The Bath Magazine October 2023

ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Our Homes, Interiors & Gardens special A/W 23

RECLUSE OR RADICAL

The Holburne’s restrospective of painter Gwen John

JAZZ NIGHT

Jay Rayner and his sextet rearrange songs of the 1980s

FACT AND FICTION

Mary Beard's fresh take on Roman Emperors

IT’S THE FINAL CUT

Ken Loach on his newly released film

The Old Oak

We like to give you texture and variety, and we’ve surpassed ourselves this October. First of all I spoke to Dame Mary Beard, the scholar of Ancient Rome who is coming to Topping & Co. this month. And what did we talk about? Why, Roman Emperors naturally. Her new book looks beyond the excess, depravity and cruelty that we associate with these leaders and instead regards them through the eyes of ordinary people. See page 44.

Simon Horsford interviews filmmaker and Bath local Ken Loach about his film The Old Oak, now on general release, on page 16. At the age of 87 Loach says it’s probably his final film, but the leftward politics of his storyline is as strong as ever, focusing on an ex-mining village in the north east and and an incoming group of Syrian refugees.

Restaurant critic and writer Jay Rayner is grilled by Melissa Blease about just how similar is the impact of good food and good music. Rayner, you see, is an accomplished pianist and is bringing his sextet to Komedia this month, in a programme that plays hits from the eighties with jazz in their bones. See page 20.

Welsh artist Gwen John predates our first three stars (d.1939), but her talents have shone more brightly as the years have passed –the new Holburne retrospective exhibition reclaims her as progressive rather than reclusive (see page 40). Many of John’s paintings are of interiors and we’ve found our own contemporary selection from page 76, including some iconic product choices and our usual invaluable directory of interiors contacts.

The excitement continues with a reimagining of the ballet Giselle at the Bristol Hippodrome (see page 24), an interview with light artist Bruce Munro who has provided many more ‘Firefly’ lights for Dorothy House’s extended Firefly Woods (see page 52). We also go skiing (or rather Amanda Nicholls does) on page 56. Welcome October and the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...

Emma Clegg, Editor

Butterflies count

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count 2023 has revealed a better picture for butterflies than had been feared. Overall, participants of the Count enjoyed seeing more butterflies this year than in the previous four summers. In total, over 1.5 million butterflies and dayflying moths were recorded from 14 July –6 August. After an all-time low in 2022 of just nine individual butterflies spotted per Count, this year saw an increase to 12 butterflies recorded on average per Count. This good news is in contrast with the long-term trends. These show that since the Big Butterfly Count started 13 years ago, many species have significantly decreased. It is a further warning sign that nature everywhere is in crisis –butterflies, as well as forming a vital part of the food chain, are considered significant indicators of the health of the environment. butterflyconservation.org

Enjoy our Homes, Intreiors and Gardens special on page 80

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A Small Copper Butterfly on calendula at The Community Farm in the Chew Valley, who do their own regular butterfly counts.

Wool is…

• Naturally insulating

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THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER 5

Watch them run

Scream for Halloween

Looking for the fright of your life? Why not catch Buffy Revamped at Theatre Royal Bath on 30 and 31 October, the fast-paced production from the Edinburgh Fringe (tickets from £28)? There’s some magic going on at Wookey Hole including a tour through the great chambers of the caves where you’ll learn about the Legend of the Witch (tickets £22.45/£17.95). Or what about the October Half Term Spider Trail at Dyrham Park (19 October –1 November) where you can find clues and facts about these creepy crawlies across the 270-acre site? There’s more natural wonders with It’s a Hoot at Avon Valley Railway on 28 and 29 October where you can go on a train ride from Bitton Station and spot birds of prey. Children wearing Halloweenthemed costumes or fancy dress will travel for free. visitbath.co.uk

Listen to the work of a jazz master

Featuring the rarely heard sound of two grand pianos, combined with a world-class rhythm section, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club musical director James Pearson presents a very special concert in honour of legendary pianist Oscar Peterson. The music in the show is drawn from the Great American Songbook and Oscar’s own original compositions from the rarely heard Canadiana Suite and the aptly titled Hymn to Freedom, alongside musical anecdotes about his life and some virtuosic demonstrations of how to play just like Oscar! Ronnie Scott’s All Stars: A Musical Portrait of Oscar Peterson, 20 October, 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon. Tickets £24/£16. wiltshiremusic.org.uk

The Bath Half Marathon comes to the city on 15 October, starting in Royal Avenue (in front of the Royal Crescent), with the first race starting at 10am. The most popular places to watch the race will be at the start and finish on Royal Avenue and more accessible points on the course, particularly near Green Park Station and Churchill Bridge. To get a good viewpoint at these locations you may need to arrive 30-45 minutes before race start, and at peak times the pavements may become crowded. There are some family friendly viewing spots at quieter locations, such as the Royal Victoria Park playground near facilities such as toilets and café. bathhalf.co.uk

Explore new ideas

TEDxBath returns to The Forum on Saturday 14 October for its next spectacular event with diverse speakers, lively acts, and engaging exhibitions under the theme of ‘Unlimited’.

The day will be packed with ‘ideas worth sharing’ and will deliver another uplifting and energetic event for a participatory audience of 1,600 people of all ages. Many of Bath’s largest businesses have rallied together to sponsor the event and amplify its impact within the community. Bringing together diverse and powerful ideas from leading change-makers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists TEDxBath aims to dismantle barriers to positive change, define new possibilities, and boldly seek a better future world. The Forum, 14 October, 1.30pm–5pm. bathforum.co.uk; tedxbath.co.uk

Discover

Combe Grove is a centre for integrated health and wellness overlooking the Limpley Stoke Valley. It is the UK’s first metabolic health retreat, recognising how central metabolic health is to leading a healthy life and minimising our risk of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.Combe Grove is offering an Optimum Health Metabolic Reset on 2 October and 30 October, a week’s residential course where you can reset your mind and body. Another upcoming course is Prevent & Reverse Prediabetes on 16 October. Combe Grove, Brassknocker Hill, Bath BA2 7HS; 01225 834644; combegrove.com

Halloween magic at Wookey Hole

The cityist

Insect of the month by Marian Hill

Lyn Barham

Lyn Barham specialised in career development. Since retiring she has focused her efforts on sustainable development and ‘fair food’. She is a Trustee of Transition Bath and is involved with Bath Organic Group. In 2023 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Career Development Institute.

Name: Silpha tristis British Beetle. Also known as Grassland Carrion Beetle

Length 12–15mm

Surprisingly little is known about this small, matt, black Carrion Beetle as it is easy to overlook due to its subdued colouring and reclusive habits. It is thought to scavenge on dead animals or possibly slugs and snails and is therefore a valuable beetle. It likes living on grassland, heathland, dunes and in quarries.

See more of Marian’s insects at buzzandscuttle.com

Major investment to improve Bath’s green spaces

I’ve lived in Bath since 2000. I now live south of the city centre, near the top of Bloomfield Road. It’s a modest, twobedroom cottage built in 1876, where I’ve managed to enhance the energy efficiency and create a home that’s just right for me. Being near the hilltop, I have wonderful sunrise and sunset skies, and I’m out of the city centre air pollution.

Before retiring I specialised in career development work. At first my interest was in supporting young people in widening their horizons and gaining the confidence to pursue their ambitions. As time went by, I worked on career development for adults –including ‘women returners’, a status that is less prevalent now many women remain in the workforce. Later, some of my research addressed the increasingly complicated transitions into retirement that face older people these days.

right in the city centre where I could welcome friends and family to visit me. As well as the myriad pleasures of one of Italy’s most interesting historic small cities, I was a short train ride away from the Brenta valley in the Dolomites where you can walk through the hills on old tobacco smuggling trails and see remnants of World War II entrenchments, all in a stunning landscape.

I have been a vegetable grower all my life, starting alongside my grandad as a toddler. Quality and availability of food is so important, and local food is the core of what I engage with. Food is just one strand of local charity Transition Bath’s work: we’re concerned with energy generation and use, with traffic and pollution, and – through our EcoTogether programme – with helping people understand that they have individual power and it can be used for the planet.

A total of 18 parks and green spaces in Bath will benefit from improved natural habitats and increased biodiversity after a £165,000 investment.

As part of its commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and improve people’s health and wellbeing, B&NES Council has awarded £90,000 to local charity Your Park Bristol & Bath for their Bath Activator Programme, to improve the city’s green infrastructure. This comes from the Bath Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges imposed on developers. An additional £75,000 has been secured from the West of England Combined Authority’s Pollinator Fund. The money will be used to reintroduce sustainable natural habitats to the city’s community-managed green spaces and encourage people to get into nature to improve their health, wellbeing, and quality of life. yourpark.org.uk

A person’s activity in employment constitutes one of the biggest impacts they have on the planet – for good or ill. My particular interest was in shifting thinking away from a narrow conception of ‘green jobs’ and towards the notion that almost any job can be green if done in the right context: financial advisers helping people choose ethical investments; architects and sustainable building methods; automotive technologies for less polluting vehicles.

Fair food is a vast international issue and a really important local issue. Locally there should be a fair supply of affordable and healthy food for all. We need to address three issues: land access, so that crop growers have access to affordable land from which to earn a livelihood; training in growing skills through land-based apprenticeships; and routes to market through local cooperatives so that food can reach schools, hospitals and the families (all of us) that need it.

I spent a wonderful year in Italy. I gave up my former home in Bath to someone who had need of it for health reasons, so I had reasonable financial provision but no home. I had good friends in Padua University and in spring 2015 I joined them as a visiting scholar. I was able to afford an apartment

I’m too busy. One day I’ll learn to say ‘no’. But actually my life is not that complicated, only overloaded. What drives me? We have a climate crisis right now, but my small grandson will probably be alive not only in 2050 where policy is focused, but beyond 2100. All our children and grandchildren need us to act. It’s time to follow Greta Thunberg’s advice and panic.

Back in the 1990s, I gained some millions of pounds of EU funding for innovative careers work with disadvantaged young people. For the launch event, I invited a distinguished professor who was to conduct an evaluation of the project. After listening to the outline and plans, he rubbed his hands with glee and announced, “I have now realised this is a subversive project”. Certainly it ran counter to the then government’s lack of support for unemployed young people, and it reinforced that as an individual I have the power to make a difference in the face of unhelpful public policy.

A quote that sums up my approach to life is from cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

transitionbath.org

Ammi majus (Queen Anne’s Lace), Cosmos, Gaura, Nigella, sweet peas and Phlox ‘Cherry caramel’

City updates

Duck ponds’ restoration

The duck ponds at Royal Victoria Park in Bath are set to benefit from a £75,000 programme of restorative works. Bath & North East Somerset Council has appointed a contractor to remove silt from the ponds and improve the quality of the water with works expected to start at the end of October.

The works are needed to preserve the ecology of wildlife and plant species living in and around the ponds and to ensure the ponds can be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come. The works will begin with an aquatics specialist netting all the remaining fish in the ponds and relocating them safely, ahead of an ecological survey. The silt will then be removed to another location within the park where it will be fenced and allowed to settle, before being seeded with grass and landscaped into part of the public park. This will reduce the carbon footprint of transporting large volumes of waste elsewhere.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “For many years the ponds have been a much-loved part of this beautifully landscaped park and it’s great news that they will be restored to their former glory for visitors of all ages to enjoy.”

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Bath

The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (NSOU) will return to the UK for the first time in over 20 years. Its inaugural performance will take place at the Forum in Bath on 17 October, presented by Bristol Beacon as part its orchestral programme. The NSOU, which is one of the oldest and most significant cultural institutions in Ukraine and recognised as one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe, has chosen the UK for its biggest single-country tour as part of its efforts to fight the war on the cultural front.

The UK Home Office has agreed to waive visa fees for the 90-strong members of the orchestra. Travelling to the UK is no easy task. With no flights in and out of the country, the entire orchestra will take a 20-hour coach journey across two borders through the war zone to Warsaw, Poland, where the members will then board a flight to Heathrow, which has been supported by British Airways.

The repertoire for the performance has been selected to resonate with the country’s current situation and includes Symphonic Picture, Grazhyna by Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshynsky, Violin Concerto No 1 by Max Bruch and Symphony No 1 by Jean Sibelius.

Alexander Hornostai, NSOU managing director and producer, says: “We feel emotional every time we perform as we convey what is in our hearts through music. There is pain, sadness, suffering, and also faith in the victory of Ukraine and the prosperous future of our country. We have had to learn to live for today, in the present moment.” bristolbeacon.org

Bath Phil for Free is back

Brass band open evening

The City of Bath Brass Band is holding an open evening on | 9 October where people can try out playing in the Training Band (suitable for beginners and intermediate level) and the Main Band (intermediate and advanced).

The Training Band allows members to gain experience of playing in a brass band before moving on to the main band. The Training Band is a performing band and plays several events during the year. The Main Band competes in national and regional brass band contests, as well as in many different events in and around the city, and is currently in the third section of the West of England region. Brass Band Open Evening, 9 October, Elim Church, Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2ND; 6.45pm–7.45pm Training Band, 8.15pm–9.45pm Main Band. All ages welcome and instruments are available. Tel: 07885 466464; cityofbathbrassband.co.uk

Building on the success of their #BathPhilForFree scheme, in which over 10,000 tickets have been gifted to local residents, Bath Philharmonia offers local people a free ticket for their concert at The Forum on 3 October 2023, the opening concert of the 23/24 season. Featuring internationally renowned concert pianist Peter Donohoe, the orchestra will perform not just one but two piano concertos (Mozart’s delectable Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor and Shostakovich’s witty Piano Concerto No. 2) in a programme of classical music that includes excerpts from Beethoven’s most epic and exciting symphonies and music by one of Britain’s most celebrated young composers, Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Bath Philharmonia is opening up the concert hall to those who may have never heard the magic of a live orchestra before or want to try something new. The gift of a free ticket is offered as a chance to enjoy a musical night out as the evenings draw in –Bath Philharmonia extends this invitation to every household in Bath and the surrounding area. Tickets can be booked at Bath Box Office and full details on how to claim the offer for this concert can be found at bathphil.co.uk/ bathphilforfree

Bath Philharmonia’s conductor Jason Thornton

Richard Wyatt

Columnist Richard Wyatt this month is taking on a basic physiological need –going to the toilet –and investigating how this is catered for in our city. He would like to see more self-contained cubicles as well as an equal provision for all members of society.

Imake no apologies this month for tackling issues surrounding a basic physiological need, which for us homo sapiens requires regular daily trips to the smallest room in the house.

There’s no problem achieving ‘comfort’ when you are at home but it can be a bit of an adventure if you are out and about –especially if you are in unfamiliar surroundings.

We Bathonians know that apart from the 16 public toilet sites owned by B&NES Council, there are places (that don’t require a coin in the slot) in locations like The Podium, Bath Bus Station, M&S, and even the Victoria Art Gallery. However, if you’re a tourist, such local knowledge is not in your possession –or guide book!

I want to talk about the general provision of such amenities in a moment but first of all I’d like to fly a red flag for my own sex. I will admit to being in my early seventies and I have, for some years now, been suffering the effects of an enlarged prostate. According to the medics by the age of 60, half of all men will be experiencing the effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. By age 85, the proportion reaches 90%.

This doesn’t increase your chances of getting cancer but, reassuring as that is, many of us with that benign condition find it difficult to enjoy a full and constant flow. Standing at a urinal for any length of time can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.

I often head for a cubicle and that’s where we often meet problems. A recent visit to the theatre found me racing from one gents to another only to find each having only one cubicle and both occupied. Some guys also endure the social phobia commonly known as ‘shy bladder syndrome’ and have problems when other people are around. Of course, in a theatre, when you are collectively ‘released’ during a time-limited interval, there is often a rush to compare with sales day at Harrods.

A theatre is an established venue, which may have issues with cost and space but elsewhere in the city –as more shops are converted into coffee houses –attention has to be paid to the customers’ convenience when planning a refit.

One of them I recently visited offered what you call ‘genderneutral’ facilities. Two cubicles, side by side, with a small space in front to wash your hands before exiting through another door. The cubicles are for everyone but had no indicator on the door handles to tell you whether or not they are unoccupied.

In that small outer space a woman was washing her hands. I couldn’t exactly say ‘which door was yours’? I also felt uncomfortable for her with me there in such a small space.

Gender neutral loos have their issues –but at least they give us guys with prostate issues a better supply of cubicles.

I have a friend called Clara Greed who I interviewed years ago at HTV West when doing a story about public toilet provision in Bristol. She is now Emerita Professor of Inclusive Urban Planning at the University of the West of England and was kind enough to respond to the theme of this column.

Clara has long campaigned for women to be given better public toilet provision and thinks gender neutral loos leave them worse off. She says, “Clearly many members of society do not know how to behave in shared toilet situations.”

The government seems to agree and has launched a consultation to reverse the rise of their provision as part of wider efforts to protect single sex spaces.

They are also considering including separate, self-contained individual toilet cubicles within new-build toilet blocks. That would certainly benefit us ‘problem prostates’ as well as those with disabilities, for baby-changing or providing a ‘private space’ for nonbinary users.

However, says Clara, “If the government does recommend the provision of additional separate cubicles, for all these reasons, it’s important that they’re not installed at the expense of, or instead of, existing women’s toilets, as women already have unequal provision. Their requirements are often under-estimated, and yet they comprise approaching 52% of the population.”

Finally, just to show Clara hasn’t lost her sense of humour, she told me, “Toilets have become ‘woke’ to the confusion of much of the population, including the elderly. Rumour has it that an elderly bishop attending a church conference was told, “The GNTs are downstairs’. He looked pleased and replied ‘Don’t mind if I do!’ imagining that GNT stood for Gin and Tonic!” n

Richard Wyatt runs the Bath Newseum: bathnewseum.com

Toilets have become ‘woke’ to the confusion of much of the population, including the elderly

The Bath Half 2023

The Bath Half Marathon comes to the city on 15 October, starting on the Royal Avenue at 10am. The TDL EVENTS free downloadable App provides details of race day arrangements and allows supporters to track runners’ progress.Here we introduce you to three of the runners...

BRYAN MILLS

In the last couple of years I’ve run 12 half marathons and Bath is by far my favourite. The route, the city, the atmosphere –it has it all.

I have heart failure and Type 2 diabetes. The last two Bath Halfs I ran for the British Heart Foundation. This year it is for Diabetes UK and is part of my preparation for the London Marathon 2024.

I try to do about 25km of running a week and do about five or six half marathons a year. I’m slow but consistent. My running is a rolling half marathon training plan –I sort of permanently train for a half.

I keep tactics pretty simple. A good night’s sleep, a good but light breakfast, a little stretch and a couple of

MILI KACHER

I love running and I run daily. Bath Half is only a few weeks after the marathon I am running in September, so my race tactic will depend on how well my body is recovering. The biggest challenge is staying optimistic –I can sabotage my performance by overthinking.

My body works better if I do not eat late. I will do my carb-loading on Saturday, mostly by eating oats, rice and bananas at regular intervals. On the morning of the race I will have some oats or a piece of bread with jam and will get my energy from the gels.

I was born in former Yugoslavia and by the time I was 15 I had lived through two wars and considerable hardship. After my parents divorced I lived with my grandad who taught me two most important things: work is a solution to everything and persevere. Later I suffered from eating disorders, panic attacks and other anxieties. One night I put on my trainers and went

STEPHEN ANDERS

Here are the recommended viewing points on the half marathon route:

1. Start – Royal Avenue 2. Green Park Station

3. Churchill Bridge 4. Great Pulteney Street

5. Weston Lock Retail Park 6. Chelsea Road (Oldfield Park) 7. Playground, Royal Victoria Park 8. Finish – Royal Avenue

energy gels during the run. I try and hold a steady pace –I’ve never got on with negative splits. I use my Garmin watch and check the average pace, trying to hold it. That’s easier in Bath as it’s a fairly flat route.

My first Bath Half remains a personal best for any half marathon at 2 hours and 10 minutes. Last year was a near disaster (for me) at 2 hours 33. This year I hope to get in between those two.

I don’t really eat much different before the race, but as a diabetic I have a controlled diet anyway. Last year I suspect I may have had too big a breakfast!

I run for health reasons. My heart failure diagnosis was scary –running lets me have more control over that.

running. Deep in the shadows of a local park, for the first time in years I felt like time stopped, no one expected anything from me, there was nothing to prove. Some time later I registered for my first half marathon. Until the very night before, I did not believe it was happening – I wasn’t a runner, and running a half marathon was impossible for me. And yet there I was – lined up to run 21.1km. And I ran it. I ran 16km based on my training and 5km based on the lessons my grandfather taught me –keep working and keep at it. After that, I ran dozens more.

I may have started running to run away, but now I am running towards things – towards adventure, peace, freedom. I am a runner and you can be too. Forget what anyone ever told you, forget all the bad things you tell yourself – just run.

My daughter Kate entered the Bath Half and asked if I would join her. I was immediately excited at the prospect, so after a couple of days my mind was made up to enter.

I am a previous winner of the Bath Half Marathon in 1985 and 1986. During those years, I had further successes in half marathons. In 1985, besides Bath, I won at Windsor Great Park, Newport (Gwent), and Wilmslow. And I placed second in Melbourne, Australia and third at Stroud. In 1986 I retained the titles at both Bath and Wilmslow and ran faster over the same courses.

At 64 years of age, it is difficult to take in that it is over 37 years since I last ran the Bath Half aged 26. Until 14 months ago I had not run or raced for many years due to a recurring injury. But things have improved and my running has picked up again. I have rejoined an Athletics Club, the Cheshire Dragons, and I have enjoyed doing some racing over short

distances. Since entering the Bath Half, I have been gradually increasing the frequency and distance of my training runs.

The challenge for me is to remain injury free. I am confident that I shall finish the race if I pace it well. Ideally, I would like to run most of the race at a consistent, steady pace. And if all is well with a few miles to go, make a strong run to the finish.

I love running and missed it during the years I could not run. At my best I represented England and Great Britain on the track, cross country and road running. I enjoyed the travel, competitions, the friendships, experiences, and excitement that running and success brings. Besides all that there is no better feeling for me than when I am out running with my wife Chris, or with family and friends.

I am looking forward to returning to the Bath Half, running with Kate and having the support of my family and grandchildren. n

Ken Loach: the final drama

Film director Ken Loach has argued that working people's struggles are inherently dramatic. His filmmaking career has proved that again and again. His latest –and probably final –film, The Old Oak, focuses on two downtrodden communities, an ex-mining village in the north east and a group of Syrian refugees. Words by Simon Horsford

It’s surely appropriate that Ken Loach was born in the same year as the Jarrow March when 200 men walked from the north-east of England to London to protest against unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression. That crusade may have passed into history but the 87-year-old director is still fighting the fight with the release of his latest film, The Old Oak. His strong political convictions remain the driving force behind his continued work, a fact alluded to recently by his long-time collaborator Paul Laverty, who wrote the screenplay for the new film. “It might make him smile if I quote St Augustine from over 1,500 years ago, when he said that Hope had two beautiful daughters. One, Anger at the way things are and the other Courage to try and change them. This has been [Ken’s] working life.”

The Old Oak like Loach’s last two films, I, Daniel Blake (2016) and Sorry We Missed You (2018), is another powerful socio-political commentary with strong performances, again filmed in the northeast, and in many ways it can be seen to complete the trilogy. Loach has also indicated it will be his last film, “It will be difficult to go round the course again,” he suggests.

In I, Daniel Blake, the target was austerity, Sorry We Missed You honed in on the gig economy. This time the setting is a struggling former mining village and a run-down pub, The Old Oak, in County Durham, which is the only focal point of the community but becomes contested territory with the arrival of a coach load of frightened Syrian refugees, who are to be housed in the village. Trying to keep the peace between the regulars, who were already bitter and disillusioned with their lot, and the incomers is the pub’s long-

suffering landlord TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner, a Geordie ex-fireman and union official and another Loach discovery), who is divorced, estranged from his grown-up son and barely hanging on. He’s been beaten down by life and that shows.

In particular, the locals’ anger centres around the collapse of house prices with whole streets being bought cheaply by foreign companies and then rented out exploitatively – for some, the Syrians are the last straw. Among the newcomers is Yara (played by Ebla Mari, an actress/theatre teacher from the Golan Heights), who is an aspiring photographer. Her father has been imprisoned by the Assad regime and she is being housed in the village with her brother and elderly mother. It is through her touching and unlikely friendship with TJ that Loach and Laverty try and unite the two disparate communities.

The story of these ‘abandoned’ mining villages is one that both Loach and Laverty were keen to develop. Talking to me via Zoom from the London offices of the distribution company StudioCanal, Loach says: “It was a subject Paul [Laverty] and I had been kicking around for a long time and in the end there was no choice, we just had to get on and do it. We had done two in the region and it cried out for a third. It turned into a trilogy but it wasn’t a grand design.

“People were left to rot with no investment when the pits shut after [Margaret] Thatcher’s attacks in the 1980s. These strong communities have been eroded, people have left and shops closed and they stand as a monument to the old industries and the refusal to plan anything to replace it. So that was one element [of the film] and then we thought how can draw out this story and Paul heard through friends what was happening when the first refugees were arriving from Syria [the film is set around 2016] and that seemed to be a catalyst to both see what was happening in those communities but also to see how the two communities would interact.” The focus is on two groups who have suffered loss: one through the removal of their livelihoods and the other via the trauma of war and relocation.

When the first Syrians arrived “there had been very little preparation,” says Loach, “the local authorities were caught on the hop so the surprise element was partly responsible for generating the hostility from some people (not all).” A scene captured at the start of the film, which is loosely based on an actual incident.

In parts of the country, the pub is seen as the hub of the community, but in this instance, it really is the only communal space left in the village. “All the public spaces have gone,” says Loach, “in many villages, the miners’ club, community centres, even churches have gone. Schools too, as population in these villages has decreased and pubs have gone too. The image of the pub as the last remaining public space and a place where people congregate is plain.” It’s somewhere people can forget about their troubles. Hence its importance to locals such as Charlie (Trevor Fox), who has a disabled wife, a daughter and a house worth a quarter of what he paid for it. For him and his mates, the pub is their sanctuary.

And yet, the values of the film are clear from the outset and despite

“Hope is political,” says Loach, “if you have hope, you can see a way forward and then you have the energy to make that work”

TJ undergoing heartbreaking experiences and the occasionally spiteful treatment of the Syrians, The Old Oak purposely doesn’t take sides. “Instead,” says Loach, the idea is to “try to understand people’s alienation, anger and feeling they are being ripped off.” He points to how a negative narrative can be “a seedbed for racism.” He cites the hostile environment [for illegal immigration] comments by Theresa May [in 2012], Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s ‘invasion by small boats’ statement [last year] and [this year] the Minister for Immigration

Robert Jenrick making a point about removing Disney cartoons from a children’s reception centre because they it made it too welcoming.

Loach goes on to question why areas that have nothing are taking in refugees. “From their [the government’s] point of view property is cheap and out of sight, so it’s not a problem. But in terms of making life better for them, it’s not helpful because the infrastructure is already under pressure. There is an even longer queue at the doctor’s and school will be even more overcrowded.”

The north-east again provides fertile film-making ground for Loach. The area is “built on industrial struggle,” he says. “People have experienced hardship and unemployment going back to the Jarrow March. It has clearly defined characteristics, its own language and dialect and the landscape is extraordinary. There’s a lot of humour. It gives it a strong presence. Liverpool [also] has it, Glasgow has it and Manchester to a certain extent, South Yorkshire. Those are the areas it’s most easy to find coherent, militant elements among the working class.”

Unlike the other films in the ‘trilogy’, there are strands of hope to be found, even a touch of sentimentality. “Hope is political,” says Loach, “if you have hope, you can see a way forward and then you have the energy to make that work. But hope has to be realistic, it can’t be just a pipe dream. The hope you find [in these situations] is in solidarity and was implicit in the miners’ strike in ’84. When someone is in trouble people rally round.”

The black and white pictures of the miners’ marches on the walls of the unused – and contentious – backroom of the pub are a reminder, says Loach, “that if we have strength and stick together we can achieve things.” Hence a quote in the film: “If the working classes realised the power they had, they could change the world.”

Talk of change brings us to the current state of politics – or rather the Labour Party. Loach, who is no longer in the party, remains angered by the way the “Keir Starmer clique” have been attacking the Left and people known to have supported Jeremy Corbyn. “Starmer’s aim is to say whatever it takes to win the Labour leadership.

“He put his arm round Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 knowing he is going to stab him in the back. He has made [Labour] an intolerable party for hundreds of thousands of people who voted for him and who are seen to be of the Left in order to appease the establishment [to show] that he will be safe like Tony Blair and nothing will change. The rich won’t suffer, corporate power won’t be dented and things will stay as they are. He is the safe alternative, that’s his aim.”

How does he think politics has changed since he started making films in the mid-Sixties when the definition between Labour and

Conservative was also far greater? Britain was still in the post-war settlement era, Loach points out. “There was a National Health Service that didn’t have private contractors, a council housing programme, everything was still public ownership, we owned a huge amount of infrastructure. Thatcher changed all that, turned it from public good to private greed as a consciousness of the nation. That’s the change and politics has mirrored that. The Labour party of Blair would have been inconceivable before Thatcher and she said Blair is her greatest achievement. Starmer is a crude caricature of Blair even.”

At present, Loach has no party affiliations and admits that Labour seems to have “disappeared’ in Bath, “although they were visible during the pandemic.” He doesn’t follow the machinations of the Liberal Democrats in the city, but worries about “horrors” such as any proposed redevelopment of The Rec, which would “destroy the centre of Bath.” He’d also like Bath to have a decent public transport system. His home town remains close to his heart and a place where he likes to lead a normal life. Bath City FC is his other passion and a couple of days after we spoke he was planning to watch them in a local derby against Larkhall Athletic in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. At the time of writing, the team was top of National League South, “It’s early days, but Jerry Gill has a good team and they play some good football, not all the time but quite a lot. The gates have gone up and we are over a thousand now. We need to double that and then we’d really be on the road. It remains one of Bath’s best kept secrets.”

With such a terrific body of work behind him – and if The Old Oak is to be his swansong – I ask what he’d like his legacy to be? Modest, as ever, Loach, replies: “I can’t think in those terms; that would be far too grand. Maybe if someone said, ‘he put in a decent shift’.” n

PREVIOUS PAGE: Syrian refugee Yara is an aspiring photographer. She and TJ Ballantyne (shown below in front of The Old Oak) unite to try and unite the two disparate communities

LEFT: Ken Loach on set with screenwriter Paul Laverty during filming of The Old Oak

BELOW: Ebla Mari as Yara and Dave Turner as TJ Ballantyne –the Syrian refugee and the pub landlord strike up a friendship

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Jazzing up the ’80s

As well as a lifetime of food expertise Jay Rayner has jazz in his bones, too. Melissa Blease chats to him ahead of his appearance at Komedia Bath with The Jay Rayner Sextet, and discovers the sextet’s secret ingredient

Music: the art of arranging sound to create a combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise expressive content. Swap the word ‘sound’ in that sentence for ‘food’ and surely it still makes sense, for indeed, there are inextricable similarities between the effect that both good music and good food have on the soul. Yes?

“People want that to be the case, but I’m not sure it’s true; to me, music and food are very, very different.” Oh – okay. But if I’m going to meekly acquiesce my grand theory to anybody, that somebody would be Jay Rayner: a man whose vast experience of both food and music is infinitely greater than... well, mine at least.

Over the past three decades, Jay has written extensively across the British and international media, focusing his razor-sharp wit and inimitable way with words on all manner of topics from politics to fashion, crime, the arts and – of course – food. His legendarily forthright restaurant reviews have been published in The Observer on a regular basis for 25 years, he has hosted BBC Radio 4’s Kitchen Cabinet since 2012, he broadcasts his own podcast (Out To Lunch) and he has four novels and seven non-fiction books in his bibliography. Meanwhile, on the music front...

An ardent pianist, Jay formed The Jay Rayner Quartet in 2012. You know those celebrity ‘sideline’ projects (pop stars buying vineyards; models launching a range of cleaning products; film stars selling dubious candles; etc)? Well the JRQ most definitely isn’t one of those. Jay’s band has performed at some of the most prestigious music venues in the UK, including Soho’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s and the cultural destination that is Snape Maltings. “As confident and fluent at the grand piano keyboard as he is at a QWERTY workstation,” one music critic wrote; “unremittingly excellent? Unquestionably!”

In 2022, the quartet celebrated a decade of gigging by becoming a sextet, adding drummer Sophie Alloway and guitarist Chris Cobbson

to the existing line up of Dave Lewis (saxophone), Robert Rickenberg (bass) and, of course, Jay Rayner at the piano. Perusing the sextet’s biogs prior to their forthcoming Jazz Up The 80s gig at Komedia this month is like reading the nominations list for some kind of jazz/blues/rock’n’roll hybrid Hall of Fame. But one name in particular stands out: the sextet’s outstanding singer Pat GordonSmith who trained with legendary jazz vocalist Liane Carroll and has, in Jay’s words, “been singing for much longer than I’ve been playing.”

“One of the joys of doing the live tours is that my wife can’t complain about me being away because she’s on the road with me,” says Jay. “Oh!”, I exclaim; “is your wife a big fan, then?”. “My wife is Pat Gordon-Smith,” says Jay, super-patiently. Aaargh! Ever had one of those moments where you simply don’t want to be in the world anymore? This was one of those, for me. But, ever the gentleman, Jay allows us to move swiftly on.

“Pat and I have been married for 31 years,” he says. “She is, quite simply, a brilliant singer (and a brilliant academic publisher too, as it happens). Obviously I’m biased, but she’s our secret weapon. She’s worked with some very good people, in loads of very good places. You can’t fake the chemistry between a couple – and our chemistry is good. But the key thing here is that Pat and I met around 1986, 1987, and there’s always been a conversation about those 80s tunes that were going up in the charts then: songs with jazz in their bones. As we headed towards the 10th anniversary of being a quartet, we decided to move it on a bit, and the obvious way was to become a sextet, so we added drums, and guitars. And we unpacked some songs...”

Now it may surprise readers who aren’t of a similar vintage to Jay and I that ‘typical’ 1980s music didn’t all and only revolve around the likes of Wham!, or Tiffany, or even Depeche Mode. Remember Sade, Matt Bianco and Everything But The Girl? Ooh, now we’re talking! And Jay is talking to a beat revolving around his sextet’s new

repertoire of new arrangements of classic songs by those bands and more, tossing artistes such as Donald Fagin, Herbie Hancock, Tom Waits and Joan Armatrading into the distinctly muso mix too.

“The key purpose of the show at Komedia is to celebrate certain chart hits from back in our day, our way. But we’re most definitely not a covers band; we’re essentially a jazz ensemble and it’s very much an acoustic set, apart from an electric guitar. We’re all in sync with the generation who’ll get what we do; we’re looking backwards in order to look forward, and I think there’s an audience for that.”

my ‘proper’ job; it’s a lovely – and very important – part of my life. Music affects everybody around you, much more than writing, and I adore that. But today, I’m working on my next book. On Friday, I’ve got a restaurant column to write. We’re all capable of doing more than one thing.”

And although Jay’s music is, of course, the ‘thing’ I’m talking to him about today, I can’t help asking: you mentioned that next book you’re working on, Jay?

“I’ve been reviewing restaurants for The Observer for 25 years – I mean, nobody does one of those jobs for 25 years!”, he says. “So, my next book Nights Out At Home, due to be published in September 2024, is basically me revisiting some of those reviews to reverseengineer my favourite dishes. Yes, it was difficult to choose which dishes, and remember the greats. But I’ve learnt a lot from the chefs involved, who have helped me do it. The recipes are included, and of course, there’s a lot of memoir in there as well.”

Weren’t we lucky, Jay, to grow up against the backdrop of a 1980s soundtrack? “I think everybody thinks their generation was cool,” he says. “Every generation has new things, new music, to discover and get excited about. But today, platforms such as Spotify allow multiple generations to go off in multiple directions. A couple of days ago, my eldest son Ed was playing The Clash’s 1978 album Give ’Em Enough Rope. I actually felt quite emotional! I hope that he’ll be taken on an interesting journey; that’s what we all want to do, through music.”

Through music – or through food? “People often ask me if I had to make a choice between the two,” he says. “But to be absolutely blunt, I would have starved if I’d have chosen music as my main forte. I am, and always have been, a writer. But I don’t write songs, and never have. I arrange music and I’ve written novels, screenplays, restaurant reviews, whatever, but I’ve never been driven to compose or create my own, original music. Being a musician isn’t a sideline to

But we don’t have to wait until this time next year to enjoy more of Jay’s memoirs; as the billing for Jazz Up The 80s with The Jay Rayner Sextet goes, “it all comes liberally seasoned with extraordinary, often outrageous, sometimes filthy stories from Jay’s life in the worlds of food and journalism.”

“Yes indeed,” he laughs. “I tell lots of stories and anecdotes from my life, so it’s a full show in more ways than one. But I’m forever conscious of an audience making a commitment to come and see us, and buying tickets. They’ve chosen to spend their evening with us, and it’s my responsibility to make sure that they have a bloody good time. In some ways, that’s the one thing that I would say is similar to writing: nobody has to read a single word of what you write, not even your mother. Your job as a writer is to make people want to read what you write; the same applies to a job making music.”

Regardless of his protestations to the contrary, I believe that Jay Rayner does indeed prove the inextricable similarities between the effect that both good music and good food have on the soul. n

Jazz Up The 80s with The Jay Rayner Sextet, Komedia Bath, Thursday 12 October; komedia.co.uk; Jay Rayner: jayrayner.co.uk

Being a musician isn’t a sideline to my ‘proper’ job; it’s a lovely –and very important –part of my life

Giselle: the classic reimagined

When exposed by Hilarion as an impostor and confronted with the choice between his privileged life or the precarity of the outcasts’ existence, Albrecht betrays Giselle by returning to Bathilde, his fiancée. Giselle’s tragic fate is sealed amongst these two unequal worlds where Albrecht abandons her for a life of privilege and safety beyond the wall.

Act II takes place in an abandoned factory. Here, the female workers of Act I have laboured –and many have died. Their spirits (the Wilis) haunt this ghost factory, seeking revenge upon those who have harmed them. Giselle joins this world as a newcomer, yet is still attached to the loved ones she left behind. Her quest for reconciliation reconnects her with Albrecht, releasing him from the Wilis’ punishments.

Khan’s acclaimed storytelling creates a new dimension in Giselle: from the simple love story in the original production, English National Ballet stages a powerful tale about migration, injustice, and separation. For English National Ballet’s Lead Principal Erina Takahashi, who will perform the role of Giselle in Bristol, the captivating characters and their dynamic relationships is what keeps the work fresh in every performance: “I don’t ever feel like I’m repeating the same steps over and over again. The more we perform, the more I discover something different, emotionally, even when my partner is the same. I’m able to dance more in the moment” (Pointe Magazine).

A contemporary ballet

Following the creation and success of Dust, Khan’s first work for English National Ballet, the company invited the choreographer to create his first full-length ballet. Merging ballet with his own contemporary technique allowed Khan to create a unique movement language in Giselle.

Born in London into a Bangladeshi family, some of Khan’s first experiences of dance were through Bengali folk dance. At seven he started learning kathak – a traditional Indian dance style famous for its complex footwork, gestures and rhythmic patterns. Influenced by his dance roots, Khan further developed his distinctive style while training in contemporary dance.

Akram Khan’s bold version of Giselle is back at the Bristol Hippodrome this autumn after its inaugural tour in 2016. Considered a 21st-century masterpiece (The Mail On Sunday), the critically acclaimed production continues to receive standing ovations across the globe and to mesmerise audience members with its contemporary approach to the iconic love story.

This reinterpretation of Giselle explores new frontiers in the art form, and remains relevant seven years after its creation, becoming a ballet for today’s world. When English National Ballet invited Khan to create a full-length ballet, he revisited the story of Giselle through a contemporary lens. Inspired by the haunting tale of love, betrayal, revenge and forgiveness, this new version adds another layer to the narrative: a tragic story of social inequality.

Retelling the classic

As in the 19th-century original, life and death intertwine in Khan’s reimagined Giselle. In Act I, Giselle, a former factory worker exiled with her community, seeks entrance to the area where the factory owners live in luxury protected by a giant wall. She is in love with Albrecht, a member of that inaccessible wealthy class. But she is also loved by fellow outcast, Hilarion, unveiling the iconic love triangle of this ballet.

Alongside the choreography, music is also a key element in Giselle. Italian composer Vicenzo Lamagna created a rich sound design packed with lyrical passages inspired by the original score, static white noise, drumming and humming. The atmosphere on stage is further amplified by the visual and costume design of Academy-Award Winner, Tim Yip.

A worldwide success

Since its premiere in 2016, English National Ballet’s Giselle has received standing ovations from thousands of audience members in ten countries and four continents globally. The innovative ballet with captivating movement and a timeless message strongly resonates with many audiences who regard this work as one of their best-ever theatre experiences.

Considered as one of the most acclaimed choreographers of our time, Khan has won mulitple awards, including the Robert Robson Best Dance Production prize at the Manchester Theatre Awards and the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Dance. In 2017, English National Ballet also received an Olivier Award for the production. n

Akram Khan’s Giselle is at Bristol Hippodrome from 26–28 October. Information and tickets: ballet.org.uk/production/akramkhan-giselle/

English National Ballet returns to Bristol Hippodrome from 26–28 October with Akram Khan’s Giselle, the revolutionary production that reimagines one of the greatest ballets of all times

Opposite: Aitor Arrieta as Albrecht in Giselle.

Above, left and bottom: English National Ballet in Akram Khan’s Giselle. Photographs by Laurent Liotardo

Below: Erina Takahashi as Giselle.

Photograph by Laurent Liotardo

Photograph by Laurent Liotardo

WHAT’S ON

MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park

Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Weds and Thurs from 6.30–8.45pm and Fri and Sat from 6.30–9.45pm. Music includes dynamic duos, modern trios and a Hot Club style quintet. greenparkbrasserie.com

GAIA ARTWORK AT THE ABBEY

Until 29 October

n Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey is hosting Luke Jerram’s touring Gaia artwork as part of the Treasuring Creation Festival, which focuses on appreciating and caring for our planet. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface and provides the opportunity to see our planet floating in three-dimensions. Gaia will be suspended underneath the tower in the centre of the Abbey, providing an awe-inspiring view as people enter the building. bathabbey.org

BRICK AMERICA: AN ADVENTURE IN LEGO® BRICKS

Until 31 December

n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

This off-the-scale, super-fun, creative exhibition celebrates favourite icons from across the USA and invites visitors to build and play. Come and discover famous buildings, cityscapes and vehicles, plus models inspired by movies, history, NASA, iconic people and much more, with many models and mosaics built specially for the American Museum & Gardens by LEGO artist Warren Elsmore and his team. americanmuseum.org

THE VEGAN PLATFORM

1 October

n Green Park Station, Bath

The Vegan Platform is Bath’s monthly vegan market located at Green Park Station in

central Bath. Here you will find a wide variety of vegan or sustainable products, including food, clothing, beauty products, and household items. The market takes place every first Sunday of the month. There is also a Retro Fit Fair so you can find vintage pieces for your wardrobe. theveganplatform.co.uk

BATH PHILHARMONIA AND PETER DONOHOE (PIANO)

3 October, 7.30pm

n The Forum, Bath

Bath Phil comes knocking at the door with the first movement of Beethoven’s fifth symphony (the most famous musical statement ever written), in an evening of powerful and passionate music featuring internationally renowned pianist Peter Donohoe, performing Mozart’s moody Concerto in D minor and Shostakovich’s playful Second Concerto. Tickets £35/£30/£25/£5 (under 18s and students). bathboxoffice.org.uk

THE ALCHEMIST

4–7 October, 7.30pm

n Rondo Theatre

Bath Drama’s autumn show is Ben Jonson’s classic farce, The Alchemist, cleverly updated to Victorian London. Three schemers intend to cheat the wealthy and greedy with a con involving alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone. As their schemes and mockery of their marks become more absurd, will their deceit get found out, or can Face, Subtle and Doll steal from the rich and give to… themselves? Featuring a talented cast of comedic wit and skill, you're sure to be laughing along with them! Tickets £14. rondotheatre.co.uk or 03336 663366

U3A LECTURE: ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN THE POST-COVID ERA

5 October, 9.45am coffee, 10.30am talk

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath

Lecture by Dr Graham Cope. Admission free for members and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

MUSIC OF THE SPHERES – TREASURING CREATION

6 October, 7.30pm

n Bath Abbey

An evocative and mesmerising evening of music under the Gaia exhibit. A ‘promenade’ style concert will open up the whole interior space of the abbey in a way rarely seen. The programme will include And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth by Bainton, O sing unto the Lord a new song by James MacMillan, and Seek him that maketh the seven stars by Jonathan Dove. bathabbey.org

UNIVERSITY OF BATH GARDENING CLUB: HANS KRAMER: DE HESSENHOF, A NURSERY WITH HEART

9 October, 7.30pm–9pm

n Room 1 Level 1, East Building, East Car Park, University of Bath, Claverton Down De Hessenhof has a world-class organic nursery in The Netherlands. Hans developed it from scratch and will be talking about the principles and practices he has been putting into action. With an unrivalled knowledge of perennials he will show new and unusual plants as well as some of his favourites. Open to all, membership £25, visitors £8. ubgc.org

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF A HEALTHY SPINE: A TALK FOR ALL AGES

10 October, 6.15pm–8pm

n Rushmead Room, Cumberwell Golf Club, Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon

As we age, the spine undergoes various changes that can lead to increased vulnerability to back pain and other spinal issues. Make sense of what is often misunderstood about spinal health at this free informative information evening with leading experts from Sulis Hospital. Book your place at: sulishospital.com

BATH YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

2023

11 October, 7.30pm

n The Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath Bath Young Musician of the Year returns with a group of highly talented young local musicians promising an evening of outstanding performances. This prestigious

U3A Antibiotic Resistance lecture

Bath Young Musician of the Year 2023

annual event is always a much anticipated part of Bath’s musical scene and many competitors over the years have gone on to enjoy successful musical careers. The five young performers taking part are Alex Bichard (violin/viola), Dorothy Hodge (saxophone), Rebecca O’Shea (violin), Indira Pandit (cello) and Amelia Wise (clarinet). Tickets £15/£10 from bathboxoffice.org.uk Find out more at midsomersetfestival.org

BATH FILM SOCIETY PROGRAMME

Bath Film Society has two films to look forward to in October. On 20 October is Petite Maman (France, 2021) directed by Celine Sciamma, a charming fantasy about eight year old Nelly befriending a girl of her own age while exploring the woods near her late grandmother’s home. On 27 October you can see The Maltese Falcon (USA 1941), director John Huston’s bravura adaptation of the classic Dashiel Hammet novel, now recognised as the first film noir.

Bath Film Society Screenings are held at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16–18 Queen Square, 7.30pm on Fridays.

Visit The Bath Film Society website for more information: bathfilmsociety.org.uk; membership secretary: mail@bathfilmsociety.org.uk

THE CRAFT4CRAFTERS & STITCHING4 ALL SHOW

12–14 October, 10am–5pm

n The Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN

The Craft4Crafters exhibition features a mass of crafting delights; packed full of crafting displays, demonstrations, lectures, workshops, make and takes, and a large selection of fantastic retailers. Stock up on craft and needlework supplies, including embroidery, card making, cross stitch and knitting. New this year is the Quilt Hall with over 100 quilts, the Daily Fashion Show and Sewing Classrooms. Tickets £10 Adults, £9 Concession, under 16s go free. Plus save £2 when booking in advance. craft4crafters.co.uk

THE SCORE

12–28 October

n Theatre Royal Bath, Saw Close, Bath

Legendary stage and screen actor Brian Cox (HBO’s multi-award winning Succession) comes to the Theatre Royal Bath for the very first time, playing Johann Sebastian Bach in the world premiere of Oliver Cotton’s new play directed by Trevor Nunn. Tickets from £28. theatreroyal.org.uk

ALDRIDGE’S OF BATH AUCTION

17 October, 10am (viewing on Saturday 14 October)

n Online

Decorative and household sale, including Victorian, Edwardian, 20th-century and modern household furniture and furnishings, decorative china and glass, pictures and prints, mirrors, rugs, etc.; also garden furniture, tools and general household goods. aldridgesofbath.com

BEESWAX LIP BALM WORKSHOP

17 October, 10am–2pm

n The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

Get creative and make your own natural beeswax lip balm with a beekeeper and discover wonderful things you can make with bee products.Tickets £25–£35. americanmuseum.org

SHAKESPEARE LIVE: TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

17–18 October, 8pm

n The Mission, 32 Corn Street, Bath Shakespeare’s early play Two Gentlemen of Verona has feisty heroines, lovelorn and bickering young men, dictatorial parents, foolish suitors, cross-dressing, letters galore, wild outlaws, witty servants, a big fight, and a lugubrious clown with a dog. Directed by Gill Morrell and featuring well-known Shakespeare Live actors and talented newcomers, including Bernard the golden retriever, as well as fabulous medieval costumes and live original music. Tickets £14. shakespearelive.com

AQUASANA IN THE ROOFTOP POOL AT THERMAE

18 October, 8am–8.45am

n Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath

Join Bex Bridgford for Aquasana with classic yoga postures, gentle tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa’s mineral-enriched waters. Aquasana works through flowing sequences that stretch and tone the body, increasing flexibility whilst relieving tension in an energetic and balanced full-body workout. This class harnesses the healing properties of the waters, leaving you feeling cleansed, rejuvenated and grounded. From £50. eventbrite.co.uk; thermaebathspa.com

U3A OPEN MORNING

19 October, 10.30am–12.30pm

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath

Open morning. Free admission. Monthly talks are usually held on the first Thursday in the month and start at 10.30am. These are free for members and requires a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

KIT HAWES & AARON CATLOW

19 October, 8pm–10.30pm

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

One of the most exciting duos to emerge from the UK in recent times, Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow combine heartfelt musicality, unparalleled virtuosity and vocal harmony. £12/£14. chapelarts.org

DOUÉE ANNUAL AUTUMN EVENT

20–21 October, 10.30am–5pm; 22 October, 11am–4pm

n Douée, 38 Gay Street, Bath

Douée returns for their Annual Autumn Event at their new home in Gay Street. Come along with your friends and family and enjoy some fun shopping in support of The Charitable Foundation for the Education of Nepalese Children. Products include homewares, fashions, children’s clothin and festive decorations. douee.co.uk

FILMBATH

20–29 October, 7.30pm

n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street

The FilmBath Festival returns for 10 days to screen over 40 films across the city of Bath, showcasing a wonderfully diverse selection of cinema from around the world, many of which were screened at this year’s London Film Festival. On the back of the cinematic wave of Barbie and Oppenhemier, FilmBath offers its

Petite Maman, Bath Film Society

The Score at Bath Theatre Royal

The Craft4Crafters & Stitching4all Show at Bath & West Showground

audiences something different: a chance to explore the films never to be shown in Bath again, a chance to see the hottest new films months before they hit the cinemas nationwide and a chance to support a film festival that champions filmmakers both upcoming and established. See the full programme at filmbath.org.uk

JENNY ECLAIR SIXTY PLUS! (FFS!)

22 October, 7.30pm

n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street

Having hit 60 (but still a year younger than Madonna), Jenny Eclair aka ‘The Face of Vagisan’ confronts a new decade of

LOOKING AHEAD

U3A LECTURE: WHAT DIPLOMATS DO AND IS IT WORTH DOING?

2 November, 9.45am coffee, 10.30am talk

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Former British diplomat Francis Cornish, who is giving this lecture previously served as the Foreign Office spokesman for Douglas Hurd. Free for members and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

BATH BACH CHOIR: SONGS OF FAREWELL

4 November, 7.30pm

n Bath Abbey

This autumn’s concert for remembrance season reflects the sorrow of loss and the uplifting hope of peace in eternal rest. The music will be by turns tenderly intimate and delicate, and thrillingly bombastic, matched to the exciting space of Bath Abbey. Pieces include Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. John Ireland’s Greater Love and Hubert Parry’s Songs of Farewell and a variety of inspirational poetry and religious texts as well as fresh, often innovative, musical styles will be explored. Conducted by Benedict Collins Rice. Tickets £30/£28/£25/£16/£11. bathboxoffice.org.uk

CAPPELLA NOVA: AVE MARIA

4 November, 7.30pm–5.30pm

n St Alphege’s Church, Oldfield Lane, Bath

decrepitude. Now that it takes 20 minutes of scrolling down to find her DOB when she’s filling in forms online, should she celebrate or crawl into a hole? Tickets £22. komedia.co.uk

THE REST IS HISTORY

23 October, 7.30pm

n The Forum, Bath

Spend an evening with historians and charttopping podcast hosts of The Rest is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, as they interrogate the past and attempt to detangle the present. Tom and Dominic will be celebrating the publication of their book The Rest is History. Whether it’s sending historical figures to Casa Amor in a series of Love Island, ranking history’s most famous pigeons or debating the meaning of greatness, there is nothing too big or too small for Tom and Dominic to unpick. Tickets from £35.20. All tickets include a hardback copy of The Rest Is History (RRP £18.99). fane.co.uk

UNBUILT BATH: THE CITY AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

24 October, 7.30pm–9pm

n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath Timothy Mowl’s lively talk will tie in with the launch of his co-authored book on

architectural schemes for Bath that were never realised, including a double crescent in Bathwick by Robert Adam; a 1916 civic centre on Orange Grove; and Sir James Dyson’s School of Design Innovation. £3–£6. brlsi.org

ST STEPHEN’S MILLENNIUM GREEN: TALK WITH WINE

25 October, 7.15pm

n Sophie Cameron Centre, Royal High School

Stuart Burroughs, Director of the Museum of Bath at Work, will talk on the subject of ‘Bath at Work: 2000 Years of Earning a Living’. This will review the city’s commercial development since Roman times – from Bath Stone and Bath Chairs to Bath Buns. Tickets £12.50 including a glass of wine. All profits go towards the upkeep of the St. Stephen’s Millennium Green. For booking and more information go to millenniumgreen.org.uk/events

THE ARTS SOCIETY BATH | LECTURE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC ODYSSEY: SHACKLETON’S EXPEDITION

6 November, 11.30am

n Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, and live-streamed

On his third Antarctic Expedition in 1914 Ernest Shackleton’s ship, The Endurance, became trapped in the ice for five months. He and some of his men then rowed and sailed for help from over 800 miles away. Three months later they returned to rescue the crew. Frank Hurley, the expedition’s photographer, provided a visual narrative of the landscapes of the epic journey and its human drama. Lecture by Mark Cottle. To attend as a guest (£10 in venue or £7 on Zoom), reserve a place by emailing bath@theartssociety.org by 3 November theartssocietybath.com

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: ANITA BHAGWANDAS

16 November, 5.30pm–7.30pm

Cappella Nova, the Bath-based chamber choir, presents Ave Maria, a concert of music celebrating the Virgin Mary. The programme features the 7 Marienlieder (Songs for Mary) by Johannes Brahms, along with versions of Ave Maria and Ave Maris Stella and sacred music by composers from the 19th century to the present day. Tickets £15 (students £8, under-18s free). Proceeds in aid of Off the Record, the local mental health and wellbeing charity. cappellanova.org.uk

n Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath

Anita is a multi-award winning freelance journalist, broadcaster and speaker. She is a beauty columnist with The Guardian’s Saturday magazine, Beauty Director at Condé Nast Traveller and writes for a number of titles including Glamour,Allure, and Stylist. Join Anita for an evening of networking and prosecco, and a talk based on Anita’s new book, UGLY, unravelling what we think we know about beauty, both in how we view ourselves and others. £15. eventbrite.co.uk n

Jenny Eclair at Komedia

Cappella Nova: Ave Maria at St Alphege’s Church

FilmBath: Neptune Frost

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

Autumn Show, 14 October –11 November, Beaux Arts Bath, 12-13 York Street

For this autumn exhibition Beaux Arts are putting on a feast of colour, with joyful paintings celebrating the changing seasons by Rebecca Campbell, plus intense, Flemish-influenced stilllifes by Linda Felcey. The ceramics on show are by the internationally renowned Japanese artist Akiko Hirai. The show opens on 14 October and runs until 11 November. beauxartsbath.co.uk

Peacock Arts Trail, Various locations around Corsham, 7–15 October

Come along to the sixth Peacock Arts Trail, an open studios event promoting the arts in this beautiful part of north west Wiltshire. Based in Corsham, the fair reaches out to Chippenham, Box, Melksham, Holt, Atworth, Kington Langley and villages, a great way to get off the beaten track and discover some unique locations. From sculptors, textile artists and painters to photographers, jewellery makers and carpenters –including potter Jon Roynon who reached the finals of 2023’s Great Pottery Throwdown –there’s something for everyone, and a broad price range. Look out for a printed copy of the brochure in shops, cafés, artist studios and galleries around the trail area. peacockartstrail.co.uk

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 8 October, 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath

The award-winning monthly Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) is back on Sunday 8 October. Committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond to the heart of Bath, the fair has created a regular space where artists can network, share ideas, connect with the public, and where the public can connect with art. Visitors can browse the works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf.co.uk

Secret Postcard Auction at the RWA (online at secretpostcard.org.uk)

Savvy art buyers will get the chance to snap up bargainartworks and join in the fun as the RWA’s Secret Postcard Auction returns. Following the huge success of the 2022 Secret Postcard Auction, the event will run online from 28 October –9 November, with a physical display of the artworks on show at the RWA from 4 –9 November. A major fundraiser for the gallery as an independent charity, the Secret Postcard Auction offers visitors the opportunity to make the winning bid on original artworks by famous, or soon-to-befamous artists.

All the artworks are postcard size at 14 x 19cm (5½” x 7½”). The postcards can be viewed and bids can be placed online. Bidding can get fierce but there’s plenty of opportunity to grab a wonderful original work of art for as little as £40.

This year’s entries have started to roll in and the RWA can already confirm contributions from Norman Ackroyd RA, Glen Baxter, Basil Beattie RA RWA (Hon), Eileen Cooper RA, Kaffe Fassett MBE, Gilbert & George, Maggi Hambling, Sir Richard Long CBE RA RWA (Hon), David Nash RA, Ana Maria Pacheco, Prof. Cathie Pilkington RA, Bob and Roberta Smith OBE RA, Terry Setch RA RWA, among others.

All the contributing artists are named, but the identity of who did which artwork is kept secret until the auction has closed as artworks are signed on the back, not the front. Bidding opens for the public on 28 October and will close at 10pm on 9 November. Last year, donations reached over £70,000, while bidders still walked away with incredible bargains. rwa.org.uk

Image: Frances Cooley

Wire sculpture by Celia Smith

Moon Jar by Akiko Hirai

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Gwen John: Art and Life in London and Paris, 21 October until 14 April 2024

This exhibition, curated by Dr Alicia Foster in partnership with Pallant House Gallery and the Holburne, is the first retrospective of the artist Gwen John (1876–1939) in 20 years. The show at Pallant House chronologically traced Gwen John’s 40-year career, placing her art in relation to the two cities where she lived and worked. The Holburne show also focuses on the intense intimacy of the artist’s late work. As well as many of her major paintings, the exhibition introduces small works on paper rarely seen in public.

Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery, until 7 January

This major exhibition celebrates Lucie Rie (1902–1995), one of the most accomplished and influential potters of the 20th century. Featuring work produced across six decades, this display follows the evolution of Rie’s distinguished career, from some of her earliest ceramics made in her native Vienna to striking pieces from the last years of her life. holburne.org

Image: Mère Poussepin, Gwen John, c.1915–20 © The Henry Barber Trust, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham

When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain, Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath, 13 October –7 January 2024

Experience the magical visions of Surrealism – but from an unusual perspective. Surrealism originated in Paris in 1924, in the aftermath of the First World War. Artists such as Eileen Agar, Roland Penrose and John Banting visited Paris to meet the Surrealists and went on to develop their own unique British Surrealist style. The show is from The Sherwin Family Collection, arguably the most significant collection of British Surrealism in private ownership, which has found a permanent home with The Hepworth Wakefield. It encompasses the diversity of British Surrealism and European influences, with paintings, collage, drawings, ceramics and sculpture by artists including Max Ernst, victoriagal.org.uk

The 21st year for the Chew Valley Arts Trail features more than 40 exhibitors showing their skills in almost 20 venues in villages near the lakes, just south of Bristol, between the A38 and the A37. Visitors can enjoy the variety and high quality of work on show, talking to the exhibitors, browsing or making purchases. Open: 10am –6pm. Brochures with map are widely available and all details can be found on the website. chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk

Mayor of Bath’s Art Show, The Guildhall, Bath, 26–27 October

The Viewing Room, 7–22 October, Lansdown Stores, Bath BA1 5EE

Sandra Higgins Art is delighted to announce The Viewing Room, a pop-up fine art fair featuring a diverse collection of paintings, drawings, monoprints, sculptures and ceramics from distinguished and award-winning artists. Curated by international art advisor Sandra Higgins.

The Mayor of Bath’s Art show, now in its 18th year, is back at the Guildhall. For two days between 10am and 4pm the Guildhall will display around 150 pictures from great local artists. There will be a wide range of paintings and drawings to appeal to all tastes and at very competitive prices. Funds raised will be shared between the Mayor of Bath’s Relief Fund, a crucial charity as the last resort for those in need, and this year’s Bathavon Rotary charities of Julian House and Genesis Trust. sandrahiggins.art; sandra@sandrahiggins.com

mayorofbath.co.uk; bathavonrotary.uk

Clockwise, from top left: David Ferry, Louisa Burnett-Hall, Fiona McIntyre and Marq P Kearey

Chew Valley Arts Trail, 14–15 October

Image: Tom Moy

Image by Debbie Clist

Finding Home

CYNTHIA WIHARDJA Partner, Beau Nash Bath

In an age where the pursuit of health and happiness is a top priority, the concept of Blue Zones as described in Dan Buettner’s book, “The Blue Zone: The Blueprint for a Better Life” has captured the imagination of many. Blue Zones are regions around the world where people live remarkably long, healthy lives. One of the key factors contributing to this longevity is the lifestyle and environment they inhabit. While you may not be able to move to one of these regions, you can bring the 5 Blue Zone principles into your own home. Here’s how.

Connect with Nature: Incorporate indoor plants, grow your own garden, and create outdoor spaces that connect you with the natural world. Maximise the use of light through windows, mirrors, and skylights.

Declutter: Simplify your life. Clearing away excess possessions reduces stress and create a calming environment. Buy only what you love.

Live Healthy: Blue Zone diets are rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Minimise processed foods and sugars. Design your day to encourage physical activity. Movement is a fundamental aspect of Blue Zone living, and a walkable city like Bath makes that very easy to achieve.

Connect with Others: Live around your friends, or make friends with the people around you for a sense of belonging and security. Encourage interaction through cozy seating areas, a welcoming kitchen, or a space where friends and family can gather.

Live with Purpose: Blue Zone residents often have a strong sense of purpose. Remind yourself of your life’s purpose and goals through your work and life.

After decades of living in bustling cities & emerging countries, I have found my sanctuary in Bath. Its harmonious blend of natural beauty, active lifestyle, strong social connections, sense of purpose, and relatively stress-free living has transformed it into my very own Blue Zone and a place I am proud to call home. n

beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234 @beaunashbath

GwenJohn

The artist Gwen John is often seen as an eccentric recluse. A new exhibition of her work at the Holburne Museum –the first in 20 years –aims to dispel this myth, tracing her work over her 40-year career. Eleanor Hutchison, Assistant Curator at the Holburne, gives us some insight into the show.

Opening at the Holburne Museum this autumn, Gwen John: Art and Life in London and Paris is the first retrospective of the Welsh artist Gwen John (1876–1939) in 20 years. Showcasing paintings, watercolours and drawings from across John’s career, the exhibition dispels the long-held belief that she was an eccentric recluse, working in isolation from the avant-garde art scenes of the early 20th century. Instead, her work will be placed in the context of the two cities in which she lived and worked, London and Paris. Previously displayed at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, the exhibition at the Holburne will also feature a significant number of John’s small works on paper, many from private collections and rarely seen in public.

Born in the Welsh coastal town of Tenby in 1876, Gwen John was one of four children, and the elder sister of Augustus, whose art has previously overshadowed that of his sister. At the age of 19 John moved to London and in 1895 enrolled at The Slade School of Fine Art. The Slade was one of the few art schools of the time that allowed women to attend, including in the life drawing classes. This made John a part of the first generation of women to receive formal art training, along with fellow students including Ida Nettleship and Ursula Tyrwhitt.

John first travelled to Paris in 1898 with two friends from The Slade to study at James McNeill Whistler’s Académie Carmen. John’s affinity

for the city saw her moving there permanently in 1904 and on the suggestion of her brother, John approached the sculptor, Auguste Rodin with the offer to be his life model. This relationship evolved into an intense love affair which continued over ten years. Drawings and a plaster bust by Rodin will be on display in the exhibition where the impersonal nature of the nude sitters in his drawings will be contrasted with the highly personal, lifelike paintings Gwen John made of her beloved cat, Edgar Quinet.

The end of her affair with Rodin coincided with a transformative period in John’s career. Her canvases became rougher and her application of paint became more sparing and applied with more visible brush strokes, creating a flat chalkiness to her compositions. John used a ground made from mixing chalk and animal glue; by mixing chalk with warm glue, little bubbles appear in the surface that are visible through the paint layers.

It was also during this period of experimentation that John began to focus exclusively on depicting female sitters. She had moved to Meudon on the outskirts of Paris in 1911 and it is here she would have her sitters pose for her. John would often work on paintings over long periods of time and revisit the same subjects repeatedly. This frequent repetition is explored in the exhibition, with multiple versions of the same subject displayed together so the subtle differences between them can be observed.

It was during this time of artistic evolution that John converted to Roman Catholicism. She absorbed influences from Renaissance paintings and incorporated them into her own work. A Lady Reading, an oil on canvas on loan from the Tate shows how John took the facial features of the Madonna from a print by the German artist, Albrecht Dürer. She then places the woman in a distinctly modern Parisian interior, the style of which was typical during the early 20th century. John also made portraits of religious figures and members of her local congregation. Her six known paintings of the founder of the Dominican Order of the Sisters of Charity, Mère Poussepin, four of which are on display in the exhibition, are considered some of her greatest works. She based this likeness on a small black and white, cheaply printed prayer card, and yet the sitter is imbibed with a vitality and individuality that surpasses the image John was working from. She also persisted with the habit of sketching members of the congregation even after the preacher told her it was sinful to be drawing instead of paying attention to the sermon. John would make these sketches in situ and later work them up in her studio. One of these works, Two Ladies in Church, on loan from a private collection, shows an unusual fluidity in her application of watercolour, and yet the subject is typical of John’s church scenes, with the figures depicted from a distance and facing away from us. The impression we get from these works is of John subtly observing and capturing these people in quiet moments of contemplation.

This religious fervour and a desire for independence and solitude after the end of her relationship with Rodin likely contributed to the perception of her as a reclusive character. This perception may have

Mère Poussepin (1653-1744), oil on canvas, c.1915-20, The Barber Institute of Fine Art, © The Henry Barber Trust, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham.

OPPOSITE:  Two Ladies in Church, watercolour on paper, 1910s-1920s © Private Collection

A Corner of the Artist’s Room in Paris, oil on canvas, 1907–9 © Sheffield Museums Trust

also been encouraged by John’s interest in depicting interior scenes, as if this focus implies she was confined to these spaces. Yet this fascination with interiors was not limited to Gwen John’s art, many of her contemporaries were drawn to capture these private spaces. Works by artists such as Pierre Bonnard and Vilhelm Hammershøi are on display in the exhibition alongside John’s, demonstrating how progressive her work really was. The reality was that she was a radically modern woman, well-connected in the art and social scenes of

both London and Paris. Her brother predicted that in “fifty years’ time I’ll be known as the brother of Gwen John”. This exhibition seeks to redress her significance. n

Gwen John: Art and Life in London and Paris is on from 21 October –14 April 2024 at the Holburne Museum. Exhibition curated by Dr Alicia Foster, in partnership with Pallant House Gallery, Chichester and the Holburne Museum. holburne.org

A New Journey has Begun

In any auction, objects will have been brought together from numerous sources. There will be treasures that have been in the same family for a long time; other items that have travelled with their owners from country to country; some from dealer to dealer; others from auction to auction; many will have travelled from century to century.

All of these items form a large family of strangers where, for example, the Chinese vase (which learned English during its long stay in the country) shares its tales with a George II mahogany demi-lune tea table and with the French clock in gilt bronze. But soon the `family`, which has only recently met and become familiar, will be scattered again and taken away to an antiques shop or to a new family or perhaps even to a museum where they will meet other `relatives and friends`.

In the past, upon arriving at an auction, you were met by a very different sort of audience: over there a stately countess with a bird's beak sits with her lorgnettes. Beside her, a banker and a baron are alongside the city's most remarkable art and antiques dealer. Closer to the podium, where the objects are displayed by the auction house's porters, some regular customers take their seats, as well as representatives of museums or perhaps those who were just a little hard of hearing.

The auctioneer would sit up above them all in his rostrum. His trained voice, at once penetrating and a little dry but quite clear, echoed throughout the hall. His ear caught every command, as reliable as a radio antenna; and his eye noted the slightest movement of a finger or of a pen, each raised only a fraction to make the subtlest indication of a bid. When the auctioneer acknowledged the bid his voice had a sonorous authorityand carried a slight smile of gratitude, of course.

Today it all looks so different. The audience is still there, the bidders are there too –they remain much the same as before though far more plentiful these days - but now the bidding takes place online. The banker sits at his large desk, perhaps in New York, perhaps in Paris, perhaps in London. The collector with a passion for fashion is sitting in a café in Soho and has found a nice object that she would like to show off in her blog. The countess with her gold lorgnettes is seated in her stately home and the town's antiques dealer is bidding efficiently with his mobile phone on the bus as it rolls through town. All of them are involved in today's timed online auctions.

George III giltwood wall mirrors, paintings by Gainsborough, prints by Hockney, silverware, porcelain from all eras, fine jewels, dining chairs from the homes of noblemen all end their journey with a new destination. New travels for old treasures have begun. Perhaps the objects will meet again someday, just like old friends, in a new place and for a new generation and each will speak silently of its own wanderings across the great expanse of the auction world

Tom Österman Senior Client Executive at Auctionet

Lawrences AUCTIONEERS

Wessex Salerooms:

01373 822337

Emperor of Rome: the fact & fiction

We love hearing about the exploits of Roman emperors, because of the addictive tales of excess, depravity, cruelty and murder. Mary Beard’s new book Emperor of Rome looks at these rulers from a different perspective –through the eyes of ordinary people –and suggests that not all the stories are necessarily true. Words by Emma Clegg.

It was pretty unusual for a Roman Emperor to die a natural death, and those who succeeded as emperor invariably had a hand in the previous one’s demise. Murder, poisoning, suicide, matricide, mariticide, filicide, fratricide, strangling, execution, lynching, torture were all a standard part of the essential pattern of (life and) death for so many of these sovereign rulers.

It’s not just the deaths of the elite in the Roman Empire that makes this period so colourful and endlessly fascinating. It’s the stories drawn from sources such as Suetonius, Tacitus, and Cassius Dio about the sensational and shocking exploits of individual emperors that are lodged in our minds. Tiberius (d.37 AD), for example, was accused of flinging people off cliffs for minor slights; Nero (d.68 AD) – the one who was said to have fiddled while Rome burnt (even though fiddles didn’t exist at the time) – set out to cruelly persecute the Christians, including wrapping them in animal skins to be torn apart by dogs. The paranoid Caligula (murdered 41 AD) had his own mother beaten to death, threw an entire section of a gladiatorial audience into the arena to be eaten by beasts for his own amusement, and planned to appoint his horse as a consul.

Mary Beard is on a mission to change the perception of these emperors as all being self-absorbed, decadent, depraved, cruel psychopaths. “After a lifetime of teaching Roman history I saw that

those lurid, sometimes sadistic anecdotes that are always told about Roman emperors are important, but they aren't necessarily true. We see the Roman Empire as if it was almost one psychopath after the next, with a very occasional goodie in between, but no empire was sustained for as long as the Roman Empire if it was ruled only by mad psychopaths and nothing else – and so I wanted to try to see behind those stories.”

Beard’s latest book, Emperor of Rome, shines a spotlight on those who ruled the Roman Empire from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BC) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 AD), a period that saw just under 30 emperors. It takes readers into the palace corridors, and beyond the hype of politics, power and succession and looks at the lives of ordinary Romans, providing an insight into the relationship between ruler and ruled.

Beard does this by focusing on the ordinary things – and asking questions such as how the Romans lived, what was the role of emperor, how they organised their succession and who were the other people in their lives. “If you ask those questions, you see that the emperors do have things in common – it is the same job, actually. The Roman emperors are much more similar than they are different. By looking beneath the surface at the ordinary things, you also get an insight into what all those anecdotes are doing. They are

partly about people outside the palace, wondering what happens inside the palace.”

Beard doesn’t baulk at relishing in the colourful stories of the Roman emperors, with all the quirky idiosyncrasies that have made them memorable, but uses them to shed light on the Roman imperial system in a different way. One example is a section focusing on “the many women and men who brought their problems, large and small, to the man at the top, from lost inheritances to chamber pots falling from upstairs windows with fatal consequences”. As well as receiving letters from private individuals with more means, little pieces of papyrus were pressed into the emperor’s hands when he presided over public greetings at the palace or as he was carried through the streets. Each contained a request of some sort. Some of the responses that emperors gave to the requests that came in are still preserved on stone, on sheets of bronze or on papyrus across the Roman Empire. These requests are often about taxation, inheritance, illness and debts, but others reveal everyday incidents, such as someone wanting compensation for a cow which was killed in enemy action and another asking about a disagreement over going bird-hunting on a neighbour’s property.

“Part of the point of the book, and that’s why I start with Elegabalus, is to say that this isn't necessarily literally true. But it gives you a true image of how people imagined Elegabalus. What was it like to imagine an emperor worse than anybody else had ever been? I don’t think the rose petals theory is true, but that doesn’t matter. It’s the moral that it’s constantly drawing to your attention. It’s the idea of what is the most generous thing an emperor could do? Well, he could shower you with rose petals at dinner. But when Elagabalus does it, it is so generous, it kills you. There's a moral there.”

“What we see very clearly in what has survived is the expectation that the emperor is accessible to the trivial problems of his subjects. How it worked in practice is harder because we don’t know exactly who framed the answers. Occasionally the emperor himself did. There’s a story about Hadrian (d.138 AD) who was confronted with a question of whether a baby born to a woman 11 months after her husband's death could count as legitimate. The story went that Hadrian went up to his library, looked in the scientific textbooks, and came back and said, ‘Yes’. Which was even by ancient scientific standards a slightly odd reply, but he was at least doing his own research.

“What's interesting in these examples is the accessibility of the emperor. You can see through his eyes some bits of the lives and problems of people we don’t usually see. The ordinary people who’ve lost their cows.”

Beard has some sympathy with the ruling emperors, because they are victims of their situation and constantly under threat: “It’s dangerous, it’s friendless in a way, and the system corrupts everybody, including the emperor, who knows that no-one is telling him the truth. It’s a system of deceit and deception. Some of them were perfectly decent guys on their own terms; others weren’t. But they are trapped in a system where everything is a pretence.

“The extreme parodies of character that we see are almost always invented after they are dead. One of the safest things to do in the Roman Empire is to dump on the previous emperor when a new one comes to power. But we need to remember that an awful lot more of the emperor’s time was spent in signing his letters than it was in having sex in the swimming pool. Let’s get interested in the admin. Because that’s where he spends a lot of time.”

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Elegabalus (d.222 AD) – who became emperor at 14 and was assassinated at 18, and is now believed by some modern historians to have been transgender –features in the opening chapter. Beard introduces him as a dramatic example to question the validity of some of the extreme caricatures of the emperors. His hair-raising highlights included marrying a vestal virgin, divorcing her and then marrying her again; hosting a dinner where he served 600 ostrich heads; making one of his exotic dancers the head of the Praetorian Guard; and releasing poisonous snakes into the audience at the Circus Maximus for his own amusement. He was also known for smothering his dinner party guests with rose petals.

The scale of the Roman Empire was astonishing. At its height it stretched from Scotland to the Sahara, Portugal to Iraq, with an estimated population outside Italy itself in the order of 50 million. So the ordinary people in those places must have had very different experiences of everyday life. So what about Roman Britain?

“Roman Britain was about the most backward province in the Roman Empire that you could possibly imagine. The Romans encouraged the development of towns, and the old elite from pre Roman times would have invested in towns, wearing togas, having forums and taking baths. But that was probably a minority of the population of the province – if you went out into the country, you would find smallholders and small farmers who were living life almost exactly as they did before the Romans came – they were just paying taxes to somebody different.

“In Bath the Roman Baths have this wonderful temple pediment. That, for me, sums up all the ambivalence about whether in Bath you felt Roman or British. You’ve got the great classical pediment with the head of the Gorgon, during the Roman thing, and then you’ve got so many other references to local deities and symbols. That sums up the ambivalence – that the people in Bath would have been part one thing, part another, and they would have sometimes done the Roman thing and sometimes not. In Britain, the elite at least are straddling two worlds.” n

Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World by Mary Beard, Profile Books, hardback, £30.

Mary Beard joins Topping & Co in the Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road on 10 October at 7.30pm. £30 entrance, including a copy of the book. toppingbooks.co.uk

No empire was sustained for as long as the Roman Empire if it was ruled only by mad psychopaths...

The Roses of Heliogabalus, 1888, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema depicting the young Roman emperor Elagabalus (203–222 AD) hosting a banquet.

The farm by the lake

From empty fields with no tracks and trees came a community agricultural enterprise that brought a host of volunteers and plentiful organic produce to the land. The result is a farm where crops are grown in rotation, with rich wildlife habitats, where biodiversity is valued and visitors are always welcome. Emma Clegg visits The Community Farm in Chew Magna

Once upon a time (not so very long ago) agriculture relied on countless small farms to produce the foods that sustained the population. However since the 1960s agriculture has become dominated by large-scale corporations using industrial processes and fertilisers and pesticides that exploit animals, destroy natural habitats and generate pollution and climate-change emissions. The resulting food produce is lower cost, but doesn’t have local provenance and falls short on quality and goodness. Now small independent and family-run farms use only 8% of all agricultural land.

Thankfully The Community Farm in Chew Magna, overlooking Chew Valley Lake, has a local chunk of this percentage, and they are doing things very differently. The project grew from the initiative of organic farmer Luke Hasell who owns the land and Phil Haughton, founder of Better Food organic supermarkets in Bristol, who teamed up to create a Community Supported Agriculture project.

They started with empty fields in 2011. There were no tracks, no trees, no structures, no irrigation system, no crops. Just grass and a cold tap. They wanted to create a community owned farm that would convert the land to organic, allow nature to flourish, grow vegetables for sale locally, and most importantly welcome people onto the land. Chair of Trustees Angela Raffle, who was part of the initial group, says, “The reason we wanted to start the farm was because talking to people about what’s wrong with the food system is a waste of time, because all you do is make people feel gloomy. Whereas if you say ‘come and spend a day on the land’ everybody goes home feeling better.”

The first stages were funded by selling shares to establish enough working capital to put up polytunnels and buy a tractor.

“The early years were really very difficult”, Angela recollects. “We were literally just working in a muddy field. But gradually we established our identity. And we got the hang of growing. It was a slow process. We managed to start publicising that we sell boxes and we started to look after our volunteers properly. So in the early days, we had this hardy crew of volunteers who were completely impervious to stress and didn’t mind what weather it was –they were just determined to make the project a success.”

Funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation a couple of years later enabled the employment of a community farmer to look after the committed volunteers, who have continued to sustain the workings of the farm, especially the planting and harvesting.

While the production and sale of organic fruit and vegetables has been the priority to ensure the farm’s survival, The Community Farm is so much more than a food delivery business. “When we ask our

customers why they choose us, they tell us that it’s partly the organic produce, but also because it’s a local business with a short supply chain. And nobody can individually profit from what we’re doing, because everything goes back into the development of our resources and our communities programmes,” says Angela.

As well as having volunteers every week of the year, the farm invites diverse groups from the community: young children, refugees, teenagers, those suffering with their mental health and women’s groups. It also works with Earthwise (who specialise in outdoor fun for children) and Ecowild (who specialise in nature connection and wellbeing). Of Earthwise, Angela says, “The way the children’s day is organised is very earth-connected. They start by learning about the soil, the little microbes and mycorrhizas. Then they pick some crops and then cook pizzas in the cob oven. After that they will come with their little hi-vis jackets and see the vegetable boxes being packed.”

The farm also teams up with charities who bring refugees and asylum seekers to experience the farm and help out. “Some of the refugees are incredibly traumatised and still have an uncertain status. One of them said to us, “This is the first time I have felt joyful,” says Angela. Another young visitor to the farm’s Learning Area came with crippling stomach pains caused through anxiety, which disappeared throughout the day spent in the Learning Area gardens. Thanks to funders and supporters, many of these community experiences, along with various wellbeing groups and activities, are free.

Corporate groups also use the facilities, renting out one of the spaces for a team-building activity. “We supply them with lunch and they spend the afternoon on the farm. It’s fantastic for team building, because if you all go and harvest leeks together, the chat is just of a new quality.”

The growing land at The Community Farm covers about eight acres and crops are grown in fields, in the minimum-till market garden and in four polytunnels. Crops are grown in rotation over six years: cabbages, onions, squash, and a mix of chard, spinach, lettuce and beans before the soil is rested and restored for two years in a fertility building ley. Market Garden crops include salad, beans, courgettes, squash, alliums, chard and herbs. The polytunnels produce tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and herbs, as well as chillies and peppers. No artificial fertilisers, pesticides or chemical weed control are used.

“The evidence that conventional farming is bad for the natural world is stark, but the evidence that it’s bad for human health is getting stronger and stronger”, says Angela. It’s very hard to choose organic in a supermarket because there is a ‘choice’ every time, whereas if you shop from us, you make that decision once –you say, ‘I’m going organic’.”

Wildlife and biodiversity are actively encouraged by the farm, which has regular visits from skylarks, woodpeckers, owls, lapwings, buzzards, kestrels, stoats, badgers and deer, and more recently there has been evidence of dormice (an endangered species) nesting in the hedges and tawny owls in the owl boxes. Groups of volunteers regularly do butterfly and bee counts, figures that are fed into the national database.

This does sometimes affect what crops are grown. “We don’t grow corn on the cob, because we’ve got badgers who just come and eat the whole lot,” says Angela. Despite the lack of corn on the cob, the badgers are thriving and The Somerset Badger group keeps a close eye on them.

During the pandemic the farm’s weekly deliveries went up to around 1000, as people – faced with the depletion of key produce in the supermarkets – sought local supplies of organic food. But in 2022 the orders fell back due to the cost of living crisis, resulting in critical decisions about how to keep the business thriving. With a massive effort from volunteers, staff who reduced their hours temporarily, and a grant from WECA (West of England Combined Authority) the future became more certain.

“Fast forward to now and we have a million-pound turnover and about 15 (full-time equivalent) staff. We do around 600 home-deliveries each week of delicious organic foods, but we desperately want to get back to 1000 customers a week to enable us to do more with the land for local people and wildlife.”

This is an achievement of community enterprise where many threads are woven into this productive and nourishing centre of activity that harks back to the small farms once peppered all around our countryside.

In the words of Wendy, a volunteer who was taking part in a butterfly count: “I love it here. It’s a sociable experience with like-minded people who are into good food and nature and you can just go at your own pace. And I think it’s the only job I’ve ever had where at the end of the day you are effusively thanked.” n

The Community Farm, Denny Lane, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SZ. Organic home deliveries are available via the online shop at thecommunityfarm.co.uk

The Veg and Fruit Boxes start from under £10 and groceries, eggs, dairy and dairy alternatives are also sold

Harvest fundraiser at The Community Farm

FOOD REVIEW

Pomegranate

88 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BD; Tel: 01225 462992; pomegranatebath.co.uk

Emma Clegg doesn’t need to fight any dragons to enjoy the delicacies

No 88 Walcot Street has a marked architectural presence. This imposing Grade II listed limestone ashlar building dating from 1904 was built to serve the nearby church of St Michael. Indeed within the tall arched recess above the door is a statue of St Michael slaying the dragon. It’s a grand, late Victorian British entranceway charged by biblical references and coloured Art Nouveau glass. The interior has the same generous impact with its large windows, chandeliers and the wooden vaulted roof that swoops above you.

Until recently this was the home of Aqua (Italian) restaurant, but now it has been taken on by new owners and named Pomegranate, specialising in the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean, in particular the food of Turkey and Greece. Perhaps this is a cultural jump too far, but appropriately Saint Michael was an archangel, with the word coming from the Greek words arche (prince) and angelos (messenger).

Historical strands established, we took our place on the plumply upholstered aquamarine banquettes that run along the length of the walls, each side of the altar-like illuminated grand bar on the far wall. The menu delivers no surprises in content – think hummus, tzatziki, baba ghanoush, grilled halloumi, melitzano to start, with a bowl of plump Kalamata olives – and yet the flavours are superb, the presentation so attractive and the eating experience sublime. Our choices, Falafel with Chickpea Fritters on a bed of hummus, and Borek, filo pastry filled with Anatolian feta cheese, spinach and sun-dried tomato and fig concasse were greedily shared, both served with the most delicious red cabbage, cucumber and pomegranate salad glistening with dressing. The option was there to opt for a Cold Meze Platter between two, with hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, melitzana and olives. (That’s for next time.)

Mains for us brought Chicken Shish (hard to say at speed) with chunks of roasted oily peppers, tomatoes and onions served with salad and rice, and Lamb Moussaka with potatoes, aubergines and courgette, served with salad. The Shish was delightful, full of moisture and flavour, and the spiced meat, delicate texture of eggplant and the creamy béchamel of the moussaka created a rich tasting experience. Other options included Grilled Halloumi, Lamb Kofte and Vegan Moussaka (vegan is well catered for here).

The three dessert options offered Baileys Tiramisu with Amaretto, mascarpone and coffee; Baklava (a traditional recipe from south east Turkey, one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine, the recipe said to date right back to the Assyrians in the 8th century BC); and Nedimos (baked butternut squash with honey syrup with tahini and walnut). We chose the first two, the tiramisu a creamy boozy spoonscooping pleasure ride and the baklava (filo pastry, pistachio, honey sauce) combined the soft honeyflavoured strings of pastry with the melting pools of ice cream.

The food at Pomegranate is authentic, well-curated and served with bundles of flavour, and the prices are highly accessible (two courses £15.95 and three £18.95). There is also a dining room downstairs that can be used for large parties. I’d say that all the elements –the architecture, the food, the friendly service, and the prices – are guaranteed to take the breath away –even of St Michael’s dragon. n

This meal for two at Pomegranate, without drinks, totalled £41.40. Pomegranate is open for lunch Monday to Saturday 12pm–2.30pm and dinner Monday to Thursday 5.30pm–8.30

of Turkey and Greece at this newly opened restaurant in Walcot Street.

The Baileys Tiramisu was a creamy boozy spoon-scooping pleasure ride

Step into a world ofculinary delight at our new Greek and Turkish restaurant, nestled within the walls ofa charming chapel. Immerse yourselfin the ambiance of our chapel-turned-restaurant, where history meets the mediterranean in a perfect harmony of flavours.

Delight in a 2-course meal for just £15.95 Or 3-course at only £18.95

From savory kebabs to time-honoured moussaka, our menu pays homage to both Greek and Turkish traditions, offering a diverse palette of tastes.

Whether you’re seeking a romantic dinner or an unforgettable meal with friends and family, Pomegranate Meze promises a warm and friendly dining experience.

We’re also thrilled to accommodate large parties and celebrations in our private rooms.

To reserve your table, contact us at 01225 462992 or visit www.pomegranatebath.co.uk for bookings and inquiries

Lights washing in the wind

Set in Dorothy House’s hospice woodland, Bruce Munro’s Fireflies offer the opportunity to dedicate a beacon of light to celebrate the life of somebody special. Emma Clegg talks to the artist about the concepts behind his work, and discovers a deeply felt connection with the world around him, one that’s perfectly in tune with the work of Dorothy House.

Light artist Bruce Munro is telling me about the Aboriginal word ‘Putuwa’ meaning compassion: “It’s to do with putting your hand above a fire, absorbing its warmth, and then holding somebody else’s hand and passing the warmth of the fire on to them. That was really what was in my mind for the Fireflies for Dorothy House, because I just felt that you needed that connection with somebody.”

Wiltshire-based Bruce Munro, who creates beautiful, immersive, light-based art installations, in 2020 gifted Dorothy House hundreds of individually handmade ‘Fireflies’ for installation in the woodlands at Winsley House. Each Firefly is a constellation of separate small lights, which glow from dusk to dawn. With each light representing the life and soul of a loved one, friends and family are able to watch the glistening Fireflies dancing in the night sky and feel connected to the special people who are no longer here – and to one another. Each light purchased also goes directly back into supporting more local

patients and their families through the most difficult of times.

This year the immersive space of reflection in Firefly Woods has been expanded to contain almost 20,000 individual lights, which move in harmony with the leaves of the woodland surrounding them. This is part of a new partnership between Dorothy House and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to increase nature connectedness and wellbeing for people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.

Munro’s firefly vision was inspired by a book he read as a child, Kim by Rudyard Kipling. “There was this wonderful paragraph when the old llama finds the River of the Arrow, and this stream of enlightenment appeared to him. I had always wondered how I could put on an imaginative interpretation of that.

“The light movement in the Fireflies is very simple”, continues Bruce. It is created by fiber optics and the gentle air movements that you get during the day and evening. They are almost like grasses, and they just get gently washed in the wind. When you have thousands of these it becomes a dance, and is quite magical.”

Munro took a roundabout path to becoming a world-renowned light artist. He studied Fine Art at Bristol (formerly a polytechnic; now UWE) where his work was focused on painting, although he was always fascinated by light and as a student used to layer bits of paper and put them up against the windows to create interesting light gradations. A working holiday in Australia led to a permanent move there and a number of years later he came across some light products in a shop window, was fascinated by them and started playing around with ideas for lights before starting a commercial lighting business.

First conceived in 1992, the installation that made Munro’s name as an artist was The Field of Light in Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock). This large-scale site-specific installation slowly changes colour, creating a shimmering field of light. “It was really an interpretation of an experience in an amazing landscape in the Northern Territory. For years I just kept on wondering, ‘how am I going to make this?’”, he says.

“The connection I had with this landscape of red desert was very visceral – I wondered how the place that I knew intellectually was a

Field of Light, Uluru. Copyright © 2016 Bruce Munro. All rights reserved. Photography by Serena Munro

HRH The Princess Royal meeting Bruce and Serena Munro

desert, emotionally was full of life. And in truth, physically it is full of life. It was just this feeling that I had inside myself, first that I was completely alive. And it was also responding the sort of energy that you get from feeling at one was the world, connected with everything. It was such a joyful feeling, – so powerful.”

Munro says, “I saw a landscape of illuminated stems that, like dormant seeds in a dry desert, quietly wait until darkness falls, under a blazing blanket of southern stars, to bloom with gentle rhythms of light.”

Munro has created other site-specific interpretations of Fields of Light since Uluru, including one at the Holburne Museum in 2010; Forest of Light (2012) at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; River of Light (2013) at Waddesdon Manor, the Rothschild Collection, Buckinghamshire; and Sensorio in Paso Robles, California (2019). In 2010 he created Water Towers, an installation of 69 towers built from plastic bottles of water and fiber optics at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, based around the discovery that the Earth has a heartbeat of 69 beats per day.

Many of Munro’s installations are conceived at scale – Uluru covers 49,000 square meters – yet sustainability is integral to his work. “When an installation is deconstructed, the components that you can’t use again get repurposed, ground back to their basic form or reprocessed. Many of our installations are now solar-driven, which means that you don’t have to have these big electrical cable infrastructures going into the land. And it feels appropriate to know that an installation is drawing power from the sun, and that it exists within a very sustainable form.”

Dorothy House recently welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to celebrate the opening of the expanded Firefly Woods and she accepted a Firefly in memory of her late mother and father, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Anyone can purchase a light on a Firefly for a year. Dorothy House hospice is also offering the chance to purchase an exclusive NFT (nonfungible token) of a Firefly. Dorothy House will receive 95% of the proceeds of each Firefly NFT sold. Owners will receive a photograph and video of the Firefly installation, with a unique Solana blockchain tag, allowing the owner to keep a part of the exhibition with them.

Anyone is welcome to visit the Firefly woods at any time they wish as a space of solace and reflection in grief.

Munro’s art is totally at one with the compassionate outlook of Dorothy House. In Bruce’s words, “Art isn’t a competition; it’s a way to understand the world around you and express that to others.” n

Firefly NFTs can be purchased via the online donation form on the Dorothy House website. Firefly dedicators are welcome to visit the Fireflies at Winsley House at any time. dorothyhouse.org.uk

Firefly Woods at Dorothy House

Take a piste of my heart

Colmar Originals provides highly technical ski wear with great focus on functionality combined with immaculate styling. Move freely in the mountains with a collection that is adaptable to every level of performance. Includes some pieces at sale prices. Shop at: colmar.com/gb

Men’s Padded Ski Jacket c with hood, £5599

Oversized Unisex c Stockinettestitch Hat, £55 c

Women’s Stretch Ski Jacket c with hood-collar, £539 c

Teflon EcoElite finish c technical ski gloves c with faux fur cuffs, £99 c

Men’s Ski Jacket with c double padding, £535 9

Padded Ski Pants c with belt, £2999

Ski Gilet with large c cowl hood, £275c

Women’s Plain-colouredc Padded Ski Trousers,c £216.30c

5 reasons to ski in Méribel

We found out from the travel experts at F&P Travel

Sandwiched between the soaring peaks of Val Thorens and the wide open pistes of Courchevel, Méribel is located in the heart of the Three Valleys making it a hard to beat ski destination. A stay in Méribel offers the perfect blend of stunning scenery, extensive ski terrain, lively bars and restaurants, luxurious chalets and family-friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re a novice or experienced skier, it has something for everyone. Here are five reasons why you should choose Méribel for a ski holiday:

1. Extensive Ski Terrain

Méribel is part of the vast Three Valleys ski domain, which is one of the largest ski areas in the world. With access to over 600 kilometers of slopes and trails, skiers of all levels can enjoy a wide variety of terrain, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging expert runs. This expansive ski area ensures that you'll never run out of new slopes to explore.

2.Beautiful Alpine Setting

Méribel is widely regarded as one of Europe’s prettiest ski resorts, with charming wooden chaletstyle architecture it is extremely picturesque. It is also located in a valley of forests, valleys, and peaks with stunning views of the Alps and Mont-Blanc, this beautiful scenery adds to the overall skiing experience.

3. Luxurious chalets

Méribel is known for having a wide range of highend accommodation options and the luxurious chalets that do not disappoint. Stay with F&P Travel in one of their handpicked Catered, Serviced or Self-Catered chalets excellently located in Méribel. Featuring all the mod cons, fantastic facilities, unbeatable access to the slopes, superb ski routes home and everything you need on your door step. We’re confident you’ll agree they are the perfect base for your stay in the Three Valleys.

4. Vibrant Apres-Ski

One of the things we love about skiing is the apresski! Méribel has a lively apres-ski scene with numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs, where you can unwind and socialize after a day on the slopes. Not to be missed are the Rond Point, Lodge Du Village or the Folie Douce for live music and ski boot dancing.

5. Snow sure for the whole season

With more than 85% of the ski area above 1,800 meters, Méribel ensures incomparable snow. The resort also invests continually in the lift and snow making infrastructure, making sure the pistes are snow covered and getting around the Three Valleys from here is fast and easy.

The Swiss Alps by train

With the highest railway in Europe – powered by local hydroelectricity – and easy train routes taking travellers from home turf to Alpine terrain, plus historic landscapes and World Cup-calibre skiing, the self-sufficient, storied region of Jungfrau is a mix of charmingly old-school and encouragingly modern. Words by Amanda Nicholls

Devouring hot rosti in a Swiss restaurant thousands of metres up the towering Eiger Glacier, after a bracing morning skiing the Bernese peaks, a rascal of old boys from Basel spontaneously breaks into traditional song.

Each ducks out of the thunderous choral performance occasionally for a bite of fresh apple pie from the glacier bakery, a pinch of spirit-boosting snuff, and a quick glance outside at the wild, wuthering, blinding white of the mid-blizzard weather. The scene seems humorously, delightfully old-fashioned, as if we’ve strayed into a 1930s gentlemen’s winter sports club.

Later, another living tableau – the peaceful green hollow at the foot of the Eiger’s formidable north face – conjures a feeling of bygone times and even imagined worlds. Sounding like something from an ancient fairytale, Jungfrau’s alpaca-dotted village of Grindelwald was once hiked, and traversed with horse and carriage, by artists and composers ranging from Byron and Mendelssohn to Goethe and Wagner. The adjacent valley of Lauterbrunnen’s 72 rumbling waterfalls captured hearts and influenced works, even inspiring Tolkien’s elvish kingdom of Rivendell. Steeped in the folklore surrounding a trio of giant icy summits (the Eiger, meaning ‘ogre’; Jungfrau, ‘virgin maiden’; and Mönch, ‘monk’) the area has been anthropomorphised through a tale of unrequited love – felt for the maiden by the ogre, whose designs were constantly thwarted by the monk.

Romanticism’s respect for nature seems to be shared by many residents – still central to their rituals and way of life. Each spring sees their revered dairy cows paraded down from steep ridges, festooned with bells and flowers and celebrated with yodellers and horn players. Waste water is collected and channelled with particular attention paid to water protection zones, and the skyline remains relatively undisturbed, with minimal pylons kept low.

Despite feeling like a melting pot of Swiss history, tradition, and fantasy, this storied ski region is at once modern, progressive, forwardthinking. Its mountain transport and ski lift networks are powered by their own hydroelectric station (and have been for over a century) and its people are conscious of contemporary realities. One of the world’s most altitudinous international research stations, the solitary Sphinx Observatory, tests air quality and monitors glacial melt – although it could easily be mistaken for a Bond baddie HQ. There hasn’t been a winter this green in three decades and, as our relentlessly energetic 66year-old ski guide Sandra points out, the mountains make up 60% of

Switzerland’s surface area so they need to find solutions, all while keeping local economies stable and avoiding mass displacement in years to come.

Travelling from England by train is a joy, especially for the fearful flyer used to forcing themselves – sweaty palms and all – on to a plane to get their snow fix, and being clued up on the carbon savings reduces the discomfort around muscling in on this beautiful corner of the globe for a while. It’s London to Paris first on the Eurostar, Paris to Basel with TGV Lyria, and Swiss Railways for the last leg from Basel to Interlaken where we find lodgings at Hotel Interlaken, a former monastery shelter where 15th-century pilgrims once rested. The ride is smooth, efficient, comfortable, and far from the faff that switching to train travel for such a trip might seem. Speeding through English, French and Swiss countryside takes in winning snapshots of medieval Dijon and Bern, and the grey-blue lakeside turrets of 12th-century Thun Castle, coming into view on the final approach, look nothing short of magical.

Locomotives can be the theme not only for the journey to Jungfrau but throughout. Stay in car-free village Wengen, accessible only by the Wengernalp Railway, and descend via cable car after the day’s pursuits to the sight of trains criss-crossing the woodland landscape below like tiny toys on a play mat. Climb aboard a 19th-century cogwheel railway carriage and ride to Schnynige Platte, the starting point of hikes passing marmot colonies and lined with Alpine flowers (cue Edelweiss). A new train station opening in the valley will soon encourage people to ‘park and ride’, and reduce traffic on the road up to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Up on the Jungfraujoch – the icy saddle connecting the Jungfrau and the Mönch and known as the ‘top of Europe’ – a glacier train chugs along the continent’s highest railway station, through tunnels hand-carved by Italian workers in 1912. The pioneering technical achievement harnesses its own brake power to generate new electricity, creating enough energy from its downhill run to feed back into the grid and power its uphill climb.

To get there from the uber-modern Grindelwald Terminal – greenroofed to promote biodiversity and provide heat and sound insulation –we climb aboard the Eiger Express gondola cableway which ascends the north face and utilises tri-cable technology, meaning support masts are few, and no forest path had to be cut to accommodate them.

Up at the Eigergletscher station, having resisted the temptation to strap on skis and fly back down again, we change for the Jungfrau Railway and make our way to the Jungfraujoch. The self-restraint is

Fondue in the sun, chased down with Switzerland's waste-conscious soft drink of choice, Rivella

En route to Jungfraujoch ice palace

worth it as we alight, some slightly giddy on account of the thinner air, to find more superlatives: Lindt’s loftiest chocolate shop and the Alps’ largest ice palace. Its karstic caves are full of ice sculptures, aged wine, and whisky barrels, with new heat exchanger cooling systems making use of waste heat to warm water, restaurants, and mountain dwellings.

If Mother Nature sees fit not to dish you out 80mph winds of -12, there are also incredible panoramic views – including even the Black Forest, on clear days – to be had from the alfresco viewing deck.

As for the skiing, there’s a mix with plenty to challenge the beginner, intermediate and proficient skier: kilometre after kilometre of undulating piste plus sheer drops, racing circuits, a freestyle park and more. Among the options for those who don’t ski or board are idyllic winter trails, cliff-face walks, zip-wiring, gliding, night-sledging, and a large treasure hunt on the last weekend of the winter season.

We enthusiastically attempt World Cup downhill run the Lauberhorn – open to guests after the spectacular January contest. It’s 4.2km of fun (and falling over) until you whizz into Wengen. You get your photo taken in the starting house and have your speed measured to see how you compare with the greats, who tackle it at 160 km/h while navigating challenging jumps and a 42% incline.

Our efforts are celebrated at Snowpenair, Jungfrau’s long-running music festival, where the après is erupting. Having made it to a third decade of hosting international stars such as Bryan Adams plus Swiss institutions (Polo Hofer, Patent Ochsner), it proves there’s nothing quite like skiing past the snow pines and over rocky brows to discover a huge party unfolding before you. We cackle until our sides hurt while making our way, arm in arm, across a human obstacle course of revellers doing their best to stay standing on the slippery slopes, the camaraderie as warming as the gluhwein.

Permanent après hotspots include down-to-earth Holzerbar, named after the lumberjacks (or holzfäller) who frequent it, and the 1960s bus home to Grindelwald’s Bus Stop Bar, serving ‘motor oil’ coffee and hot ginger liqueur made with glacier water. Check out the music stage fashioned from an old caravan or join the pool party in the snow during Grindelwald Les Bains every February. With 200 mountains in its sights, revolving 360-degree restaurant Piz Gloria (as seen in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) is worth a stop as well.

Due in part to the diversity of the residents, the food offering is fairly varied. Plenty of Portuguese folk live in the area and the spectrum of visitors includes Indian and Chinese internationals drawn by Jungfrau’s Bollywood film locations as well as its natural wonders. If schnitzel isn’t your thing, you can find everything from Italian to Mongolian dishes, vegan fondue to currywurst, Asian noodles to aloo gobi in the glacier’s Indian restaurant. At some point you’ll likely come across Switzerland’s fizzy soft drink of choice – a mild, refreshing, waste-conscious whey creation made from milk processing by-products. Sounds gross; tastes surprisingly good.

Room for improvement here? Perhaps a direct London-to-Basel route would just have perfected the experience. Rumour has it that, as part of the great train travel revival, this could potentially be in the pipeline, and we are completely on board. n

HOWDOWEGETTHERE?

You can book the whole journey through Switzerland Travel Centre for no extra cost when booked as part of a holiday package, so you don’t need to buy each leg independently; switzerlandtravelcentre.com (for rail-only bookings, a booking fee of £35pp per return journey applies).

HOWMUCHDOESITCOST?

Standard return London to Paris from £78pp (Eurostar), standard one-way Paris to Basel from EUR 49pp (TGV Lyria EUR), standard one-way Basel to Interlaken from EUR 39pp (SBB).

Travel information

Grindelwald-First snowboarding

The Lauterbrunnen-Murren Rail & Cableway, one of Jungfrau's excellent rail links

CITY NEWS

Solar scheme proves popular

Residents and local businesses are being offered an easy way to invest in solar panels and battery storage to power their homes with clean energy. Bath & North East Somerset Council is participating in Phase 2 of the Solar Together West of England Scheme, a group-buying scheme that is being delivered in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and their partner iChoosr Ltd.

New menu with a French twist

The Francis Hotel in Bath has launched a brand-new menu with a French twist, curated by head chef Cyril Royer. Guests and residents are invited to travel to France on a plate with Boho Marché’s new menus, which are a celebration of the restaurant’s varied culinary inspirations. Originating from Limoges in France, Cyril has created a selection of dishes that encompass classic French cuisine with a gourmet twist. The menu includes French favourites such as moules-frites, confit of duck cassoulet and côte de boeuf to share, as well as delicious options such as slow roasted cauliflower steak and beetroot tarte tatin. For dessert, the new menus offer tempting choices such as chocolate fondant or St Honoré with caramel diplomat cream. In his new role at The Francis Hotel, Cyril will work to enhance Boho Marché’s culinary offering, promoting it as a must-visit destination restaurant in Bath. bohomarche.com

In the two weeks after registration opened more than 620 people registered their interest. During the first round of the scheme in 2021, a total of 1,620 property owners across B&NES registered with 278 installing solar panels and 176 installing battery storage systems.

B&NES has declared a climate emergency and is committed to providing the leadership for the district to become carbon neutral by 2030. One of the key priorities is a rapid and large-scale increase in local renewable energy generation. Homeowners can register with the Solar Together West of England groupbuying scheme for free, and businesses with a small or medium sized roof that could take up to 25 panels can also register. energyathome.org.uk

A new report released by Mastercard and the University of Bath reveals how rugby is set for a significant growth in global followers by 2025.

'The Future of Rugby' report –authored by sports scientists from the University’s Department for Health –identifies key ways through which rugby is positively impacting society around the globe, acting as a ‘force for good’ through inclusivity, health, education, the fan experience and sustainability.

The report features exclusive interviews conducted by University of Bath researchers with rugby legends and Mastercard ambassadors Dan Carter, Sébastien Chabal, Maggie Alphonsi, Safi N'Diaye, Bryan Habana and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, plus a host of personal stories of innovators from around the world . Drawing on data from World Rugby and from Nielsen, it forecasts a 10% growth in global followers and fans of rugby by 2025, along with a 17% increase in participation in this World Cup year. bath.ac.uk/campaigns/research-with-impact

Ensuring the legacy of Bath’s Postal Museum

The Trustees of the Bath Postal Museum are assessing the future of the museum after its recent closure. The privately run museum was established by the late Audrey Swindells with her late husband. The museum, which tells the story of written communication and contains many rare and valuable artefacts, was established in the basement of the couple’s home in Great Pulteney Street. The collection moved to the Old Post Office Building in Milsom Quarter

in 2006 but is now closed. During the closure the Museum’s Trustees will plan for its future. Work is under way to deliver a new Fashion Museum, located in the Old Post Office, as part of the council’s Milsom Quarter Masterplan, however the Postal Museum has not been asked to leave its location because of this.

A member of the Postal Board of Trustees said: “Our Trustees have taken steps to close it as sympathetically as possible. Some of our artefacts will be relocated to other museums and others will be located in the Bath Record Office. We are grateful for the support of the council in helping us manage this.” The council is committed to the independent museum sector and has let space in the Old Post Office to the Postal Museum rent-free since taking ownership of the building in 2022.

E-bikes in Bath

B&NES Council will closely monitor the impact on footways of the new e-bikes that have been rolled out in Bath. The new service sees the introduction of e-bikes as well as the escooter service. E-scooters, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes are commissioned by the West of England Combined Authority. A fleet of 500 shared ebikes and e-scooters is now in place in Bath following Tier taking over the contract. Some concerns have been expressed over potential impacts of the new e-bikes and how this will affect people with access needs. The council and combined authority have agreed plans to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme and a new mailbox for comments has been set up: micromobility@bathnes.gov.uk. Tier are deploying 10 Rangers in Bath to manage the scheme.

The future of Rugby looks bright

How to help your children or grandchildren buy their first home

For many young first-time buyers, it has been fairly common to receive a contribution from parents or family members to help with a house purchase. But with mortgage rates at a 15 year high, does the Bank of Mum and Dad really work?

You need to ensure that you can afford this level of financial support. This is important as once invested in a property, you will not be able to access the funds.

Then there are three ways parents can provide their children with funds to help them buy a house:

Gifts

You can give away up to £3,000 each per year tax-free (£6,000 if you haven’t made any gifts in the previous tax year). You can also make a tax-free gift to a child of up to £5,000 in the year in which they get married.

The principal tax to consider is inheritance tax (IHT). With larger gifts, these will be ‘potentially exempt transfers’ - if you survive the gift for seven years, it will not be liable for IHT. This is commonly referred to as ‘seven-year rule’ gifts.

However, if you were to die within the seven years, the gift may be taxed at 40% (depending on the size of the gift and available allowances at the time of death), with the potential tax liability tapering down after three years.

Any substantial gifts should be formally documented in a letter or deed of gift so that there is a record for future reference or in case the mortgage company requires evidence of the gift. If your child is purchasing the property with a partner, you should also consider putting a cohabitation agreement in place as this will help to determine how the property should be divided if the relationship ends.

Trusts

A trust adds a level of security and will be beneficial if you have any concerns about how your children might manage the money if it is not immediately invested in a house.

As trustees, you can continue to control the funds until such time as your children are ready to purchase a property.

Provided you do not put any more than your tax-free allowance for IHT, or ‘nil rate band’ (currently £325,000 each) into trust, there will be no immediate IHT implications of doing so and you will start the sevenyear clock running to remove the funds from your estates.

The taxation of trusts is a complex area and we always suggest you take legal advice before going down this route.

Loans

A loan will not reduce your IHT bill as the loan will be an asset in your estates. However, it does offer a little more control than an outright gift. You should be aware that a loaned deposit may restrict the availability of certain mortgages.

If you later choose to gift your loan, any outstanding balance will at that point be subject to the seven-year rule for IHT. As with gifts, any loans should be formally documented.

Other ways to help

Family Offset mortgages and buying jointly with your child offer alternatives ways to make a mortgage more affordable, although there are risks and considerations associated with both.

For more information on the specialist mortgages, please contact Residential Property Partner Alison Treble. For expert advice on tax and trusts, please contact Anne-Marie Worth. We are here to help.

Paying A Salary To A Family Member

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information contact us – call Tristan Wilcox-Jones, Samantha Taylor or Lucas Knight on 01225 445507

Call Tristan Wilcox-Jones, Samantha Taylor or Lucas Knight on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting

EDUCATION NEWS

New head at St Gregory’s

Saint Gregor y’s Bath has recently welcomed Mrs Melissa George as Headteacher. She succeeded Ms Ann Cusack following her decision to retire after six successful years as Head. Having graduated with a First Class Honours degree from the University of Manchester, Mrs George taught in Mexico before returning to the UK to teach English and Drama at schools across London, both in the state and private sector. Mrs George will be joining the school from St Augustine’s Priory in Ealing, an independent Catholic school where she has been Deputy Headteacher and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team since 2019.

“Saint Gregory’s is an incredibly special community and upholding its ethos and spirit of family will be central to my role. Everyone talks about the school being like a ‘family,’ and it truly is,” said Mrs George. st-gregorys.org.uk

Refurbishments at Prior Park College

Prior Park College has unveiled its new Sixth Form Centre, which has been rebuilt, refurbished and extended to consist of five spaces: social common room, kitchen, social study area, multi-functional classroom and quiet study room. The redevelopment was donated to the College by former pupil, Mr Andrew Shin.The Sixth Form Centre leads out to another area of the school that has been transformed over the summer, the New Founders’ Garden. Previously, this space was a thoroughfare for staff and students; it is now an inviting, social, landscaped space that complements the Health and Wellbeing Centre which sits alongside it. The garden has been designed so that areas can be used as outside classrooms in addition to being a quiet place to sit and decompress during a busy school day.

priorparkcollege.com

Sustainable food at KES

Working hard to be the greenest school in Bath, King Edward’s School has unveiled an enhanced sustainable food procurement and waste policy. Coinciding with an £115,000 investment in a new deli bar in the Willett Dining Hall, food sourcing across the school is now based on a set of principles that are mindful of waste, food miles and origin. Where possible, all food waste will be composted. KES is also committed to drastically reducing its food packaging and single use plastic. The new food procurement policy forms part of a wider School Sustainability Strategy, which has seen pupils taking a leading role and working closely with members of the Senior Management and Estates and Facilities teams, as the School seeks to establish an ambitious and allencompassing plan for the future. kesbath.com

When alumni shine

Let’s take some inspiration from former pupils of Prior Park College, the Royal High School and Millfield School who have achieved great success in business, as women in STEM, in sports and in music. Here are their stories so far....

Prior Park alumni

Royal High alumni

Millfield alumni

Tom Barton (PPA 2004) co-founded Honest Burgers in 2010 after leaving university. The business started by selling homemade burgers and chips from a glorified tent at weddings and small festivals. In 2011 Honest opened its first restaurant in Brixton; they now have 42 sites around the UK.

Tom launched Honest Farming 18 months ago, which aims to tackle the industry’s biggest sustainability challenge, beef, head on. Honest Farming is supporting regenerative agriculture while serving Honest customers the very best and tastiest burgers.

With A-levels in computer science, mathematics and English literature, alumna Freya Wills recently gained a First Class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham. Freya was sponsored through university by one of the Big Four accountancy firms, PwC, as part of their technology degree apprenticeship programmes. This involves completing a standard computer science degree alongside summer holiday placements and a year in industry. Freya is about to rejoin PwC within their Technology, Data and Analytics team in London where she will be involved in helping clients gain insights into their data, as well as introducing them to new technologies to improve the efficiency of their operations.

Six former Millfield students were called up to represent their countries in the 2023 Six Nations. Mako Vunipola (England), Josh Bayliss and Huw Jones (Scotland), Rhys Davies (Wales), Sam Harris (U20 England) and Eddie Erskine (U20 Scotland) were all on the team sheets. Sam Harris and Eddie Erskine in the class of 2021/22 helped Millfield Rugby win the prestigious St Joseph’s festival for a record seventh time in a row. They have both signed professional contracts with Bath Rugby.

Singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Rosie Smith joined Millfield Prep School as a sports scholar before transferring to take up a drama scholarship for Sixth Form. She left Millfield in 2018 to study at Rose Bruford College where she gained one of only 16 places to become an actor-musician. She released her debut single Talking with Your Hands highlighting domestic abuse and has recently performed at Glastonbury.

Long jumper Jazmin Sawyers attended Millfield from 2010-12 and was a talented all-rounder, excelling in academics, sport and the arts. She placed fourth in the Commonwealth Games before jumping for gold and securing a new British indoor record at the European Indoor Athletics Championships. She has her sights set on Olympic gold. millfieldschool.com

After leaving Prior Park College, Graham Paterson (PPA 2006) taught himself coding in his spare time and then went on to design the Deliveroo App. He also worked at Transferwise and used this experience to work as an adviser to a number of tech startups. Graham’s latest business venture, Jitty, is a search engine to help people find and buy their perfect home. Graham has recently moved back to Bath with his wife and young children. priorparkcollege.com

Following A-levels in maths, physics, geography and Design Technology, Hannah Brookes (RHSB 2016) gained a BSc in Architecture from Bath University and then gained experience with Harris Brookes as an Architectural Assistant and completed her RIBA Mentor Scheme apprenticeship with Yiangou Architects. Hannah now blends her design-based skill-set with her passion for the environment as a Certified Passivhaus Designer and Climate Reality Lead. royalhighbath.gdst.net

Tom Barton

Huw Jones

Hannah Brookes

Graham Paterson

Freya Wills

Jazmin Sawyers

How the right school in early years could transform your daughter’s future

Research shows girls and boys learn and develop very differently, and that time spent in early years is more important than we first realise. An all-girls environment has been proven to help more girls step out of their comfort zones to reach their full potential.

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), are pioneers in, and shapers of the future of girls’ education with around 150 years of experience educating girls from the ages of 3 to 18 years old.

Multiple findings from a recent research report show that GDST Prep school girls are significantly more confident than their non-GDST peers. Not held back by gender stereotypes, or the pressures of conformity felt in mixed-sex classrooms, girls at a GDST Prep school are more likely to contribute to class discussions and achieve their goals.

One of the 25 schools in the GDST, and the only one based in the South West, Royal High School Bath (RHSB) prides itself on a supportive, caring ethos where every girl is treated as an individual and known to all. The Prep School’s award-winning Cranwell House site in eleven acres of tranquil woodland offers a stunning setting where girls are encouraged to explore the world around them, flourish in safe, secure surroundings while growing every day in confidence.

From the moment she walks through the doors, your daughter will be encouraged to learn without limits. Our ‘Cranwell Discovery Curriculum’, based on the Reggio Emilia approach, is engaging, diverse and girlcentred, stretching beyond national requirements with both class teachers and subject specialists there to challenge your daughter to reach her learning potential from day one. It focuses on creative approaches to learning in and outside the classroom, helping girls develop independent thinking and enquiry-based learning skills, whilst growing their understanding of the world, citizenship and collective responsibility.

So, it is no wonder that a recent survey showed GDST junior school

girls are 20% more likely than their non-GDST peers to believe women’s equality is an important issue. And only 6% of GDST girls aged 9 say they avoid some activities because of their gender, compared to 37% of 9-year-old girls and 31% of boys in the national samples.

It is also worth noting that a higher proportion of girls attending singlesex schools go on to study what are often perceived as male dominated subjects such as STEM. 85% of the current Year 12 and Year 13 A-Level students at RHSB study at least one STEM subject. We aim to break down barriers to perceptions of what previously have been seen as traditionally ‘male’ vs ‘female’ by planting the seeds in the girls’ minds from an early age that any role is within their grasp.

Our school’s ethos is embedded in recognising every pupil’s potential, unlocking it and enabling your daughter to be herself, so that she is ready to seize opportunities and make her mark on the world, which is clearly evident in all areas of RHSB life.

Discover more by booking a visit or signing up to an Open Day event.

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

to host both short-term and long-term students.

We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.

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

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Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

October books: new classics

September was a book-lover’s dream when it came to new publications. Big names rolled out big titles in every genre, giving us the perfect excuse to stay inside, away from the dreary weather. We’ve put together a list of our top picks, from horror to politics (and sometimes a bit of both), for new books that have already made their mark this autumn...

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith shot to fame in 2000 with the publication of her debut novel, White Teeth, and 23 years later she continues to be held as one of the most significant and celebrated British writers of the 21st century. Her latest novel, The Fraud (published 5 September), is her first in seven years, and is already highly critically acclaimed. In this work of historical semifiction, Smith develops three interweaving storylines against the backdrop of the renowned ‘Tichborne Trial’ –a famous 19th-century court case over identity theft.

The Fraud is a story of fact and fiction, of identity, fraudulence and authenticity. Seamlessly weaving together the historic and the modern, Smith provides a subtle social commentary that transgresses time and shines a light upon the consistency of human character.

In true Smith-style, the writing is sharp, witty and utterly absorbing with every line. The kalaidescopic narrative is fresh, yet still captures the essence of a historical fiction; a true modern classic. Penguin, £20

Holly by Stephen King

Jumping straight back into the 21st century is Stephen King’s latest novel, Holly

The author is known to booklovers as the ‘King of Horror’, and is credited with having revived the horror genre in the 20th century. His novels are now seen as classics, and have spawned multiple awardwinning film adaptations.

Holly, published on 5 September, is the most political of all his books andsteers away from King’s usual supernatural, instead focusing on the horrors of reality.

Set during the pandemic, the novel touches upon everything from protests against Covid restrictions to Trumpian political uproar. It follows the book’s namesake, private investigator Holly Gibney, as she works to solve a missing person’s case. As she investigates, she discovers an emerging pattern of disappearances, eventually uncovering a dark secret at the core of the town that she lives in.

King carefully illustrates the dystopia of the Covid years and 2020’s political turbulance without losing sight of his story. His characters seem to leap off the page, and the uniquely disarming nature of his horror writing continues to shine through.Holly is both gripping and reflective, and demonstrates King’s natural mastery of the genre. Hodder & Stoughton, £25

Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart

Rory Stewart’s new book Politics on the Edge: a Memoir from Within is a must-read for anyone with an interest in politics. Stewart is a British academic, diplomat, former soldier, former Tory Cabinet Minister, and currently author, president of the nonprofit GiveDirectly and podcaster (known for his podcast with former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell). Politics on the Edge, published on 14 September, is a searing account of his ten years in Parliament and his disillusionment with the Conservative Party as he moved from backbencher to cabinet minister, and eventually to expulsion from the party.

This long-awaited memoir is a gripping exposé of the political Right, of Brexit politics, and of Johnson’s internal ascendance to Prime Minister. Stewart criticises not only the individual ministers and MPs, but also the political system as a whole: he reveals, for example, the strain of holding five ministerial positions in three years, despite being grossly under-qualified for any of them.

If you’re interested in politics, whatever your affiliation, this book is a fascinating insight into how the government runs, the absurdity of party politics, and the fragility of our own political structures, and its truly revelatory nature makes it an instant classic. Jonathon Cape, £22

In the Ditch by Buchi Emecheta

Now, we know we said this would be a list of new classics, so Buchi Emecheta’s 1972 novel In the Ditch doesn’t exactly fit the bill, but with its republishing as a Penguin Classic last month we think its place on this list is well-warranted. Emecheta was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1944 and moved to the UK at the age of 18 with her two children. Her writing explores her experiences of Black British life, womanhood, and the welfare state in the latter half of the 20th century.

In the Ditch is a semi-autobiographical novel, following Adah, a single mother experiencing poverty in London, delving into the realities of social prejudice and state racism, sexism and classism in British society. As she details life on a Kentish Town council estate, Emecheta, through Adah, is surprisingly void of self-pity, and her determination and wit shine throughout her narrative.

Despite the heavy subject matter and the all-too-visible current relevance of her struggles, Emecheta’s debut novel is still a highly enjoyable and hugely enlightening read. The book’s new status as a ‘modern classic’ is undoubtedly deserved, and begins to pay tribute to the vast influence of Buchi Emecheta’s seminal literary work. Penguin, £9.99

HEALTH & BEAUTY NEWS

Revitalise your skin with the ‘magic' of the M3 Matrix

The Orangery in Argyle Street is introducing this cutting-edge breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. In the ever-changing world of beauty and skincare, innovation is key to achieving the radiant, youthful complexion we all desire. M3 Matrix is transforming the way we approach skincare, offering non-invasive and highly effective solution for achieving healthier, more youthful skin. This machine offers a range of different treatments:

• Cavitation peeling using ultrasonic waves used for deep-cleansing and exfoliating. Also aids product absorption.

• No-needle mesotherapy. No needles means no pain or discomfort. This unique technology allows specific nutrifying ingredients to penetrate the skin, combined with ultrasound for lifting, toning and tightening.

• Radio frequency, utilising specific wavelengths to tighten and lift the skin, while stimulating collagen and elastin.

• Microdermabrasion, known as a great exfoliator, removing dead skin cells and aiding with new collagen production.

M3 matrix treatments are suitable for all skin types and address a range of skin conditions. So if you are considering skin rejuvenation book an appointment/consultation with the expert therapists at The Orangery.

The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic, No. 1 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA; Tel: 01225 466851; theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

New Bath dentist From Budapest to Bath

YTL Hotels’ The Gainsborough Bath Spa has forged a new partnership with innovative Hungarian skin care brand, Omorovicza. The collaboration will see five new mineral cure rituals added to the hotel’s Spa Village offering, which is renowned for its access to Bath’s natural thermal springs. In perfect alignment, Omorovicza encapsulates the healing minerals of Budapest’s thermal waters, enabling guests to benefit from the thermal springs of Bath and Budapest.

Dr Gurvinder Sokhi has recently joined Edgar Buildings Dental & Implant Clinic as the Practice Clinical Lead. Gurvinder qualified from Guy’s Hospital in 2001 and since then has gained wide ranging experience in dentistry both within the practice and hospital settings. He has held senior house office and staff grade positions in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery in the West Midlands. It was during this time that he successfully completed the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons (MFDS) examination with the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Prior to his move to Bath, he was a practice principal of a successful dental practice in London. Gurvinder gained an MSc in Conservative Dentistry from the Eastman Dental Hospital in London. His specialist interest lies in more complex dental cases including the restoration of dental implants. His two young children are at Kingswood School, so he is a local parent and is an active member of the Bath community. smileofconfidence.com

The Gainsborough Bath Spa offer a selection of powerful mineral-based treatments from Omorovicza, with a range of benefits that stem from the healing properties of the thermal waters, such as assisting with inflammation, detoxifying the body and unlocking youthful vitality.

The new mineral cure ritual treatments will range from full body massages and mineral mud scrubs to revitalising and hydrating facials, including Hungarian Mud Detox

Changemaking calendars

(85 minutes) utilising the curative nature of the mineral-rich Hungarian Moor Mud from Lake Hévíz; Golden Massage (85 minutes), a luxurious body treatment that showcases the anti-inflammatory properties of gold; and Warm Mineral Mud Scrub (50 minutes), an aromatherapy purifying and detoxifying treatment.

The new treatments are available to both day and overnight guests, with treatments starting from £175. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

This year, The Body Shop offers three different Advent calendars with beautiful pop-up illustrations. Beauty lovers will find a ‘Changemaking’ product inside every drawer and box. Bursting with beauty surprises made from hardworking, natural- origin ingredients, the calendars celebrate the positive changes happening in the communities of the brand’s global Community Fair Trade partners, including the artisans who craft some of the brand’s most iconic ingredients. Shown here: The Advent of Wonders, £95 (worth £173.50), packed with 25 surprises including body butter, calming breath massage balm, hydrating sheet masks and hand balm. thebodyshop.com

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Menstrual health

Periods will generally last for between 3 to 5 days, and occur every 21 to 35 days. Just over a third of people will develop period problems during their lifetime. Although longer or heavier than usual periods are not a sign of a problem, it needs to be assessed further, and bleeding in between periods, with intercourse or after menopause, could be a sign of cancer and medical advice should be sought promptly.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs due to the hormonal changes prior to periods and can result in significant emotional imbalance, which may also require specialist input. Some mild discomfort is common, but if you are experiencing severe pain with your periods (dysmenorrhoea) you may want to speak to your doctor.

Hormonal contraception can affect periods in various ways, and if required could also be used as a method of treatment. Most period problems can be evaluated during a consultation with a gynaecologist by reviewing your past medical history, performing an examination, and potentially including an ultrasound scan and biopsies.

Gynaecological cancers

Up to two thirds of gynaecological cancers can be prevented by risk reduction, screening and vaccination programme, and it’s important to remember that the outcome of a cancer diagnosis can be improved by earlier detection.

Ovarian cancer can be silent, but symptoms such as weight loss, nausea, vomiting, persistent bloating, abdominal distension or difficulty in breathing could all

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

be a sign and should be taken seriously. Initial investigation requires an ultrasound scan and a CA125 blood test.

Womb cancer generally causes postmenopausal bleeding which should always be investigated. Outcomes of womb cancer are relatively good if detected and treated in the early stages. Ovarian and womb cancer can be hereditary, and if you have a strong family history of these types of cancers, as well as bowel or breast cancer, you should contact a specialist to discuss gene testing and prevention surgery.

Cervical cancer most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 40 years. Not taking part in a screening programme when invited is the biggest risk of developing cervical cancer. Screening is important, even for people who have received the HPV vaccine. Most cervical cancer presents with bleeding in-between periods or after sex. Vulval cancer is relatively uncommon. Any ulcer, lump or bleeding from vulval skin should be promptly assessed. Precancer changes can cause soreness and itching and should also be checked by a specialist.

Menopause

Menopause awareness is increasing, and 18 October is World Menopause Day. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs, reducing levels of oestrogen hormone. The average age is 51 with a quarter of people experiencing severe symptoms. It occurs naturally or resulting from treatment for other issues, such as cancer. Treatment is based on symptoms which can include hot flushes, insomnia, fatigue, joint ache, painful sex, anxiety, and forgetfulness.

There has been much publicity about the risks of HRT (oestrogen replacement). HRT can increase the risk of breast cancer if used for 5 years, but this risk is lower than being overweight or excess alcohol intake.

HRT has considerable benefits too. Heart disease accounts for more deaths than cancer and starting HRT before age 60 is protective. Oestrogen can reduce the risk of dementia and protects the bones, reducing the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. Not everybody needs HRT, however, individualised help is available for those who do.

At Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, our team of Consultant Gynaecologists – Dr Jo Bailey, Dr Suvarna Mahavarkar, Miss Naomi Crouch and Mr Amit Patel – work closely together to offer a comprehensive service for our patients. In addition to our Consultant team, one of our physiotherapists, Hayley Saunders, specialises in pelvic, obstetric and gynaecological physiotherapy, and Dr Sonia Mann from our private GP service includes gynaecology among her areas of special interest.

If you would like to book an appointment with a Consultant Gynaecologist at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website.

To keep the female body running as it should, it’s important to understand the basics of gynaecological health. Here, the Consultant Gynaecologists from Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital breakdown some of the issues you need to be aware of to keep your body in good working condition.

A walk around Uphill

Andrew Swift finds a coastal plain south of Weston-super-Mare, an ancient location where the Romans established a port, later used by the Vikings. Take on this walk and find spectacular views from the hill and the coastal marshes

Working out how towns and villages got their names isn’t always straightforward. Take Uphill for example. Situated on the coastal plain south of Weston-super-Mare, with a steep hill towering above it, the reason for its name may seem self evident. It was originally called Hubba’s Pill, however, which over time was abbreviated to Uphill.

Hubba, it seems, was a Viking chieftain who landed here in the ninth century, and Pill is a local name for a tidal inlet. From which you will have guessed that it is a pretty ancient place – much more so than the upstart resort of Weston whose suburbs have spread to engulf it.

Uphill was already old when the Vikings arrived. The Romans established a port here to ship lead mined on Mendip out across their empire, and the ruined 12th-century church of St Nicholas on the hill overlooking the village stands on the site of a Roman temple.

Today, though, Uphill has the air of somewhere that history has passed by. Its once busy harbour is now a marina for pleasure craft, its pill has dwindled to a muddy creek, and much of the land bordering the coast has been turned into a golf course. It remains a fascinating – and atmospheric – place, however, and not just because of past glories. Quarrying over the centuries has eaten into the hill above the village, so that the ruined church now stands on the edge of a high cliff. Below lie two large nature reserves, rich in wildlife, and the views – both from the hill and the coastal marshes – are spectacular. For an autumnal walk that packs a lot into a small space it is hard to beat.

The quickest way to Uphill is via the motorway, but a pleasanter option is to head west from Bath along the A39, join the A368 at Marksbury, continue on along the A371 at Banwell, but just after crossing a bridge over the M5, take a left turn, signposted to Elborough and Hutton. Continue along this road for 3 miles, and, when you come to a roundabout, carry straight on, following a sign for Uphill. After passing the hospital, turn right at a mini-roundabout, carry on for a third of a mile and, just past a church on the left, park on the left-hand side of the road (BS23 4SD; ST319589).

Walk back to the church, which dates from 1844 and was designed by the Bath architect James Wilson. It was built to replace the old

church, which you’ll be seeing later. Turn right along the north side of the churchyard and left at the end. Carry on in the same direction for 175m and at the end of the footpath bear left for a few metres before turning right along a road.

After 300m, turn right into Uphill Way and cross over to Folly Lane to follow a sign for Uphill Hill Nature Reserve. Follow a track to the right of the park homes estate, carry on through a gate and continue straight on alongside a fence.

After 150m, follow the track as it bears right and continues to climb. Poking over the crest of the hill ahead, you will see battlements belonging to a ruined windmill converted to a lookout tower and beacon. Head towards it, and, when you get there, climb a spiral staircase for one of the finest views in Somerset, with landmarks identified on information boards.

From here, head for the old church, abandoned when the new one was consecrated. Now largely roofless, it has some intriguing carvings and a curious three-headed gargoyle. From the edge of the cliff there is a superb view over the harbour to Brean Down, while northwards the derelict Birnbeck Pier can be seen jutting out into the bay.

Go through the gate on the north side of the churchyard, head

Uphill marina

A view from the ruined windmill

down a steep path and turn left along the road at the bottom. After passing the old coastguard cottages beside the stream on the right, turn left by the marina to follow a sign for Uphill Hill and Walborough Nature Reserves.

After passing an old lime kiln, follow a path past the base of the cliff. After skirting the lower slopes of Uphill Hill Nature Reserve, you come to Walborough Nature Reserve. 350m further on, just before a gate leading out of the reserve, bear right past an information board along a grassy track (ST318576). Go through a pair of wooden kissing gates connected by a boardwalk and carry on, following a waymark for the West Mendip Way. After a few metres, when the grassy track forks, bear left to follow a narrow rutted track down to a boardwalk and stile.

Carry on as the track runs alongside a muddy inlet off the River Axe, and continue along a levee through marshes inundated by spring tides. Despite their name, spring tides occur throughout the year, just after a new or full moon. If your walk happens to coincide with one, you may find it necessary to retrace your steps at this point and take the higher path.

As well as superb views across to the clifftop church, there is likely to be plenty of birdlife to see along this stretch of the walk. After passing the marina, turn left along a road leading to the beach.

Turn right along the beach, and after 350m look for a footpath sign in the dunes on your right. Climb a flight of sandy steps, follow a track across a golf course and continue along a muddy lane for a few metres before turning into a Woodland Trust wood on the right. Carry on in the same direction, follow a track as it curves right round the edge of the wood, and when you come to a five-bar gate, bear left to go through a kissing gate onto the road. A right turn here leads back to the starting point. n

Many more walks can be found in Andrew Swift’s Country Walks from Bath published by Akeman Press; akemanpress.com

FOUND UK WEST

Looking north from the clifftop churchyard

FACT FILE

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 2 hours

Starting point: St Nicholas Church, Uphill Road South, Uphill (BS23 4SD; ST319589).

Terrain: Straightforward, although muddy and rough in places; cattle may be encountered on Uphill Hill.

Part of the route described may be inaccessible during spring tides. Tide times for Uphill can be found at thebeachguide.co.uk

Map OS Explorer: 153

Information about Uphill, its history and nature reserves (along with more walks) can be found at uphillvillage.org.uk.

Duplex refresh

Interior designers Woodhouse & Law recently transformed the interior of a duplex apartment in Cheltenham. John Law outlines the commission, which included the maximisation of light and the zoning of areas in the open-plan living space.

We were recently commissioned by our client to re-design their second home –a duplex apartment in the centre of Cheltenham –into a stylish, luxurious, but calming pied-à-terre. Previously decorated in a traditional style, with heavy drapes at the windows and toile wallpapers, the property’s Georgian features had become lost in the adornment, with no space to breathe. Our clients asked us to refresh the bathrooms and kitchen with a light touch, but the rest of the apartment was to be entirely re-designed and to incorporate a new snug within the existing vaults.

In the entrance hall we introduced bespoke cabinetry for storage and an oversized mirror – bespoke-made and drilled to accommodate two decorative wall lights. This helped make a narrow space feel much larger, brighter, and more inviting. Discrete, low-level step lights not only helped introduce ambiance in the evening but also provided practical lighting to better navigate the property’s staircase.

We knew from the off that we could make better use of the open-plan living space, zoning it for dining and living. We introduced a bespoke, curved sofa to soften the room and to create a cosy area in which to relax and watch TV. A rug was added to anchor the furniture and dampen the acoustics – always a challenge given the high ceilings. For the dining area, a bespoke table was designed and commissioned for the dining area; one in solid oak, with a cylindrical, reeded timber base, accompanied by Gubi Beetle dining chairs in a rust velvet for a hint of opulence. We were keen throughout to create a scheme that was both elegant and simple in its approach. To accentuate and celebrate the property’s incredible architectural features, we removed those

swags. In their place, full-height sheer curtains were introduced to add privacy and to give the space a light, ethereal, relaxing feel. These were complemented by lined, linen curtains to add that more warmth during colder months. We selected linens for the sofa, against a rich teal velvet for the armchair. Soft furnishings in greens, ochre and rust helped add a depth of colour and texture, for interest and warmth year-round.

We styled the apartment with marble side tables, Porta Romana lighting and a new decorative chandelier featuring embossed antiqued glass leaves. A faux olive helped introduce some softer greenery and made for easy maintenance in a second home. Oversized handmade glassware was then introduced to create jewel-like features on top of the Gustavian chest. Then the walls –these were dressed in works by a variety of artists represented by Modern Art Buyer including Plum Neasmith, alongside pieces by local artist Jay Harper.

A real win for us however was the fireplace. When we arrived, it was painted. Our team spent days carefully stripping layers of this paint to reveal underneath a beautiful, original surround. We left it as a surprise and only revealed it to our clients when they arrived for the handover; they were thrilled! n

Full-height sheer curtains were introduced to add privacy and to give the space a light, ethereal feel

The elegant, open-plan living space plays to the property’s incredible architectural features

A relaxed seating area nestles within this Georgian property’s vaults

Woodhouse & Law, 4 Georges Place, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4EN; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

greats Design

Take six local design specialists and ask them to choose an iconic interior piece –here’s the result!

Isabella Slipper Chair, Stuart Scott, £2960 through Woodhouse & Law

“The Isabella Slipper Chair is one of the signature pieces of design house Stuart Scott. With its tailored fluting and distinctive lines, it takes its inspiration from classic modernism and the exuberant, flowing lines of Art Deco.”

Bibendum Chandelier by Martin Huxford, different sizes and colours available

“Made from satin brass metal tubes, this unique contemporary chandelier features a pattern of tightly packed, harmoniously repeated curved cotton shades and is suspended by adjustable wires from a circular ceiling rose.” Clair Strong: clairstrong.co.uk

Grace 4 column radiator, from £280.42

“The Grace cast iron radiator provides a striking design that sits equally well in modern interiors and period properties.” House of Radiators: houseofradiators.co.uk

Fritz Hansen Swan Chair, Christianshavn Fabric, £3088 from Beut (beut.co.uk)

“The elegant curves of this Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen hugs the sitter perfectly. With its iconic Danish design, it makes for an instantly appealing reading or music nook” Catriona Archer: catrionaarcher.com

Woodhouse & Law: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Normann Copenhagen bit stool, Holloways of Ludlow, £200

“I love this stool because of its versatile and contemporary design. It’s made from 100% recycled household and industrial plastic, it is multi-functional as a stylish side table or impromptu stool, it comes in fun colours, and it’s robust yet light in weight.”

Lola Swift: lolaswift.co.uk

Orange Dimpled Ceramic Stool by La Redoute (Laredoute.co.uk), currently on sale for £79.20

“These handy little side tables add colour and texture to a sitting room or bedroom. They cleverly double up as a stool for small spaces that need extra seating from time to time.” Catriona Archer: catrionaarcher.com

Kyma Headboard by Ensemblier, from £3450 (ensemblierlondon.com), upholstered with Kate Loudoun Shand Jangalee fabric

“Inspired by the undulating ocean water and named after the Greek word for 'wave,' this headboard is imaginative with a playful spirit created in the UK by exquisite craftsmen.” Kate Loudon Shand: kateloudounshand.com

Rooms for improvement

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

KUTCHENHAUS BATH

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

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

WOODHOUSE & LAW

4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath BA2 4EN Tel: 01225 428072 Web: woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

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

AVONVALE CARPETS

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

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

SKY INTERIORS

Bluesky House, Western Way, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8BZ. Tel: 01225 707372 Web: skyinteriors.co.uk

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

BONITI

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA

Tel: 01225 892200 Web: boniti.com

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

GARDEN AFFAIRS

Trowbridge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 ODT

Tel: 01225 774566 Web: gardenaffairs.co.uk

Create space for home working, hobbies, a growing family or even a new business venture with a cost-effective, versatile, fullyinsulated garden room. Garden Affairs offer a huge range of high quality, sustainable garden buildings and will help you get the design, the installation, the quality and the price spot on. Visit their extensive display centre at Trowbridge Garden Centre in Wiltshire to see garden offices, art and craft studios, teenage dens, granny annexes as well as a range of ‘posh sheds’ and summerhouses.

SELBY LANDSCAPES

Tel: 01225 571350 Web: selbylandscapes.com

Selby Landscapes is the leading landscape gardening company based in Bath with an excellent reputation for crafting beautiful and enduring outdoor spaces. Selby Landscapes offer a turn-key solution to your landscape requirements including landscape design and construction, garden design, planting and garden maintenance. Frequently working alongside other garden designers in the Somerset region, as well as offering an in-house garden design service, every garden project Selby Landscapes create, from city courtyards to large country gardens, is crafted to give a lifetime of pleasure.

BEN ARGENT KITCHENS

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton, Wiltshire SN14 8JA Tel: 01225 892270 Web: benargentkitchens.co.uk

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

THE BATH FRAMER

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

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

HOMEFRONT INTERIORS

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

Homefront Interiors is a homewares store that follows a simple ethos to source ethically made and sustainable products. With a clever mix of work by local artists and makers, displayed alongside handmade fair-trade products from around the world, Homefront aim to support the small producers. The shop may be small, but it is a treasure trove of beautiful things handmade, fair trade, recycled, or made from sustainable materials. If you are looking for a great selection of all those hand-picked and important finishing touches for the home then Homefront is a great destination store to visit.

CATRIONA ARCHER INTERIORS

Tel: 07823 884945 Web: catrionaarcher.com

Catriona Archer is a well established Interior Designer known for making good design accessible for all budgets. Catriona offers halfday consultations through to full end-to-end renovations for homeowners, holiday lets and boutique commercial projects. Catriona Archer Interiors provides creative and practical guidance by blending an extensive range of Interior Design, Decoration and Styling experience.

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

5 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA

Meetings by appointment.

Studio: 01225 690019

Mob: 07855 797311

info@clairstrong.co.uk Web: clairstrong.co.uk

Clair and her experienced team at Clair Strong Interior Design Ltd provide a full range of interior design services for both residential and commercial projects. Established over 15 years ago, Clair works with a trusted network of professionals and trades to offer a complete interior design service for projects of all types. From city centre apartments and shops to large family homes and hotels, her portfolio includes contemporary projects through to listed Georgian properties. The company ethos is to take a collaborative approach with clients, working with them to create spaces that meet their needs, improve their lives, and exceed their expectations. Call or email Clair to discuss your project.

JOEL BUGG FURNITURE & SPACES

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

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

MARMALADE HOUSE

Tel: 01225 445855

Web: themarmaladehouse.co.uk

MANDARIN STONE

15–16 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ

Tel: 01225 460033 Web: mandarinstone.com

Renowned for its comprehensive natural stone collection, Mandarin Stone has gained quite a reputation for its on-trend and beautifully designed porcelain. Ranging from tiles that cleverly mimic materials such as wood, concrete and marble to striking glazed and patterned tiles, the collection has endless surface design possibilities. Established for over 25 years and with 14 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. Check out the new ranges for 2023 such as the Zen Decor glossin porcelain - shown here.

Marmalade House is an award-winning, professional furniture painting and design company, based in Bath. It specialises in French and Gustavian finishes that include the layering of colours, distressed paintwork and lime-washing as well as gilding, colourwashing for ageing and waxing services. The focus is all about colour and style and how that fits into a customer’s home. The team of trained interior designers also offer a design and styling service that brings together the client’s style and aspirations for change. For those who prefer to do everything themselves, the company also offers popular training courses on how to paint furniture to professional standards, and the use of colour within your home. Run by Vanessa Sayce, Marmalade House is an established, friendly company that has its clients’ interests at heart, whatever changes they would like to make, and at whatever scale.

Photography by nicksmithphotography.com

KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS

8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath BA2 4HJ

Tel: 01225 481881 (Mobile: 07796 554466) Web: kellymariekitchens.com

Kelly Marie has more than 15 years experience in the kitchen design industry. She has had the pleasure of working on many luxury kitchen projects in the Bath area and now owns her own unique and creative business based on a constant list of word-of-mouth recommendations. Her technical designs with intrinsic creativity allow spaces that are functional yet beautiful. With a vast portfolio of luxury German kitchen projects, Kelly works with each client’s budget, providing personalised attention throughout the design process.

Kelly believes that it is all about the little details and her approach combines purposeful variations of colour, textures and finishes. The careful selection of these elements endow the home with a sense of harmony, while reflecting the individual style of the client.

COOPERS HOME APPLIANCES

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

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

HOUSE OF RADIATORS

22 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 2AA

Tel: 01225 424199 Web: houseofradiators.co.uk

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

TR HAYES

15–18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX Tel: 01225 465757 Web: trhayes.co.uk

TR Hayes is the largest furniture store in the region and has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years with a reputation for quality and good service. The 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 Vispring, Harrison Spinks and Hypnos). Styles range from classic to contemporary, with something to suit all budgets. There are also highly respected carpet and curtain departments. Carpets and wooden flooring can be fitted, made-to-measure curtains and blinds provided, and advice on accessories is available. With friendly and knowledgeable staff to help guide you, and excellent aftersales care, you can rely on TR Hayes

BATH RECLAMATION

Tel: 07983 556 757 Web: bathreclamation.co.uk

It was a sad day when Walcot Reclamation and Walcot Architectural Salvage had to move out of Bath, but the good news is that former manager Cary Morgan, is now the owner of Bath Reclamation, based just outside Bath in Newton St Loe. Bath Reclamation stock and source all types of reclaimed materials, with a special focus on building materials such as Bath stone ashlar, paving, flooring, roofing and bricks. All other types of salvaged materials and salvaged items –from windows to sleepers, curbs and resawn pine –are kept in stock when available. A visit to its helpful, new website is a must.

BEAU NASH BATH

28 and 31 Brock Street, Bath BA1 2LN

Tel: 01225 461 483 and 01225 334 234 Web: beaunashbath.com

For a city like Bath it would be unthinkable not to have some good antique shops. Beau Nash are specialists in both antique silver and period furniture curated from different eras, countries & styles to give fresh variety and flavour. Displayed in situ, they aim to help you imagine the items in your home. Situated between the Circus and the Royal Crescent, both of their shops offer fashionable and useful antiques with personalised service. The team at Beau Nash are always delighted to help you find what you need or perhaps what you don’t “need.”

THE URBAN GARDEN

Marlborough Buildings, Bath BA1 2LZ Tel: 07877 846488 Web: theurbangarden.org.uk

The Urban Garden is ‘the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart’. Located in Royal Victoria Park just below the Royal Crescent, it sells locally sourced plants and houseplants (50% grown by the team), a range of beautiful gardenware and gifts. Plants can be packaged in recyclable posipots and you can purchase peat free compost sold in re-fillable bags. On site there is a café kiosk where customers can enjoy a coffee whilst enjoying the tranquil space. The Urban Garden also offers a range of botanical courses throughout the year in the back of its beautiful glasshouse. Loved by Bath residents as a calm oasis, its reputation is growing and last year it was featured in the Telegraph as one of their top 10 garden centres to visit. As a social enterprise, a purchase made there helps support people to improve their lives in a number of ways. Open Thursdays-Sundays.

FORMOSA KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS

Ham Green, Holt, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 6PX

Tel: 01225 308541 Web: formosakbb.co.uk

Formosa has been offering the design and supply of beautiful kitchens since 2011. Over the 12 years they have created many stunning spaces and in recent years have expanded and drawn on previous experience with adding bedrooms and bathrooms to their portfolio and continue to deliver an attention to detail service for their clients. A family run business nestled in the quintessential Village of Holt, the Formosa team have over 60 years’ experience and extensive knowledge of the industry- so whether you are looking for a distinctive kitchen, a bathroom sanctuary or sophisticated bedroom, Formosa will take the time to listen, develop and inspire you in creating a space you love to be in. To start your design journey, simply drop in to their showroom or call ahead to arrange an appointment to discuss your requirements.

CREAM CORNWALL

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

Inspired by the Cornish coast, Cream Cornwall makes luxury and exclusive homewares for people who love to be surrounded by beautiful things. Featured on homewares and fabric, their unique designs transform ordinary objects into statement pieces. Cream Cornwall’s overarching motto is ‘Beautiful things, beautifully made’ and Rebecca and Allison, the co-founders of Cream Cornwall, are committed to producing quality and unique homewares that inspire. The two women are passionate keeping production as local as possible, with their candles, diffusers, lampshades and cushions all made locally in Cornwall. Both Rebecca and Allison maintain the importance of having physical stores, and their shops in Falmouth, St Ives and Bath beautifully showcase the wide range of products.

LOLA SWIFT INTERIORS

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

Web: lolaswift.co.uk

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

NEWMAN’S JOINERY

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

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

BATH CARPETS AND FLOORING

4 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA

Tel: 01225 471888 Web: carpetsandflooringbath.co.uk

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

HEIDI REIKI FENG SHUI AND REIKI FOR YOUR HOME

Tel: 07776 255875

Email: heidi@heidireiki.com Web: heidireiki.com

ROLLS INTERIORS LIMITED

Tel: 07963 242943 / 01225 340684 Web: rollsinteriors.com

If you are looking for bespoke kitchen and bathroom fittings, contact Rolls Interiors Ltd. Rolls works closely with its customers to encapsulate their vision and design something that not only meets the requirements but surpasses their expectations. Projects range from a bathroom or kitchen re-fit, to altering walls to create kitchen/family rooms & even converting a couple of rooms into a self-contained annexe with separate entrance. Vist the website for more information and to see some recent projects.

“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 Feng Shui, reiki and space clearing for our home a very positive experience, I only wish we did it sooner!” - Melissa. Heidi offers bespoke packages for your home. Each living space is unique. Using her expertise in Reiki, Feng Shui and The ThetaHealing® Technique Heidi transforms your home and office to a calm, tranquil and harmonious place to live and work in. Contact Heidi Lerner Rearden for more details about her work.

FRANCIS DIY

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

Francis DIY, Bath’s original hardware store since 1966 can be found in the bustling area of Oldfield Park where the store supplies the widest range of DIY and hardware products imaginable. It is a family run business, and the team there have a wealth of experience and are reknowned for their friendly service, great advice or simply helping new and existing loyal customers find DIY solutions. The range is vast with hundreds of stock items immediately available including: domestic hardware, key cutting services, locks and security products, lightbulbs and electrical accessories, small electrical appliances, heaters, fans, DIY and decorating products, paints and varnishes, kitchenware and cooking accessories, hand and power tools, fireworks and fairy lights... and so much more. The store is open Monday to Saturday 8.00am to 6.00pm and Sunday 9am to 4.00pm and also offers a local delivery service. It’s the best!

We supply a wide range of Brightstar fireworks, from rockets to fountains, you are able to take home your chosen product.

SILK ROAD RUGS

1 Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton, Bristol BS39 5XP Tel: 01275 319950 Web: silkroad-rugs.co.uk

Silk Road Rugs stock a beautiful and eclectic range of handmade rugs, kilims and furnishings from the Middle and Far East, accommodating for the traditional taste of period properties alongside contemporary design and modern living. Promoting centuries-old traditions and designs on display you’ll find Afghan tribal weavings, ornate Persian carpets and Chinese rugs alongside lots of beautiful gift items and furnishings. The showroom itself is nestled on a farm between Bath and Bristol and the very helpful team offer lots of guidance through the rug choosing process. Silk Road Rugs also offer a specialist cleaning, repair and valuation services and all stock can also be purchased online.

RIGHTIO

HOME REPAIRS & HOME SERVICES

Tel: 01225 458844 Web: rightio.co.uk

Founded in 2010, Rightio Subcontractor Limited has become a leading home repair company in the UK. Rightio specialise in providing expert repairs including emergency appointments for heating and plumbing, drainage, electrics and locks. As a customer-centric company, the team are on-hand seven days a week to assist with your problems, restoring your home back to normality. All their 5-star engineers are accredited, trained and have at least five years’ experience, and can normally attend your property within 1-2 hours. Call today for a visit from one of Rightio’s experts!

DREAM DOORS BATH

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

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

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

JOHN BOYCE PLASTERWORK

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

John Boyce Plasterwork Ltd is a locally based company with over 30 years of 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, no-obligation quotes and advice. Visit the website for a taste of what John Boyce Plasterwork can offer.

BROWELL INTERIORS

Tel: 07510 843232 Web: browellinteriors.com

Bath-based interior decorator, Isabell Browell uses light and colour to help transform rooms. The right lampshade has a vital role to play in the feel of a room. Isabell produces one-off and limited edition hand-stitched lampshades that complement the colours and design in a room. She also works with clients to research the right materials. Her fabrics are handwoven silk and cotton Ikats from Uzbekistan and Turkey, cotton block prints and recycled vintage silk Saris from India. As well as lampshades, Isabell offers a selection of Ikat and Suzani cushions from Uzbekistan and Turkey. View Isabell’s collection on her website or get in touch for a personalised service.

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

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

MOCKRIDGE BESPOKE CARPENTRY

Tel: 07946 037326

email: hello@mockridgebespokecarpentry.co.uk Web: mockridgebespokecarpentry.co.uk

Cory Mockridge and team have been working with homeowners, designers and builders all around Bristol, Bath and further afield for many years and, to create exactly the right bespoke design and finish, will spend time understanding you and your lifestyle. The company aim to build not only furniture, but relationships. Recent testimonials confirm this: “Meticulous and paid lots of attention to detail.”–Barrs Court, Bristol. “Prompt, efficient, and with an excellent standard of workmanship.” –Trowbridge, Wiltshire. “Professional, efficient, honest and reliable… Very impressed, from designing the furniture and choosing the materials to the finished goods.” –Keynsham, Bristol.

For more details and to discuss your next project call or email Cory.

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

And, for regular updates and links to even more great content subscribe to receive our weekend edition newsletter

Pick of the pumpkins

As Halloween season approaches, Elly West looks at the history of Jack O’Lanterns, counts the number of different varieties of pumpkin and considers how best to use the pumpkin flesh...

Amystery plant has sprung up among my tomato plants this year. I didn’t plant it, but it looks very cucurbitlike, that is the family of plants that includes pumpkins, gourds, melons, cucumbers and courgettes.

At the time of writing this, at the end of August, it has a few yellow trumpet flowers and no fruits, but I suspect it might possibly have seeded from the pumpkin that I found having been kicked around the garden following my teenage son having a party last year. It’s in a sheltered spot, so there’s a chance a lucky seed may have managed to overwinter. I will wait and see what develops!

Pumpkins are the vegetable equivalent of giant sunflowers in my eyes, fun to grow and loved by all ages. October is prime pumpkin season and with Halloween approaching, they’ll be a common sight in garden centres, supermarkets and market stalls up and down the country. And at the end of the month, they will be seen on our doorsteps carved into grimacing faces, lit from within.

Pumpkins are native to Mexico and central America, but are now grown all around the world. Halloween is a massive festival in America, but the story of ‘Stingy Jack’ and the ‘Jack O’Lantern’ is actually from Irish folklore. Stingy Jack was said to have been a drunkard and a trickster, a story dating back to the early 1600s. While drinking with the Devil, he persuaded him to turn into a silver coin with which to pay his bar bill, then slipped him into his pocket along with a crucifix, so trapping him. In order to escape, the Devil promised never to take Jack’s soul. When Jack died, he was refused admittance to Heaven, and could not enter Hell either, owing to the Devil’s promise, so was destined to wander the earth carrying a

single coal for light, which he placed in a hollowed-out turnip, earning the name Jack of the Lantern, or Jack O’Lantern.

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lantern, carving scary faces into vegetables and placing them in doors and windows to frighten away evil spirits. However, when Irish emigrants moved to America they found pumpkins, which were much more suitable for carving.

There are more than 150 different varieties of pumpkin, in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes, many with interesting names such as Baby Boo, Cinderella, Goosebumps, Speckled Hound and Warty Goblin. Atlantic Giant is one of the largest, grown for competitions and breaking records. The record for the heaviest pumpkin currently stands at 1,226kg, grown in Italy in 2021, which is about the same weight as my Ford Fiesta. They are roughly 90 per cent water, so need lots of nutrients and gallons of water to grow, and can put on a whopping 22kg in a day.

We buy an estimated 40 million pumpkins in the UK each year, mostly imported from Spain, with the majority of these sadly going to waste after they’ve been hollowed out and carved into spooky faces, even ending up in landfill if they’re not disposed of responsibly. So much waste!

However, there are lots of ways to use the pumpkin flesh, which is packed with potassium, fibre, vitamins, beta-carotine and antioxidants. There are plenty of recipes to be found online, from cakes to cocktails, and even face scrubs, but pumpkin soup is perhaps one of the easiest ways to use up the flesh. Simply peel and de-seed your pumpkin, chop it into chunks and fry with some onion

until it starts to soften. Then add chicken or vegetable stock and simmer until the squash is very soft and can be blended with a hand blender. Add double cream or coconut milk, heat through, and serve with crusty bread.

Don’t let the seeds go to waste either. A pumpkin can have around 500 seeds, which make a tasty snack when roasted. Wash them to get rid of any stringy bits of pumpkin, dry them with kitchen paper, then toss them in olive oil and a little seasoning such as salt, pepper, paprika, Chinese five-spice or similar, and roast for 10 minutes on a baking tray. Pumpkin also freezes well, whether cooked or raw.

Any parts that do get thrown away can be composted. Cut them up into small pieces so they rot down more quickly and put them on your compost pile or in the food-only waste bin. Do not leave your pumpkins out in the countryside for wildlife, as although some animals will enjoy the snack, others such as hedgehogs, can become ill and even die from eating too much pumpkin.

If you want to see pumpkins en masse and pick your own to take home, then visit Avon Valley’s Pumpkin Patch this month. Situated at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Keynsham, there are wheelbarrows to borrow before you roam the fields to choose your perfect pumpkin. There are lots of other activities as well, including children’s entertainment and pumpkin paintball. For opening dates and to book tickets, visit avonvalley.co.uk. n

• ellyswellies.co.uk

How to grow pumpkins

Pumpkins are easy and fun to grow from seed, but they do need lots of space as the vines tend to sprawl. Give them a head start and a longer growing season by planting the seeds indoors in April. Cover them with a clear plastic bag to keep in the moisture, and place them on a bright, sunny window sill. The young plants can then be planted out towards the end of May, after the last frosts. Find a warm and sunny site, with shelter from cold winds. These are hungry plants, so prepare a big planting hole and add well-rotted manure, compost and a general-purpose fertiliser. Alternatively, you can sow seeds directly outdoors in their growing position.

If the aim is to grow the maximumsized fruit, then once one is established and growing, remove any other flowers and emerging fruits, so all the plant’s energy is focused on the one pumpkin. Give a high-potassium feed, such as tomato food, and water daily. Ideally, the fruits need lots of sun to fully ripen. Once the weather starts to turn chilly (below 10°C for a week), or there is a lot of rain, harvest your pumpkins by cutting them off with plenty of stem left at the top (to avoid neck rot) and keep somewhere dark and dry for up to three months.

60+ luxury properties for lets

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Jewellery

Nigel Dando

This is an elegant Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, 1 of 8 in a splendid terrace on Bath’s sought after northern slopes, enjoying a fine southerly aspect and beautiful elevated views over the city. This beautiful property has recently been substantially redecorated internally and fully externally and now offers vacant possession.

This handsome property, which retains a wealth of fine period detail has flexible accommodation arranged over 4 floors. On the ground floor there is formal dining room to the front which is linked via wedding doors to a well equipped new Ashgrove kitchen to the rear. The entrance halls lead through to a rear lobby and a large utility room with an original period Welsh dresser, along with a family room / snug or home office.

On the first floor there is a majestic formal drawing room to the front with 2 floor to ceiling sash windows which lead onto the balcony and verandah, there is also an elegant period fireplace and impressive period cornicing detail. The drawing room is linked via wedding doors to the withdrawing room to the rear. In addition, there is a pretty mezzanine level double bedroom and a family bathroom.

The master bedroom is on the 2nd floor to the front, enjoying the wonderful views and has a beautifully appointed ensuite bath and shower room. There are also 2 further double bedrooms and another bathroom to the rear.

Externally to the front there is an impressive ornamental walled par terre garden and pretty paved sun terrace that spans the width of the property to the front. To the rear there is a small courtyard garden accessed from the rear lobby that enjoys gated access.

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332

Richmond Hill, Bath

•4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

•3 reception rooms

•Smart new kitchen

•Utility room

•Guest cloak room

•First floor balcony and verandah

•Ornamental par terre gardens

•Fine residential location

•Wealth of fine period detail

£1,700,000

Trowbridge Road, Bradford on Avon

£300,000

A beautifully presented 1 bedroom character cottage tucked away in a quiet location with an idyllic mature garden and level walking into the heart of the town.

• 1 bedroom

• Large rear garden

• Stone flooring in kitchen

• Tulip wood handmade bespoke kitchen units

• Built in handmade bespoke cherry wood wardrobe

Woolley Street, Bradford on Avon

£375,000

Situated in the favoured Woolley area, a charming 2 bedroom, mid terrace period cottage with private garden and useful stone built outbuilding.

• Charming period cottage

• 2 bedrooms

• 2 reception rooms

• Garden with stone built outbuilding

• Favoured Woolley Street area

• No onward chain

Claverton Down, Bath

£595,000

A 3 bedroom semi detached house set in a very popular location and offering scope for further development ie extension or loft conversion STPP. Light and airy throughout with an open plan living dining room, kitchen and utility space. Occupying a corner plot with oversize gardens and garage.

• 3 bedrooms

• Oversize garden and garage

• Corner plot

• Located in a very popular location

Marlborough Buildings, Bath

OIEO £450,000

A beautifully appointed 2 bedroom 2nd floor apartment, located in a prime residential area, adjacent to the Royal Crescent and enjoying wonderful views to the rear over Royal Victoria Park.

• 2 bedroom apartment

• Located in a prime residential area

• Bathroom with natural stone flooring

• Marble surround fireplace

• Intricate period cornicing

Slow and steady wins the race: why letting your property could be your best option

steady stream of income while you wait for the sales market to improve. With the demand for rentals in Bath remaining high, you can capitalise on this opportunity and potentially earn a significant return on your investment.

It’s important to note that if your property has a mortgage, you’ll need to get permission from your lender before renting it out. However, if you plan to rent it out temporarily before moving back in, your lender may agree to let you do so under your current mortgage agreement.

By renting out your property, you can still maintain ownership and control over your asset. Unlike selling, where you relinquish ownership, renting allows you to retain ownership while generating income.

Renting out your property can be a smart financial move, as you could benefit from long-term capital growth. Letting your property rather than selling, may provide you with financial stability, flexibility and potential long-term gains. It’s worth considering this option to make the most out of your investment in challenging market conditions.

There is no doubt that the Bath sales property market has been very challenging over the last few months, resulting in a slowdown with apartment sales. The lettings market on the other hand is a different story, with the demand for rentals remaining high. If you're struggling to sell your apartment, it may be worth considering renting out your property in the short or medium term to meet the increasing demand in the rental market. Although this may be an option you have not thought about before, we want to explain the reasons why this may be an option to seriously consider.

Understanding the slow property market

According to the latest house price index from Rightmove, August saw the biggest drop in newly marketed properties’ asking prices since 2018, with a decline of 1.9% to £364,895. The August slowdown, typically marked by a 0.9% decrease, is outpaced by this much larger price drop. The sharp decrease suggests that some sellers are following their agents’ advice to price competitively in the current local market conditions, aiming to attract buyers amidst summer holidays, rising costs of living, and the highest Bank of England base rate since 2008. While average asking prices have fallen £8,000 (2%) from their peak in May, it’s important to remember the significant price growth over the past four years, with prices still sitting £59,000 (19%) higher than August 2019.

Dataloft’s research, based on Bank of England data, revealed an increase in mortgage approvals since the beginning of 2023. However, despite the growth, numbers are still lower than usual levels. In the year ending in July, the average approvals per month were 51,600, 21% below pre-pandemic levels recorded over seven years. With inflationary pressures ongoing, recent inflation data is encouraging. Interest rates are anticipated to peak this year, with a predicted decline beginning in 2024. Any improvement in market activity is expected to be reflected first in mortgage approvals.

The benefits of renting out your property

Renting out your property can have several benefits, especially in a slow property market. First and foremost, it allows you to generate a

Tips for successfully renting out your apartment

When it comes to successfully renting out your property in a slow market, there are a few key tips to keep in mind. First and foremost, consider using an estate agent who specialises in apartments. They will have a deep understanding of the rental market in Bath and can help you set an appropriate rental price, market your property effectively and, most importantly, attract and screen potential renters to find you reliable tenants.

To maximise your apartment’s rental potential you must ensure your property is in top condition before listing it for rent. This includes making any necessary repairs, freshening up the paint, and ensuring all appliances and systems are in working order. A wellmaintained property will attract higher-quality tenants and help you command a higher rental price.

It is also worth considering placing the management of your apartment in the hands of your letting agent. They will ensure that you remain compliant as well as handle all the day-to-day tasks of managing your rental. They can handle rent collection, maintenance requests and tenant communication, freeing up your time and ensuring a smooth rental experience.

Is this the option for you?

If you would like an open and honest conversation on the rental opportunity for your property, please call Nicola, our Lettings & Property Investment Manager, on 01225 303870.

Nicola Wilkes , Lettings & Property Investment Manager

Why off-market properties are a secret worth uncovering

premium to avoid a bidding war. Capitalising on a unique selling proposition, like a stunning view or a prime location, can instil a sense of urgency and drive up your asking price. A carefully curated list of potential buyers can create a competitive environment and generate multiple offers for a highly desirable property.

Ultimately, there’s no way to guarantee that you won’t miss out on a better deal down the line, but that's a risk inherent to any property transaction. What matters is that your agent can demonstrate that your price is competitive within the local market and that your buyer is able to meet your needs in terms of timing and financing.

The importance of building relationships with estate agents

The Bath property market is challenging, and even more so if you are struggling to find that perfect home. What you may not be aware of is there are many properties at the moment that are being sold off-market. Off-market properties provide sellers the opportunity to test the market quietly and discreetly. However, the key to getting access to these properties is keeping in close contact with a specialist estate agent such as Peter Greatorex Unique Homes. We can provide you with access to properties that will not be marketed in the traditional sense and therefore are not publicly accessible. We will share why buyers need to keep in touch with estate agents to open the door to off-market properties to give them a head start on the competition when looking for their next home.

What are off-market properties?

Off-market properties refer to properties that are not listed on the open market and are not readily available for the general public to view or purchase. These properties are typically hidden from traditional property listings and can only be accessed through a network of trusted estate agents. Such properties may be owned by individuals who prefer privacy or have unique circumstances that require a discreet sale. There are various other reasons why a seller may wish to sell a property discreetly, such as inheritance, family privacy, divorce or financial distress.

What sets off-market properties apart is their exclusivity. Buyers who are actively searching for these hidden gems can gain a competitive advantage by accessing a wider range of options. They provide an exciting and secretive element to the market, making them an enticing option for buyers looking for something special. According to Alliance Fund, off-market properties in Britain witnessed a whopping £30.9 billion in transactions in 2021 alone. Off-market properties in the UK have accounted for about 10% of property sales in 2022, showcasing their growing popularity among buyers looking for unique and exclusive properties.

Attraction for sellers

To maximise your profit and facilitate a smooth transaction, it’s crucial to price your property wisely. While broad exposure is typically the best strategy for achieving the highest price, there are exceptions where an alternative approach may yield better results. In fact, limited availability can generate buzz and prompt buyers to pay a

Building strong relationships with estate agents is crucial for accessing off-market properties. Estate agents are the gatekeepers of these hidden gems, and by establishing a rapport with them, buyers can gain exclusive access to these special properties. When estate agents know that a buyer is actively searching for off-market properties, they can keep them in mind and notify them when a suitable property becomes available. This gives buyers a significant advantage over those relying solely on public listings.

Furthermore, building relationships with estate agents can help buyers understand the local market better. Estate agents have valuable insights into upcoming properties, potential sellers and market trends. By maintaining regular contact with estate agents, buyers can stay informed and make more informed decisions. Ultimately, the importance of building relationships with estate agents cannot be overstated.

Tips for buying an off-market property through an estate agent

To successfully purchase an off-market property through an estate agent, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your interest in offmarket properties to your estate agent. Let them know that you are actively searching for these hidden gems and would like to be notified when any become available. Building a strong relationship with your estate agent is crucial to gaining access to off-market listings.

Additionally, be prepared to act quickly when an off-market property catches your attention. These properties often face less competition, but they can still attract multiple interested buyers. If you find a property you are interested in, make sure you have your financing in order and be prepared to make a strong offer. Be patient and persistent. Off-market properties can be more elusive, but don’t give up. Stay in regular contact with your estate agent, keep an eye out for any new listings, and continue to express your interest in offmarket properties.

Unlock the hidden properties

With determination and the right estate agent by your side, you can unlock the door to off-market property opportunities. Give Peter Greatorex a call to discover more.

Peter Greatorex. Managing Director of Peter Greatorex Unique Homes

Is it doom and gloom for the Bath housing market?

Ex Rightmove Director and female founder of Camella Estate Agents, answers the most common questions from home movers relating to the Bath market.

What is happening with house prices in Bath?

Cost of living, high inflation and increased interest rate rises has had a ripple effect on house prices.

In August, nearly a third of stock on Rightmove in Bath was reduced. On average advertised property prices were lowered by 7.2% in BA1 and 6.4% in BA2.

This may appear to be doom and gloom, however it is the contrary. We witnessed soaring house prices whilst the country was gripped by the pandemic, with homeowners being in a race for space. This led to exponential house price growth in Bath, with property prices today Circa. 20% higher than in January 2020.

With more properties on the market and without the abnormal surge in demand, this feels like normal market conditions.

Should I move or wait for the market to improve?

If you are a seller looking to make an onward purchase, there is no reason why you should wait. House prices are relative, if your property has decreased in value, this is likely to apply to your new home.

I recommend buyers seek financial advice to understand what they can afford, so they are not left deflated when they find their dream home.

If you are a buyer, now is a great time to purchase a property. There are 43% more available properties in the Bath area than a year ago, so there is an abundance of choice.

Fundamentally, moving depends on your individual circumstance. Speak to an estate agent you can trust; they will guide you based on your personal needs.

Are properties selling?

This year Bath has remained resilient with sales agreed from MayJuly outperforming 2022 by approximately 7%.

August has seen a softening in the number of properties going under offer. Contributing factors include the increased supply of available properties for sale, lower buyer demand and the school holidays. With

the busier autumn market, sellers being more realistic with their asking price and properties being reduced we expect to see this stabilise.

Are increased mortgage rates preventing property purchasers from buying?

At Camella, we are seeing an influx of cash buyers. Due to the historic lack of property supply, there were many vendors who were forced into rental properties as they could not find a home. Today, with more property choice, these buyers are re-emerging and are actively looking to buy a property.

The rates at which banks lends money to each other (swap rates) are coming down. Despite 14 consecutive interest rate hikes, Nationwide, Natwest and HSBC have already introduced cuts of 0.29 percentage points with other lenders following suit. Recently, Nationwide has released a five-year fixed rate mortgage deal below 5% which is the lowest since June this year. We may see further cuts to mortgage rates as major banks compete, which will give the market a needed boost.

In summary, the outlook for the Bath housing market is positive as home movers readjust to the new norm.

At Camella we track the housing market, to offer you advice to get you moving.

If you are considering selling, we would be delighted to discuss your home moving plans with you.

camella.co.uk | hello@camella.co.uk | 01225 255 321 Bath Brewery, Bath, BA1 7DE camella.co.uk

Battlefields Hs, Lansdown £1,300 pcm

Unfurnished · Courtyard apartment · One bedroom · Two vaulted rooms · Parking & garage · Communal garden · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating D

Green Park £1,600 pcm

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms · Sitting room · No sharers · Spacious property · Mezzanine floor · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating D

Philip House, Southgate £1,700 pcm

Fully furnished · Two double bedrooms ·

Suitable professionals · Bike store ·

Southgate development · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating C

Queens Parade £1,750 pcm

Available 1st July 2023 · Fully furnished with everything · Georgian apartment · Two double bedrooms · Flexible tenancy length 6 or 12 months · Council Tax Band D · EPC

Rating E

Palladian, Riverside £1,895 pcm

Fully furnished · Available 1st July 2023 · Open plan living room/kitchen · Two double bedrooms · Minimum tenancy 12 months · Suitable two professional sharers · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating C

Camden Crescent £2,250 pcm

Available now · Redecorated and new carpets throughout · Three bedrooms · Unfurnished 1100 sq.ft · Stunning views from bay windows · Luxury bathroom · Council Tax Band E · EPC Rating D

Palladian Riverside £1,500 pcm

Unfurnished · Open plan living/kitchen ·

Appliances in kitchen · Two double bedrooms ·

Community heating scheme · Suitable for 2 sharers · Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating B

Lower Oldfield Park £1,400 pcm

First floor apartment · Two double bedrooms · Newly fitted shower room · 12 month tenancy (minimum) · Suitable professionals · Communal garden · Sorry no student applications

· Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating D

Bladud Buildings £1,300 pcm

Furnished · Two double bedrooms · Stunning views · Luxury bathroom · Sorry no student applications · Available 14th July 2023 ·

Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating D

Unfurnished · One double bedroom · Use of St James Gardens · Professional person/ couple · Minimum 12 month tenancy · Close to shops & amenities · Council Tax Band C ·

EPC Rating E

Furnished · Ground floor apartment · Allocated parking space · Close to City Centre ·

Beautiful views · Professional person/couple · Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating D

Fully Furnished · Ground floor apartment ·

Three bedrooms · Level walk to city centre ·

Allocated parking space · Sorry no students ·

Communal gardens · Council Tax Band A ·

EPC Rating D

pcm

Unfurnished · Three large double bedrooms ·

Two luxury bathrooms · Sorry no students · Royal Crescent views · Parking – on street permit · Council Tax Band E · EPC Rating C

Fully Furnished · Two double bedrooms · Two bathrooms · Stunning individual décor · Parking for one car · Minimum 12 month tenancy · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating C

Furnished · Fabulous first floor apartment ·

Two double bedrooms · Central location · Close to Henrietta Park · Two bathrooms · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating E

Unfurnished · 1359 sq ft · Three bedrooms ·

Three bathrooms · Rivers views · Allocated parking · Council Tax Band E · EPC Rating C

Unfurnished · Two bedrooms · Redecorated ·

New carpets · Gas central heating ·

Private garden · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating TBC

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms ·

Light & airy · Neutral décor throughout ·

Top floor apartment · Central zone permit parking · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating D

Church Street, Bathford

Offers in excess of £1,350,000

A fine, spacious, detached village home, situated in an enviable and elevated position in this prestigious location. The plot extends to approximately 1/3 acre and far-reaching views can be enjoyed over Bath towards Solsbury Hill. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and kitchen, 4 reception rooms, utility room and cloakroom (and scope to extend). Outside are landscaped gardens, a double garage, summer house and shed. EPC Rating D

Granville Road, Lansdown

Offers in excess of £1,200,000

A wonderfully bright and spacious contemporary styled family home. This extremely well presented 3 storey house has 5 bedrooms, two reception rooms, a stunning kitchen/family room, family bathroom, a double garage and driveway parking, South-facing garden with lawn and patio. The house boasts generous storage space throughout.

EPC Rating B