The Bath Magazine April

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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH

BEAUTIES & THE BEASTS Bath’s classical buildings under scrutiny

PRETTY VACANT Managing the city’s empty properties

PETER SWORDS KING Oscar winner’s favourite tracks

ADVANCE VIEWING A preview of the Bath International Music Festival

NORMAN PARKINSON ICONIC IMAGES GO ON SHOW

PROPERTY SHOWCASE ISSUE 127 • APRIL 2013 £3.00 where sold www.thebathmagazine.co.uk

Bath’s premium property market


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contents

April 2013 22 84

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64 36 6

ZEITGEIST

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Our five favourite things coming up in April

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THE CITYIST My Bath, a top read and our Twitterati

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FACE THE MUSIC Lord of the Rings’ make-up and hair designer Peter Swords King chats about his career and chooses his top tunes

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CLASSIC CHARM

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MUSIC FESTIVAL Highlights and unmissable events at this year’s International Bath Music Festival

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Andrew Swift shares his step-by-step guide to Walcot Street and its fascinating history WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

BATHTIME STORY

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This month’s portrait by Neill Menneer is of fitness professional, Danny Pitman

INTERIORS Creating a modern look in a rural home

FOOD AND DRINK SPRING PRODUCE

BATH AT WORK

GARDENING Weeding and sowing for the season

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PROPERTY Beautiful homes in and around Bath

@ thebathmagazine

Seasonal food and a delicious lamb recipe

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BATH PEOPLE Business news and local people of note

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GROWING NEEDS We profile Jamie’s Farm in the Box Valley that is transforming the lives of children leading troubled lives

What’s on show and where this month

THE WALK

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Foodie news in the city

36 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 42

St John’s Hospital Trust discusses empty buildings in Bath and what is being done to tackle the situation

FIT AND FAB The latest beauty products and reviews

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28 WHAT’S ON Your guide to the city’s cultural highlights in April: theatre, music and other events

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A tribute to postal pioneer, builder and philanthropist, Bath’s own Ralph Allen

The good, the bad, and the ugly: Bath’s classical buildings by architect Mike Jenner

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PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

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FAMILY FUN Great events and activities to enjoy together over Easter and beyond

ON THE COVER Della Oake at Clytha Park Vogue 1951, copyright Norman Parkinson Ltd/Courtesy Norman Parkinson Archive. A photo retrospective is part of Bath in Fashion

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EDITOR’Sletter

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t’s hard to imagine now, as you look at our honey stone buildings, that Bath was once a black and grimy city. Veteran architect Mike Jenner, in his excellent new book The Classical Buildings of Bath, recalls that when he first came to the city in the 1950s many of the houses were coated in sooty black, deposited by heavy industry and coal fires. If the stone hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned the city would hardly hold the same attraction for coachloads of tourists as a cityscape glowing golden in the sunshine. Our April issue has a lot about the architecture of Bath and I make no apologies for that, since for so many of us its buildings are bound up with our every day lives, and often our livelihoods too. So we’ve delved into Mike Jenner’s book and picked out the buildings he loves, and those he doesn’t. Our reliable walks correspondent, Dr Andrew Swift, takes us on a virtual stroll into the past with a fascinating walk along Walcot Street. You’ll see the buildings and peer down alleyways in quite a different light after reading his account of how the street has changed over the centuries. There’s also a tribute to the man who arguably did more for the building of Bath than anyone else, Ralph Allen. This month a new trail, In the Footsteps of Ralph Allen, will be launched, giving us the chance to consider how Allen and Wood left their indelible mark on the face of Bath. And finally, in our homage to Bath stone, we’re indebted to property expert Paul Taylor, of St John’s Hospital Trust, for his view on what is being done during these difficult economic times to tackle the problem of empty shops and offices. Since St John’s is one of the city’s biggest landlords, Paul is well placed to take an overview on this topic. Moving from the fabric of the city to the fabrics of Bath, we’re welcoming this month’s fashion festival, Bath in Fashion. Whether you’re into textile design, the social history of clothes or simply love to shop, there’s an event or an exhibition for all tastes. Mick Ringham’s Face the Music subject is Oscar winning Peter Swords King, who lives near Bath. Peter is the man behind the wigs and make-up for the Lord of the Rings series of movies and is busy making new faces for the characters in The Hobbit trilogy. If it’s uplifting inspiration for life you need, I’d urge you to find out more about the great work going on at a farm near Box. Jamie’s Farm is a relatively young charity doing pioneering work with troubled teenagers from inner city schools. You’ve only got to meet these visiting young people and see their pleasure at building a stone wall or gathering eggs from the hen run to see that this caring environment is really making a difference. As always The Bath Magazine strives to cover as much of the cultural scene in the city as we can. There are ideas for days out with the children, the latest plays, art exhibitions and other events. If you’re planning ahead, you might want to check out the programme for the 2013 International Bath Music Festival, which is out now. Oh, and finally, slightly breathless, a big thank you on behalf of all the runners in last month’s Bath Half marathon to everyone who came out on to the streets to cheer us all on. The crowds were so supportive and a reminder that, in the end, it’s the people not just the buildings that make Bath such a great place.

Georgette McCready Editor

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Crafting beautiful homes In and around Bath

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ashford-homes.co.uk APRIL 2013

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ZEITGEIST

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things to do in April

Norman Parkinson, Spring hats in Bath

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Visit It is fitting that the work of fashion photographer Norman Parkinson is being celebrated in the Bath building once occupied by the National Photographic Society. Fashion designer Roland Mouret is curating an exhibition with prints from the Norman Parkinson Archive to mark the centenary of his birth as part of this year’s Bath in Fashion festival. Mouvements de Femmes by Norman Parkinson, runs from 13 April until 12 May in The Octagon, Milsom Place. Visit: www.bathinfashion.co.uk. Also marking the anniversary with a beautiful photography book, Norman Parkinson: Portraits in Fashion by Robin Muir, has been produced by Bath’s Palazzo Books, price £14.99.

The wraps have come off the servants’ wing next to the Georgian No 1 Royal Crescent Museum, revealing an interesting meeting of old and new architecture. A double height atrium, pictured, with a glass ceiling, links the two buidings and lends a contemporary air. The main house at No 1, which is owned by the Bath Preservation Trust, is currently undergoing a makeover, but the new wing will be open to visitors this month. They will be able to see four rooms, including a presentation room which is free and where they can learn more about the whole restoration project. There is an exhibition of some 18th century household treasures in the new Brownsword Gallery and a Georgian gift shop for souvenirs. Visit the website: www. no1royalcrescent.org.uk for more information about this summer’s unveiling.

Snap away The Roman Baths has launched a fun competition for the Easter holidays. Fancy yourself as a Roman god or goddess or a Roman centurian? Don your toga and laurel wreath, or helmet and shield, or any other Roman garb and ask someone to take a photo of you. Then visit: www.beingroman.com to upload it, or email your photo to: entries@beingroman.com. The Roman Baths will enter you into a competition to win an iPad mini. Or you can simply position yourself next to the Roman soldier at the Roman Baths, take a photo on your phone to enter the same way. The competition ends on 30 April. Visit: www.romanbaths.co.uk for inspiration.

Book Admire Bath Abbey is the venue for a new sculpture exhibition, Odyssey. The theme of the exhibition, which runs from 5 April to 6 May, is pilgrimage. Damien Hirst’s powerful eight foot tall piece, Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain challenges the conventional representation of the Christian martyr’s final journey. The show is put on in conjunction with the bo.lee Gallery. 6 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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You don’t need to fly to Italy to enjoy some sublime live music in beautiful, romantic surroundings, when we have Iford Manor and its internationally renowned summer festival so close at hand. Tickets have gone on sale for this year’s shows, which include La Traviata, jazz with Ian Shaw and Claire Martin, and a new production of La Vie Parisienne by Offenbach. Visit: www.ifordarts.org.uk


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THE CITY

One city . . . one month

The buzz

My BATH We ask Andrew Cater director of Liz Cox, British bagmakers, what he’s doing this month What brought you to Bath? The Romans. And a love of Italy.

Learn Flower arranging is one of those things that looks incredibly easy but is actually a skill. Grace Farrimond of florist Young Blooms, which is based at Hartley Farm, Winsley, is running a workshop on Wednesday 24 April to teach some of the tricks of the trade. The workshop is at Newton Farm at Newton St Loe, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Places are £37.50 and include a generous bunch of spring flowers, a rustic vase to take home, tuition from Grace, refreshments and a light lunch.

Book Following the excitement created by the recent visit of one of our greatest living writers, Hilary Mantel, there’s now a buzz about the forthcoming visit to Bath of another doyenne of modern literature. Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin, is coming to Bath on Thursday 29 August, hosted by Topping & Company. The bookshop in the Paragon is selling tickets now.

Sign up

Entries are now being taken for the 2014 Bath Half marathon, months earlier than usual. Next year’s race is on Sunday 2 March. To secure a place visit: www.bathhalf.co.uk. And for anyone protesting that they’re too old for this sort of thing, it’s worth noting that the oldest of this year’s 11,150 runners was 85-year-old John Haddock. This year’s charity raised funds for more than 80 charities and was deemed one of the most successful years in the race’s history.

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What are you reading? AN Wilson’s The Elizabethans and Grisham novels in Italian for practice – currently La Giuria. Also Classic & Sports Car which is cheaper as a magazine than a reality.

Which museum or gallery will you be visiting? The amazingly discreet Museum of East Asian Art. It’s a brave old world collection without the jet-lag to Shanghai. It should be an obligatory lesson in cross-cultural relations for all children in Bath.

What is on your MP3 player? Mainly my daughters’ music it seems! My latest is Bowie’s Next Day which they love too having grown up chuckling at ‘Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow.’ I am a bit trad so still Elton John’s The Union, Brahms and Elgar inevitably.

Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? My life. My wife. My girls. My bags – Liz Cox and Cox. And charting the summer sailing holiday on the spectacular Discovery 57.

Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? My repertoire is The Olive Tree, The Circus and Yen Sushi. Bath needs some young new chefs to come and cook stylishly – there is a dearth if we’re honest. But Sally Lunn's buns are perfect for tea time.

Film or play? What will you be going to see this month? With a GCSE drama daughter it’ll be Noises Off and Abigail’s Party, both being trod at the local theatres – an educational tour of broad theatrical genres.

What local outdoor activity or event will you be doing or visiting? April is Bath in Fashion, so getting Liz Cox bags ready and our Pop-up Factory in Milsom Place is my focus. This Londonquality event really threatens to return Bath to being a truly alluring city – style and fashion personified.

The Pop-up Factory we are bringing into Milsom Place is right opposite Carluccio’s during Bath in Fashion week 13-21 April. A rare insight to the passion in being luxury leather bagmakers. Come and bid for a Celebrity It Bag or book a ticket at the charity auction luncheon in aid of Cancer Care at the RUH: www.coxengland.co.uk.

Bath Then and Now: In Colour By Dan Brown & John Branston Published by The History Press, paperback £14.99 Local historian John Branston and photographer Dan Brown, of the Bath in Time archive collection, have teamed up to show us pictures of the same streets and buildings in Bath, as they were and as they are now. We can watch a tram trundling along Cheap Street, see Claverton Street in Widcombe before much of it was

demolished and see many of the city’s buildings as they were before the black grime was cleaned off. Branston’s text shows an insider’s knowledge of Bath which will be of interest to locals and visitors.

We’re following @bellinnbath, a great indie pub in Walcot Street. The power of Twitter was harnessed to persuade Bathonians and musicians, including Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel and The Darkness to buy shares in what’s set to become a people-owned pub


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NOTES ON A SMALL CITY By Bigwig

Blurting at the rich and famous

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was amused to read about the couple who felt they had to apologise for not being Johnny Depp. So much speculation was going on as to who would be moving into their beautiful new Somerset home that they felt obliged to point out it was they rather than the Hollywood superstar that would be gracing its portals. Presumably part of the reason for owning up was to discourage rubberneckers, but the amount of media coverage given to the apology assured them of a certain celebrity status of their own. You can imagine coachloads of tourists being told ‘And on your left you can see the house that is famously not the home of Johnny Depp.’ Cue a hundred photographs. Mind you, Mr D has occasionally been seen in the area, setting off a deluge of hysterical tweets. Bigwig is an ardent celeb spotter himself, but hasn’t scored much lately. Just one of those obscure newsreaders, brought in on Sunday or during strikes, seen shopping in one of Bath’s posher thoroughfares. In jeans! You rarely see their lower halves but a newsreader sporting denim is somehow wrong. One is invariably disappointed when one actually comes across one’s celebrity heroes in the flesh. Not disappointed by them necessarily (though I did witness the entire staff of a grand hotel in Hamburg stifling titters when the unfeasibly diminutive figure of Tom Cruise hove into view in the foyer) but disappointed in oneself. I took part in a charity Christmas reading and one of the other readers was Anthony Head. In the Green Room we exchanged pleasantries. But what else to say? He didn’t know who I was and I could hardly say ‘I thought you were awfully good in Buffy.’ What I really wanted to know was if Uther Pendragon was going to rise from the dead yet again in Merlin. Mr Head had a guitar with him so instead I said something pathetic like ‘Ooh, I didn’t know you could sing.’ Which, incidentally, he can.

this is going to be the one and only ❝ time I get to actually speak to my lifelong hero. What am I going to say? ❞ Backstage at a concert hall I realised the lone figure approaching me down the long empty corridor was none other than Leonard Bernstein. It was Christmas Eve 1989. The concert hall was the Berlin Philharmonic on the famous Ode to Freedom occasion when he conducted Beethoven’s 9th to mark the fall of the Berlin Wall. At this monumentally important moment in political and musical history all I could muster was ‘Are you lost too?’ A chap I worked with used to drink in the same pub as The Scaffold, with whom he was on vague speaking terms. One day he was walking through Berkeley Square when a limousine drew up nearby. A small child jumped and ran off down the street towards my friend. He grabbed the child and was amazed to see that the boy’s father emerging from the car in hot pursuit was Paul McCartney. As the worried-looking rock legend approached, my pal thought to himself: ‘My god, this is going to be the one and only time I get to actually speak to my life-long hero. What am I going to say?’ In his panic he completely blew this lifetime opportunity by blurting out ‘I used to know your brother!’ (Mike McGear of The Scaffold is indeed McCartney’s sibling). Sir Paul gave him a withering look as if to say oh dear, another loony fan, and without uttering a word shepherded the child back to the car. ■ 10 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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GRASSE Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine Contact us:

Luxury Items for Home and Garden | Truly Tempting Skincare A unique shopping experience with fresh style and approach 3 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA 01225 444260 | www.grasse.me.uk

Editor Tel: Email:

Georgette McCready 01225 424592 georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk

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FACEtheMUSIC

Man of a thousand faces Oscar winning make-up and hair designer Peter Swords King talks wigs, prosthetics and music with Mick Ringham

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ward-winning make-up and hair designer Peter Swords King knows every freckle, wrinkle and blemish in the faces of some of our leading film actors, having spent many hours in his long career creating faces for their characters. His most recent transformation, to turn 13 actors into Middle-earth dwarves, was so thorough that even well known actors like James Nesbitt were hard to spot beneath their huge beards and elaborate hair styles. He was nominated for an Oscar for his latest big project, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. For Peter, working with director Peter Jackson on The Hobbit, and prior to that the Lord of the Rings trilogy – for which Swords King won an Oscar in 2004 – has meant he’s had to spend a long time away from his Somerset home to be on set in New Zealand. But I caught up with him back in Carlingcott where he and his wife Sarah have made their home in what was once the village pub. He said of the Oscars ceremony: “We were in LA for the Oscars. It was great fun and the show was wonderful. We didn’t win this year but with another two films to go, who knows? The ceremony is heaven and hell at the same time, but in the end it’s just great fun to be there and congratulations to those who won.” Before devoting much of his time to the creation of fantasy characters such as Gandalf and Frodo, Peter has worked on a diverse range of big movies, including The Importance of Being Earnest, Little Voice and Nanny McPhee. This year Peter was nominated for his ninth BAFTA as well as an Oscar for The Hobbit. He offers a little glimpse into the extraordinary world of make-up special effects: “I designed all the characters in the film from Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and Gollum to each of the 13 dwarves. I had a team of 38 make-up artists working with me literally around the clock. Obviously it was a challenge but also hugely enjoyable.” He and his team bought up huge supplies of yak wool to create the dwarves’ distinctive beards and hair. Some characters needed several sets of hair-pieces, for instance Gandalf had five wigs and no less than four spare wizard beards. They also applied the latest in prosthetics and make-up to create the slightly distorted but characterful noses, chins and ears that typify Tolkein’s world. Filming took the best part of two years and saw him spending a great deal of time mid-air shuttling between home, California and New Zealand. Peter grew up in the East End of London, leaving for the west country at the age of 15 where he embarked on a variety of jobs, starting with the then Bath Art Workshop where he admits he caught the bug for a more alternative lifestyle. But it was moving to Bristol and sharing a flat with a friend who worked as a wigmaker for TV and the stage that brought him into contact with the theatrical world. “I was asked to finish off a wig my flatmate was working on at the time and got interested in the process. After a while I designed and fitted one for myself and as a result of this I eventually got involved with studios and the film industry.” He also worked with the Welsh National Opera, Bristol Old Vic and along with a former associate, started a theatre company. After a career spanning 36 years he is still excited about future projects. “I think of a number of ideas on an almost daily basis, but you’ll just have to wait and see!” 14 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Peter’s taste in music ranges from pop to the classics and film scores to jazz; however one influence that has stayed with him from his teenage years is David Bowie, who he describes as a true visionary in his profession. I’m sure Ziggy Stardust would have huge respect for this inspired make-up designer.

Peter’s top ten: ● David Bowie – Kooks I chose this track from the Hunky Dory album because I am obviously a great admirer of his work, his persona and his unique ability to re-invent himself. I left home about this time and not to put too fine a point on it, never looked back. At the age of 15 I walked out into a brave new world and in many respects Bowie’s music gave me the confidence to achieve this. After all these years his catalogue of work still continues to inspire. ● Tyrannosaurus Rex – Elemental Child This was one of the last numbers from Marc Bolan’s Tyrannosaurus era, before he transformed himself and became

MASTER OF DISGUISE: Peter Swords King


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TOM’S PLAYLIST: left to right, David Bowie, Hunky Dory, Joni Mitchell River, and Jessye Norman, Vier letzte lieder: September Inset, James Nesbitt, left, with some of his fellow dwarves, transformed for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

one of the pioneers of glam rock with T Rex. This takes me back to my early years in the East End of London. I remember vividly queuing with hundreds of other people for most of the day to get tickets to see the band at the Lyceum – but it was worth it. ● Claude Debussy – Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune This piece was inspired by the poem of the same name and later was the basis for a ballet. He is one of my favourite 20th century composers and came from an era during the 1920s, which I am sure I would have enjoyed living in. When I play this at home, it stops my mind from spinning and I can relax and conjure up memories of Paris. It’s wonderful how music such as this has the ability to change your mood in moments. ● Gabriel Fauré – Agnus dei This is from his Requiem which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful musical works of all time. It’s been used in many films over the years and is a piece that people would naturally associate with spirituality. I find it immensely uplifting and joyful. ● Muse – Knights of Cydonia Just a fantastic track from a great band. They are unique in many respects for possessing a polished performance with a raw edge, something which is hard to achieve both musically and lyrically. They are hard to surpass particularly on this track. ● Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling Now and again my wife and I have a party at the house and invite friends from the village along for a few drinks and a gossip. Later, with the music turned up we have a dance and this is just a great dancing number that will lift your mood and put a smile on your face.

We were in LA for the Oscars. It ❝ was great fun and the show was wonderful. We didn’t win this year but with another two films to go, who knows?

● UB40 – Fools Rush In For no other reason than I just like it. It’s a fabulous pop song, played by a superb band. I have been happily married to Sarah for the past 13 years and have one step daughter, who is getting married this year – I hope they play this at the wedding. ● Jessye Norman – Vier letzte lieder: September This is part of Richard Strauss’s four last songs which are just WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

beautiful and sung here by one of the greatest female opera voices in the world. Strauss composed this when he was 84 just before his death. September offers a wonderful sense of calm and completeness. ● Max Steiner – Theme to Now Voyager Steiner composed over 300 film scores and was Oscar nominated an amazing 24 times. He eventually won three, including an Oscar for Now Voyager which came out in the early 40s. He was regarded at the time and for that matter still is, as the father of film music. This warm and tranquil theme is just magical. ● Joni Mitchell – River Joni is one of my favourite musical artists. She possesses an immense talent and a huge vocal range and has influenced many musicians throughout the course of her professional life. This song has been used in quite a few films over the years including Love Actually. I would dearly love to see her perform but alas work schedules along with filming commitments have stopped me in the past. However this year I’m going to really try my hardest to catch up with her. ■ Peter Swords King will be introducing a screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as part of Bath in Fashion on Sunday 21 April, from 3pm, at the Little Theatre Cinema, Bath, booking, tel: 0871 902 5735. APRIL 2013

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FASHIONfest

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ut your glad rags on as the city of Bath prepares to host its annual fashion festival, which runs this year from 13 – 21 April, and will attract designers, fashion journalists and shoppers from the UK and abroad. There are all sorts of events, from the highbrow, to the frankly frivolous. And for fashion students there’s a rare chance to meet their heroes and heroines and learn at first hand what skills and experience they need to get on in the business. Every woman loves a handbag and British Bagmakers group are creating a pop-up workshop to show exactly what goes into making designer handbags. This will provide people with the chance to see artisans create a unique collection of specially

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designed bags. Among those taking part is Liz Cox and Cox, the only British owned luxury bagmaker, with its workshops just a few miles from Bath. A charity auction will be held on Friday 26 April for three bags at a lunch at the Bath Spa Hotel and British Bagmakers will produce a limited edition souvenir Bath in Fashion bag. Celebrities including milliner Stephen Jones; interiors expert, Nina Campbell; supermodel, Jade Parfitt; fashion writer, Iain R Webb and Olympic gold medal winner, Amy Williams are to design a bag. Over at the Holburne Museum, artist Julie Verhoeven, pictured, is creating something flamboyant, called Ladies, Let’s Rip! which will be on show from 12 April to 24 May.

Julie Verhoeven

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DESIGNER POP-UP Celebrate Bath in Fashion Week by supporting the best of British design – there will be two temporary shops in Milsom Place during the festival

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Traffic People boutique in Milsom Place is hosting a collection of clothes, jewellery and accessories from south west designers from 8– 28 April. Here’s a sample of the beautiful and unusual items on offer 1: silk wrap in peacock shades by Anne Selby 2: top and skirt from Traffic People’s spring/summer collection 3: Ette London kerchief style top 4: W Blaikie satchel 5&7: embellished jewellery by Jan Knibbs 6: hat by Carole Wadham 8: georgette shirt by Be Boutique Ethique

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Bath in Fashion Y

ou don’t have to be a size zero model to enjoy Bath in Fashion. There’s plenty to interest even those of us who don’t claim to know anything about fashion, with talks and exhibitions as well as sumptuous catwalk shows. Flamboyant historian Sir Roy Strong will be in town to talk about his new memoire, Self Portrait of a Young Man, on Tuesday 16 April – he’s a great speaker with a dandy’s passion for clothes, so this should be a highly entertaining talk. And if the weather is drab and dreary there is one man who can bring a rainbow of colour into a room – designer Kaffe Fassett, who will be in town on Thursday 18 April talking about how design and textiles from all over the world have influenced his work. His influence will also be in evidence at a fun and creative session for knitters, led by Brandon Mably from the Kaffe Fassett studio. Brandon, who designs knits for Vogue, will be encouraging the use of colour in his students’ work. The Colour in Design workshop is on Friday 19 April. One of Bath in Fashion’s catwalk highlights is a TURNING HEADS: from Vogue for Alexander designer fashion show at McQueen The Assembly Rooms on Friday 19 April. Featuring designer names and clothes from Bath’s boutiques the show staged by international show producer John Walford, will include glamorous hot-off-the-catwalks designs styled by London fashion consultant, Rebekah Roy. This event is supported by Bath jewellery emporium Mallory, which has been a fixture in Bath since 1898. It promises to be a very glitzy affair, with fizz and canapes and a VIP goodie bag for each guest, included in the £30 ticket price. Also styled by Rebekah Roy and staged by John Walford is the city’s own spring/summer collection, a mix of street style cool and urban chic. This runway event is on Thursday 18 April also at the Assembly Rooms, with two shows, at 3pm and 7.30pm. Tickets for the matinee are £12. If there’s someone in your family who wants to pursue fashion as a career, make sure you encourage them to attend the free event, Fashion Your Future on Saturday 20 April at Komedia from 11am to 1pm. Meet a panel of experts, including a buyer from Liberty, a fabric designer from Alexander McQueen, a fashion journalist from Vogue, a menswear designer from Tom Ford and Chloe Jones, the Bath Spa University graduate who won the gold award at last year’s Graduate Fashion Week. If it’s shopping that rocks your boat, then you might want to make a note that Saturday 12 April has been dubbed Super Saturday, with deals and events across the city’s shops. And for those who like their threads preloved 20/21 April has been designated Vintage Weekend. Find out more at: www.bathinfashion.co.uk. ■ WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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FASHION IN BATH Our top picks of where to shop...

Darling top, £55, from Boho 13 Broad Street, www.bohofashion.com

Coeur De Lion jewellery, bracelet £49, earrings £30, Quadri 15/16 Milsom Place, Milsom Street, www.quadri.co.uk

Chic Mihara shoe, £218, from Grace and Mabel 7 Broad Street, www.graceandmabel.co.uk

Maudes Postcard scarf by David Longshaw, 138cm x 95cm, £195, from Magpie and Bear, Milsom Place, Milsom Street www.magpieandbear.com

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Twentyseven Names Strawberry Fields Dress, £245, Found 17 Argyle Street, www. foundbath.co.uk

Coat by Marilyn Moore, £365, from Prey 3 York Buildings, www.prey-shop.co.uk

Polka Dot blouse, £119, Toast, Bartlett Street, www.toast.co.uk


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Olga Berg, multi-coloured clutch, £68, Sisi & May 9A Bartlett Street, www.sisiandmay.com

Eggs skirt, £285, Square 15 Old Bond Street

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Bronte summer hat, £45, Blue, The Loft, 1 Bartlett Street www.bluewomensclothing.co.uk

Rindu necklace, £39, Howl & Wolf, available at Blue, The Loft, 1 Bartlett Street www.bluewomensclothing.co.uk

Pure Attraction bracelets, £235 each, from Fabulous, 17 St Lawrence Street, Southgate, www.fabulouscollections.co.uk

MiH Breathless skinny jean in polkadot, £265, Mimi Noor, 25 Milsom Street, www.miminoor.com

Becksondergaard B-Square Tote Bag, £49.95, Bloomsbury 2 Quiet Street, www.bloomsburystore.com

One of the supremely sumptuous Liz Cox luxury leathers. Pop-up manufacture display at Milsom Place opposite Carluccio’s (during Bath in Fashion Week) Pippa Large handbag, £595, Liz Cox. 17 Margaret’s Buildings

Ash vibration clay leather studded trainer, £149, Lux, 9a Bartlett Street, www.luxshoes.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

PEOPLE WITH PASSION Green Shoots For The Independent Retail Scene at Milsom Place

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ilsom Place is always looking to discover and support new, interesting and individual businesses. Short term opportunities provide a platform for ‘fledgling’ retailers, particularly those local to Bath, to benefit from trading for short periods alongside more established brands. These young entrepreneurs are bringing style and flair to the Bath shopping scene. The hope is that they succeed and become established as fresh green shoots in the current economic down turn….. and so Bath’s independent sector can rebuild itself with some new and energetic names. A good example is Katherine Fraser, now a permanent fixture at Milsom Place having first tried out her unique approach in a “pop up” setting. Weaving gorgeous scarves and fabrics on site is pure retail theatre, a formula that has proven very successful and Katherine has now built up a loyal following of people who love the idea that each piece is unique and created by a true artisan. Her skill is applying her craft to incorporate the fashions and colours of the season. Another growing business and one that celebrates British talent and design, Magpie & Bear, believes that quality, style and versatility are key. Located next to well-established retailer Quadri, Magpie & Bear specialise in sourcing jewellery, handbags and scarves that are not readily available, allowing you to be creative and individual. Having already set up shop on the internet, for their particular brand of merchandise, there is nothing to beat meeting customers face-toface. “While we specialise in promoting British talent we have also spread our wings and are delighted to be the only UK stockist of the Bodhi Safety Pin Clutch as featured in Gosspi Girl” says owner Karen Keenan. The Fig Store has a growing and enthusiastic clientele and is looking for just the right place in which to finally settle and create their wonderful sets in which to bring beautifully crafted pieces from around the world to the Bath audience. With items from vintage French pegs to restored Swedish benches and old tin trunks to handmade cushions, their approach to sourcing is at the heart of independent and individual retailing. Chanii B shoes have been selling their head turning shoes in Milsom Place for a year, designed by Chantal Pilon and beautifully crafted in Portugal. If you want to step out of the norm then check out the new season’s statement sandals with super soft leathers and a great colour palette for your summer wardrobe. All the designs are fresh and confident, created with fashion and comfort in mind to introduce individuality to every style.

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This new breed of retailer is keen to embrace fresh retailing initiatives and retail theatre. Look what’s happening in Milsom Place in April: • An evening with designer David Longshaw – one of Vogue’s ‘Designers to Watch’ in Magpie & Bear on 15th April from 7 – 8.30pm. • Marion Foale’s new spring collection showcased in KFraser Textiles on 12th & 13th April • One-on-one Weaving Workshops on 20th and 21st April with Katherine Fraser as part of Bath in Fashion (book in advance in-store). • Traffic People Bath are getting behind local talent with a selection of fifteen local designers showcasing their work for a three-week pop-up boutique from 8th to 28th April. Celebrating local manufacturing, Milsom Place is hosting a pop up factory created by Bath’s own luxury manufacturer British Bagmaker for Bath in Fashion 2013 (located opposite Carluccio’s 13 – 22 April). This will give a rare insight to the craftsmanship, skill and passion-for-quality required to produce top quality leather bags. Candy Kittens, the brainchild of Jamie Laing of “Made in Chelsea” fame is to open a pop up shop especially for Bath in Fashion in Milsom Place. Come along to meet Jamie and the famous Candy Kittens as they showcase their range of fashionable clothing. Teens will be all too familiar with the antics of the Made in Chelsea cast and excitement is growing about their visit to Bath. This one will pop up and go so make sure you catch it whilst you can.

MILSOM PLACE, BATH for details of promotions and events visit

www.mils ompla c e .c o.uk Tel: 01225 789040


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Bath’s classic beauties . . . and its beasts In his new book, The Classical Buildings of Bath, architect Mike Jenner hands out bouquets and brickbats to the builders of Bath over the centuries. Photography by Stephen Morris

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lassical architecture is pretty much like a religion. There are those followers, the purists like the 18th century John Wood, who believe that the golden rules of proportion and line were handed down from God to the Israelites and then on through trusted custodians such as himself. And then there are those, like renegade priests, who claim to be following the one true path but are actually breaking all the rules – with the inevitable result that their sins will find them out. Respected architect and writer Mike Jenner, in his splendid new book The Classical Buildings of Bath (his previous work includes 100 Best Buildings of Bristol) will have his readers walking around the city with their necks craned to appreciate what he’s writing about, as most of it can be found on the first floor and above. A plain-speaking man, he is not afraid to speak his mind, as he says: ‘I write as a lover, but I do see the 22 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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warts.’ And so we are treated not only to a knowledgable and intimate tour of the classically designed buildings and streets of Bath, but also the reasons why Jenner believes them worthy of note, or of his disdain. The star turns, including Wood’s Circus, the Royal Crescent and Great Pulteney Street, feature heavily, as you might expect. But Jenner also singles out some buildings that even life-long Bath residents may not really have considered. Have you, for instance, ever had a good look at the rather extraordinary wedge of cheese shaped Walcot Schools building which climbs up the steep Guinea Hill alongside Hedgemead Park? It was designed by 24-year-old architect James Wilson in 1840. Wilson’s commission was to fit up to 1,000 pupils into this small, awkward site. ‘As so often happens,’ says Jenner, ‘these daunting restrictions brought out the best in him.’ He cites the plainness of the facade and the great depth of the window reveal as worthy of our admiration.

RAISE YOUR EYES: main picture, passersby in Milsom Street may not notice Thomas Baldwin’s grand row, Somerset Buildings – ‘a little palace facade of three beautifully regulated storeys’


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WORTH A SECOND LOOK: top, the Old Police Station, which resembles a 16th century Italian palace Above, part of Lansdown Crescent Right, Walcot Schools, Guinea Lane Below, the hidden treasure, Partis College, Newbridge

I don’t know either if you’ve ever considered which of Bath’s Georgian crescents is your favourite? Jenner plumps for Lansdown: ‘There is nothing solemn about Lansdown Crescent, however; it smiles down at Bath, its outstretched arms holding attendant crescents dancing forward at each hand.’ The fact that John Palmer’s delightful crescent has sheep grazing below its golden curve only adds to its charm. But even the great architects like John Wood the younger make mistakes. He came up with the idea of building an assembly room for balls at the top end of town, to give people somewhere to socialise without having to go all the way down to what is now the pump rooms. But why put the entrance to the Assembly Rooms in such a clumsy position, facing the back of the houses in the Circus, wonders Jenner? The fact that Bath is built on hills may have given rise to the

invention of the curving crescent. It was an economical way of building a lot of houses. In Great Pulteney Street, Thomas Baldwin was faced with the challenge that the meadow ground on the river side of the street (where Bath Rec is now) was much lower than the land on the other side. In order to achieve symmetry he opted for the most economical option of raising the road, creating a simple, broad and handsome street scene. It’s a shame the book is too cumbersome to carry about as it makes an absorbing guide to the history of much of the building of Bath, and includes all the technical terminology and a glossary for the reader. It also provides little snippets that provoke that ‘I didn’t know that’ moment, such as the note that Great Pulteney Street was once planted with trees on either side, which grew as tall as the rooftops. And while he doesn’t advocate the destruction of the magnificent plane trees in the centre of the >>>

immaculately ❝maintained, externally unaltered, and in sparkling condition, is one of Bath’s least known treasures

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FLAWED: top, John Eveleigh’s hotel in Grosvenor Place, embellished and heavy looking Above, Walcot Methodist Chapel Right, Rosewell House in Kingsmead Square Below, the Pump Room by Baldwin comes in for some criticism for its clumsy side arches and row of oval windows

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Circus he observes that they do prevent people admiring the architecture properly. We may admire the fancy stonework on Rosewell House (over the Jazz Cafe) in Kingsmead Square, but its baroque style is a bit overblown for some tastes – ‘they. . . would look at home in Vienna but seem very foreign in Bath.’ Jenner prefers the elegant simplicity of the Flood Page brothers’ Partis College built in 1825-27, on three sides of a quad, now retirement homes, – ‘hidden from sight at Newbridge Hill, immaculately maintained, externally unaltered, and in sparkling condition, is one of Bath’s least known treasures.’ John Eveleigh comes in for some stick. His career ended in bankruptcy, but before his crash he built Camden Crescent, Somerset Place and a row of houses with a hotel in Grosvenor which was never completed. The author is clearly not a fan of Somerset Place, although he concedes, ‘it is only fair to record that not everybody finds Somerset Place ugly’ and he has some pretty damning things to say about Camden Crescent, particularly that the two central houses have a flat front, while the rest are curved, ‘very jarring.’ At Grosvenor Place he concludes, ‘architecturally he was a lout.’ He’s sniffy about Walcot Methodist Church, designed by the Rev William Jenkins, who built more than a dozen nonconformist chapels around the country. He says the combination of arched windows and Corinthian columns is ‘unhappy’ and he doesn’t like the gable either. Jenner asserts that a building need not be old to be singled out for praise. He thoroughly approves of the new extension at the back of the Holburne Museum – ‘its cladding of lustrous slabs of green ceramic separated by irregularly spaced vertical ceramic fins, some of which hang down below the others, give it something of the appearance of falling water or a cascade of foliage.’ We are reminded too that Bath hasn’t always been a golden city, when he first came to Bath in the 1950s it was sooty black

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and peopled by old ladies living in genteel poverty. Back in the 21st century, he is not a fan of the new SouthGate centre, dismissing it as ‘modestly pleasant layout of pedestrian streets and squares, paying their respects to Georgian Bath with a few classical details, but nothing of the real thing’s guts and force.’ He concludes at the end of this fascinating book that the three outstanding new buildings in Bath – namely the Holburne extension, New Cavendish Lodge and the New Royal Bath were all venomously attacked, while the mediocre shopping centre met little opposition. He doesn’t see this as a good omen for future builders and architects tackling new projects in Bath. ■ The Classical Buildings of Bath by Mike Jenner is published by Redcliffe House, price £25 and is sponsored by Knight Frank. To see more of Stephen Morris’ work visit: www.stephenmorris.co.uk


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A rich cultural pick’n’mix Georgette McCready picks some highlights from this summer’s 65th anniversary International Bath Music Festival, which opens with the free Party in the Park – and fireworks – on Friday 24 May

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he newly arrived artistic director of the International Bath Music Festival, Alasdair Nicolson, has probably by now heard what all leaders of the Bath festivals for the past 65 years have heard – namely that whatever music he chooses there will be one faction who claim it’s all too highbrow and obscure, and another which say the programme is too populist and dumbed down. Once he, and Bath, have got over that perennial conundrum, we can all settle down and find something to personally cherry-pick from the 2013 festival line-up. The Bath Magazine is delighted and proud to have been appointed magazine media partners for this year’s festival and we think that entitles us to pick out a few reasons why Nicolson’s inaugural programme is worth checking out. Firstly to answer the complaint that it’s all classical music. Well, there’s plenty of cabaret style pizzazz and passion for starters, with diva Meow Meow, the sequinned chanteuse who’s wooed audiences from New York to Berlin, and from San Francisco to Paris. She’ll be at Komedia on 29 May with offerings from 1930s Shanghai showtunes to Dolly Parton and Radiohead. Then Nicolson himself takes to the piano for an evening of the music of French troubadours Jacques Briel, Georges Brasson and Barbara on 2 June, with singer Jessica Walker in the spotlight to deliver those soulful ballads. Time to don a moody pout, a black polo neck and a Gallic shrug against life’s hard knocks. For sheer English energy you simply can’t beat Seth Lakeman, who plays the fiddle like a man possessed. The west country musician fuses rock with folk and will have audiences wanting to get up and dance when he plays The Forum on 1 June. Or if the harmonica strikes you as an overlooked musical instrument, you might be enthralled by Sväng, a four-piece ensemble of harmonica players. They can tackle everything from ragtime and tango to some swaying Balkan rhythms. Sväng will be at Komedia on 26 May. In response to those who say that the festival is elitist and expensive, there are events that are free and diverse. Nicolson has retained Bath’s favourite summer night of free entertainment with the Party in the City, which begins at 5.30pm on Friday 24 May with a colourful procession through the streets by hundreds of local children. They will then gather in Bath Abbey for a free rendition of songs from The Little Book of Monsters. After this bands and musicians will pop up at venues, inside and out, all over the city before the traditional fireworks light up the skies at 10pm. He’s also ensured that the festival leaves the confines of Bath for a number of events, with concerts at Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Paulton libraries, Keynsham Methodist Church and the Conygre Hall in Timsbury. There’s a major performance too, on Saturday 2 June, that’s free and open to all. There will be a free festival evensong concert in the magnificent setting of Bath Abbey to celebrate the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth. The afternoon performance, which begins at 3.30pm, will be led by Bath Abbey’s music director Peter King with the voices of the Abbey choir to raise the roof. If you haven’t really listened to Britten’s music this is an ideal opportunity on your doorstep to experience the might and power of his compositions. 26 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Also on our doorstep are a number of events that have Made For Bath written alongside them in the programme. This includes performances of the classic tale of the doomed lovers Dido and Aeneas set against the unique background of the Roman Baths, directed by Martin Constantine whose CV of venues includes the Chichester Festival Theatre, the Bristol Old Vic and English National Opera. If you’re simply not interested in music, you can support the festival in your own way by calling in to the Festival Club in the historic Octagon, just off Milsom Street. This will be open daily throughout the festival, from 10am until midnight, with Sam’s Kitchen of Walcot Street providing all kinds of food and drink, from coffee to wine, and from cake to spicy, hot dishes and fresh salads. Between 1pm and 9.30pm each day there’ll be live musical performers too, to make a lunchtime or after work visit more interesting. There’s also a display of past posters from previous Bath festivals being mounted by The Framing Workshop of Walcot Street. This is just the tip of the festival iceberg of events. Pick up a programme from the Tourist Information Office in Abbey Church Yard or visit: www.bathfestivals.org.uk for more details. ■

VARIETY: clockwise from top left, folk musician Seth Lakeman; Bath Abbey; artistic director Alasdair Nicolson and singer Jessica Walker Inset, from The Little Book of Monsters, one of the inspirations for this year’s festival


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WHAT’Son THEATRE, DANCE & OP ERA – listed by venue I CI A

Our Town at the The Mission Theatre

ICIA Arts Theatre, University of Bath. Box office tel: 01225 386777 www.bath.ac.uk/icia

The Last Post, Friday 19 & Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm; matinee: Saturday, 2.30pm Board the bright-red Luton post van crammed with retro-chic details, a sherry decanter and a ping pong set for captivating performances, music and fun. Back after a sell-out run last season, this is a curious love story between a redundant post master and the irrepressible heiress of an international pen-pal agency. The Last Post is accompanied by live music.

P op- U p O pe r a Freshford Village Memorial Hall, Freshford, Bath. Bath Box Office tel: 01225 463362 www.popupopera.co.uk

A DAY IN A LIFE T h e M i s s i o n T h e a t re 32 Corn Street, Bath. Bath Box Office tel: 01225 463362 www.missiontheatre.co.uk

Don Pasquale, Sunday 12 May, 4pm respectful and true to Shakespeare’s original work, maintaining the key twists and turns of both plot and character while injecting a contemporary edge.

Our Town, Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 April, 7.30pm; matinee: Saturday, 2.30pm Set in the small town of Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire, Our Town is Thornton Wilder’s classic tale of American life in the early 20th century. A story about ordinary citizens and their everyday lives, the play takes us through 12 years in the story of the town, and centres around two families and their experiences of life, love and loss. Following its popular production of Blue Remembered Hills, Apollo Theatre Company returns with an exciting new production celebrating this play’s 75th anniversary.

Twelfth Night, Friday 19 & Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm RumDoxy Theatre presents the latest edition to their Shakespeare-on-a-shoe-string collection. They have made music the food of love with their adaptation of Twelfth Night: a comedy of misplaced love, mistaken identity, deception and disguise. In their own style, RumDoxy add a live band, a dingy basement recording studio and a close cast of six to create this family-friendly production. With this adaptation, director Jo Hopkins stays 28 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Don Pasquale

You can now book tickets for this annual opera from exciting young professional opera singers Pop-Up Opera, presented by Limpley Stoke Performing Arts. Continuing the ethos of LIPSA and Pop-Up Opera to make opera accessible for everyone, tickets are priced at £16 each with the audience invited to bring a pre-performance picnic (weather permitting) and a meet the cast session afterwards. Don Pasquale is one of Donizetti’s most popular and comic works, and Pop-Up Opera is highly-acclaimed by novice and seasoned opera-goers and critics alike.

T he atr e R oya l Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk Twelfth Night

That Moment, Friday 26 & Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm

Abigail’s Party, Monday 8 – Saturday 13 April, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Wednesday & Saturday, 2.30pm

Alicia Harding is a struggling actress, but would do anything it takes to make it big. Stuck looking after a big-shot director’s dog – who not only causes trouble in her personal life, but also does his business whenever and wherever he feels the need – she soon finds her way to his laptop and the rest of the theatrical world. But will her gutsy attitude serve her well or ruin her career forever? Second Face is a growing theatre company, operating in and around Bath.

The social get-together from hell begins when Beverly and estate agent husband Laurence invite new neighbours, Tony and Ange round for a drink. Also at the soiree is nervous divorcee Sue, twitchy about the party her 15 year old daughter, Abigail, is throwing over the road. As Beverly plies her guests with alcohol, cigarettes, Demis Roussos and nibbles, this horribly compelling evening descends into drunkeness and debauchery. Comedy, drama and tragedy combine into an


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iconic piece of theatre. The play comes to the Theatre Royal after a successful run at the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End. Hannah Waterman stars in Abigail’s Party

Leo arrives on the doorstep of the West Village apartment where his fiesty 91-year-old grandmother Vera lives. She’s an old Communist who lives alone, he’s a latter-day hippie, recently returned from a cross-country bike trip which ended traumatically. Over the course of a single month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately connect. When Leo’s old girlfriend shows up and he begins to reveal the mysterious events of his journey, Leo and Vera discover the line between growing up and growing old.

rock n’ roll ladder. Often known these days as Barry Cryer’s uncivil partner in comedy, Ronnie is a virtuoso rock guitarist who’s career has seen him play with Chuck Berry, tour with Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck and famously out-sell the Jam and the Clash with The Fabulous Poodles back in the good old, bad old days of punk. He will perform at the Bath Cricket Club.

T h e R o n d o T h e a t re St Saviours Road, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 463362 www.rondotheatre.co.uk

What the Dickens? Friday 5 & Saturday 6 April, 8pm

Various venues across Bath. www.bathcomedy.com

Young Charles Dickens is a rookie reporter on The Morning Chronicle. While investigating the foggy slums of Ye Olde London Towne, he accidently stumbles on a story that could make his reputation. This inventive and gripping comedy features just three actors playing more than 20 roles in 80 minutes of fast-paced fun, quick costume changes and surreal characters. Gonzo Moose returns with this new show as their contribution to the Dickens bicentenary. As part of Bath Comedy Festival.

Bath Comedy Festival, until Sunday 7 April

Tony Law: Maximum Nonsense, Saturday 13 April, 8pm

Everyone from local favourites and rising stars to some well-known names will be performing in a variety of pubs, theatres, arts centres and other venues across the city. This will be a first chance to see many comedians perform their solo shows before they go to the Edinburgh Fringe and nationwide tours later in the year. For a full programme of acts and to book your tickets visit the website. Highlights include:

Join Tony Law for some absurd, loud and ridiculous comedy, as seen on Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Russell Howard’s Good News. Tony is on tour with his five-star, Edinburgh Festival sellout show. As part of Bath Comedy Festival.

Midnight Tango, Monday 15 – Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Wednesday & Saturday, 2.30pm This show is now sold out but a limited number of standby tickets and standing places will be available at each performance. The stars of Strictly Come Dancing, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace will perform their Olivier Award-winning show, bringing to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of tango.

Relatively Speaking, Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm; Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; matinees: Thursday & Saturday, 2.30pm Felicity Kendal, Johnathan Coy, Kara Tointon and Max Bennett will star in Alan Ayckbourn’s wonderfully funny comedy. Greg has decided that after a month of dating Ginny she is the one for him and when she tells him she is going to visit her parents, he makes up his mind that he will ask them for her hand in marriage. Discovering a scribbled address, he follows her to Buckinghamshire where he finds Philip and Sheila enjoying a peaceful Sunday monring breakfast in the garden, but the only thing is – they’re not Ginny’s parents. Relatively Speaking

4000 Miles

Ba t h C o m e d y Fe s t i v a l

Daniel Simonsen, Pat Cahill and MC Mark Maier: A Taste of Edinburgh, Tuesday 2 April, 7.30pm Performing at the Bath Rugby Clubhouse two top up-and-coming comedians, Daniel Simonsen, a Norwegian comic and winner of the 2012 Foster’s Edinnburgh Comedy Award as Best Newcomer and Pat Cahill, who combines off-beat jokes with songs about dying pets and choice fatigue, will entertain with a full hour each of Edinburgh show previews, introduced and compered by Mark Maier.

Matt Green: Alive, Friday 5 April, 10.30pm

Sawclose, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 448844. www.theatreroyal.org.uk The American Season

Despite the world’s best efforts Matt remains alive and well and ready to talk about it: tales of planes, explosions, evacuations, and some very bad driving – plus at least one visit to the hospital, will be on his comic agenda for a night of classic stand-up at Ring O Bells in Widcombe.

4000 Miles, Thursday 11 April – Saturday 11 May, please contact the theatre for times

Ronnie Golden: First A Fender – A Beginner’s Guide to Rock, Saturday 6 April, 6pm

It’s the middle of the night when 21 year old

This show will put you on the first rung of the

T h e U s t in o v

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Tony Law: Maximum Nonsense

P ound A r ts Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire. Box office tel: 01249 701628 www.poundarts.org.uk

Parlour Dance: Close Distance, Tuesday 23 April, 7.30pm Close Distance is an engaging, acrobatic and thought-provoking show which explores our relationships with neighbours, revolving around the lives of four people. This accessible show is an explosive helter-skelter ride of dance, speech, animation and visual projections that will grip you and pull on your heartstrings. APRIL 2013

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WHAT’Son M USI C – listed by date Sheelanagig, Saturday 6 April, 7.30pm Chapel Arts Centre, St James’ Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 386777 or visit: www.bath.ac.uk/icia Sheelanagig deliver intricate, rhythmically complex arrangements of original and traditional works in a Balkan style. Sheelanagig’s live shows incorporate aspects of street theatre, storytelling and acrobatics.

Charity Rock Concert, Saturday 6 April, 7.30pm Kingswood School Theatre, Lansdown, Bath. Tickets £25 per person, email: rotarybathavon@btinternet.com The Rotary Club of Bathavon presents a rock concert and dance evening which will include a high quality buffet, a cash bar and a raffle with great prizes. Two local bands, The Curfew Crew and SAVVY will perform. All proceeds will go to Bath children’s charity, Off the Record.

Freshford Singers, Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm St Nicholas’ Church, Bathampton. Free entry. For further information tel: 01225 723324 This is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of

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Hadyn’s superb last six masses which were composed for performance at Eisenstadt. Sacred motets by Brahms and Bruckner complete the programme, with a collection in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

her first recital. Two wonderful Bach preludes and fugues precede some equally rewarding Chopin, including his dark, dramatic and ferociously fast Scherzo. The rest of the concert includes Debussy’s Preludes and Liszt’s tribute to Verdi’s opera.

Bath Minerva Choir, Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm Bath Abbey, Bath. Tickets £10-£20 from Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362 or visit: www.bathminervachoir.co.uk The first performance of a choral work, Seven Last Words from The Cross for baritone soloist, choir and orchestra will take place at Bath Abbey. This work has been commissioned by Bath Minerva Choir who will give the first performance, with Bath Philharmonia and soloist Kevin Greenlaw, conducted by Gavin Carr.

Lara Melda: Piano, Sunday 21 April, 7.30pm Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, Bradford-on-Avon. Box office tel: 01225 860100 or visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk In 2010, aged 16, Lara Melda won the BBC Young Musician competition with her dazzling performance of Saint-Saëns’ second Piano Concerto. Now touring internationally, this is

Lara Melda

A Handful of Singers, Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath. Tickets from Bath Box Office, tel: 01225 463362 or visit: www.ahandfulofsingers.org Bath’s highly-acclaimed chamber choir directed by its award-winning conductor Christopher Finch celebrates Benjamin Britten’s centenary with some of his bestknown works including Choral Dances from Gloriana and Rejoice in the Lamb.


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WHAT’Son OTH ER EVENTS – listed by date Jane Clayton & Company Design Clinics, every Monday in April, 10am – noon Jane Clayton & Company Interiors Outlet, Kilver Court, Shepton Mallet. For further information tel: 01761 412255 Jane Clayton & Company will have experienced interior designers on hand to offer free advice and ideas for your home. No appointment is necessary, but you are advised to bring photos of the room you’re working on.

McArthurGlen Fashion Fling, Saturday 6 – 21 April McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlet, Swindon. For further information visit: www.swindondesigneroutlet.com In partnership with Grazia magazine, McArthurGlen’s Fashion Fling event will run for a fortnight. The centre, which has 90 designer brands at up to 60 per cent less, will showcase the new season fashion and accessories as well as exclusive offers.

Season Opening Racenight, Friday 19 April, first race 5pm Bath Racecourse, Lansdown, Bath. Tickets £10 in advance from tel: 01225 424609 There will be seven races at Bath Racecourse’s

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season opener for you to place your bets and hopefully get lucky. Sip Pimm’s on the lawns while listening to some live music then soak up the atmosphere of the crowd cheering on their horses. Expect fun, excitement and an on-theedge-of-your-seat atmosphere.

gardener Barry Holman. Following a welcome reception and two-course lunch using ingredients from the kitchen garden, Barry will lead guests on a tour through all 26 of Whatley Manor’s distinctive English country gardens.

World Heritage Day, Sunday 21 April, 10.30am – 5pm Various places around Bath. Experience 18th century Bath with Pulteney’s 13th Regiment of Foot encamped in front of No.1 Royal Crescent. Listen to English music with The Bath City Jubilee Waits and songs for springtime in the Georgian Garden (on Gravel Walk). Costumed characters and guided tours will help you find out more about social life in 18th century Bath.

Spring and Summertime Garden Tours, Tuesday 23 April Whatley Manor, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. £42 per person, tel: 01666 822 888 or visit: www.whatleymanor.com Every spring and summer, Whatley Manor’s gardens come bursting back to life in a dazzling display of colour and form. To help visitors fully appreciate the landscaped gardens the hotel offers these garden tours with head

Spring and Summertime Garden Tours

Talk: Jekka McVicar, Tuesday 30 April, 6pm for 6.30pm Bristol Grammar School, Bristol. Tickets £7, visit: www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk/events/ literaryevents.aspx or email: lshepherd@bgs.br istol.sch.uk The queen of herbs, TV and radio broadcaster and culinary expert, Jekka McVicar (of Jekka’s Herb Farm) will give a talk entitled Herbs are More than a Garnish, chatting about the usefulness of herbs. There will also be live music and light refreshments.


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EXHIBITIONprofile Basil Beattie, The Moment Before

BASIL BEATTIE Hilton Fine Art 5 Margarets Buildings, Bath. Tel: 01225 311311 www.hiltonfineart.com

12 April – 11 May Hilton Fine Art presents this exhibition of paintings and drawings by Basil Beattie, his first exhibition in Britain since his show at Tate Britain in 2007. Basil Beattie is one of Britain’s most respected abstract painters. Among others, his work is in the collections of The Tate, Saatchi Gallery and the Arts Council. He studied at West Hartlepool College of Art, 1955 and at the Royal Academy Schools, London. He taught at Goldsmiths College London from the 1960s – 1990s, tutoring YBAs and he gained a strong following among fellow artists. While teaching at Goldsmiths, Beattie became more and more aware of conceptual ideas that place language as central to contemporary art practice and challenge the importance of the expressive gesture in painting. Since 1987, seeking to get away from pure abstraction, he has developed a pictographic language which enables him to explore the symbolic and metaphorical associations, while remaining committed to the physicality of the painted object as the means through which to decipher meaning. This exhibition at Hilton Fine Art showcases Beattie’s current paintings which have the collective title of the Janus series. Janus was the Roman God, originally of light, who opened the sky at daybreak and closed it at sunset. In time, he came to preside over all entrances and exits. He is often represented as having two faces, one in front and one behind – one to see into the future, and one to see into the past. In this series Beattie uses a stack of three units, sometimes four, to frame a series of horizons, often with perspectival suggestions of travel and journeys. However, any resulting illusion of space is contradicted by the raw physicality of the paint. It has been suggested the framing units resemble rear view mirrors and windscreens. Beattie recognises and accepts these references simply because the view through the windscreen might be said to denote the future and the view in the rear view mirror, the past. This is a powerful show by one of Britain’s foremost painters.


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CITYgardens

OPEN STUDIOS AND ART TRAILS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

Henry Moore, Stringed Figure

Bath Open Studios Open studios and arts trails in Larkhall, Newbridge, Widcombe and Bear Flat. For full details visit: www.bathopenstudios.co.uk

Throughout May Next month in Bath you will have the chance to explore an arts trail or open studio event every weekend. Larkhall welcomes visitors on the first weekend, followed by Newbridge and Widcombe, with Bear Flat on the final bank holiday weekend. You can see work in artists’ own homes or studios from fine art and print, to sculpture, ceramics and textiles. Larkhall Art Trail Open studios in Larkhall, Bath. For the 2013 brochure visit: www.larkhallopenstudios.com

4 – 6 May

▲ HENRY MOORE

BERYL ROBINSON

Victoria Art Gallery By Pulteney Bridge, Bath. Tel: 01225 477233 www.victoriagal.org.uk

Larkhall Open Studios is one of the city’s most popular art trails, boasting an eclectic and inspiring community of artists, designers and artisans who have national and international exhibiting careers. This year’s trail includes: ceramicist Peter Hayes; abstract painter Ione Parkin RWA; and Vicky Sander’s automata.

13 April – 23 June Henry Moore (1898-1986) was one of Britain’s most celebrated and pioneering modern artists. This show from the Arts Council Collection brings together sculptures and works on paper, providing a succinct history of his practice between 1927 and 1962. His work ranges from life drawings, to Surrealist pieces and abstract forms. This is a unique opportunity to see the great artist’s work on your doorstep. RUTH WINDING Beryl Robinson, Lemons

Bath Contemporary 35 Gay Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 461230 www.bathcontemporary.com

O’Neil’s Gallery at Walcot Chapel Walcot Chapel, Walcot Gate, Bath. Permanent gallery tel: 01225 462181 www.oneilsgallery.co.uk

6 – 27 April Inspired by the Chinoiserie of the 19th century, Ruth Winding’s intricately painted panels are set against a shimmering background of gold leaf.

Ruth Winding, extract from Birds By Dusk

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29 March – 14 April To launch the gallery, O’Neil’s welcomes London-based artist Beryl Robinson to Bath with Lemons, an exhibition of layered glazed oil paintings with still-life and landscape themes. The objects are repeated for their subtle differences in colour and composition. The collection of work including pieces from artists such as Elizabeth Blackadder, Peter Brown, Mary Fedden, Terry Frost and Bernard Leach continues at the permanent gallery at 5 Nelson Place East, Bath.

Georgia Cox, Untitled

Newbridge Arts Trail Open studios in Newbridge and Lower Weston areas of Bath. To download the trail map visit: www.newbridgeartstrail.com

11 & 12 May This year’s trail includes more than 30 artists. Visitors can see the work, talk to the artists and have an insight into their creative processes. Much of the work, including jewellery and ceramics, will be for sale at a range of prices

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ARTS&EXHIBITIONS CORNELIUS VAN DOP & RICHARD WINDLEY

Gallery Nine 9b Margarets Buildings, Bath. Tel: 01225 319197 www.gallerynine.co.uk

JACK DAVIS

Jack Davis, You Have Reached Your Destination

PONY 10 York Street, Bath. Tel: 07528 590 237 www.jdfa.co.uk

11 – 28 April In & Between is a series of paintings and sculptures depicting Bath artist Jack Davis’s relationship with contemporary landscape; investigating expressionist notions of place juxtaposed with abstracted scenes of 21st century mobility. He was recently announced as a top finalist in the See.Me global art prize and Jack’s works on metal have been gaining significant international attention.

Cornelius Van Dop, Metal Box

Until 31 April Cornelius Van Dop lives and works in Cornwall and makes exquisite boxes and brooches using different combinations of metals such as brass, nickel, copper, silver and gold. Richard Windley, ex-stage designer and builder creates boxes using a wide range of hard and soft woods, each box is a work of art and incredibly tactile. NAOMI FREARS

GANGSTERS & GUNSLINGERS

Beaux Arts 12 – 13 York Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464850 www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

The American Museum Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath. Tel: 01225 460503 www.americanmuseum.org

Throughout April

Until 3 November

Two years since her previous sellout show at Beaux Arts, St Ives painter Naomi Frears returns to Beaux Arts with a highly accomplished collection of work.

THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol Temple Meads Tel: 020 8246 4848 www.affordableartfair.co.uk

David Gainsborough Robert’s collection of memorabilia from two defining eras, the Wild West and Prohibition, in US history is on show. DOUGLAS SWAN Anthony Hepworth Gallery 16 Margarets Buildings, Bath. Tel: 01225 310694 www.anthonyhepworth.com

6 – 20 April Douglas Swan (1930-2000) was an American born 20th century abstract painter who settled and painted in St Ives for a time in the early 1960s. The Anthony Hepworth Gallery is showing a small group of oil paintings from that period.

Naomi Frears, Nocturne

SIMON FAITHFULL

26 April – 31 May Simon Faithfull brings together a number of works, including drawings and video, taking the traditional form of drawing and pushing the boundaries with contemporary technology, as a means of both production and dissemination. Douglas Swan, Untitled 63

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26 – 28 April The Affordable Art Fair returns to Bristol’s historic Brunel’s Old Station for its 11th year. The fair will showcase a range of sculpture, prints, oil paintings, photography and etchings from hundreds of established names and emerging talents alike, all priced from £40 to £4,000. With more than 50 galleries exhibiting, there is enough choice for everyone to find something that’s right for them, at prices to suit the most modest, or generous, of budgets. Visitors can also take part in one of the artist-led workshops running during the weekend. Families are encouraged to join in the fun at the fair, where a whole host of free kids’ art activities take place in the education space every day.

ICIA Art Space 1 & 2, University of Bath. Tel: 01225 386777

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Charles Emerson, Helleborous £450 at Antlers Gallery


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May 2013 - an Art Trail every weekend! Diary 2013 Larkhall 4/5/6/May Newbridge 11/12 May Widcombe 18/19 May Bear Flat 25/26/27 May Bath Open Studios is a collaborative group representing the art trails in Bath. While each trail has its own individual style, all share a relaxed and friendly welcome. They take place in different areas of Bath and allow visitors to walk between venues, most of which are the artists’ own homes or studios.

For full details on all the Art Trails visit : www.bathopenstudios.co.uk

OPENING DRINKS: THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 6-8PM exhibition dates 11 april - 28 april, 2013

a series of paintings and sculptures depicting jack’s relationship with contemporary landscapes, investigating expressionist notions of place juxtaposed with abstracted scenes of 21st century mobility

10 York Street, Bath, UK BA1 1NH (opposite Bath Abbey Courtyard) email: carissa@thisispony.com tel: 07528 590 237 web: www.jdfa.co.uk

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JACK DAVIS IN & BETWEEN THE BIG BLUE, high gloss enamel on steel, 125 x 250 cm one of only four sculptures selected from over half a million entries in the recent see.me global art competition

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ARTISTprofile

IN QUIET REFLECTION Bath artist Charlotte Sorapure has a new exhibition at the city’s Victoria Art Gallery, opening on Saturday 13 April. Here she gives us a preview of the new show and talks about her work

SELF PORTRAIT: Charlotte with the self portrait which won the Holburne Portrait Prize 2012. She says of this work: “This portrait was difficult to resolve, and took some time to complete. The simplest images are often the most demanding and exacting, as there are so few elements to play with. When looking at the portrait, a perceptive friend recently commented that much of the restrained tension is expressed in the hands.” A SMALL EPIPHANY: was just that, meant to capture a moment of wonder. We try to shape and mould nature, but we also need to be reminded that we are a part of it. It is humbling and necessary to have those small moments of awareness.

THE SOLOIST: this is based on schoolchildren from different schools in Bath. I worked from memory and little drawings made during a concert in St Swithin’s Church a while back. I liked their gestures and body language, the self-conscious awkwardness of some and the unaware, over confidence of others. It seemed like a mirror of the ‘grown up’ world, only we have become better at concealing our true natures and feelings. From a purely visual point of view, I enjoyed the patterns, shapes and repetitions of their uniforms, particularly the socks and shoes.

Charlotte Sorapure’s exhibition at the Bath & North East Somerset Council owned Victoria Art Gallery runs until 23 June. She is shortly to begin work on a portrait of someone who has made a contribution to the cultural and artistic life in the south west for the Holburne Museum, as part of her portrait prize 40 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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UMBRIAN LANDSCAPE: my husband Saied Dai and I spent two weeks teaching at The International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture in Italy last year. In my free time I would explore the small medieval hilltop town of Montecastello di Vibio, drawing and painting its many views and vistas. I loved the quality of light, the unfamiliar olive groves, the ancient solid walls and towers. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work outside, without having to contend with the English weather.


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45 St James's Parade Bath, BA1 1UQ 01225 331441 www.mossofbath.co.uk OF BATH

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OUT&ABOUT

A step back in time Following a successful series of guided walks as part of the Independent Bath Literature Festival Andrew Swift shares a glimpse of what Bath would have been like a century ago, with a stroll down Walcot Street

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his walk is a journey into the past, as we head along Walcot Street to discover what it was like a century ago. The first 200 metres on the east side as we head out of town was redeveloped in the 20th century. In 1913, the car park opposite the YMCA was home to slaughterhouses and a cattle market. The now derelict Corn Market dates from around 1810, with Victorian additions. The red-brick building beyond it was built in 1903 for Bath’s electric trams. Now it is The Tramshed bar, with flats and offices upstairs. Through the gates of the yard was an iron foundry, now home to a range of businesses. Some manhole covers in the city still bear the name Walcot Foundry. Beehive Yard was named after the Beehive Inn which stood on the corner. It closed in the 1950s, but the building survives. The buildings beyond the Beehive once had front gardens. They were removed in 1829 to create ‘an excellent causeway … for the accommodation of foot passengers’. Nos 68-70 (Shannon) dates from around 1700. No 70 was the Catherine Wheel Inn. After it closed in 1909 the building was taken over by a horseflesh dealer called Joseph Maris. No 76 (the old Sewing Machine shop) was a servants’ registry. With around 4,000 servants in the city in 1913, such places were busy. No 78, with another well-preserved shopfront, was Darke’s bakers, while No 84 – the left-hand side of John’s Bikes – has a datestone of 1736. The right-hand side – No 82 – has been a cycle shop for well over a century. No 86 (now the Julian House charity shop) was occupied a century ago by the Horstmann Gear Company, world leaders in the production of automatic controllers for street lights. The company, now based in Bristol, is still in business. The recently-restored drinking trough and fountain across the road date from 1860. St Michael’s Church Hall, Bath’s finest art-nouveau building, was designed in 1904 by Wallace Gill. It is now a restaurant. The Thai restaurant on the other side of Old Orchard was the Bladud’s Head Inn, opened in 1792 and closed in 1934.

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The block with Club XL at its centre was built in 1903 as the Red House Bakery. Further on is the old entrance to the builder’s yard of Hayward & Wooster, whose offices, built in 1905, block the view of the house where Robert Southey, poet laureate from 1813 to 1843, grew up. Then comes the Penitentiary where ‘females of fallen reputation’ could find ‘shelter, advice and encouragement to return to the paths of virtue’. Founded in 1805, it was later renamed the House of Help for Women & Girls. If you look up, you can still see the words Penitentiary Chapel. Down at ground level, the letters WP StMP mark the boundary between St Michael’s and Walcot parishes. A gateway at the end leads into the courtyard of Ladymead House, incorporated into the penitentiary in 1805. Flats now occupy the building. A gated alley leads to a tall-chimneyed building, built in 1815 as a factory where poor children earned a pittance making pins. By 1913, it was a soup kitchen run by the Society for Improving the Condition of the Working Classes in the City of Bath.

MARKET HERITAGE: sheep in pens outside the Beehive Hotel, on what is the corner to Beehive Yard just off Walcot Street PICTURES: courtesy of Bath in Time – Bath Central Library www.bathintime.co. uk

Bath’s finest art nouveau building, ❝ was designed in 1904 by Wallace Gill. It is now a restaurant ❞ The concave shopfront next door dates from around 1820, when the Walcot Wine Vaults opened. It almost certainly would have had a standard bow if carts and wagons entering the Bell yard opposite had not needed a wide turning circle. The Walcot Wine Vaults closed in 1914, but has an important place in the history of darts. A group photograph taken outside the pub around 1907 shows one of the men holding a curiously designed dartboard – the second oldest image of a dartboard ever seen. Chatham Row was built in 1762 as Pitt Street, to honour William Pitt, Bath’s MP. Four years later it was renamed when he became Earl of Chatham.


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OUT&ABOUT

CHANGING FACE OF BATH: advertising hoardings along Walcot Street in the 1950s

Beyond Aqua Glass, on the west side of Walcot Street, is a row of mid-18th-century houses with Venetian windows, some of them still with original glass. Opposite, Farrow & Ball was the Bath Cold Storage & Ice Company, a pioneer of the refrigerated produce we now take for granted. Beyond it, robotic gates guard the entrance to Walcot Schools, opened in 1904 and now flats. Past the next row of buildings – dating from 2001 – turn right down Walcot Gate. The mortuary chapel was built in 1842. The field beyond it was to have been part of the cemetery but was never used. Ahead is a row of old cottages, long derelict but recently restored as part of Hayes furniture store. Go up the alleyway opposite the field and turn right up London Street. Opposite is Walcot church, dedicated to St Swithin and built in the 1770s. The shops date from around 1902 when the street was widened. Some retain original features, such as No 2, with a canopy with the name of the Artistic Blind Company, Bath. Next door, Jack & Danny’s was George Maslen’s bakery. No 4, Appy Daze, bears the name of FW Wake, a tobacconist in the 1950s. No 5, a tailor-cum-newsagent a century ago, is the Nick Cudworth Gallery. At No 11, is the gloriously unrestored shopfront of Scott Antiques, originally Glisson’s greengrocer’s.

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The next row, with the old Hat & Feather on the corner, also dates from around 1902. At the far end – now the entrance to TR Hayes – was another pub, the Three Crowns, which closed in 1917. The terracotta mouldings around the entrance and the frieze of vine leaves visible inside suggest it was a sumptuous establishment. Behind it are the cottages you saw earlier. On the opposite corner is a well-preserved butcher’s shopfront, with canopy, hooks and shutter keeps all intact. Beyond Walcot Methodist Church is Cleveland Terrace. The shop on the corner was Archard’s dairy-cum-post office, and Nestle’s Swiss Milk: Richest in Cream: Sold HJ Archard can still be seen on the side wall. Cleveland Terrace was designed by Henry Goodridge around the time he designed Beckford’s Tower. The Curfew, around the corner on Cleveland Place West, was a wine merchant’s a century ago. The house at the end was built by William Sweetland, an organ maker whose factory can be seen across the garden. The columns in the garden came from John Wood’s Queen Square Chapel, demolished in the 1870s. Across the road is the Dispensary, where the sick poor were treated. Two doors to the left, the Signpost shop occupies the premises of the Bath & West of England College of Chemistry and Pharmacy. Founded in 1907, it relocated to Bristol in 1929, before returning in 1966 as part of the University of Bath. You could cross Cleveland Bridge, take the second right past Bathwick Cemetery and cut across Henrietta Park. Or return to London Street and bear right up to the Star, the only pub in Bath whose interior is substantially the same as it was a century ago, and home to Bath’s own brewery, Abbey Ales. ■ A longer Walcot St walk can be found in Andrew Swift’s On Foot in Bath, published by Akeman Press. Information on the shops in Walcot Street and Bath a century ago can found in The Year of the Pageant by Andrew Swift & Kirsten Elliott. The Star is open noon – 2.30pm and from 5.30pm, weekdays, all day from noon at weekends.

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PROPERTYportfolio

Setting our houses in order Paul Taylor director of property for St John’s Hospital Trust, who has responsibility for the Bath properties which make up the charity’s endowed estate, looks at how the recession is affecting the current market and how the Government and landlords are tackling the challenges presented

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ecession has become part of every day vocabulary. However you define it, recession is, to a degree, irrelevant. Bath’s special character and appeal, not just its residents but also millions of tourists, have helped to keep the retail and catering mix intact. However, shops are closing, there are properties lying vacant and you cannot disregard some of the things that you read in the news and hear in the media; times are tough and belts are being tightened. As an owner of property in Bath, both residential and commercial, St John’s Hospital is well aware of the pressures faced by its residents and its businesses and it does all that it can to foster strong relationships with everyone who occupies the properties that it owns; because they are important to St John’s. They are important as they provide a major source of income to fulfill St John’s charitable objectives. Although the charity is one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1174, its work in Bath is not that well known except to its beneficiaries. The income that is generated helps run six almshouses for older Bath citizens in need and at risk of isolation. St John’s also runs an extensive grants programme, to provide grants to those in urgent need and to help small local charities. In the last few years it has distributed grants of nearly £500,000 per annum, thus benefitting overall about 20,000 people in and around the city, which equates to nearly a quarter of its population. That is why the growing number of vacant properties is such a particular worry to the charity. Fortunately its portfolio is effectively fully occupied, with only a few vacancies pending or in the course of refurbishment. But it is not easy and in reality it never has been. Bath faces strong competition from other centres; it is heavily dependent on the revenue that can be generated from tourism and its student population. It is certainly not immune to austerity measures. With its historic building stock and World Heritage status Bath faces particular challenges. Beautiful though its buildings are, they are expensive to maintain and run; as anyone who occupies one will know. Traditionally constructed buildings are difficult to insulate and preserved interiors can limit the alteration of properties to suit modern needs, whether commercial or residential. St John’s is committed to supporting thriving local businesses that add so much to the retail variety and interest of the city. Leases are getting shorter and the charity is keen to offer lease 44 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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contracts that suit the needs of the occupier and the owner. With smaller independent traders who must focus on careful management of their cash flow, it may be appropriate for the owner to retain responsibility for the external maintenance and insurance of a property, in order to ensure the city's built heritage is properly and regularly maintained. St John’s also encourages good quality pop-up shops when units are empty. When Colonna and Small’s wanted to expand, St John’s in discussion with the owner/operator agreed to the sub letting of the vacated coffee shop at 12a Princes Street to an independent fashion pop-up shop, while trying to find a longterm occupier. This arrangement enabled Colonna and Small’s to concentrate on its expanded business and to minimise their irrecoverable outgoings while St John’s, as owner, was free to market the property to find a long-term tenant on a new lease. The Prince’s Treasury Hungarian tea and gift shop is trading from this site. Plans by the Government to free up the planning system may benefit other towns and cities more than Bath; particularly those that do not have such a precious architectural heritage. There is a strong case for more effective use of vacant upper floors of shop units (where suitable separate access can be provided). Conversion of defunct office buildings to much needed residential accommodation must surely be encouraged, as long as it does not conflict with the council’s employment policy. The proposed new planning laws are currently out for consultation to the local planning authorities. Stated simply, the proposals are to permit, for an initial period of three years, change of use from office use to residential. There are a number of restrictions in the proposed changes, which will help to protect the identity and vibrancy of our towns and cities, but it will be interesting to see, if the new proposals come into law, how Bath might benefit. Perhaps more controversial are proposals that Green Belt restrictions on residential development might be relaxed to resolve the significant housing shortage that affects the city and the UK. There is no guarantee that these changes will be implemented and if they are, how they might affect Bath. Whatever the outcome of the current economic difficulties, the citizens of Bath can be assured that St John’s Hospital will still be at the heart of the city – doing all that it can to help those who need the support. The continued successful management of the charity’s property portfolio will be an important cornerstone of its charitable activities. ■

PRECIOUS ASSET: Bath’s historic fabric must be maintained, while allowing modern business to thrive PICTURE: by Stephen Morris from The Classical Buildings of Bath book by Mike Jenner


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CITYarchive

The city that Ralph built Val Lyon explores a new trail around Bath which allows walkers to explore the story of the 18th century postal pioneer, builder and philanthropist Ralph Allen who left a lasting legacy for the city

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hat does Ralph Allen mean to you? A spectacular downhill ride into Bath city? If you have kids, you might know it as a successful school on the south eastern side of town. But for many, Ralph Allen the man is little more than a footnote to the story of Bath. Ralph Allen was in fact the epitome of a provincial boy who came to the city and made good, first by his inspired development of the postal service then, using the capital he had accrued, buying and developing local stone quarries to provide the honey-coloured stone for the building frenzy that overtook Bath in the 1700s. The Ralph Allen Story forms a trail across the city of Bath, different elements of it being told in three museums, a National Trust garden and a new attraction in Combe Down, site of the quarries, which will be opening later this year. The trail, about 4km in length can be covered on foot, by bus or by cycle. A free illustrated leaflet of the trail – In the Footsteps of Ralph Allen – will be launched by the Mayor of Bath Andrew Furse on 26 April at the Guildhall and will be available at the Tourist Information Centre and at the five participating locations. The story starts at Bath Postal Museum, 27 Northgate Street where we can see how this 19-year-old postal clerk from Cornwall went on to re-organise the loss-making postal service of the day by developing a system where not all national mail travelled via London, thus saving valuable time. And he was well paid for his efforts as a postal pioneer. With the fortune he accumulated, he acquired and developed the Combe Down stone quarries. The quarries in turn led to a partnership with the architect John Wood the Elder. The combination of Allen’s rich golden stone with Wood’s architectural designs in the classical style saw Bath grow rapidly during the 18th century to become England’s most fashionable city. 46 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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But the building boom of Georgian Bath was not just about entrepreneurial skill and architectural innovation. It was also the result of the highly skilled craftsmen who took Allen’s stone and Wood’s designs and turned them into the distinctive streets and crescents that surround us today. Much of this development is featured in the Building of Bath Collection at the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, The Vineyards, in the Paragon. During this business relationship, Allen commissioned John Wood to build him a show house, visible from the city, to demonstrate the beauty of his stone. This is Prior Park Mansion and was Allen’s country residence although he also had a town house by the Abbey. That mansion is now Prior Park College. As a sales pitch it was a bold statement residence. He then landscaped the sweep of valley below and, with advice from Alexander Pope, extended the lakes below the mansion and in 1755, added a Palladian Bridge. The National Trust has restored the parkland to appear much as it did in Ralph Allen’s time and the gardens now feature a grotto, cascade, a serpentine lake and the site of a gothic temple. Prior Park Landscape Garden is on Ralph Allen Drive and open seven days a week until October and on weekends during the winter. At heart, Ralph Allen was a philanthropist and put much back into the community to improve the working lives of his staff. He built artisans’ cottages at Widcombe and in Combe Down where the quarries were sited. Dial House and the adjacent terrace in Church Road are where the quarrymen once lived close to their work. The Museum of Bath at Work in Julian Road celebrates the commercial development of Bath over 2,000 years, with displays re-creating engineering works and an ironmongery shop and include a replica stone mine. Here in Allen’s application of new technologies we can see examples of his innovative working practices in the stone yards, extraction methods, transport and the retailing of Bath stone beyond the city itself. The last link in this chain is in the village of Combe Down itself, the site of the quarries. By the end of the 1990s, the open

AN EYE ON THE FUTURE: main picture, Ralph Allen’s home, Prior Park Mansion and a portrait of Allen


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CITY’S BUILDING BLOCKS: left to right, quarry workers at Combe Down, the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel in The Paragon, and underground in the stone mines

quarries had been built on and the abandoned underground workings were crumbling. Combe Down village sat precariously above a honeycombed hilltop. During the first decade of our new millennium a major stabilisation project secured the safety of the area and suitable access for the resident bats. During the project, many items of interest were retrieved from the vacated workings including countless clay pipes, examples of graffiti, samples of stone work and tools of the trade, plus a photographic before, during and after record. There is no longer access to the mines (unless you are a bat). But the hidden heritage is evident not only in the topography of the village where steep drops mark the old quarry edges and where the cranes that hauled the stone up to the waiting

carriages were sited. There are also still present the workers’ cottages and the pubs from which there was direct access to the underground stone faces. To commemorate the significance of this area and to complete the Ralph Allen Trail, a new centre – Ralph Allen CornerStone – is opening in the autumn. This centre on Combe Road will explore the geology of the area, how the stone was extracted and transported on one of the earliest railways and how it shaped Georgian Bath. The railway itself was something of a tourist attraction in its time as the stone laden trucks trundled down Ralph Allen Drive on wooden rails, with only a primitive brake, and gravity, to guide them to the wharf at Widcombe for onward transport of the stone to Bath City, Bristol and beyond. ■

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FOOD&DRINK

Quick bites

■ April sees the start of the picnic season, and what could be more romantic than a cruise down the Kennet and Avon Canal, letting the world drift by as you tuck into a ready-prepared picnic? Lady Lena is an electric boat which can be chartered for private cruises. The Lady Lena runs any day from April to October anywhere between Bath or Bathampton to Bradford on Avon. Prices range from £100 for two hours for two people, to £200 for up to 10 people on board. The Best of British deli can supply delicious hampers to await you on arrival. To book, email: info@ladylena.co.uk, tel: 01225 834250, or tel: 07963 834828. ■ People with a wheat intolerance, and those who have to feed them, will be pleased to hear that a new collection of British spelt recipes has been launched online, by Sharpham Park, owned by Roger Saul, and Bowel Cancer UK. The aim is to spread the message that a high fibre diet can help reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. The recipes have been donated by 30 culinary friends including Heston Blumenthal, The Fabulous Baker Brothers, Yotam Ottolenghi, Mark Hix, Hugh FernleyWhittingstall and Sophie Dahl. Visit: www.greatbritishspeltrecipes.com. ■ One Beaufort, the gastro pub in London Road has a new dynamic duo in the kitchen. Frenchman Andy Lamb is the new head chef and he is joined by sous chef Kris Fox. Andy has lived and worked in Bath for the last eight years and Kris is British and comes to Bath after working in a gastro pub in London. The pair are creating a new menu with a combination of classic French and English dishes with little twists on the classics, such as duck confit and ham hock pie. ■ A bed and breakfast establishment in Box has shredded the opposition in a marmalade making contest. Lorne House won a silver award in the eighth annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards. Fran Ralli’s homemade Seville marmalade which was entered into the B&B category and scored high marks for its appearance, colour, consistency, aroma & flavour. Fran makes and serves her own preserves for her guests.

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Time to vote for Gordon Fans of the talented, unique Menu Gordon Jones, the chef who’s made such an impression with his small, independent restaurant on Bear Flat will be pleased to hear he has been shortlisted to represent the south west region in the annual Good Food Guide awards – and that we, the diners, can vote for him to go through to the national final. Gordon Jones is one of only four in the region to make the shortlist. His rivals are: The Muset, Clifton, The Seahorse in Dartmouth and The Hasletown Inn, St Ives. We have until 14 April to vote for our favourite independent restaurant. The awards are run annually to find the UK’s favourite restaurant, as nominated by the general public. The Good Food Guide’s Restaurant of the Year awards champion local eateries and recognises great food and good service, with the criteria that restaurants must be independently run and offer regional or local produce where possible. Last year some 44,500 diners nominated their favourite restaurants, pubs and cafés from around the UK. The judges then crowned Van Zeller of Harrogate, Yorkshire as the overall winner. IN DEMAND: chef Gordon Jones is one of four shortlisted To vote visit: www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk. for the Good Food Guide awards in the south west

‘As seen on tv’ dish for Comic Relief Congratulations to Richard Davies, executive chef at the Michelin starred Bybrook restaurant at The Manor House Hotel Castle Combe, who won his way through his heat on the BBC’s Great British Menu for Comic Relief. Viewers saw Richard’s fiercely determined battle to win through to the judges’ round, after being unsuccessful in previous years. It was quite an emotional rollercoaster for the viewer watching Richard prepare his dishes, and judging by his face, it was for him too. Now we have the chance to sample for ourselves his Lenny Henry Strawberry Parfait pudding, complete with witty, edible red nose For every Lenny Henry pudding sold the hotel is donating £5 to Comic Relief’s Menu WITTY: chef Richard Davies created this Lenny Henry Relief fund, or £10 if you sit down for Strawberry Parfait with creamy pannacotta, fruit and meringue Richard’s entire television menu.

In praise of macaroni cheese . . . I’d been recommended by various friends to Bill’s, the new all-day restaurant/café on Cheap Street, so we bagged a table early on a Tuesday evening. Bill’s after work has an instantly relaxing vibe, with comfy banquettes, so we could sit side by side to gossip, with candlelight and a soundtrack that kept these two retro pop fans happy. Its stylish urban interior looks nothing like The Early Learning Centre it replaced. The house wine is a reasonable £14.50 a bottle, a very light, crisp sauvignon blanc. My dining partner enjoyed her prawn

POPULAR: Bill’s of Cheap Street

cocktail, served in an elegant tall glass, and my squid starter with garlic mayo was hot, crispy and not remotely elastic-band chewy. As it was mid-week we opted

for homely main courses. The fish pie I had was a mix of smoked haddock, salmon, tiger prawns and the sweetest, plumpest scallops. With a topping of mash with Cheddar and mustard it was far superior to any fish pie I’ve ever made. The macaroni cheese was also a triumph, creamy, cheesy and laced with mushroom and leeks, but not too heavy. It was officially declared ‘the best macaroni cheese – ever.’ We ended a delightful evening Chez Bill’s by sharing marmalade and brown bread ice cream with chocolate sauce. GMc


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Here comes the sun! Take a seat in the courtyards at Milsom Place

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hat could be more tempting that sitting in the courtyard outside Carluccio’s sharing some fresh anti pasti? The Milsom Place courtyards are the hot place for al fresco dining in Bath so take a break and you’ll discover a collection of interesting venues to sample fresh and delicious food and drink. Brimming with freshly made dishes Carluccio’s deli makes perfect sense for lunch on-the-go, with tasty ciabatta sandwiches, Piadina (Italian flat bread), light salads and sweet treats. The shelves are laden with Italian products, many sourced direct from artisan producers in Italy, including oil, wines, pastas, polenta, antipasti and handmade chocolates. Côte with its sun drenched terrace and courtyard, is a top spot for summer diners with superb French food and friendly service; a perfect refuelling stop at any time of day. Côte offers great value at lunchtime and for early bird supper. No one can deliver a “steak frites” quite like the French and you can close your eyes and imagine you are really in Paris. Sushi is popular any time of year but lighter healthy food always goes down when we start thinking about bringing out our summer wardrobe. For a fast but delicious light lunch visit YO! Sushi. You know what to expect but you never know who you might bump into as you sit round the belt, this is sociable fare! Jamie’s Italian Deli will soon be celebrating its first birthday and has been a phenomenal success. The Deli sells homemade pasta; charcuterie; fresh fruit and vegetables; breads and many Italian delicacies. The very best Italian coffee is freshly brewed to take away or drink on the premises with a tempting array of pastries and cakes on offer. Jamie’s Italian needs no introduction with its buzzing atmosphere and tasty pasta made fresh in the restaurant every day. When Jamie’s Italian was first conceived, the starting point was to re-create what Italians are most proud of – fantastic, rustic dishes, using tried, tested and loved recipes. Creating an environment with a “neighbourhood” feel, inspired by the “Italian table” where people relax, share, and enjoy each other’s company was part of the goal. Jamie’s Italian was designed to be accessible and affordable and that’s exactly what it is – a place where anyone is welcome and everyone will feel comfortable. Check out the balcony tables to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the historic rooftops of the city. If your Saturday ritual involves wandering into town for a freshly brewed coffee in the courtyard at Carluccio’s, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find some extra treats in store. Milsom Place now offers a weekly artisan food market showcasing local and regional produce and speciality foods.

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Among the producers the award winning Bath Soft Cheese Co is always popular. The Bath Food Co has chutneys, preserves and relishes covered, made in small batches from local ingredients for an authentic homemade taste. For those that like it hot The Chilli Hut is the one stop shop for all things spicy from sauces, chocolates, sweets and crisps – ranging from Mild to Wild! Or The Chocolate Society’s luxury Valrhona chocolates are dangerously tempting.

MILSOM PLACE, BATH for details of promotions and events visit

www.mils ompla c e .c o.uk Tel: 01225 789040


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London Road Bath ba1 6qb, tel 01225 334050 Onebeaufort.com follow us on twitter

New two course dinner menu £12 Monday to Wednesday Free kids pizza before 7pm when grownups eat, ask at bar for details Thursday Steak Night £10 Friday Fish Deals 2 main courses and Bottle of House Wine £29 Daily Specials Board Backgammon Night on Monday

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Seasonal produce Rosie Parry caught up with Newton Farm Shop to find out which meat and vegetables are in season this spring and what to look for to ensure quality

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pring is finally here which means sunny days and longer, lighter evenings in which to socialise with friends or family over some good grub and a crisp glass of wine – well, as ever we can only hope that the sun shines for us this year. But it’s best to stay optimistic, so I asked Newton Farm Shop in Newton St Loe what delicious produce is in season from April to June so we can all shine when entertaining this spring with the freshest and healthiest ingredients in our dishes.

LAMB Lamb is a high-quality protein, essential for body growth and repair. It is also useful for supplies of iron, zinc, and B vitamins which are necessary for the formation of nucleic acids and red blood cells and those said to aid brain function. Most of the fat in lamb is monounsaturated – the type of fat that is said to be protective against heart disease and stroke. Select lean cuts and ask the butcher to trim off any visible fat. Use lamb in a fruity tagine with carrots, garlic, tomatoes, chick peas and dried apricots or for a spring Sunday roast enjoy lamb shanks or steaks with red wine on a bed of crushed garlic, thyme and rosemary potatoes. For an Indian summer sensation, serve a spicy lamb and spinach curry.

NEW POTATOES New potatoes are a good source of carbohydrate. Young new potatoes release less sugar than their older partners, therefore blood sugar levels are not raised so rapidly. Vitamins include; vitamin C – helpful for the intake of iron from food, vitamin B6 and vitamin B1. It is always best to buy new potatoes loose and unwashed, as soil acts as a protective barrier. Do not buy if they are spongy or if there is any evidence of sprouting or green patches, all of which indicates poor storage. If potatoes are bought in sealed plastic bags, remove them as soon as possible as condensation may cause rot. New season potatoes are available now through to July and good local varieties include Pentland Javelin or salad potatoes. Use as an accompaniment for your meat or fish, roasted and lightly crushed with garlic and herb butter, or boiled and lightly crushed with a dollop of crème fraîche. They are also great as a side with spring onions or Parma ham and broad beans.

RAPESEED OIL Rapeseed oil is high in vitamin E and Omegas 3, 6 and 9 which are essential fatty acids. For local oil try Bath Harvest Oils, which is produced in Wilmington, a mile or so from Newton St Loe, visit: www.bathharvestoils.co.uk.

RAINBOW CHARD Rainbow chard or ruby chard is best known for its bright crimson stems and blades. As with all dark, leafy green vegetables, chard is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It provides excellent sources of folate, calcium, magnesium and some zinc – all of which is needed to maintain good health. In addition it provides rich sources of vitamin C and E, and acts as an antioxidant and a good source of fibre. The chard leaves should be glossy and the stalks firm and vibrant, not floppy which shows signs of poor storage. Serve the stems boiled and sliced in salads or combine with lamb to create a pide – a pizza dough base topped with lamb, rainbow chard, feta cheese, onion, garlic and cinnamon.

BROAD BEANS Broad beans provide rich sources of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, carbohydrate and protein. Broad beans can be used with all manner of dishes, but are great in salads for picnic lunches – try making a creamy potato salad with broad beans, or use in a sweet, spring-time risotto with peas.

GARLIC Garlic helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. It is also said to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that can be beneficial for the blood and circulation, digestive system and immune system. Use as seasoning for meat and potatoes.

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FORCED RHUBARB Contrary to the belief of some, rhubarb is a vegetable. It provides good sources of vitamin B, C, iron and magnesium. The leaves are poisonous but the stems are delicious as a pudding – slice into lozenges with a coating of vanilla caster sugar and wrap the tray in cling film. Cook for 45 minutes in an oven at 80c. Serve with fresh sheep’s yoghurt or Greekstyle yoghurt. For the full recipe visit: www.vegetariancookeryschool.com.

SHEEP’S YOGURT OR CURD Yogurt is rich in vitamins A and K, calcium, and is a good source of protein. Live yogurt is particularly good for the health of the digestive tract as it retains the natural bacteria that helps to digest lactose. Sheep’s yogurt is a great alternative for those who cannot digest cow’s milk products or those on a dairy-free diet. Pour over cereal or fruit for breakfast, or use it as an alternative to cream in recipes. Local suppliers include sheep’s curd by Homewood Cheeses, visit: www.homewoodcheeses.co.uk and sheep’s milk yogurt by Wootton Organic Dairy in Shepton Mallet, visit: www.realfoodguide.com/producers.


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British spring lamb steaks with buttery minted potatoes Spring or new season lamb is moist and succulent, with a mouthwatering flavour. Lamb sold at Newton Farm Shop comes from sheep that have spent their lives grazing on a wide range of English grasslands.

Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 x 150g lamb steaks from Newton Farm Shop 2 fresh sprigs rosemary • 4 cloves new season’s garlic 1tsp English mustard • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 3 tbsp Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oil • 400g new potatoes Mint butter • 2-3 fresh sprigs mint 20g unsalted butter • 450g rainbow chard 150g broad beans

Method: 1. Separate the leaves from the sprigs of rosemary (approx 2 tbsp), finely chop and crush into a coarse paste. This can be done using a pestle and mortar and adding a few sea salt flakes. Peel, chop and add the garlic to make a coarse puree. Add a couple grinds of black pepper, mustard and vinegar. Pour in the rapeseed oil and mix into a runny dressing – transfer to a shallow dish and add the lamb steaks. Coat both sides of the steaks with the marinade, cover dish with cling film and set aside in the fridge for two hours or more. 2. In the meantime, put a pan of cold water onto the heat and bring to the boil. Simply wipe and remove the flaky skin of the potatoes – they will not need peeling. Add a pinch of salt to the water, when it comes to the boil add the potatoes, with a couple sprigs of fresh mint. Cook for 15 minutes or so till tender (the time will depend on the size).

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3. For the mint butter, finely chop the leaves and discard the stems. Place the mint leaves in a large bowl and add the butter. Drain the water from the potatoes and lightly crush with either a fork or potato masher. Transfer the potatoes into the mint butter and ensure they are all well coated. Put the ingredients into a non-stick frying pan and set over a medium heat. Sauté the potatoes until the edges start to crisp. Remove and keep warm. 4. Using the same pan, wipe with paper towel and place it back onto the heat. Add the lamb, and cook for three/four minutes on each side till done. Leaving the inside of the meat pink will allow the juices to run. Place on warm plates to rest. Serve with the potatoes with boiled rainbow chard stems, steamed chard leaves and broad beans – for seasoning, grate the zest of one unwaxed lemon and add a knob of butter.

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Enjoy the tranquillity of the Kennet and Avon Canal, on the oldest electric launch in existence. Built in 1890, Lady Lena is believed to be the oldest electric launch in existence and still powered by electric. If you are looking for something truly memorable or unique, private charter of this magnificent historic boat is ideal for up to 10 people, year round.

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journey anywhere from Bath to the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley • trips tailored to your own needs • complimentary glass of champagne on arrival • bring your own picnic or our caterer can provide • cream teas available to find out more about Lady Lena tel: Jenkyn: 07963 834828 Helen: 07791 511611 01225 834250

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THE WINE COLUMN Angela Mount, wine and food critic, chooses wines for April

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pring always feels like a time of renewal – new life in the plants and trees, a skip in the step, and a feeling of freshness and vitality in the air, as we emerge from the depths of a particularly brutal winter. So this month, I’m looking at fresh, tastebud-tingling wines, and a couple of new arrivals. Here’s my selection for April drinking and hopefully the onset of sunnier times. Chateau Sainte Marie Vielles Vignes, Entre deux Mers 2012 £10.50 With the craze for New World wines, it’s easy to forget that there are some top quality, zesty whites from more traditional areas. This one is from the most classic of them all, Bordeaux, and the new 2012 vintage is just hitting the shelves. Predominantly Sauvignon blanc, it’s a more gentle take on the overtness of some New World Sauvignons, and has a delicate freshness, and citrus character, with a touch of creamy, lime fresh fruit from the Semillon which will work perfectly, on its own, and with grilled prawns, delicate grilled fish, or a medley of seafood and fish stew.

Vina Leyda Pinot Noir Rosé 2011 £11.50 Rosé starts to come into its own, as the weather warms up, although I’ve always been a fan of drinking rosé throughout the year, as it’s such a great food wine. From multi-award winning producer Vina Leyda, who are based just 12km from the Pacific ocean in north west Chile, this is a deliciously pure expression of vibrant, red berry fruit, with freshly crushed raspberry and lime zest flavours. If the weather’s great, try it with early summer barbecues; if it’s still wintry, it’s perfect with seared, spicy tuna, and is my favourite for mild Indian seafood curries. Tolentino Malbec 2011 £10.95 A new arrival on the shelves, this is a big, bold, spicy Latino number, from Argentina, with a rich, velvety texture. Malbec is seen as the national grape of the country, and is the perfect wine to match with a great big, juicy steak. Softer and more aromatic than many hefty Malbecs, this one is packed with ripe, blackberry fruit, a touch of mocha and a dusting of fresh herbs, all wrapped up in an inviting blanket of smooth, enveloping warmth. Try it with the intrepid first barbecue of the year, or snuggle it up with braised and roast beef.

APRIL’S CHOICE Wines to go with spring lamb: juicy, succulent lamb needs a fruity, lively, mid weight red that doesn’t overpower the fresh, sweet flavours of the meat. Spike the lamb with rosemary and garlic and serve with the most recent vintage of one of my favourite Italian reds, Camillo de Lellis Biferno 2009 (£7.50), from Molise, in south east Italy, with its fresh, savoury edge, bright, yet mature cherry fruit and attractive softness. Great Western Wine is at Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AP, tel: 01225 322810. Visit: www.greatwesternwine.co.uk. 56 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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COMPETITION

Win a family day at Castle Combe Cycling fest

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astle Combe Cycling Festival on Sunday 2 June is set to be one of the great cycling events of 2012 and we have five sets of family festival tickets to give away. The event is a celebration of all things bicycle, from grass roots cycling with the Toddlebike Try Outs and Strider Adventure Zone through to the Severn Bridge Sportive offering 100km or 100 mile routes for the more dedicated cyclist. Savage Skills, the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike stunt team will be making appearances throughout the day as will Matti Hemmings, a professional Flatland BMXer and Guinness World Record holder who will be performing BMX tricks on the flat. The Circuit Challenge offers pure cycling fun for all the family. Taking place on the international race circuit, this is your chance to cycle as many 1.85 mile laps as you feel able. Sponsorship opportunities are available with money raised going to Action for Children. Add in plenty of have-a-go opportunities with Wacky Cycles, Wheels for All, Go Ride, Have-A-Go Cyclo Cross and more and you really do have something for all the family. Each of our family tickets is valid for up to two adults and three children and gives full admission to the Cycling Festival (excluding Severn Bridge Sportive). For a chance to win, all you have to do is simply answer the following question: What is the name of the freestyle mountain bike stunt team attending this year’s event? a) Awesome Aerials b) Sensible Stunts c) Savage Skills Send your answer with your name, address and email address, where applicable, to: competitions@thebathmagazine.co.uk or by post to The Bath Magazine, 2 Princes Buildings, Bath BA1 2ED by

INSPIRATION: Matti Hemmings will be performing BMX stunts

the closing date of noon on Friday 26 April. Please mark your entries Castle Combe Cycling Festival. Full details of the Castle Combe Cycling Festival can be found at: www.castlecombecyclingfestival.co.uk. 25% early bird discount available for Family Cycling Festival tickets purchased online (up to Monday 27 May inclusive). Terms and conditions: a total of five Castle Combe Cycling Festival family tickets are on offer, five winners will be drawn at random and each will receive one family ticket entitling entry for up to two adults and three children into the Cycling Festival (excludes entry to the Severn Bridge Sportive).

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News in brief ■ Becky Ricards Small has joined Bath law firm, Withy King, as a partner. Becky, pictured, is considered to be one of the profession’s most promising solicitors, having been selected for the Top 35 under 35 private client practitioners guide compiled annually by Private Client Practitioner magazine, from hundreds of nominations countrywide. Prior to joining Withy King, Becky spent nine years at Thrings where she was a partner and headed their private client team in Bath. ■ OmniaLegal, the Bath-based legal firm headed by Martin Powell, is celebrating after the racehorse it sponsors won at Kempton Park. Opening Batsman, trained by Harry Fry, the UK’s youngest trainer, won the Racing Plus Chase. Martin, a solicitor in Bath for over 35 years, said one of the areas the company specialises in is helping businesses realise their full potential. He added: “We like to get involved with start-up projects, as you never know where they might lead…” ■ Robin Phillips, pictured, residential property partner at Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors will shortly be embarking on his third attempt to run a marathon to celebrate his 50th birthday by running the Brighton Marathon on 14 April. Last November Robin travelled to New York to run the marathon, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy the race was cancelled. Determined to run he then entered the Gloucester Marathon in January, but this was also cancelled, due to snow and ice. Robin is hoping for third time lucky as he faces the challenge of Brighton! He is running for the children’s charity I CAN: www.ican.org.uk. Visit: www.uk.virginmoneygiving. com/RobinPhillips. ■ Enterprising Bath music student Stuart Nelson, has launched a very charming business as part of his studies at Bath Spa University. Lovemrdarcy.com offers romantics the chance to send their loved one a video message along with a bouquet of flowers, an original idea dreamt up by Stuart. The business is partnered with Bath florists Passionate About Flowers of Brougham Hayes.

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CHARITY AUCTION: Ground Force star Tommy Walsh, Marie Walsh, Martin Roberts from Under the Hammer and Naomi Handford-Jones

Naomi’s blooming lovely ball Charity fundraiser Naomi Handford-Jones has raised more than £10,000 for the Dorothy House hospice by organising The Primrose Ball at Bowood House in Wiltshire. Naomi, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2010, wanted to thank the Winsleybased charity for its support. Naomi, 50, from Heddington, said: “When the diagnosis sent me reeling they were there to counsel me through a difficult time. A Dorothy House nurse specialist came to me in my home – she was wonderful and

she really made me feel positive about an otherwise negative situation.” Naomi’s cancer had spread was in both breasts and had gone to the bones. Although her diagnosis has not changed, she has responded well to treatment. For the ball she called in a few favours as a former events manager and booked two wellknown faces from television, Tommy Walsh from Ground Force and Homes Under The Hammer’s Martin Roberts. Martin hosted the auction, with lots which included flights at

Wiltshire Microlight Centre and a silver necklace made by Jane Watling of Watlings Goldsmiths. There was also dinner for two at The Waterside Inn at Bray, a laughter session with Grin and Tonic and two limited edition landscapes by Lelia Pissarro. Sponsors of the event included Waitrose of Melksham and Imagine Cruising from Swindon who donated the star prize of a luxury cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. Guests included film director Christopher Miles, Claire Rendall from DIY SOS, interior and furniture designer near Bath, Perry Chadwyck-Healy, chairman of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Lord Lansdowne’s daughter, Rachel and doctors and nurses from Dorothy House. Bowood is the home of Lord and Lady Lansdowne. Jazz and swing band The Hipcats and Opera Sulis entertained guests. Naomi said: “My message to people is don’t ever give up hope if you’ve been told you’re terminally ill. Having cancer has taught me to live life to the full each and every day, taking each day one step at a time and to appreciate each and every second.” To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/NaomiHandford-Jones.

Re-branding for historic city venue The Green Park Brasserie, in the historic former railway station Green Park in Bath is refurbishing its first floor rooms to create The Bath Functions Rooms for weddings, parties, private dinners and other events. Andrew Peters, owner of the independent Green Park

Brasserie, said: “We already have bookings for weddings, birthday parties, dinners, lectures and other business events. In the past we have had to turn down enquiries and disappoint people because we could not fit them all in. We will also be obtaining a full licence to hold wedding

ceremonies. It is great to be able to offer our expertise and experience to a wider audience.” The main room can accommodate up to 150 people and there is a second room, ideal for smaller meetings for up to 12 people that will also be available for private dining.

Party bands head-up family-friendly festival The Dub Pistols, Babyhead and RSVP bangra band are among the party acts signed up to play Sunrise: Another World Festival, which has been moved this year to a rural site near Frome. The family-friendly festival runs from 30 May to 2 June at Thoulstone Park, a former golf course, complete with a lake. In addition to a great line-up of music, there will be dancing, workshops, comedy, theatre, kids activities, storytelling, wellbeing and healing. From its organic, local food and drink, to the compost loos and the first ever integrated festival power grid, Sunrise aims to minimise its impact on the environment. Learn more about diverse subjects, from global environmental issues, permaculture, transition towns, spirituality and consciousness. The festival has won awards over the years, and offers plenty to keep little ones entertained, while adult festival-goers will enjoy the chance at the end

Dub Pistols: on the dub side of the moon of the day, to bathe in solar powered hot tubs under the stars. Tickets, which are £115 for adults, £255 for families, available from: www.sunrisefestivals.co.uk or tel: 0845 009 0246.


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Golf Membership Available New Refurbished Clubhouse New Head Greenkeeper

For more information contact Anthony Roberts, Club Manager, Bath Golf Club Tel: 01225 463834 • www.bathgolfclub.org.uk

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Fancy something slightly different? Ever had a creative idea in your head but struggled to make it a reality? Want to decide what's next in your life through reflective journaling? Creativity Works offers fun and thought provoking creative activities. We can offer all art forms from pottery to silk painting, bespoke to your interests. Profits generated are invested back into our work with those from disadvantaged areas of society or those living with mental health challenges, anxiety or depression.

To explore your inner creative, contact us now: 01761 438852 / info@creativityworks.org.uk www.creativityworks.org.uk

Can i pay family members through my business payroll? Is a question that is regularly asked by new clients – and highlights an opportunity that can otherwise easily be overlooked. The answer is that companies can claim tax deductions for expenses where they are “wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade” and therefore there is no reason why family members, including your children, can’t be paid provided the company gets value. The family member can be employed in any capacity – filing, administration, cleaning company cars, IT – as long as they provide your business with a service. The huge advantage is of course that you won’t need to find so much money to support them; the payments are tax deductible for the company, so saving business tax - and you are no longer paying them from your own income which has already suffered tax and national insurance.

For more tax saving tips contact us At OCL we have been looking after SMEs (start ups to turnovers of £3 million) for more than twenty years; we would be pleased to meet you to discuss any tax, financial and accounting matters that would help you, including how to save money.

“I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the team at OCL to anyone looking for outside assistance in making a company work better and more profitably”

See our website for more – and download our FREE guides

Call Marie Maggs or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 for a no-obligation meeting 141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL

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www.oclaccountancy.com


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LEGALmatters

ADV ERT OR I AL FEATURE

CHRIS HUHNE AND VICKY PRYCE: LESSONS LEARNT C

hris Huhne, ex-cabinet minister and MP, and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are just starting their eight month prison sentences imposed for perverting the course of justice. Chris Huhne persuaded Vicky Pryce to take points that should have been placed on his driving licence for a speeding offence in order for him to avoid a ban. However, Mr Huhne was not alone in his thinking. In a recent survey two thirds of motorists said that they would be willing to take on penalty points for a friend or family member to ensure that person is not disqualified from driving. Until now the public has not realised that such actions, if found out, are almost always rewarded with prison sentences. So what should someone do if they find themselves in the same position of having additional penalty points on their licence which will bring their total up to twelve or more. The law is clear that people in this position face a driving ban of at least six months. It was this ban that Mr Huhne was trying avoid. There are however a number of legal possible escape routes whereby someone could keep their licence. Arguing exceptional hardship to keep your licence If twelve or more penalty points are imposed on your licence you do not have to be disqualified from driving if the court finds that you or others would face exceptional hardship. An example of such an argument would be that if disqualified, the driver will lose his job. Possible defences in relation to a speeding allegation Perhaps Chris Huhne should have looked more closely at the speeding allegation that was going to bring his total amount of penalty points to twelve or more to find out if there was a possible defence. Typical defences in relation to speeding allegations can include: Time limits – was the Notice of Intended Prosecution sent in time? Chris Huhne was not stopped by the police when he was speeding. The first time he would have known he was officially being pursued for this offence would have been when a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was sent to his address. However, if the police sent the notice WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

more than fourteen days after the speeding offence to the registered keeper’s address then the driver has a “cast iron” defence. Speed limit signage - does it comply with traffic regulations? Other possible defences to speeding allegations can be in relation to inadequate signage. It was recently reported by the BBC how thousands of motoring speeding convictions on a stretch of the M42 motorway could be overturned because the font used to display the numbers on some variable speed limit signs may not have complied with traffic regulations. It has now been argued that any penalties handed out over the course of six years since the signs have been in place should be quashed. It is worth bearing in mind therefore that a traffic sign must be of the prescribed colour, type and size authorised by the Secretary of State. Speed cameras – are they being operated correctly? Another possible defence to a speeding allegation could be in relation to the camera used to check the speed. Despite the government announcing major cuts in road safety funding a few years ago, figures suggest that fixed speed cameras continue to be used in various areas of England. There are actually more fixed camera sites now than there were in 2010. It is true that in Avon and Somerset, and Wiltshire all operational fixed speed cameras were switched off. However, in these areas mobile vans are being used to enforce speed limits. Many of the speed guns used from the these vans work by sending a beam of infrared light which bounces off the suspected vehicle straight back to the machine. The gun calculates the speed by measuring the changing distance of the car. However, if the officer operating the gun accidentally moves the beam along the side of the car while taking a reading this could affect the results and if demonstrated before the court provide a possible defence to the speeding allegation. Dr Michael Clark, a leading expert in laser and traffic control demonstrated this using a speed gun down the side of a stationary car and clocking it doing 43MPH! What to do if you are accused of speeding? If you are accused of speeding or any other road traffic offence do not make Mr Huhne’s mistake and risk a possible prison sentence. Instead

contact one of our specialist road traffic solicitors at Motoring Law Defence for free initial advice. As can be seen a multitude of defences may be available, the above examples just being a few of them. Even if you are not actually in danger of being disqualified penalty points on your licence can make an enormous difference to your insurance premiums. Speeding, which accounts for almost two thirds of road traffic offences tends to increase premiums by more than a third. Even if it is apparent that you do not have a defence in relation to a speeding allegation we can still assist you by persuading the court to impose fewer penalty points than they would have done otherwise and by arguing that they should not disqualify. For further information contact Philip Hatvany, Road Traffic Solicitor at Motoring Law Defence on 01225 442925 or via email at advice@motoringlawdefence.com

Philip Hatvany, Road Traffic Solicitor at Motoring Law Defence

3 Queen Square Bath, BA1 2HG T: 01225 442925 www.motoringlawdefence.com Motoring Law Defence is a division of Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors APRIL 2013

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The new expanded team at Richardson Swift Mike Richardson and Derek Swift, the founders of Richardson Swift, are delighted to announce the expansion of their team of directors. Jon Miles the tax director is now also an owner of the business alongside Mike and Derek. Mike says “we are delighted that Jon has taken the final step and joined us in ownership”. Mike and Derek have worked with Jon for several years and believe that Jon’s extensive tax knowledge together with his accounting background adds a real strength to the tax service of the firm. Jon will be developing this service more over the coming months and shares the firm’s core beliefs that we are here to build relationships and proactively advise clients. Outside of work Jon is currently tied up with

sorting out his new home after recently moving into the city and is a keen drummer. Debbie Boulton has just joined the team as Director of Business Services. Debbie has vast experience looking after owner managed businesses and has particular expertise in outsourced solutions to meet businesses’ financial needs. Being passionate about business, Debbie enjoys working with business owners to determine their future goals and then work with them to achieve them. As Debbie says “I can tailor my offering to whatever a client needs, be it a business advisor, a sounding board or simply an

efficient and proactive accountant”. Coming from a larger, traditional firm, Debbie was keen to move to a company where she can provide clients with a more personal service at a competitive price. She also has the desire to develop the 'cloud accounting' specialism at Richardson Swift, recognising that today’s IT advances can improve efficiency and reporting within small businesses. When not 'crunching the numbers', Debbie acts as a taxi service to her two daughters, ferrying them around to various events, squeezing in the odd run and book club meeting when time allows!

www.richardsonswift.co.uk • 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL • 01225 325 580 62 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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FIXED FEES – A FAIR DEAL FROM BATH’S INDEPENDENT FAMILY LAWYER Crallan Family and Divorce Solicitors are an independent firm of specialists whose benchmark is to give clients a fair deal. Divorce and separation are not just about the financial implications but the emotional toll it takes on couples and their children. Richard Crallan and his team recognise that fairness, efficiency and integrity are vital factors in supporting their clients and creating long term stability. When families break down the individuals involved are in no position to make clear decisions about the future. This is where Richard Crallan and his associates can help by giving sound, practical advice to clients at a reasonable price. Crallans was the first law firm in the UK to offer fixed fees that cover the whole of a divorce case from start to finish. With the abolition of Legal Aid they can guarantee you the best deal on the market. With fixed fees starting from under £3,000 why sign a blank cheque? Crallan Solicitors is just a call away. Not only will you get the fairest price but your initial (one hour) consultation is free.

CRALLAN FAMILY AND DIVORCE SOLICITORS Certainty in uncertain times

01225 471094 www.crallans.co.uk reception@crallans.co.uk 1 Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JZ

Cutting the cost of divorce Divorce and separation can be a costly process not just in financial terms but also because of the emotional impact on partners and their children.

With the abolition of Legal Aid more and more people are going to find themselves at the mercy of the courts and facing expensive legal fees.

Crallan Family and Divorce Solicitors recognise these factors and aim to reduce the financial and stressful aspect of divorce by offering Fixed Fees. Fairness, efficiency and support are the keywords for this growing and thriving practice.

“Cases that should settle won’t because the warring spouses will have no one to talk them out of a pointless court battle.

When a breakdown happens, often the individuals involved cannot comprehend or predict the long term effects a family breakdown can have and as a result may make hasty decisions they later come to regret. This is where Richard Crallan and his team can help by supporting the client throughout the process and creating a stable future. WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

“The real problem is that the courts will fill up with self represented litigants,” says Richard Crallan.

“There are real concerns that without Legal Aid or access to representation there will be an increased number of allegations of domestic abuse and that minor incidents will be exaggerated. This, in turn will lead to bitterness and entrenched conflict which could have devastating consequences for the children caught in the middle of their parents’ warfare. Realistically, people do need lawyers when they’re divorcing or separating but they need access to justice at an affordable price.” Crallan Family and Divorce Solicitors were the first Law Firm in the UK to offer fixed fees that cover the whole of a divorce case from start to finish. The average price of a fully contested divorce is around £70,000 in London and £30,000 outside the Capital. Crallans offer fixed fees in fully contested cases starting between £2,975 and £10,350 depending on the length of the case. A fixed fee is one certainty in a situation, which by its very nature, creates uncertainty for everyone involved. 01225 471094 www.crallans.co.uk reception@crallans.co.uk

Crallan Family and Divorce Solicitors Certainty in uncertain times APRIL 2013

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MAKINGaDIFFERENCE

The farm’s finest harvest A working farm in the Box Valley is pioneering therapy and a life-changing experience for children leading troubled lives. Georgette McCready meets the inspirational staff and youngsters at Jamie’s Farm

T

hree teenage boys in hoodies are coming through the farmhouse door, sliding off their wellies and padding past us in their socks. They’re invited to take a tea break and have a slice of homemade banana bread. “Thank you,” they chorus politely, before piling on to a big, squashy sofa together. One of these boys has three ASBOs on his record and all three have a reputation at school for being difficult and disruptive, but you’d never know it to see them smiling, chatting and their ‘please and thank yous’ with the adults around them. But, as their teacher tells me with a delighted smile, these boys have been transformed beyond recognition in the last 24 hours, which is when they arrived at Jamie’s Farm in Box. There are 11 of them, down from the Midlands, here for a five-day experience helping out on a working farm. The intention is that these five days will make such an impact on their young lives that when they go home they’ll be more inclined to behave in a positive and caring way, to take more control of themselves and to avoid confrontation and trouble. It may seem like a big ask but the mother and son behind Jamie’s Farm, Tish and Jamie Feilden, have already proved in just a few years that the project they founded, originally in their own home, to create a catalyst for change with disaffected youngsters does have a huge impact. Teenagers who’ve come from some of the poorest homes in London, street-wise gang members with their swaggering attitude are sent out to collect eggs from the hens, they join in long country walks and before long, as Trish tells me, they’re roly-polying down a grassy hill like the children they’re meant to be. Tish has 30 years experience as a psychotherapist, working with teenagers and using her extraordinary, calm, cheerful and warm empathy to bring out the best in people. “We like to put children in a positive spotlight, to understand them not control them. I believe that there is good in every child. We give them very clear boundaries while they’re here and they work well together – they often say that they’ve enjoyed working with other people and getting things done together.” The boys from the Midlands are busy occupied with various tasks. Some are re-building an old stone wall which will become 64 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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part of an open air kitchen, others are helping to create raised beds where vegetables will be grown. Head gardener and chef Rob Lewis is chatting away about crop rotation while they work. The old farmhouse has retained the homely atmosphere it’s had for centuries. There’s a big dining room table with mismatched chairs, a piano in one sitting room and enough sofas for everyone to gather in the evenings round the fire, to talk or play games. The guests sleep in cosy bedrooms of two, or in the stylishly converted barn across the farmyard. The duvets are bright and pretty, the bathrooms welcoming and the whole place feels like a friendly, family home. “For a lot of our guests this is the sort of family life they’ve never had and they respond so well to it,” says Tish. Many of the children who come and stay here – around 400 each year – come from deprived or dysfunctional families. It is a sad fact that in Britain today, children from poor, white families often have the worst quality of life. Some live with parents who show little affection, who feed their children processed food low in nutrition and give them few tools to equip them to succeed. By contrast, children from families who originate in countries such as Somalia or Afghanistan often come from close-knit families where skills such as cooking are part of everyday life. Jamie’s Farm is a registered charity which constantly needs funding to continue to provide this unique service. As Tish explains, it costs around £200,000 a year to keep a young person in a secure unit, so Jamie’s Farm’s success rate at reducing incidents of disruptive behaviour makes it a cost effective way of working with the next generation. Testimonies on the website tell the story very effectively: ‘I never understood what the teachers meant when they talked about motivation. Now I get it,’ writes 15-year-old Cameron. A teacher writes: ‘Nathan is far more confident and open with staff and students alike and there has been an improvement in his literacy as a result of this. He has had a lot of fear in his life and I think that Tish in particular helped him to work through this.’ Local businesses can support Jamie’s Farm by adopting it as its charity of the year or by donating items that can be used by the farm. The charity recently saw its supporters running the Bath Half marathon to boost funds. There are plans to try and open a

A CATALYST FOR CHANGE: five days on a Wiltshire farm. with a combination of farm work, therapy and a family atmosphere can have a long-lasting effect on young people’s lives


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MAKINGaDIFFERENCE

HANDS ON: left to right, learning to cook at Jamie’s Farm, centre, Great Chalfield Manor which is hosting a plant sale in May to raise money for Jamie’s Farm, and right, enjoying the chance to learn about where food comes from – the farm has 60 hens which provide the community with fresh eggs

second Jamie’s Farm. As the boys tuck into their banana bread we’re all chatting. They are full of enthusiasm and think the farm is ‘brilliant’ – the best things so far have been riding on a tractor, lighting a fire in the woods and cooking on it, and doing some horse whispering with Tish. She is full of praise: “You were so good, the horse really responded well to your voice,” she tells one lad, who stands taller and smiles under her compliment. Tish is the horse whisperer of lost boys and girls, the confident and supportive voice that they clearly respond to at a very profound level. But what happens when these children go home and return to their schools? Within six weeks staff from Jamie’s visit them and ask them what they’ve benefited from their farm stay. “They often tell us, when we ask what they remember most, they insist ‘all of it!’ – that’s how much impact it has had.”

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Some of the effects can be measured in statistics. Over 80% of children had fewer behaviourial incidents, for instance, and 68% were no longer at risk of exclusion a year on from their time at Jamie’s Farm. Other effects are self explanatory. One boy insists he doesn’t want to go on the daily afternoon communal walk. But there is no dramatic scene and within half an hour he’s tramping down a field in the Box Valley with the rest of the group, chatting and fooling around. You can help Jamie’s Farm by attending the charity plant fair at Great Chalfield Manor, three miles from Bradford-on-Avon (postcode SN12 8NH) on Sunday 5 May. This annual event at the manor gardens will include a sale of specialist plants, a cake stall and a hog roast of a pig raised on the farm, with proceeds going towards continuing the good work being done at Jamie’s Farm. Find out more at: www.jamiesfarm.org.uk. ■

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EASTERevents

Events Activities THE EASTER HOLIDAYS Deadly Safari

Arts and crafts at Victoria Art Gallery

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

SPRING INTO ACTION

Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Nr Chippenham. Tel: 01249 730459 www.nationaltrust.org/lacock

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Tel: 01666 880220 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

Easter Trail, Sunday 31 March & Monday 1 April, 10.30am – 4pm

All Things Great and Small, Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 April, 10.30am – 4pm

Meet the superhero eggheads – a band of delicious chocolatey heroes, find out about their superpowers and help them unmask the bad egg among the team on the self-led family trail.

Find out more about the creatures that live in the woodlands. Enter the realm of giants and tiny micro-worlds and discover tree champions and the hidden processes that help trees to survive.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

EASTER FUN

Roper Theatre, Haysefield School, Bath. Box office tel: 01761 239185 www.curtainup.org.uk

Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath. Box office tel: 01225 388569 www.holburne.org

Fame Jr, Wednesday 3 – Saturday 6 April

Easter Art Camp, Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 April, 9am – 4pm

The children from Curtain Up Theatre School present Fame Jr, the inspiring story of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of gruelling artistic and academic work, to set them on their way for a career in performing arts.

ARTS & CRAFTS Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 477233 www.victoriagal.org.uk

Spring Surprise, Thursday 28 March, 10.30am – noon & 1.30pm – 3pm Enjoy early spring at the Victoria Art Gallery focusing on animals using pictures from the collection as inspiration. Suitable for children aged 3-11 years and must be pre-booked.

A Spring Landscape, Thursday 4 April, 10.30am – noon & 1.30pm – 3pm Create landscapes full of spring flowers and birds. Suitable for children aged 3-11 years and must be pre-booked. 66 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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There will be different creative activities each day on the theme of dressing up – all inspired by the Painted Pomp exhibition and objects and paintings from the Holburne’s collection. Have fun, learn new skills and make new friends. For ages 5-13, £35 per day or £120 for four days.

I’m a Graffiti Artist with Konrad Forbes, Sunday 21 April, 2.30pm – 3.30pm Join the Holburne for the next date in its popular Meet the Artist series of family workshops. Discover the work of a young graffiti artist and learn how to create some brilliant effects with markers and spray paints. All ages are welcome.

to make cherry blossoms, dolls, and snack boxes using paper folding techniques. The Doll Festival is held in the spring every year when cherry trees blossom. It is a day to pray for young girls’ growth and happiness and many Japanese families display dolls and dedicate cherry blossoms to the young girls in their households.

SENSATIONAL SCIENCE At-Bristol, Harbourside, Bristol. Tel: 0845 345 1235 www.at-bristol.org.uk

Spring Night Sky Planetarium Show, daily The nights are getting shorter but they’re still dark enough for some star spotting. Be inspired by the expert-led planetarium show: learn how to find satellites, discover more about Saturn, and see if you can spot the constellations Bootes the Herdsman, Leo the Lion and Ursa Major the Great Bear.

Build It!, daily Opening just in time for the Easter holidays is a new permanent exhibition for under-eights. Little ones can set to work on an interactive construction site, complete with hard hats, giant building blocks and scaffold to climb, in order to build their own house.

PIRATE MANIA Tyntesfield, Wraxall, North Somerset. Tel: 01275 461900 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

SEASONAL ORIGAMI Museum of East Asian Art, 12 Bennett Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464640 or email: info@meaa.org.uk

Shiver Me Timbers! A Pirate Trail, Until Sunday 3 April, 10am – 5pm

Hinamatsuri, Saturday 6 April, 2pm

See if you can complete Tyntesfield’s pirate trail this Easter. Shipshape fancy dress is recommended for all lads, lassies and scallywags.

Make your own seasonal origami. You can learn


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Theatre Schools in Bath and Melksham

Drama, Singing and Dancing for children aged 4 and over, every week during term time!

For details of how your child can join us with a free trial session, please contact Tristan or Sarah 01761 239185. Why not to see all the fun we have by visiting our website?

www.curtainup.org.uk

or like us on Facebook for regular updates and fun!

OPEN DAY – 20th APRIL 2.00 – 5.00 pm No Joining Fee (Normally £50) if you join on the day!

Tennis, Squash, Racketball & Croquet • Friendly family members Club • Social & competitive play • Coaching for all ages & abilities • Clubhouse serving food & drinks • TV & Internet lounge • Social events • The Lansdown Club, Northfields, Bath, BA1 5TN. Tel: 01225 425763

www.lansdownclub.co.uk Email: reception@lansdownclub.co.uk

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EASTERevents Easter Trail at Lacock Abbey

Rhino Week at Cotswold Wildlife Park Hinamatsuri at the Museum of East Asian Art

Coming Soon: Castle Combe Cycling Festival & Severn Bridge Sportive at Castle Combe Circuit

Pirate School, Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 March, one hour workshops between 11am and 4pm The good ship Tyntesfield needs a new crew, so if you want to sail the high seas join the team. You need to be a good swash buckler and able to hunt treasure.

PEDAL POWER Castle Combe Circuit, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Tel: 01249 782417 www.castlecombecyclingfestival.co.uk

Castle Combe Cycling Festival & Severn Bridge Sportive, Sunday 2 June You can now buy tickets for the Castle Combe Cycling Festival, now in its second year. Savage Skills, the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike stunt team will put on a display of incredible stunts while the strider adventure zone will offer balance bike fun for 2-5 year olds. Toddlebike tryouts are back as are wacky cycles with challenging and funny bikes. The Severn Bridge Sportive has an option of a 100km or 100 mile route with both rides taking in the Cotswold scenery that surrounds the circuit before taking cyclists onto the bridge itself. There is a 25 per cent early bird discount on the Family Cycling Festival ticket when purchased before 27 May.

GO WILD Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, Burford, South Gloucestershire. Tel: 01993 823006 www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

Easter Egg Hunt and Cotswold Falconry, Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April There will be an Easter egg hunt where children can win a chocolate egg and there will also be birds of prey flying displays from Cotswold Falconry. New to the park is a pair of six-banded armadillos from South America and soon there

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will also be crocodile monitors, one of the world’s largest reptiles. The restaurant has been refurbished and winning entries from the 2012 photography competition are on display.

Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire. Tel: 01985 844400 www.longleat.co.uk

Rhino Week, Saturday 6 – Sunday 14 April

Deadly Safari, from Easter 2013

This will be a whole week dedicated to rhinobased talks and activities to highlight the park’s work with the Tusk Trust. There will also be a children’s drawing competition – the drawings of rhinos will go on display in the rhino house and will be judged at the end of the week to potentially win a prize. Rhino keeper talks will be held daily at 3.30pm.

SAFARI ADVENTURE

BBC Worldwide and Longleat Safari & Adventure Park are joing forces to create a new series of Deadly-themed features in the style of BBC’s Deadly branded series. From Easter you are invited to go on a Deadly Safari discovering some of Longleat’s deadliest creatures. Presenter Steve Backshall has voiced the guide of facts and has included his own experiences.

WIN: A FAMILY TICKET TO MEET PEPPA PIG Children’s television show favourite Peppa Pig will be making a personal appearance at the Bath Racecourse Big Bank Holiday Family Fun Day on Monday 6 May. There will be a parade ring marquee with lots of entertainment to keep your little ones busy, including a storyteller, inflatable fun and face painting, as well as plenty of time for your children to meet and have pictures taken with their favourite television pig. The Bath Magazine has teamed up with Bath Racecourse to give you the chance to win two adult and two children’s admission tickets to this fun family day out. To enter, simply answer this question correctly: What is the name of Peppa Pig’s brother in the Peppa Pig tv series? Email your name, address and telephone number with the subject line Peppa Pig, via email to competitions@thebathmagazine.co.uk, or by post to: The Bath Magazine, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED. The closing date is noon on Friday 19 April. The usual magazine rules apply, the editor’s decision is final and there is no cash alternative offered. For more information, visit: www.bathracecourse.co.uk or tel: 01225 424609.


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FIT&FABULOUS

Hypnosis helping students to pass

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ath hypnotherapist and author of Clear, Calm & Confident: How To Change Your Life In 30 Days, Christian Dunham, says parents are increasingly keen to harness the power of hypnotherapy to help their children attain higher grades. Hypnotherapy is known to be an incredibly powerful tool for improving performance in sport and the same can be applied to exams. In today’s increasingly competitive educational environment, hypnotherapy can be an invaluable tool in performance enhancement. Christian is a solution-focused hypnotherapist, combining the cutting edge psychotherapy techniques of Solution Focused Brief Therapy with clinical hypnotherapy. He cites the case of one of his clients, an A-level student predicted average grades who gained 2 As and an A* following hypnotherapy sessions. “We can all excel, and be happy, when we are feeling clear, calm and confident. Going into the exam room feeling focused and relaxed will make a very real difference to performance,” he says. But it’s not just in the exam room that feeling calm and confident can make all the difference. Students who are stressed and anxious find it harder to concentrate in the classroom and have greater difficulty retaining information. “Students and schools are all under pressure to achieve good results,” says Christian. “It makes sense to use all the tools and resources available to help students realise their true potential. Hypnotherapy could make all the difference.” Christian treats children and young adults from aged 8 upwards, with parents also benefiting from the sessions. For more information, visit: www.christiandunham.net.

Just launched

If you suffer from bare lashes, then the new So Intense mascara from Sisley is for you. So Intense Thickening and Strengthening Mascara has a soft, creamy formula that improves the length and thickness of lashes in only four weeks. The active ingredient of vitamin peptide, renowned for the treatment of hair loss, stimulates the multiplication of keratinocytes in the lash root to help increase the length and thickness of lashes; while also improving lash anchorage in the dermis to slow down lash loss during make-up removal, so lashes are less weak and more intense, strengthened and more securely held. The brilliantly designed comb captures each lash at its base, lengthening and curling them to perfection for an ultra-volumising effect – evenly distributed too. Available in Jolly’s, £38.

SKIN DEEP The latest health and beauty news and product reviews from Samantha Coleman

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For luscious locks this season, look no further than the new Rare Blend Deep Conditioner from Ojon. This conditioning hair treatment is a multi-tasking wonder product that deeply nourishes to repair, detangle, hydrate, smooth and restore shine to hair. Just a dollop softens and helps restore health to even the most dry, damaged hair. It can be used as an intensive conditioning treatment or in place of daily conditioner for daily super-swishable hair. On sale at £29 from 3 May in Boots, House of Fraser and online at www.ojon.co.uk – keep your eyes peeled, it will fly off the shelves. New Plantscription SPF 25 anti-aging cream from Origins features raspberry plant stem cell technology to address the four major signs of skin aging, helping to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, lifting, smoothing skin’s texture and reviving the look of bounce. Despite its thick consistency, it is light on the skin and instantly absorbed for a deeply nourishing effect. Skin looks younger, smoother and revitalised. Available from Jolly’s, £46. Those of you who know how gorgeously soft and smooth your skin feels after using the classic Palmer’s cocoa butter will be excited to hear that the company has launched a range of three hand creams and three lip balms in its super formula of pure cocoa butter and vitamin E. The lip balms and hand creams provide effective relief against dry and cracked skin – with its distinctive chocolately sweetness too. Available at Boots and Superdrug from £1.79.

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Let’s talk about the ‘w’-word Origins has brought out a new range specifically for mature skin. Georgette McCready visited Jolly’s for a Touch of Youth facial

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few months ago I was enjoying a facial, which was being administered by a very young therapist. As she smoothed cream gently around my eyes I asked what benefits this particular potion would bring me. This, she confidently announced, would treat my wrinkles. I growled at her from under my towel: “Wrinkles? Oh, no, no, no! These are laugh lines which I have worked long and hard to get.â€? It is a tricky subject for therapists and for those of us with mature skin. Do we plunge straight in and mention the ‘w’ word, or do we, as it were, try to smooth over the delicate matter of what are variously called crow’s feet, fine lines, wrinkles or simply evidence of a life lived to the full? At Origins, the brand that prides itself on a mixture of natural ingredients and scientific evidence, the new Plantscription anti-aging range is putting wrinkle-busting at the forefront of its claims. You can try the Origins age-busting products for yourself with a free Touch of Youth facial at the counter in Jolly’s. For ÂŁ15 you can enjoy the privacy of a treatment room upstairs with the fee for the half hour session redeemable on Origins products purchased. It is advisable to book a slot as the facials are very popular. My treatment was with Jayne, who is a very experienced therapist, clearly enjoys her job and has that rare knack of making you feel better about yourself in a relatively short time. I moaned and groaned about looking old and tired, but she soothingly reassured me that the only problem with my skin was an all too common lack of water. Drink much, much more water, she said, and you will see the results in your skin. Jayne thoroughly cleansed my face and used a very gentle scrub to exfoliate. I was most impressed with the Origins Drink Up mask, which you can apply, leave for ten minutes then go to bed with it on, as your skin gratefully drinks it up like flowers put in a fresh vase of water. You can actually see in the mirror the mask soaking into the skin. My face having been cleansed and rehydrated, Jayne then applied variously some eye treatment, anti-aging serum and SPF25 anti-aging oil free cream – all from the Plantscription range. Everything she used smelled delicately pleasant, nothing was oily and I was reassured that Origins don’t use any nasties like PABA (which can cause reaction in sensitive skin), or paraffin/petroleum based ingredients. The counter in Jolly’s has a pleasing natural look about it with a range of green and white products displayed on wooden shelving and plenty of clear information about ingredients and users’ finding out about the products. Plantscription SPF25 anti-aging is ÂŁ46, the anti-aging serum in the new range is ÂŁ54 and the anti-aging eye treatment is ÂŁ36. I like Origins gentle approach: ‘Life puts wrinkles in. Now nature helps take them out.’ â– To book a treatment, or for further information tel: 01225 786900 ext 6940 or call in to the Origins counter in Jolly’s, Milsom Street, Bath

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Physiotherapy, Pilates, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Psychotherapy, Counselling, Hypnotherapy, Osteopathy, Life & Executive Coaching, Shiatsu íˇĄ Professionally qualified, experienced practitioners íˇĄ City centre location with good car parking íˇĄ Rooms to hire

Alexander House, James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BT T: 01225 313153 • E: nick@bathnaturalhealthclinic.co.uk www.bathnaturalhealthclinic.co.uk


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Another spectacular offer! The latest technology in teeth whitening used in America

IPL Permanent Hair Reduction Treatments

30 minute treatment, perfect in your lunch break DENTIST APPROVED BB COOL TECHNOLOGY

Zero Sensitivity, Zero Pain, Zero Peroxide

£79 normally £199 This offer is valid until the 30th April 2013

£479 the orangery l a s e r

£279

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No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath.

This offer is valid until the 30th April 2013

Tel: 01225 466851 www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

10 years younger Known as the “London Lip Queen”, Dr Rita Rakus has made her name as a leading cosmetic doctor through her sensitive approach to aesthetics and her patients Many signs of ageing on the face can be lessoned by the use of “fillers” to restore natural fullness and volume to multiple areas. These products can smooth away the lines and folds that occur. Treatment can usually be performed depending on the filler, with minimal discomfort and downtime. We use various products including Juvederm™ and Restylane™. There is no “one size fits all” and so we invite you in for a free consultation to discuss which of these products would benefit you most as well as fit your budget

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Tel: 01225 466851 No.2 Kingsmead St. Bath.

www.theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

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One of Dr Rakus’s associate doctors visits The Orangery Laser and Beauty Clinic, to perform dermal fillers, facial volumisation, hand improvements, muscle inhibitors plus consultations for all our other major treatments. Please visit her website on www.drritarakus.com for information, or telephone The Orangery to make an appointment for your free consultation.

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Bath@Work Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work

Danny Pitman Fitness professional ’m the members service manager at Fitness First Bath and I love it. I try and balance my days at around a 90% fun, 10% hard work ratio. I always find if you walk around with a clipboard or screwdriver pointing at random things, people will assume you’re working hard and not bother you. As you can see from my photograph, my main hobbies are getting naked, standing in swimming pools and having a head that’s too small for my body! I’m a Bath boy and went to St Gregory’s Catholic School. After school I attended St Brendan’s sixth form college where I had the time of my life but didn’t really apply myself. I finished with a couple of AS and A Levels but nothing fantastic. After a few months of doing nothing my dad employed me as a labourer out of sheer frustration. We clashed horribly. We still have our moments but I do now realise he had my best interests at heart. One freezing January morning he put me on a site and told me to move a pile of the biggest rocks you’ve ever seen. At 3pm when they were finally moved I rang him for further instructions. He told me to move them back. Character building apparently. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I was done. After another few months of unemployment I came to the gym one day as a guest. My good friend Kizzy who was working in sales informed me there was a sales position available. She talked the manager into giving me an interview and within a week I had my first proper job. At the time the sales targets were ridiculous and there was a huge amount of pressure, I was in over my head so within a few months I changed roles and moved to front-of-house. After some time a friend told me about his experiences coaching football in America and how much he enjoyed it. I got my act together, applied for a job out there, gained my coaching qualifications and flew the nest. Texas was my destination and I was unbelievably nervous. The whole experience was amazing and did mature me in a lot of ways but it also reminded me how much I love Bath. I tore the ligaments in my ankle quite badly during coaching which ruined my plans to go and spend a month in California and Las Vegas. I was devastated. I’d been staying with the Mckinney family that week and they took care of me until I was back on my feet. Absolute saints! Although I never got tired of hearing “Oh my God, you’re from Engerrrland!” Finally it was time to come home. I happily returned to Bath, slotted back into my job at Fitness First, gained my personal training qualifications and now manage a team of six people. Now we’ll just see what the future holds . . .

ING T H LIG ALIST I SPEC

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8 BATH STREET, FROME. TEL: 01 373473555 WWW.FIATLUX.CO.UK Union Jack Task Lamp - Original BTC

PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic

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Age doesn’t matter Hannah Stuart-Leach chats to interior designer Annie Stevens about how to achieve modern style in a rural home hen Annie Stevens’ clients come to her with a project, they’re looking for enduring style rather than flash-in-the-pan fashion. Yet the interior designer’s focus on bespoke quality furnishings, livability and infusing a property with personality, happens to be right on trend this year. “My clients would kill me if they thought I was following trends,” jokes London-based Annie, who trained with the celebrated Nina Campbell before setting up her own company at just 26 years old. Not typically known for her country interiors, having designed interiors in locations ranging from the Bahamas to the Swiss Alps, for the past six years she’s been working on a series of major country houses, many of them in the west country – with fresh and innovative results. “That’s the challenge,” she adds, “to do something that isn’t going to look dated in a year’s time but is also a country family home. It’s three kids, dogs, the whole works, but as a decorator, I need to be able to translate that into something which looks a bit different.” It’s not hard to see why people are looking to Annie for inspiration – with 29 years of incredibly diverse experience she brings an element of the modern to the classic country home, and shows that a historic exterior doesn’t have to have a similar interior. “I think the country house interior style is shirking off its over-Farrowed-and-Ball look. It’s still different to what you’d see in London, but there are more contemporary tweaks to it.” She’s keen to allay some of the clichés of rural living. “Country houses don’t need to be overstuffed. If they’ve got the right key pieces, and the furniture’s comfortable, you’ve kind of done it.” This doesn’t mean she shuns all the trappings of the English country house. She still incorporates florals, for instance, but uses modern interpretations instead, such as the abstract fabrics of Vanderhurd. While the zest for all things vintage may seem a natural fit

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with an older property, Annie is reluctant to go overboard. “I think it’s sort of had its day, really. It’s overkill. The vintage look is a great one, I mean I’ve got 1950s hairdresser chairs in my kitchen, but if you overdo it then it just looks silly. It’s the ability of the interior designer to use things sparingly.” Nevertheless, she always endeavours to create an end product faithful to a client’s personality, and happily, she says, they are becoming bolder about allowing that to shine through. Being honest about what you can live with is vital. While there are set requirements that come into play with any house – such as what the structure of the building dictates, who is living there and how much flexibility they might need – the importance of these often becomes heightened in country homes, says Annie, “The chances are that someone’s actually going to stay there for the rest of their life.” A particularly challenging project for Annie was a mock Georgian house in Wiltshire – Hilldrop – built in the 1960s, which appeared uncomfortable and outdated. Since the clients live abroad, the process was mostly undertaken via email, and not revealed to them until finished. They wanted a holiday home which would be child-friendly and have a contemporary yet country feel. “It’s a completely redesigned space,” says Annie. “We added a top floor and a kitchen as an extension. Since the existing kitchen was small and pokey, it provided the opportunity to create a large, light living space with big French windows looking out onto the patio. There’s also a studio at the bottom of the garden which we completely redid.” At first glance, the house, set within a quintessentially English country garden, is very traditional. Inside however, it is now a

PERIOD DRAMA: main image: the open plan dining room and kitchen at Hilldrop in Wiltshire; inset: Hilldrop. All images © Jake Fitzjones


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BANG UP TO DATE: left to right: the kitchen has been modernised, as has the sitting room at Hilldrop; wood and Scandinavianinfluenced design is heavily represented in interior trends

comfortable, modern home with just enough edge to make it interesting. The open plan dining room and kitchen for instance, features glass candelabras on the table, with a bold gothicinspired chandelier hanging above as a statement piece. “I wanted to add a touch of theatricality to the setting. As this is a second home it was important the client could fly in and throw a dramatic dinner party. Still, such touches remain very timeless, especially due to the focus on mixing textures rather than colours, which can quickly fall out of favour. The house was finished six years ago, but I don’t think you’d know that by looking at it.” Thankfully, the owners were thrilled with the final result. “The clients love Hilldrop – it’s a modern take on English decorating. Their English gem in the middle of the countryside is a total change from their overseas living.” Annie explains modern-looking interiors can also take their

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lead from the past. She worked on a barn in Gloucester using only reclaimed materials crafted by local artisans, but the overall impression is sleek and minimal. “More and more clients are keen that only work from skilled craftspeople should be used in their homes, people who can make beautiful lamps out of porcelain, that kind of thing,” she says. Indeed, this is a key feature in interior trends – wood and Scandinavian-influenced design is heavily represented, and fuses an appreciation of ancient crafts and materials with current aesthetic concerns. Ultimately though, Annie believes the benefit of time and consideration is key to any project. “It’s not a race,” she says. “The better the preparation, the better the end product.” As for her own home though, she’d rather keep it as simple as possible. “If I had my choice I’d live in a white box, but I have two kids so I’ve never been allowed to do that,” she laughs. ■ For Annie Stevens Design, visit: www.anniestevens.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Creating perfect tones Craftsmen in paint and paper, Farrow & Ball has been creating paint one batch at a time on the same site in Dorset since the company began. It also makes artisanal wallpapers using its paint to create uniquely textured papers

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he company’s paints are revered worldwide for their immersive depth of colour and unmatched appearance. Created using high levels of pigment, rich resin binders and other ingredients with a high refractory nature, every shade is scrupulously tested before leaving the factory. The company makes interior and exterior paint finishes available in 132 colours so you can transform your home with colour. Made with Farrow & Ball water based paints rather than printer’s inks, and according to traditional block and trough printing methods, Farrow & Ball’s wallpapers are simply unique. The range encompasses florals, damasks, stripes and geometric patterns, and each design is inspired from archives of timeless and evocative wallpaper, fabric and pattern from around the world. Captivating new wallpaper designs Farrow & Ball recently launched four new wallpaper designs embracing geometric patterns and animal prints. Lattice is an undulating small-scale geometric pattern and Tessella is a clean large scale geometric. Ocelot and Rajah Stripe take inspiration from leopard and tiger prints respectively to create enticing wallpaper designs. Created in the same way as all Farrow & Ball wallpapers, each design is available in five colourways including neutrals, metallics and stronger shades. Farrow & Ball in your area Farrow & Ball now has two local showrooms in the Bristol and Bath area. The showrooms display the complete range of paint colours and wallpaper designs allowing you to browse the full collection. Each showroom offers customers the opportunity to experiment with colour, pattern and finish, with complimentary personal colour advice and suggested schemes available if required. Farrow & Ball 124-126 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BG. Telephone: 01225 466 700 82 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Nigel Lucas Professional Painter and Decorator

Email: Nigel.lucas24@gmail.com Mob: 07970 464670 Landline: 01761 233963 Web: www.nigellucas.org.uk

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As you sow so shall you reap... Start as you mean to go on with a thorough spring clean of the garden, says Jane Moore – and that includes the nasty jobs like weeding, along with the pleasant ones like sowing flowers and vegetables ready for later in the year

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ne of the great things about having a Yellow Book open day, as we are at the Bath Priory Hotel on Tuesday 16 April, is that it doesn’t half concentrate your gardening efforts. There is nothing like knowing that a 100 odd discerning gardeners are going to give your garden a good once over to make you put your back into getting the garden up together. As we all know, gardeners are a very generous and kindly bunch but they are also expert scrutinisers and will notice every little weed and unkempt corner without fail. I have never forgotten one of my first ever Royal Horticultural Society tours one April where I was spouting lyrically to my visiting garden enthusiasts about planting our spring glade with wild daffodils and snakeshead fritillaries. I flung out a hand flamboyantly towards these horticultural gems and realised I was pointing directly at a flourishing dandelion, flowering beautifully in their midst. How embarrassing! Anna quickly scurried forward to remove the offending horror and I scrambled some jovial comment about how swiftly things move in the spring. Fortunately everyone laughed. So, to save you from such embarrassments here’s my spring checklist:

Weed for all your worth

There is no way to soften this but if you can weed like mad for the next month you will save yourself so much trouble further along in the summer. Getting those little blighters before they multiply makes such a difference to the populations later on. So weed whenever you have an idle half hour and work your way around the garden like the proverbial painters of that famous Scottish bridge. And by all means mulch and top-dress as you go with bark, compost or what-have-you. You can also feed with a general fertiliser such as Blood, Fish and Bone or Growmore but be careful not to get fertiliser on the new leaves or they will scorch. 84 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Get sowing

After all the back-breaking work you’ve done weeding, reward yourself with doing some sowing. I’m a huge fan of random scattering of annual seeds wherever we have spaces and collect nigella, calendula and nasturtium seeds to throw about in beds and borders. Some the slugs and mice get, but some do take and flourish. I supplement these with more conventionally sown tender annuals such as cosmos and my latest favourite rudbeckia, Cherry Brandy. These are sown in cells in the greenhouse (although a bright porch or spare room would be fine as they germinate so readily) and planted out in late May or early June once any chance of frost is past. You can also get busy with most of the common or garden vegetables and herbs such as carrots, beetroot, leaf beet and so on as well as parsley, chervil and dill. Incidentally dill also looks great in the flower borders if you’re short on kitchen garden space. Very Sarah Raven, you know.

PREPARING FOR GUESTS: main picture, the Bath Priory Hotel gardens in high summer

weed whenever you have an idle half hour ❝ and work your way around the garden like the proverbial painters of that famous Scottish bridge

Prune firmly

If you haven’t already, get busy with those secateurs and prune your roses, both climbing and shrub. Don’t be scared and treat them too kindly, they’re tough and respond well to a firm hand. For shrub roses, cut back the main stems by about half to a nice outward growing shoot, take out all the straggly, spindly stuff and open out the centre. For climbers, tie in the main stems to make a nice shape, fanned against a wall, spiralling if grown up a


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GOODIES AND BADDIES: left to right, the joy of raising flowers from seed, the dreaded thistle and the dandelion – both are best attacked when young

pillar, and then trim back any sideshoots to a strong bud. Roses just look right when they’re pruned properly, you’ll see. For clematis, if it flowers in summer rather than winter or spring, then prune back to a framework of strong buds a few feet above the ground. You can often see where it was pruned before if you look hard, but if in doubt be firm and cut back hard without razing to the ground and the worse that will happen is that you might get fewer flowers.

Pondlife

Pick a warm day and give your pond a makeover. If it’s horribly black and sludgy drain most of the water and clean out the muck – not a job for the faint-hearted. I tell myself that all that mud is a rich source of wildlife and that’s a Good Thing for a pond and leave well alone, but every now and then the microbial organisms seem to get a bit bogged down, the pond turns into a slimy mess and drastic action is called for. While you’re dithering over whether to drain or not to drain, you can fish out the lilies and other pond plants. If the clumps are big and sprawling it’s time to divide and replant them in hessian lined pond baskets using an

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aquatic compost. Push in a plug of slow release aquatic feed, top dress with gravel and pop them back into the pond.

Watching your grass grow

With its soft showers and milder temperatures this is the month the grass really gets growing. It’s also the perfect weather for doing any repairs to the lawn such as levelling annoying bumps and hollows by peeling back the turf, removing or adding soil, and then replacing the turf. If it’s not too huge, your lawn will benefit from a light raking with a spring-tine rake to remove old plant debris. Ideally do this a couple of weeks after applying a chemical moss killer to rake out dead moss. Then over-seed thin patches from mid-April to early May. Don’t forget that if the soil is very wet or cold germination will be poor, so delay until the weather improves which it surely must eventually. ■ The Bath Priory Hotel gardens are open for the NGS Yellow Book on Tuesday 16 April from 2-5pm, with proceeds to Dorothy House Hospice. Jane Moore is the head gardener of the award-winning gardens of the Bath Priory Hotel. Follow her on Twitter @janethegardener.

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PETcorner

Lyme disease - Not just a walk in the park

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ick season is upon us and I am once again urged to remind dog walkers of Lyme disease as a potential problem. Lyme disease has been steadily gaining ground in the UK since the late 1980s. Currently there are up to 2000 confirmed human cases a year in England and Wales. Most new cases are reported in the summer months of July and August but peak infection occurs in spring when tick numbers are at their highest. We now know that clinical disease occurs in dogs, people, horses, cattle and cats, while small wildlife mammals and birds serve as reservoirs for the causative agent, a spiral shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This organism is harboured in the deer tick and when the tick attaches to skin the bacteria is secreted in the bloodstream of mammals via the tick’s saliva. There is little danger of infection during the first 12 hours of tick feeding but beyond this point the risk of infection increases exponentially. In contrast to the human disease where neurological signs such as facial palsy are common, dogs primarily get osteoarthritis about two to five months post exposure. Initially you may not see a skin rash as with the human infection, but dogs will suffer from lethargy, fever, and lack of appetite a few days after tick attachment and painful swollen joints may soon follow. Lameness may be intermittent but can last several weeks. Luckily the proportion of infected dogs that actually develop clinical disease is far smaller than it is for humans. Recent studies in the US have shown that only 5% of those dogs exposed actually develop the disease. Having said this there may be an age, breed and genetic predisposition to the susceptibility of contacting Lyme disease but little is known about these factors yet. So what are the criteria for diagnosing Lyme disease? If at all possible, a history of exposure to tick bites is a big clue however this may not always be as easy since many ticks can fall off undetected. Clinical signs such as lethargy, fever and lameness especially following exposure to the ticks and a positive blood test to detect antibodies to Lyme are sufficient to confirm disease when all these criteria are met. Treatment involves antibiotics for a few weeks. Fortunately in dogs, unlike humans, chronic Lyme disease is also responsive to antibiotics and so a successful outcome is likely. The best solution to the Lyme problem is prevention. Prevention of prolonged tick attachment cannot be emphasized enough. You can use tick collars, tools for removing ticks, and anti-parasitic topical liquids so see your vet for more details. Once removed, a tick should always be destroyed promptly. People walking their dogs in wooded areas or heath land should wear long trousers and socks. Always inspect your dog for ticks immediately after a walk. Vaccines are available to dogs in the US with mixed reviews. Because treatment with antibiotics is so effective and the risk of developing disease is low, vaccinations are not widely recommended. So far there is no Lyme a vaccine for humans currently on the market but work is progressing in this field. Lyme disease is now the most common arthropod borne disease of humans in the US and it is gaining recognition as a significant disease in the UK especially for dog walkers. Our awareness of it is of crucial importance to containing this debilitating disease in humans. So far from studies done on the canine species humans are benefiting from this knowledge of tick prevention and control. So enjoy your walks remembering that walking the dog has great health benefits and try not to let a few ticks put you off! If you have any questions, local vet Jenny Keen will be pleased to help and can be contacted on 01225 428921. All Bath Vet Group surgery contact details and further information are available at www.bathvetgroup.co.uk. 86 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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the directory

to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499 Baby Equipment

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

THEBATHMAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE AT

Baby Equipment Hire in and around Bath ENJOY A GREAT MAGAZINE WITH GREAT COFFEE

www.babyquip-bath.co.uk 07528 074960

Electricians

House & Home

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Advertise your Business in this space for as little as £55 per month and get 2 FREE.

TEL: 01225 424499

Advertising that keeps working

Acupuncture for Fertility, support alongside IVF, Pregnancy and Womens Health. Holly Woodward (MBAcC, Reg Nurse) is an experienced fertility acupuncturist, having worked for leading fertility expert Zita West. Call Holly on 07759 684552 Address: The Practice Rooms, 26 Upper Borough Walls. Situated above ‘Lush’. E: holly.woodward@yahoo.co.uk W: www.hollywoodward.co.uk

The Furniture Care People. Furniture, door, wood and metal stripping. Restoration techniques, unique non-toxic, non caustic System 2000. Suitable for both hard and soft wood. Non harmful.

Recommended for Grade I Listed buildings

Our customers range from Home Owners to the V&A Museum

Franchise of the year award

Call Maria on 01225 315541 • www.kwikstrip.biz

ONEMAGAZINEONECITYONEMONTH WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

WANTED FOR RENT High quality, large house in the Bath area. We are a quiet, friendly and considerate professional couple and are looking for a property for long-term rent. If you would like to be given peace of mind that your property will be cared for, please contact us: 07583 260439

APRIL 2013

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to advertise in this section call 01225 424 499

House & Home

Private Tuition

ONEMAGAZINE ONECITY ONEMONTH

....No One covers Bath Better

SATS Looming? Secondary School Approaching? Could your child benefit from some extra help? Very experienced teacher available for tuition in mathematics and literacy CRB checked.

Tel: 01225 833320 or e-mail beckyanovak@hotmail.com Give your child the chance to reach their true potential

Shop Fitting Services Need your shop refitted or refurbished? We can restyle your Cafe, Boutique, Hotel, Office or Retail Space to optimise your selling potential. Complete fit out, shelving, display cases, desks, lighting, bespoke joinery. In house design service. Contact us at spen retail interiors 01793 647744 • enquiries@aspenconcepts.co.uk

www.aspenconcepts.co.uk Specialist Vehicle Services

ONEMAGAZINEONECITYONEMONTH Plumbing

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APRIL 2013


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PROPERTYin FOCUS

A

stunning and deceptively spacious detached period house standing in wonderful gardens, in all approximately an acre, in the heart of a sought after village east of Bath. Believed in parts to date back some 400 years the property has been the subject of almost complete refurbishment and decoration and with meticulous restoration of the stone mullioned windows. Arranged over two floors the substantial and well presented family acommodation comprises five bedrooms, two fabulous en suite bathrooms, additional guest bathroom, family room, dining room with impressive inglenook fireplace, sitting room with a further inglenook, study, conservatory, well fitted kitchen leading into an impressive dining/breakfast room, utility room and cloakroom. Additionally there’s a fabulous detached stone built annexe comprising of: sitting room with mezzanine area above, kitchen/dining room and wet room. The annexe would be ideal for au pair, dependent relative or for use as a home office. Outside there’s a detached stone built gym and a separate detached stone outbuilding incorporating a triple open fronted car port, two garages and workshop. Large mature and beautifully maintained lawned gardens giving a great deal of privacy. For further details contact Pritchards estate agents. Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

WWW.THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK

THE GABLES LOWER SOUTH WRAXALL BRADFORD ON AVON • Spacious detached 5 bedroom period property • Separate self contained annexe accommodation • Detached gym • Outbuildings, garage, carport and workshop • Large well maintained lawn gardens

Price: £1,550,000 APRIL 2013

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pritchard-partners.co.uk

Biddestone Village nr Chippenham 4.5m & Bath 11m approx. Ralph Allen Drive, Widcombe

5 bedrooms, 4 receptions & fabulous newly built orangery/dining room, 3 bath/shower rooms (1 en suite). Approx int area: main hs 3391 sq ft/315 sq m (inc garage). Good access to M4.

A fine detached 1930’s house set in magnificent landscaped gardens in excess of 1.3 acres in a stunning woodland setting. Approx. int. floor area: 3971 sq ft/368.9 sq m. 4 bedrooms - 2 en suite, shower room & cloakroom, 2/3 receptions, studio/office, kitchen, conservatory. Orangery, workshop & 3 glass houses. Terrace. Lg double garage & driveway parking.

Price: £1.55 million

Price: £1.495 million

Broughton Gifford

Tunley, Nr Bath

A most attractive 4 bedroom farmhouse dating back to the 1600’s with an attached two bedroom cottage which enjoys a secluded position at the end of a long private driveway. Approx int area 3083 sq ft/286 sq m.

A beautifully presented 4 bed detached family house set in popular village location. The property has been greatly improved by the current owners. Int area 1566 sq ft/145.5 sq m.

The property is surrounded by 40 acres of land and numerous additional and modern farm buildings and would therefore be ideal for those looking to create holiday cottages, offices, equestrian use or to keep livestock (subject to the necessary permissions being granted).

Superb modern kitchen/diner, sitting room with wood burner set in feature fireplace, cloakroom/utility, conservatory, 4 bedrooms - 1 en suite & bathroom. Lovely level gardens. Det double garage & ample off street parking.

Price: £1.325 million

Price: £499,950

An impressive & enchanting country home with 1720 origins. Set in 3.5 acres of wonderful gardens & grounds incl tennis court & open fronted double garage.

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pritchard-partners.co.uk

Upper Wraxall

Hinton Charterhouse

A charming stone built semi detached converted barn in a quiet sought-after village, 11 miles north of Bath with well presented accommodation arranged over 2 floors. Three bedrooms, bathroom and en suite shower room, sitting room, study, kitchen/dining room, utility/boiler room, cloakroom. Single garage. Double glazing. Oil fired heating. Attractive gardens to front and rear. Driveway parking for 2/3 cars. Nearby paddock (approx.1.5 acres) available by separate negotiation.

An intriguing attached Grade II listed period property set in this sought after village, bursting with character and period features.

Price: £495,000

Price: £375,000

Hinton Charterhouse

Cotswold View, Bath

A beautifully presented attached period home set in this sought after village with outstanding far reaching views.

An immaculately presented 3 bed end of terrace property set in a small sought after & quiet cul-de-sac, on the South side of the City. Approx floor area: 1019 sq ft/94.6 sq m.

Kitchen/diner, living room, garden room, three bedrooms, bathroom, shower room and a separate WC. Level landscaped gardens with studio and summer house. Approx floor area: 1120 sq ft/104 sq m.

Price: £375,000 Scan to access our Website Homepage

PRITCHARDS APRIL.indd 2

Kitchen/dining room, 18ft living room, utility/boot room, 3 bedrooms plus study with master en suite, family bathroom. Enclosed level garden. Off road parking for two vehicles. Approx. internal area: 1264 sq ft / 117.4 sq m.

Entrance hall & cloakroom off, sitting/dining room leading to conservatory, 3 bedrooms - 1 en suite & bathroom. Wonderful City views. Gardens. Garage & parking.

Price: £285,000 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

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W E N

7-9 Woolley Street, Bradford-on-Avon - £699,950 Double fronted period home in the town centre – nice and close to shops, amenities & the station. Four bedrooms & two bathrooms. First floor drawing room, separate dining room & study. Kitchen with adjoining garden room or studio – perfect for breakfast, coffee with friends or gazing at the garden. Three further receptions on the ground floor – ideal space for home offices, an elderly relative or returning offspring. Utility room & two workshops. Raised town garden with paved seating area, pretty courtyard and roof terrace. Well proportioned accommodation with flexible opportunities.

☎ 01225 866747 27 Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1LL email: info@jeremyjenkins.co.uk • website: www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk


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Community grows as sales go from strength-to-strength at Bath Riverside New show apartment showcases current phase

N

ews on the high levels of interest at Crest Nicholson’s £400 million Bath Riverside development closely follows the opening of a brand new show apartment which has already attracted discerning house hunters interested to see for themselves the range and variety of properties up for grabs.

Located on the site of the famous Stothert & Pitt, Engineers and Founders, the development has been described as being the most important project the world heritage city has seen for more than 100 years and is transforming the city’s western riverfront into a modern residential quarter that better reflects the needs of the city. With many residents having already moved in there is also a growing sense of community. Helped by the mix of property styles, types and sizes it has attracted an assortment of buyers from first timers, downsizers and professional couples. Built using the distinct Bath stone, the aesthetics of the development blend seamlessly with the more traditional buildings synonymous with the world-famous city and has also acted to attract potential purchasers. With its private courtyards, landscaped seating areas and contemporary design it’s easy to see why such a rich mix of purchasers have been attracted to the development. Its proximity to Bath city-centre is ideal for those who either work in the city centre or need to catch a train further afield and with easy access to the riverside and its pedestrian towpath those wanting a direct and car-free route into the heart of the city can be there in a matter of minutes. Taste For Life Down By The River Current availability includes four, three-bedroom apartments on the Liberty Gardens phase and these oversized properties in particular are unlike anything else in the city one of which has been turned into a stunning show apartment. Including the latest interior design trends, colours and fabrics it showcases the lifestyle many people are already enjoying and what life could be like for those who decide to make Riverside their home. Susan Young, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson said: “Riverside living is all about a lifestyle, not only do you have everything on your doorstep, the views are fantastic and there is a growing sense of community at the development. “There is also the added attraction of living next to the River Avon and with many people’s aspirations being to live next to the water, Bath Riverside is the perfect choice. “The new show apartment is stunning and highlights the newest styles, which gives potential buyers some great ideas as to how they can use current design trends in their own homes. It will be very useful for potential purchasers as it will provide a real glimpse of what life would be like at the development.” Comprising 240 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, Liberty Gardens is split into three separate buildings: Imperial, Palladian and Highgate. Finished in Bath stone and built to the highest of specification, these properties offer a diverse range of accommodation. Each is spread over a number of floors with a variety of different styles and property sizes available.

For further information please call 0845 8945 888 or visit www.bathriverside.co.uk. The marketing suite on Victoria Bridge Road is open daily from 10 am to 5pm. 75-76 Palladian, Victoria Bridge Road, Bath BA2 3ET


Cheap Street, City Centre A choice of four beautifully refurbished one and two bedroom apartments situated on the top three floors of a Grade II Listed building that has been finished to the highest standard throughout. Located right in the very heart of Bath, the building is within easy walking distance of Bath Spa railway station and benefits from immediate access to the unique range of shops, restaurants and attractions that the city has to offer.

Rent: ÂŁ995 - ÂŁ1600 pcm refurbished to a high standard | contemporary kitchen | granite work surfaces | elegant wooden flooring | feature fireplaces | stunning views over Bath Abbey | spacious double bedrooms | stylish bath / shower room | superb central location Reside Bath | 24 Barton Street Bath BA1 1HG | T 01225 445 777 | E info@residebath.co.uk | W www.residebath.co.uk

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Fidelis LDC

SOST

Newbridge Hill

ÂŁ399,950

A Unique and Particularly Charming Coach House with Gated off road Parking and Pretty Walled Garden Living/Dining Room opening onto Garden | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Cloakroom | 2 Double Bedrooms | Bathroom | Gated off road Parking | Delightful Walled Garden

www.fidelisproperties.co.uk

01225 421000

134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH Fidelis April.indd 1

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Fidelis LDC

SOST

Bathwick Street

ÂŁ329,950

A Sumptuous and Exceptionally Spacious 3 Bedroom Maisonette Beautifully Appointed Throughout Living/Dining Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | 2 Double Bedrooms | 1 Single Bedroom | Bathroom | Fine Georgian Style Detail | Large Sash Windows| Central Location | Good Access to M4 and Bath Spa Station

www.fidelisproperties.co.uk

01225 421000

134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH Fidelis April.indd 3

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Bath Office Sales. 01225 459817 bath@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Van Diemens Lane, Bath Van Diemens Lane is situated off Lansdown Road, a most sought after address. This spacious five bedroom detached family home offers versatile accommodation with well proportioned rooms. A major feature of this super home is the far reaching views of the adjacent countryside even though it is so close to the city. Approximate gross sq.ft. 2,282. EPC:D

Guide Price £875,000 • 5 Bedrooms • 4 Receptions • Detached Family Home • Popular Address • Wonderful Gardens • Adjacent To Countryside

Bath Office 01225 459817 bath@hamptons-int.com

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Bath Office Sales. 01225 459817 bath@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Lansdown, Bath This substantial detached family house is located in a most popular cul de sac in the much favoured Lansdown area of Bath, close to excellent schools. Occupying a plot of 0.39 acres, the accommodation is well laid out to include four bedrooms and two reception rooms. The property further benefits from extensive parking and double garage. Approximate gross sq.ft. 1,808. EPC:D

Guide Price ÂŁ775,000 Well Proportioned Family House Level 0.39 Acre Grounds Popular & Convenient Location Ease Of Access To Excellent Schools 4 Bedrooms & Ensuite Shower Ample Parking & Double Garage

Bath Office 01225 459817 bath@hamptons-int.com

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COMBE DOWN

£640,000

This great ‘Arts and Crafts’ house with a contemporary downstairs extension really has exceptional south facing views over Somerset countryside towards Salisbury Plain. This is a contemporary family home for modern living to which viewing is essential in order to fully appreciate. Hall, large open-plan living space including kitchen, separate sitting room, study/snug, downstairs 4th bedroom and en-suite shower room, utility room, 3 first floor double bedrooms and family bathroom and en-suite to main bedroom. Gardens and garage.

HANSFORD SQUARE

£555,000

This really is a super, family home with all this space and large level gardens. Great position in Combe Down and thoroughly recommended as a one-off by the owner's agents. Must be viewed in order to be fully appreciated! Entrance vestibule, hallway, sitting room, extended kitchen/dining room, cloakroom, 5 double bedrooms and 1 single bedroom, family bathroom, shower room and en-suite shower room. Large level gardens in corner plot, garage and driveway for several vehicles.

1 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 4QW

01225 422 224


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COMBE DOWN

ÂŁ485,000

You will simply adore this beautiful period home with its sumptuous finish, abundant character features and gorgeous level gardens. The perfect family home! Vestibule, hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen with extra seating area, conservatory, laundry room, cloakroom, 4 bedrooms and family bathroom. Large, level gardens, garage and driveway parking for 2 vehicles.

CASTLE GARDENS

ÂŁ525,000

This really is a super, family home with all this space and large level gardens. Great position in Combe Down and thoroughly recommended as a one-off by the owner's agents. Must be viewed in order to be fully appreciated! Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, 4 bedrooms (master en-suite shower), bathroom. Carport and off-street parking for at least 3 vehicles and large gardens. Double glazing. Independent annex comprising: double bedroom, sitting room, kitchen area, shower room.

www.mark-naylor.com

email: homes@mark-naylor.com


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Rode £580,000

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 30TH MARCH 11AM-1PM

A distinctive and truly impressive Grade II listed former Chapel, situated to the south of Bath in this highly regarded village, with private parking and neatly tended terrace gardens.

Open plan dining room/kitchen | master bedroom suite | 3 bath/shower rooms | 3 further bedrooms – one with separate ground floor access | Stunning mezzanine living room | parking for 2/3 cars | Wood burning stoves | Solar panels

Bathford £800,000

A fascinating Grade II Listed Georgian village house with impressive and versatile accommodation, situated at the heart of one of the most desirable villages in the region. 27’x14’5 reception room | Kitchen with AGA as well as conventional oven | Family breakfast/dining room | Large study/bedroom 4 | Formal dining room | Garden room | 3 double bedrooms | 2 bath/shower rooms | Gardens | Garage | Parking


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Hanging Hill Cottage "We just loved the location of this house and its setting on this escarpment on the outskirts of a small hamlet, with stunning views.We both recognised its potential to become our perfect family home, we could all enjoy the magic of rural life, yet be conveniently close to the city.The house, built around 200 years ago as two small cottages, had been converted to a single house in the 1950s with other additions through the years.

We came to live here in 1997 and, utilising the skills of local craftsmen, have enlarged the house and radically re-organised the accommodation to be more open plan, to create large, light spaces and also to open up the glorious views from inside the house.We converted the large garage into an independent space for guests, which the family have also utilised as a study area and linked the garage to the house with the construction of a conservatory. Our main family space comprises a contemporary, spacious, open living/kitchen/dining area - the heartbeat of our home - totally modern and luxurious, inside a traditional shell."

"It is wonderful for entertaining: guests on the spacious patio and garden enjoy the spectacular views over to the Severn Bridge and the Black Mountains, or, at night-time, watch the twinkling lights in far off Bristol.”

BEACH, NR BATH Detached period property • Four/five bedrooms • Three/four reception rooms • Two bathrooms and one shower room • Landscaped gardens • Potential annexe • Paddock • EPC Rating = D

Contact: 01225 320032

£875,000


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Springside

A record from 1699 states that "Springside stands within an acre of garden". Standing confidently in the heart of charming Saltford, Springside is shielded from the road by mature trees. The rooms have the order and presence of Georgian domestic architecture but the sense that it was once a country cottage, with the rooms extended in proportion, gives the house a unique and charming character.Typical of this is the Long Room with its shuttered sash windows and the possibility of an open fire at both ends, though presently only one is used.There is also a quiet elegance in the dining room. The house is surrounded by garden and to step through the French windows onto the flagged area for an evening glass of wine or wander up the bank to the top lawns and into the copse promises tranquillity. For the children there is the possibility of room for a pony, whilst the garden well gives the house its name.The area offers many sporting opportunities, and good local pubs.

Springside is a hidden gem with a rich history, waiting to be taken onto the next step of its journey into the 21st century.

SALTFORD, BRISTOL Planning permission for four bed home to the side of the main home • Grade two listed • Drawing room opening onto garden • Dining room • Five bedrooms • In need of full refurbishment • Chain free • EPC Rating = F

Contact: 01225 320032

£799,950


The Property People Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London

wiltshire

wadswick, Nr Corsham

Guide Price ÂŁ775,000

A charming extended family house set in a beautiful garden of just over 1 acre. It has a lovely view to the rear in a southerly aspect, overlooking open land and set at the edge of this pretty hamlet near Bath. Energy efficiency: Band E

Bath 01225 747250 david.mackenzie@carterjonas.co.uk

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carterjonas.co.uk

WiltsHiRe

BRadfoRd-oN-avoN

Winsley Road

£1,250,000

Nr West Kington

£1,200,000

A superbly versatile property comprising a principal four bedroom detached house, a detached two bedroom bungalow, warehouse/office with B8 use, and stables all set in around 10 acres. (Approximately 6.755 sq ft / 627.253 sq m)

A beautifully converted Cotswold water mill set in a tranquil valley setting. Energy efficiency Band E (Approximately 2,808 sq ft/261 sq m)

Bath 01225 747250 bath@carterjonas.co.uk

Bath 01225 747250 bath@carterjonas.co.uk

BatH

BatH

Beechwood Road

£895,000

Horsecombe Brow

£685,000

A modern detached four double bedroom family home in a cul de sac position, backing onto open countryside. It has a south facing garden, paddock and double garage. In all about 3 acres. Energy efficiency Band D. (Approximately 2,325 sq ft / 216 sq m)

A newly renovated and extended 5 bedroom detached family home in a popular residential location within Combe Down. Energy efficiency Band C (Approximately 2,138 sq ft / 199 sq m)

Bath 01225 747250 bath@carterjonas.co.uk

Bath 01225 747250 bath@carterjonas.co.uk

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Lansdown Crescent

Offers in excess of £380,000

Highly sought after crescent | Fabulous views | Georgian splendour | Contemporary style | Beautifully presented | Highly recommended A quite superb two bedroom second floor Georgian apartment located in one of Bath’s finest crescents. The apartment offers spacious living with large open plan living room with modern kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite, second double bedroom and luxury bathroom. The apartment benefits from stunning panoramic views and on street residents parking. A fabulous apartment that will generate considerable interest - early viewing comes highly recommended.

Lambridge House

Offers in excess of £385,000

Georgian apartment | Balanced accommodation | Grade II listed | Period features | Established grounds | Allocated parking | Highly recommended An impressive two bedroom apartment that occupies part of the ground floor in this impressive Grade II Listed Georgian building situated on the eastern fringes of Bath. The apartment offers well balanced accommodation that comprises: large drawing room with fabulous bay window that affords an elevated view of the grounds, a recently fitted modern kitchen with integrated appliances, two good double bedrooms and a recently installed luxury bathroom. The property is surrounded by communal gardens and the apartment also has the advantage of two allocated parking spaces.

The Apartment Company APRIL.indd 1

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Lansdown Mansions

Offers in excess of £270,000

Modern maisonette | Popular location | Spacious living | Stylish kitchen | Luxury bathroom | Communal garden | Garage | Energy rating C This spacious maisonette is ideally located within walking distance of the City Centre. The well balanced accommodation is arranged over the first and second floors, comprising: contemporary kitchen, good sized sitting room with door leading onto the communal garden, cloakroom, master bedroom, second double bedroom, third bedroom/ study and luxury bathroom. The apartment also benefits from the rare advantage of a garage. Early viewing is highly recommended.

Sydney Place

Offers in excess of £240,000

Georgian apartment | Beautifully presented | Spacious living | Stylish kitchen | Occasional bedroom | Large bathroom | Communal courtyard We are delighted to offer for sale this fabulous courtyard apartment located in one of Bath’s finest Georgian terraces. The apartment offers well planned accommodation that comprises: spacious living with large feature sash window and recess study area. Recently fitted stylish kitchen, lovely bedroom, occasional bedroom/study and bathroom, all of which is presented in excellent decorative order. Apartments of this nature and in this location are a rare find and so early viewing is highly recommended.

The Apartment Company APRIL.indd 2

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Henrietta Street

Offers in excess of ÂŁ240,000

Georgian | Grade I listed | Prime location | First floor apartment | One bedroom | Period features | Highly recommended A superb first floor apartment located in the heart of the city, benefiting from a wealth of period features including ornate cornicing and original fireplaces. The accommodation comprises: open plan kitchen/ living area with large sash windows, large double bedroom and bathroom. This property is expected to generate considerable interest so early viewing is advised.

Beaufort East

Offers in excess of ÂŁ172,500

Georgian Apartment | First floor | Open plan living area | On street parking | Good sized bedroom | Close to City Centre | Viewing highly recommended A delightful first floor Georgian apartment located within walking distance of the City Centre. The apartment offers well balanced accommodation that comprises: large sitting room with open plan kitchen, good sized bedroom and bathroom. The apartment has been competitively priced and is therefore likely to generate considerable interest so early viewing is advised.

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Cavendish Lodge

£1,500 pcm

Neo-Georgian residence | Close to the City Centre | Two bedrooms with en suite | Impressive views | Unfurnished | Available immediately This immaculate two bedroom apartment is located in an impressive Neo-Georgian residence, close to the City Centre. The apartment offers spacious living accommodation and an excellent standard of finish. Comprising: entrance lobby with a cloakroom, spacious sitting and dining room with extensive views, two double bedrooms, both with en suite and a good sized kitchen complete with integrated appliances. Garage and permit parking. This apartment is likely to have considerable interest, so early viewing is necessary.

Camden Crescent

£1450 pcm

Corporate/professional let | Fabulous views | Stunning sitting room | Exceptional kitchen | Two bedrooms | Luxury bathroom | Parking | Highly recommended This superb first floor apartment is situated in one of Bath’s famous crescents and with its stunning floor to ceiling windows offers some truly magnificent views across Bath and the countryside beyond. The apartment offers a large drawing room with those for mentioned views, kitchen breakfast room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside there is a communal garden and allocated parking. This apartment offers some lovely features and early viewing is highly recommended.

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Lyncombe Hill Fine Grade II listed Georgian townhouse elevated with many period features and superb views | porch | spacious hall | drawing room | study | large fitted kitchen | sitting room | 4 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | cloakroom | vaulted cellars | double garage and additional parking | attractive garden | kitchen garden | Guide Price: ÂŁ925,000

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

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Wellow Exceptional opportunity to acquire a converted watermill with breathtaking uninterrupted views of the Wellow valley | porch | hall | cloakroom | kitchen | drawing room | conservatory | dining room | bridge room | master bedroom | en suite bathroom | 4 further bedrooms | bathroom | former stable block | small garage/storage space | tennis court | swimming pool | separate field | in total in excess of 5.3 acres | Guide Price: ÂŁ1,300,000

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

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Ripples FP Bath:Ripples-AprilShowers-FP.qxd

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SHOWER PRICES TAILORED FOR YOU. 2nd-30th April 2013 Chelsea House London Road Bath BA1 6DB Tel 01225 447971 Whiteladies Road Clifton Bristol BS8 2QN Tel 0117 973 1144

Award winning showrooms nationwide

www.ripples.ltd.uk


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