georgian period, and this discovery

began to make sense of our initial observations that the house had been constructed to a carefully considered ruling geometry and series of proportions. Through further work, we established that the house was heavily indebted to the work of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, whom we know Palmer studied intensely, with the proportions of the front elevation being an almost identical translation of significant Palladio designed villas in the Veneto Region of Italy.

Although built with grand intentions, Duncan Cottage was modest in scale for a Georgian villa, with a series of small rooms on the ground and first floors. A significant element of Hilary’s brief was to create living space that would be large enough for her entire family to gather comfortably in one room, something that was not possible with the house in its then current configuration.

We knew that it was unlikely that we would be able to propose and justify internal alterations to the historic structure of the original house and neither did we think it was the correct approach for this listed building. We were therefore faced with prospect of having to significantly extend the house in order to create this space, ➲

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The new living room is designed to capture sunlight all year round

something that, on the face of it, is contrary to the best practice of working with historic buildings, and we were aware that any such proposal would quite rightly be extensively scrutinised and resisted without rigorous and compelling justification.

We discovered drawings that suggested that Palmer had intended the house to have a loggia structure to the east elevation. A loggia is a covered space that is open to the elements, often constructed with a series of columns and arches. A space that is both indoor and outdoor, it breaks the transition from the interior of the house to the garden beyond. It was the unearthing of this drawing that unlocked the entire project.

A dilapidated 1980s conservatory stood in the location of this previously planned loggia and the drawing allowed us to make informed proposals for its replacement.

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The contrasting detail of the extensions re-reveals the character and qualities of the original dwelling and brings them back to the fore

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The research study allowed us to understand the philosophies embedded in the house by John Palmer and we, in turn, re-employed these philosophies for a second time to make informed proposals to extend the building yet respect the importance and character of the original historic house.

The new structure creates extended living accommodation that opens out on to the

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rigorous in their own right. Rather than impose or consume the original house, their contrasting detail re-reveals the character and qualities of the original dwelling, previously lost, and brings them back to the fore.

Further work involved the restoration and refurbishment of the property and the removal and reconfiguring of a series of Victorian-era bathroom extensions to reopen the kitchen courtyard to the rear of the house. n

The approach taken by James Grayley Architects has been recognised locally and nationally as a model for working sensitively but ambitiously with historic buildings. The project has recently won a Royal Institute of British Architects Award, The South West Small Project of the Year Award and was a finalist in RIBA House of the Year 2018.

James Grayley Architects: jamesgrayley.com; Emerys of Bath (contractor): emery.co.uk

The new extensions are constructed from Bath ashlar stone, yet designed as a contemporary counterpoint to the original house

Bespoke windows and doors frame views of the garden beyond

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main garden in the form of a colonnaded loggia. The new extension reconnects the original living room, dining room and study along the east elevation, providing a series of interconnected living spaces for family life.

The threshold between interior and garden is set under a covered roof to create a sheltered external space that can be comfortably used all year round.

A separate studio building complements the living room structure and the careful positioning of the two creates a captured garden between the two structures in the wider garden landscape.

The Georgian architect’s philosophical approach has been re-employed to create the new structures and the limited palette of materials of the original house – stone, timber and glass are used in the new areas of work, yet are purposefully assembled and detailed in a contrasting, carefully considered contemporary way. Doing so has created extensions that are born of the existing house, subservient to it but architecturally

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GARDENS | AND | DESIGN

Kaffe on flowers

Ahead of artist Kaffe Fassett’s new quilting exhibition opening on 16 March at the American Museum and Gardens, gardener Jane Moore asks the American-born artist about his own garden and his inspiration for the colourful plants and flowers that continue to feature in his design work

B

THIS PAGE, below: Kaffe’s back garden; above left: Kaffe Fassett; above right: a detail of Kaffe’s garden OPPOSITE, clockwise from top left: Dream by Kaffe Fassett; Glorious Bouquet by Kaffe Fassett; Painted Daisy by Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs; and Big Blooms by Kaffe Fassett

Where does your interest in plants and flowers originate?

Are there particular colours that you have taken from gardens and nature?

My mother had her favourite flowering plants when I was growing up, but I’d say my first real interest in the floral world happened when I came to England in 1964.

The passion everyone here had for gardening was infectious, especially among the folks I met with big garden areas. Also, being a passionate lover of colour, the Chelsea Flower Show was an assault on my senses.

I’m always excited by repetitions in colourful beds of flowers like the wild meadows of my youth in California – seeing a mass of orange poppies growing wild or purple lupins on the hills of California is a thrill etched in my memory.

Are there plants and flowers you return to time after time?

At the moment I’m designing a fabric with all-round blooms clustered together – that is a theme is often return to, along with flowers with distinct ‘faces’, like pansies.

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Seeing a mass of orange poppies growing wild or purple lupins on the hills of California is a thrill etched in my memory

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orn in San Francisco in 1937, Kaffe Fassett started as a fine artist, winning a scholarship to study at The Boston Museum of of Fine Arts School when he was 19. He left after three months to move to London to paint.

After settling in England in 1964, Kaffe ventured into the world of colourful yarn on a visit to a Scottish wool mill. Inspired by the colours in the landscape, Kaffe was thrilled to find the same colours in yarns. His passion for colour led him to knitting and designing knitwear for Missoni and Bill Gibb, and his hand-knitted garments are in museum collections all over the world. He later took up needlepoint and patchwork, creating both his own works and designs for others to make.

In 1988, Kaffe became the first living textile artist to have a one-man show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. He has produced more than 30 publications from ‘how to’ books to colour in design, and also tours internationally giving workshops, lectures and museum exhibitions.

We caught up with the artist ahead of his next exhibition at the American Museum and Gardens in Bath.

What plants inspire you?

Do you have a garden?

I suppose it is colour that moves me most in plants – subtle shades up to the brilliance of high colour that flower petals can reveal to us – but forms of plants are amazing too.

What are your favourite plants for design?

Favourites are always big-scale blooms like dahlias, peonies and large roses – colour impact is what I’m always after.

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I do have a garden, a bit in front and a larger one at the back of my London house. I’m afraid I don’t make time to tend to it but our wonderful gardener, Hannah, does a great job. We have two New Zealand tree ferns and colourful trees that join up aesthetically with the autumn colours of the trees next door as I gaze outside my kitchen window.

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What gardens or landscapes inspire you?

The landscape that inspires me most on this side of the pond is the Scottish Highlands.

The rolling hills and meadows covered in bracken, wild flowers and grasses moved me to knit these colours in my first jumper. Rocks with lichens is such a unique world for me, discovered here for the first time. They have an ancient mood with their organic shapes and subtle colours. I’ve used them as inspiration for fabrics and needlepoints.

Have you ever visited gardens in Bath?

I lived in Bath when I first came to England and got to know many local gardens. My host, Jeremy Fry, loved gardens and often took me to visit people with gardens, like the Duchess of Westminster who had a magical garden.

Has Bath inspired you in your ideas?

I would say the décor and collections of people I met had a profound effect on my designs – the whole aesthetic really got to me. I loved the used of wallpapers and oriental pots mixing with gorgeous textiles.

That lushness certainly inspired me – best of all discovering the quilts at the American Museum alerted me to the treasure trove of the folk craft America has developed so stunningly. I’m looking forward to showing my quilts based on their collection in March.

You have been a regular visit to Bath over the years. What do you love about the city?

Bath is the first city in England I got to know well. I’d spend many a day wondering about drawing and doing watercolours and chalk works of the buildings. I loved the way terraces were built on hills – I was born in San Francisco, a very hilly city, so it reminded me of home. I also liked the amazing people I met and how they always declared that ‘Nobody lives in Bath!’. That has definitely changed with the vibrant social life now being played out in the city’s good restaurants and cultural events. n Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts in America exhibition is at the American Museum and Gardens from 16 March – 3 November. It will showcase 20 new quilts alongside 18 from the museum’s collection; americanmuseum.org Jane Moore is an award-winning gardening columnist and head gardener at The Bath Priory Hotel. Twitter: @janethegardener

Burton Agnes Tapestry (above); and Foliage tapestry (below)

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A room of one’s own

Need more space but don’t want to move? You can avoid the hassle of moving house or having an extension built by opting for a purpose-built garden room from West Country based experts Garden Affairs

T

here has been a marked increase in the number of people registered as selfemployed in the past few years, with around 15 per cent of the UK workforce – that’s more than 4.5 million people – currently going it alone.

And many of these workers are women who are running their own businesses from home.

There are many plus sides of working from home, including putting an end to commuting on packed trains or getting stuck in traffic jams and saving money on daily travel. There is also no need to be tied to conventional office hours, so you can take the children to school, walk the dog, or work late into the evening once the family has gone to bed. But setting up a business at home, whether it’s as an accountant, a therapeutic counsellor or a potter, means you need to create a dedicated space for your equipment and somewhere where you 110 TheBATHMagazine

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can concentrate. If you have clients or professional contacts coming to visit your workplace, it’s not ideal if you have to lead them past a pile of ironing or clear the kitchen table of breakfast things.

One of the most common scenarios is when the arrival of a new baby means the spare bedroom can no longer be used as an office, or when a small business outgrows a room in the house. Besides, having a separate studio or office allows the user to switch their brain to their work persona and become the entrepreneur.

“Sales of garden buildings to women are a large part of our business,” says Poppy Squire of Garden Affairs. “We have supplied garden rooms to all kinds of homebased businesses and it’s always interesting to see the creative ways that customers make their garden buildings unique and personal to their needs.”

Opting for an office or workshop in the garden is much cheaper and easier than the

hassle of moving house or adding a loft conversion. Typical costs for a smaller building are around £7,000 to £9,000 for the entire project. A bespoke garden room can be installed and ready, with electricity, Wi-Fi and heating in just a few days.

Garden Affairs, whose team set a great example by working from garden offices themselves, are experts in the art of creating spaces for all kinds of uses, whether a yoga studio, a writer’s retreat or a cosy guest bedroom. For cabins of 2.5 metres tall there is generally no need to seek planning permission and the buildings can be custom designed to suit different spaces and needs.

If you’re running a business that requires several desks, or storage space to allow the business to pack goods for sending out to customers (increasingly common in these days of online retail platforms and direct selling), then they can design larger structures of nine or ten metres long, complete with sets of balcony doors and

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GARDEN | STYLE

skylights to add natural light.

Ordering a room of one’s own is a pleasure in itself. You simply size up the plot where you’re going to put it and talk to the Garden Affairs team and it pays to visit their display centre to see examples of buildings, to get up close and personal. The timber buildings, which exude Scandinavian calm, are fully insulated so valuable documents, computer equipment, books and upholstery can be safely stored inside.

Domestic standard locks ensure the garden office is secure and you can fit blinds for complete privacy. And once you’ve installed yourself in your garden room you can keep it Marie Kondo style, tidy and minimalist, or as messy and dishevelled as your creative mood requires.

We spoke to Maggie, a writer, who had her 3.5 x 3.5 metre garden room installed in her Wiltshire garden a year ago. She said: “The guys from Garden Affairs were brilliant. They came and laid a concrete base and then a team of them arrived and efficiently put the whole structure together in just a couple of days. I’ve got four double electric sockets, a heater and two overhead lights and it’s incredibly calm in here and conducive to writing. With the heater on in winter it means I don’t have to have the central heating on in the house while I’m working and as it’s only a few yards from my back door it’s an easy commute. I can pop into the kitchen for lunch.”

“I have been able to arrange my office exactly as I like it, with all my books around me. It’s also a flexible space. When it was very hot outside last summer we sat in here for lunch with my mother to keep her out of the sun, then for Christmas my

daughter and her partner took it over as their bedroom while they stayed, which meant they could leave all their clutter about without it getting in the way of the rest of the house. On rainy days we have had Sunday mornings with coffee and the papers in our cosy den, while the rain drummed down on the roof.

“When I’m working I can make business calls without the sound of the washing machine in the background and when clients visit they often comment on what a lovely, tranquil space I have. We painted the exterior a pale sky blue and for a while I referred to it as my Cloud Cabin, but I now call it my office so people know that I’m here to work not daydream.” n

Visit the display garden rooms, offices, studios, and summerhouses at Garden Affairs, Trowbridge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 ODT; gardenaffairs.co.uk Open: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday by appointment only

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The Old Filling Station 400 Ham Green, Holt BA14 6PX t 01225 783527 / 782408 e info@pwasltd.com

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 9am – 5.30pm Sat 9am – 5pm

www.pwasltd.com Fulham Showroom 196

– 198 Wandsworth Bridge Rd, London SW6 2UE

Tel 0207 610 6111

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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM JUST £3 SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT thebathmag.co.uk/subscribe or Tel: 01225 424 499

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the directory Electricians

to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499 Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

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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.

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Aromatherapy • Reflexology/Facial reflexology Japanese Cosmo Facelift • Deep Tissue Massage For more information, please visit:

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Trowbridge & Neal’s Yard Bath

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House & Home

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“We used Mardan following a recommendation from a friend. They moved us in and out of storage and then into our renovated house. I would highly recommend them. The service was super efficient and the guys were quick, polite and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our possessions arrived safe and sound” Emma Webster, Moon Client

HOW MUCH IS YOUR HOME WORTH ON AIRBNB? Contact Airready to arrange a free home visit and valuation

Airready can do the whole lot for you: listening, cleaning, laundry, keys and all the guest communications It’s hassle-free Airbnb

airready.co.uk

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • PACKERS • STORERS • SHIPPERS

Deborah: 07722 422 039 | Rebecca: 07722 422 039 info@airready.co.uk

THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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MARCH 2019

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THeBATHMAgAzine 115

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PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE

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he Manor House is quietly located at the heart of Winsley, within the catchment area for St Lawrence School and with easy access to Monkton Combe junior and senior schools. There are plenty of amenities within the village itself and Bradford on Avon is just a short distance away. Number one is an impressive part of the Grade II listed Manor House and has been extensively refurbished over the past five years. The property is south facing and enjoys wonderful countryside views towards the Westbury White horse. There are three floors, each of which retains a wealth of charm and character. The extremely versatile accommodation comprises: Ground floor: Sitting room with fireplace and window seat with garden views, dining hall leading to utility room, Neptune kitchen/breakfast room with integrated appliances, study and cloakroom. First floor: Three good sized bedrooms, one with en suite shower room, family bathroom. Second floor: Two bedrooms, large landing, bathroom. Outside there is a newly landscaped dining/sunterrace leading to the level, south facing lawned garden which adjoins the village cricket pitch. The driveway provides ample parking for 4/5 vehicles. This delightful period property offers a slice of traditional village life yet within easy reach of all that the city has to offer. Full details are available from agents Pritchards.

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

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NUMBER 1 THE MANOR WINSLEY • Part of Grade II listed Manor House • Brimming with period charm • Extensively refurbished • 5 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms, 1 en suite shower room • South facing gardens with views

Guide price: £1,250,000

pritchards-bath.co.uk

Midford Lane, Limpley Stoke

Great Pulteney Street

An impressive detached 5-6 bed family home, dating back to the 1930’s constructed of Bath stone. It is situated above Limpley Stoke and Freshford, well positioned for Bath offering versatile and spacious accommodation having been extensively renovated and extended in 2002/3. Double garage with ample off road parking. Landscaped level gardens in excess of half an acre. The principal gardens and terracing are south facing. Internal area house approx: 4883 sq ft/453 sq m.

Garage 662 sq ft/61.5 sq m.

An impressive 2 bedroom maisonette forming part of a Grade I Listed Georgian townhouse situated in one of Bath’s most prestigious streets, a short walk of Bath Spa station, The Holburne Museum and the city centre. The apartment benefits from a south facing private walled garden with views to the Bath Skyline and a good sized tandem garage and parking space. Some updating required. Private storage vault to the front of the building. Internal area approximately: 2141 sq ft/199 sq m (including garage)

Guide Price: £1,500,000

Guide Price: £895,000

Combe Down

Bradford on Avon

A light and spacious 1980’s 4 bed detached family house occupying a tucked away position in a quiet cul-de-sac in the popular village of Combe Down, on the south side of Bath. Attractive, enclosed garden. Quiet location in the heart of village. Walking distance to schools. Off road parking and single garage. Internal area approx. 1520 sq ft/141sq m (including garage)

A well presented end terraced 4 bed modern house forming part of a small select terrace enjoying a pleasant outlook to the side Built to a high standard only 4 years ago by Ashford Homes, the property is just a few minutes level walk to many amenities and railway station. Enclosed garden and garage, 2 parking spaces.

Price: £700,000

Guide Price: £525,000

11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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Belvedere, Lansdown A beautiful Grade II listed 4 bedroom maisonette situated in an attractive terrace on the lower slopes of Lansdown. Completely refurbished throughout to exacting standards, the property offers stylish and versatile accommodation over three floors with far reaching views across the city.

Rent: ÂŁ2,600 pcm* private entrance | beautiful living room | stunning panoramic views | striking Ashlar fireplace | stylish open plan kitchen & dining area | 3 good sized double bedrooms | home office / guest bedroom | beautiful bathroom | contemporary shower room | utility room | a wealth of period features

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.

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The Apartment Co - March 19.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2019 17:31 Page 1

Has selling your home become stagnant?

Peter Greatorex, managing director of The apartment Company

[SOUTH WESTERN] LIMITED

Crafting beautiful homes

Bath | Somerset | Wiltshire | Cotswolds | Dorset

01225 791155 ashford-homes.co.uk

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T

he initial excitement and expectation of selling your home is well and truly over, and you’re now filled with frustration as viewings on your property have dried up. We can only imagine how confused you are about the situation, but can we stress that decreasing the price of your property is not the solution when the process of selling your home has become stagnant.

As estate agents we have many tools at our disposal to market your property and attract the right potential buyers. The issue is that some estate agents will rely solely on the major property websites, such as Rightmove and Zoopla. Now, these websites are fantastic for grabbing people’s attention but they should be used as just one part of an all-encompassing marketing strategy.

When marketing your home, we want to reach the widest audience possible. We start by getting to know your home to allow us to build a profile of the ideal buyer. Knowing this, we can start putting together a plan to ensure every piece of marketing we do has a purpose.

Listing your property on the major property websites, together with our own, creates awareness among those who are looking for a property. This is where other agents pause to see the reaction, and it’s this pause that can stall the process. After a while, these agents may start trying other ways to market your home, but sadly this is often too late.

The longer your property is on the market, the less attractive it becomes to potential buyers. They start to wonder if your property is overpriced, perhaps there is something glaringly wrong that cannot be seen in the images provided? These questions will often mean your home is passed by, or, if viewed, potential purchasers might believe that they are entitled to make a ridiculously low offer.

Your home does not deserve such service. There is no reason why, if marketed correctly, the right buyers shouldn’t be attracted and your property sold without having to resort to the painful tactic of lowering your asking price.

At The Apartment Company we take a proactive approach to marketing. Before your property is listed online, we are reaching out directly to the potential buyers we feel are the right match for your home. We don’t take what they say they want as gospel; we know that most people buy something that they’re not necessarily looking for.

Our experience in our niche of the Bath apartment market gives us a deeper insight into apartment buyers. Not all potential buyers are actively looking, therefore we ensure that your property is advertised widely in the local press and regional publications, as well as our own magazine.

We don’t take on your property to increase our listing portfolio; we want to see your property sold, and we certainly will not rest until we’ve made it happen for you.

If your Bath apartment is struggling to sell, come and have a chat to The Apartment Company and see if our approach to selling your home is right for you. n The Apartment Company Email: Pg@theapartmentcompany.co.uk Call: 01225 471144

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Bear Flat

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Combe Down, BA2 Offers in excess of £780,000

A contemporary four bedroom detached family home offering extended accommodation over three floors.

Favourably located towards the end of Horsecombe Grove, a no-through road in Combe Down, this stylish yet practical home offers open plan kitchen dining rooms, sitting room, play room, office, level gardens and gated driveway parking for several cars.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

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, BA1 Offers in excess of £550,000

01225 809 571

Andrews March.indd 1

A beautifully presented modern home with 1877 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

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Camden

Andrewsonline.co.uk

Eastville, BA1 Offers in excess of ÂŁ550,00

Eastville is a one of the most popular roads in Larkhall, and this fantastic two double bedroom, two reception rooms end-terrace home is tucked away at the end of the road. Including the rare feature of its own extensive parking area.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

01225 809 868 camden@andrewsonline.co.uk

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

Newbridge Andrewsonline.co.uk SSTC

Westhall Road ÂŁ485,000

A four bedroom Edwardian style terraced house built in the 1950s located in a cul-de-sac within 200 yards of the Royal Victoria Park. Having been lovingly cared for by the current owners, the house is ready to see its next chapter.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

01225 809 685 newbridge@andrewsonline.co.uk

Andrews March.indd 2

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

21/02/2019 09:35

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NORTH ROAD, Bath

Price ÂŁ1,225,000

Immaculately presented contemporary three/four bedroom single storey home with six sets of double doors opening out onto a courtyard garden in an exclusive quiet development of three other homes located down a private road yet within walking distance of the shops and amenities of friendly Combe Down village, two miles from central Bath.

Detached contemporary home | Three/four bedrooms | Kitchen/family room | Sitting room | Dining room/Study/Potential Bedroom 4 | Gardens | Parking | Garage | EPC Rating: G

LOWER SHOCKERWICK, Bath

Price ÂŁ950,000

A charming Grade II listed four bedroom country house built in the 1740s with later additions, offering 2,400 sq. ft. of accommodation over three levels. Many period features including exposed oak beams, original stone fireplaces and stone mullion windows.

Period stone built country house | 3 floors | 3 reception rooms | Cellar | 4 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | Garage and parking for 2 cars | Mature gardens | Gazebo and stone outbuildings | Sought after location | EPC Exempt

GRAND PARADE, Bath

Price ÂŁ500,000

A superb two bedroom apartment in this Grade 11 listed building in the centre of Bath overlooking a private garden. The apartment offers stunning views from the sitting room, kitchen and bedrooms of this award winning jewel of a roof garden which is hidden from view nestling at the very heart of the building.

Grade II listed building | Very central Bath location | Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Second bedroom | Shower room | Extensive communal facilities | EPC Exempt

®

The Lodge

£2200 pcm

Unfurnished · Three double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms · Beautifully designed · Private driveway · Council tax band F · Available now

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ST

C

The Viaduct

Great Pulteney Street

Georgian · Beautifully decorated · Contemporary kitchen · One bedroom · Close to city centre · Private garage · Grade I

T LE

£1250 pcm

£1650 pcm

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C

Great Pulteney Street

Rivers Street

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Fabulous kitchen · Central location · Light and airy · Council tax band B · Available now

T LE

£1000 pcm

£1300 pcm

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C

Bennett Street

£900 pcm

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Fabulous views · Private allocated parking spaces · Council tax band D · Available 18th March 2019

Part furnished · Central sought after location · Level walk to shops and amenities · Council tax band C · Viewing Highly Recommended

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Fabulous views · Private allocated parking spaces · Council tax band D · Available 18th March 2019

Old Walcot School

Lower Bristol road

Newbridge Road

£825 pcm

Unfurnished · One double bedroom · Close to all local amenities · No pets · No Students · Council Tax Band C · Available 9th April 2019

SALES

01225 471 14 4

LETTINGS

£795 pcm

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Parking for two cars · Spectacular views · Suit professional couple/professional sharers · Agency fees £420 inc VAT · Available 18th March 2019

01225 303 870

£750 pcm

Part-furnished · One double bedroom · Near to Chelsea Road · First floor apartment · Council tax band A · On street parking · Available now

sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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Northanger Court

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O.I.E.O

£525,000

Ground floor apartment · Three bedrooms · Secure parking · Communal outside space · Close to the city centre · Approx. 1079 Sq. ft

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Camden Crescent

EW

New Marchants Passage

O.I.E.O

£360,000

O.I.E.O

£275,000

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Old Orchard Cottage

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Portland Place

O.I.E.O

£335,000

£425,000

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Lamont House

O.I.E.O

£200,000

Georgian apartment · Ground floor · One bedroom · Private entrance · Period features · Central location · Approx. 580 Sq. ft

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Georgian · Grade II listed · Two double bedrooms · First floor maisonette · Light and airy · Close to city centre · Private parking

O.I.E.O

Grade II listed · Georgian · Top floor apartment · Two double bedrooms · Stunning views · Allocated parking · Communal garden · Approx. 1037 Sq. ft

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Georgian apartment · Ground floor · One bedroom · Private entrance · Period features · Central location · Approx. 580 Sq. ft

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Modern Build · Two bedroom · Central location · Communal roof terrace · Close to transport links · Lift access · Bike storage · Approx. 840 Sq. ft

£450,000

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Southbourne Mansions O.I.E.O £295,000 Chatham Row

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O.I.E.O

Ground floor apartment · Georgian · Stunning views · Two bedrooms · Private courtyard · Close to city centre · Approx. 885 Sq. ft

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Georgian · Grade II listed · Two double bedrooms · Central location · Close to local attractions · Excellent transport links · Approx.

618 Sq. ft

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Morford Street

O.I.E.O

£285,000

Georgian maisonette · Grade II listed · Three double bedrooms · Central location · Investment opportunity · Approx. 968 Sq. ft

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

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