Bath Life - issue 318

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @BathLifeMag

ISSUE 318 / 22 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2016 / £3

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY

ISSUE 318 / 22 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2016 / DESIGNER DÉCOR large version

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS

TEAT OTAL: I NS I DE BATH’ S BES T AF T ERNOON T EA S P OT S TRY M AS T ERC HEF C HAM P PIN G C OOM BES ’ REC I P ES ABS OLUT ELY FLOORLES S : WHAT ’ S UNDERFOOT

STEP INSIDE A MASTERPIECE

EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 318 / 22 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2016

28

TEA OF LIFE

Is Bath the afternoon tea capital of the South West? We’ve been finding out

Teatotal We don’t know about you, but we’ve had our fair share of afternoon teas in Bath, and sometimes, just sometimes, we can get a little bored of jammy scones and crustless sandwiches and fancy something a little jazzier. So, this week, we’ve been sniffing out alternative offerings, from vintage, 1940s-themed spreads, to Alice in Wonderlandinspired culinary creations, that will change your view on this quintessentially British tradition as you know it (page 28).

And that’s not all we’ve been scoffing; we also dined with Bath’s former MasterChef champ Ping Coombes at her Abbey Hotel supper club, where she treated us to dishes from her début cookbook. Flip to page 54 to read about her inspirations, favourite dishes and must-try recipes. We also took a walk to Yammo!, Walcot Street’s trendy little foodie hotspot, where we gorged on their new, innovative Neapolitan, street-food-style small plates menu (page 50).

On to interiors, and we’ve got an extra special property showcase for you this week; it’s potentially one of the most breathtakingly beautiful, and seriously eccentric, houses we’ve ever featured on our pages (page 92).

And we met up with a handful of local experts to talk about the hottest underfoot designs of the moment which will properly floor you.

Lisa Evans, Editor Follow us on Twitter: @BathLifeMag

FEATURES / ISSUE 318 / 22 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2016

Parquet flooring by Pietra Ltd in Holt

64

INTERIORS

We take to the floor with the help of local experts and explore kilims, mosiac tiles, parquet and ethnic patterns

106 Bath Lives

We go on the record with vinyl seller Mark O’Shaughnessy

REGULARS / ISSUE 318 / 22 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2016

THE ARTS 39 Arts intro Into the blue with the awardwinning Gold by Davide Lopresti

40 What’s on Time to update the events diary

54

M E ET T H E T EAM Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Assistant editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Intro image Paolo Ferla Contributors: David Flatman, Nic Bottomley, Jennifer Jennings Wright and Emma Bond Senior advertising manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Sales executive Drew Toynbee andrew.toynbee@mediaclash.co.uk Sales executive Sophie Speakman sophie.speakman@mediaclash.co.uk

47 Bookshelf Nic Bottomley recommends literary escapes from reality

49 Reel to reel Jennifer Jennings Wright previews summer’s latest cinematic screenings

FOOD & DRINK

Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Charlie Pinder charlie.pinder@mediaclash.co.uk

50 Restaurant Yammo! is yummy!

54 Ping Coombes Our MasterChef favourite talks food and shares recipes

Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk

59 Food & drink news The Cheeky Bean, The New Inn and three new Bath restaurants

Bath Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash

SHOPPING 60 Editor’s choice We go wild at the shops

© All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

LIFEST YLE 68 Gardening Emma Bond grows crazy with colour

PROPERT Y

BUSINESS

We take a longing look around a Lansdown Crescent masterpiece

73 Business insider News, views and interviews from the region’s business world

84 Meet the dentists We talk to five of Bath’s dentists

92 Property showcase

DEPARTMENTS 9 Spotlight 12 Scene 23 A man’s world

50

About MediaClash We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury.

We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag).

Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help.

Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

On the cover A bold and artistic feature light within a beautiful property on Lansdown Crescent – see page 92 for the full feature

BATH: ITS LIFE AND TIMES

Little super heroes to the rescue

FUNDRAISING

SEARCH FOR THE HERO Even heroes need a little lift every now and then, and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity have put a call out for just that.

As part of National Air Ambulance Week, which takes place from 19 September, the GWAAC is asking people to find their inner hero and show support for the charity by helping raise money for them.

It can be done through any means, from selling cakes to running marathons or holding a dress-up day at school.

“Our medical team are heroes, every day they are there for people who are seriously ill or injured – saving lives,” says head of fundraising and marketing Emma Carter. “However, without people fundraising for us they would not be able to provide this vital service. We know that there are a lot of heroes across our region, and we are asking them take on the challenge of raising money to keep us flying.”

For more: www.gwaac.com

Ken Loach shares his verdict

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

GOOD JUDGE Not long back from scooping the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes 2016 – the highest honour of the festival – director Ken Loach joined a panel of judges for Twerton’s Got Talent.

The talent show was held at the grounds of Bath FC on 9 July and showcased skills from nearby schools and residents which included singing, comedy, music and poetry along with arts and crafts and food stalls.

The community fun event was attended by more than 300 people and organised by

the charity Time Bank Plus. Manager Viv Talbot explains, “It was the result of a real community effort and spirit, where people pooled their time and efforts.

“Bath FC put us in touch with Ken and we were delighted when he agreed to come down and help us out.

“He showed a clip of his film I, Daniel Blake, and commented how he’d like the film to be shown in the area and also in community centres all over the UK.” For more: www.timebankplus.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT

A top night out at the flicks

OLYMPICS

THEIR GAME IS RIO Four British champions based at the University of Bath have been officially selected in the Team GB athletics squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Hurdlers Eilidh Doyle and Andrew Pozzi will be going to their second games, as will 400m runner Emily Diamond, while long jumper Jazmin Sawyers will make her Olympic debut.

Joining the quartet on the plane to Rio will be University of Bath graduates Lawrence Clarke, who finished fourth in the 110m hurdles final at London 2012, and 200m runner Danny Talbot, who was part of the 4x100m relay squad four years ago.

This takes the number of University of Bath-based athletes selected for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games up to 15 so far, and includes Ben Fletcher ( judo) and Jazz Carlin and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (swimming).

“I still can’t quite believe it,” says Emily Diamond. “I keep watching all the promotional clips for Rio they are releasing, and have to calm myself down, it’s so exciting.”

For more: www.teambath.com

CHARITY EVENT

FILM STARS Andrew Pozzi

Emily Diamond

Eilidh Doyle

Jazmin Sawyers

TOUR OF BRITAIN

THAT’S THE WAY I BIKE IT Bath traders are being asked to get on their bikes and create a brightly coloured bicycle trail to help promote the city as a cycle-friendly city.

The initiative was inspired to also welcome the arrival of the Tour of Britain, when it finishes a stage of its tour in Bath on 8 September.

“I encourage businesses, especially our independents, from cafés to financial and legal services, as well as our visitor attractions, to take part and help us create a fun cycle trail,” says councillor Martin Veal. “This will not only welcome the Tour of Britain riders, but also helps us communicate that Bath welcomes cyclists and is a great city to visit by bike, irrespective of the historic constraints of the streets.”

For more: www.bathnes.gov.uk

10 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Hanging out the bicycle bunting

The Forever Friends Appeal’s Movie by Moonlight is once again returning to Bath’s Royal Victoria Park on Bank Holiday Sunday 28 August, and flying high with an evening screening of the aviation classic Top Gun. Hot food, a gourmet popcorn vendor and deckchairs will be available, and Heart FM’s Julian Jones is presenting with support from the Heart Angels.

“The appeal has currently raised £7.4million out of our minimum £8.5million target to build a new cancer centre at the RUH,” says events and community officer Emily Lynch.

“Everyone’s support towards the collection on the night is very much appreciated. We also recommend bringing warm clothes and a torch for later in the evening.”

For more: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

Adventures in party-going

John and Teresa Ziemniak

SCENE

John Moon and Stephen Constant

AC ROS S B AT H , O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

MIDSUMMER DREAM

Sue and Dave Blatchford

The Bath branch of Handelsbanken celebrated its ninth birthday with a Midsummer party at the American Museum on 21 June. Around 90 guests enjoyed canapĂŠs, including Swedish biscuits and prosecco, as Chris Johnson, the branch manager, updated guests on the growth of the bank in the UK. Photos by Leon Day www.leondayimages.com

David Hitchings with Valerie and David Wright

Lady Farquhar and Sir Michael Farquhar

Philip and Clare Harcourt

Magda Furman and Kasia Furman

12 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Chris Johnson with Susie and Paul Weaver

Neil and Angie Harbury

SOCIETY

Ben McBean

WOMEN’S WORK Afghanistan war veteran Ben McBean delivered an inspirational talk to the Bath Business Women’s Association, who were celebrating 20 years of networking on 22 June. The event held at Bailbrook House Hotel, was attended by 50 members and who were also addressed by Julie Cooper, who said: “Networking is the single most powerful marketing. Ultimately, it’s not about who you know, but who knows you.”

Sharon Wright and Angela Wright

Photos by Beata Cosgrove www.beatacosgrovephotography.com

Amanda Watts, Ailsa Eaglestone and Angelika Sesterheim

Julie Cooper,Tracey Parkinson, Bev Speakman and Stephanie Hill

Sue Dann and Jacqui Edmiston

Sue Shipley and Susie Smith Lee Miles. Alice Ellis and Dione Hicks

14 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Wafaa Powell, Lesley Gane, Nick Gane, Denise Harvey and Joanne Rolliston

SOCIETY

HAPPY HOLIDAYS It’s been 10 years since Bath Holiday Rentals had its first guest to stay, so what better way to mark the occasion than a party with mojitos, canapés and dancing at the cocktail bar Sub 13? Around 120 guests attended the event on 6 July which was organised by BHR owner Alexa Voisey.

Photos by Jessie Myers www.soul-media.co.uk

Lizzie Warville, Lesley Astley and Alexa Voisey

Dean and Jenny Gooderson

Julie Johnson, Chris Voisey and Debbie Hicks

CIT Y DWELLERS Nikki Heal

Sue Whale, Claire Jenkins and Rebecca Coke

Anita Jaynes, Nick Steel and Hannah Williams

Over 50 local Bath businesses and community leaders attended a drinks reception on 30 June to celebrate the launch of a new city estate agents, Pearson Ferrier, which has over 25 years’ experience in estate agency, valuing and lettings, as well as offices all over the UK. Photos by Derryn Vranch www.derrynvranch.com

Andrew Harrison, June Player and Sophie Guest

16 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Craig Hartley, Dave Walker, Rebecca Edwards and Chaz Fisher

SOCIETY

BRAIN BOXES It was a near full house at Bath’s historic Assembly Rooms as 22 teams battled it out on 30 June for the coveted title of Brain of Bath champions for 2016. This year’s winners were a group of media and finance professionals who entered the competition under the clever banner of The Quizzards of Odd. All the participants across the 22 teams managed to raise more than £10,000 for the event’s charity organisers Julian House.

Tom Hamey

Linsey Derrick Cecil Weir

Photos by Sam Farr www.combehay.net

Simon Withers, Shirley Withers and Don Withers

PICTURE POSTCARDS Frome’s Black Swan Arts held a special 1000 Postcards exhibition on 28 June, as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations. The contributions, many from local artists, were displayed anonymously and guests were invited to purchase them in order to raise money for restoring the historic Round Tower, which is located near the arts centre.

Chris Bucklow Jasmine Smart Chris Moss

Photos by Morag Stuart

Toby Eliot and Al O’Kane 18 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Pearl Lowe

SOCIETY Anna-Maria Wilkins, Chris Squires and Sara Wade

BREAKFAST CLUB CMS Group hosted their annual breakfast event last month at their offices in Corsham. Clients and colleagues from the property industry joined the CMS architects, project managers and surveyors team to network over Danish pastries, jam doughnuts, bacon rolls, and tea and coffee.

Adrian Gladstone, Edward Parsons and Steve Guest

Photos by Rebecca Huggins of Rebecca Faith Photography www.rebeccafaithphoto.com

Charles Whateley, Paul Coleman, Robert Knight and Derek Quinn

Matthew Bath, Ralph Pelly, Pepper Barney and Rob Perk

SCHOOL BOOKS Ben Howlett opened the exhibition Made in Kingswood, which showcased the work of Kingswood School’s A Level and GCSE art and design and technology students. Drinks and canapÊs were served at the event on 2 July, where a book was also launched which includes text from the students describing the inspiration behind their work and achievements.

Photos by Leon Day www.leondayimages.com

Tim Westbrook, Ben Howlett, Simon Morris Stephen Brown, Barney Brown, Matt Cochrane and Henriette Lightwood

India Folker and Sarah Yates Alan Peevers, Pili Wilson and Sabrina Robley

Phoebe Meadowcroft, Anna Porter, Asterix Stott and Medha Chhetri

20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

new holt showroom now open

Pietra

Wood & Stone

Wiltshire Showroom & Head Office 400 Ham Green, Holt, Wiltshire BA14 6PX 01225 783 527 London Showroom 198 Wandsworth Bridge Rd, Fulham SW6 2UE 0207 610 6111 Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Email info@pietrawoodandstone.com Website www.pietrawoodandstone.com

A MAN’S WORLD

DAVID FLATMAN

TIME FOR TEA It’s time to step away from the instant-coffee machines and take our tea as Grandma used to make it, reckons Flats

T

here are times when I lie awake at night worrying about the potential demise of afternoon tea as a concept. I mean, think about your grandmother and the regularity with which she would pop the kettle on, get the stained-but-clean crockery out (that she’d had for fifty years), and run through that age-old drill with a knowing hand and a threadbare, pre-war tea cosy.

Well, dear old Grandma’s ritual is rapidly being replaced by cultureless muppets like me choosing instead a flat white (whatever that actually is) from a laboursaving, one-touch machine at home or, even worse, a pint of latte from somewhere as hateful (but addictive and easy) as Costa or Starbucks. I’ll admit that, although I never go into either of these places in town due to the standard of their coffee (I’m making that bit up to sound knowledgeable) and a desire to support our wonderful, infinitely more rewarding independents, I practically keep Costa afloat with the amount of ‘express’ cappuccinos I buy at motorway service stations. I need to have a word with myself.

A recent garage-sorting session, though, reminded me of the feeling I used to get when Granny put a cuppa on and produced some scones to keep me fed as I came across that very crockery set, bequeathed to me years ago. Now, I’m not quite at a level whereby I can whack scones out by myself at will, but I am trying to bring back afternoon tea. And if you’re going to do it, why not do it large?

Driving recently through Bath in a blissfully quiet car (children were up a tree in a different postcode), I swung us into The Bath Priory

on Weston Road. Admittedly, I was dressed like a bloated surfer, but I was received graciously and we scoffed scones and sipped Earl Grey like posh folk in the beautiful gardens. It felt simultaneously swanky and appropriately British.

It wasn’t cheap, though, as brews go, so I’ve been looking for other venues. Frankly, I struggle not to choose The Porter, on George Street, for every meal, and a mid-afternoon tea there is indeed as much of a treat as their breakfast or their lunch. I love that place.

And it’s good news that the Riverside Café is reopening as their scones, while always a little small to my greedy eye, have always been super tasty. Anyway, if they’re too small, just get more.

Simple.

Bath’s Society Café, though synonymous with proper coffee, does a lovely pot of tea and has all the cakes and pastries you could want to soak it all up. An added benefit there is the peoplewatching on Kingsmead Square which, let’s be honest, is properly good fun.

My favourite afternoon tea hangout, though, is No. 10 Tea Gardens out in Avoncliff. Yes, you might need to get in the car or on your bike to get there, but it’s worth it. A great spot, loads of room, tasty grub, and no funny looks when your kids go nuts in the garden or your dogs steal someone’s sandwich from their table... sorry about that.

You should go there. And when you get there, remember to think of Granny. It’s what she would have wanted.

WE SCOFFED SCONES AND SIPPED EARL GREY LIKE POSH FOLK IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on Twitter @davidflatman

A Mad Hatter-inspired afternoon tea at the Abbey Hotel, Bath

Afternoon delights Whether they’re eccentric and unconventional or quaint and traditional, there’s much more than just crustless sandwiches and jammy scones to discover at the tea rooms in and around the city…

By L i sa E va ns

28 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

S

ave for queuing, and complaining about the rain, there are very few traditions more British than afternoon tea. Here we try out the more alternative offerings, from vintage, 1940s-themed tearooms to Alice in Wonderland-inspired culinary creations in Bath and beyond. Pinkies at the ready…

The one with the Michelin star

The Bath Priory

What makes it stand out? It has both a Michelin star and a Michelin-starred head chef – Sam Moody.

The vibe: Built in 1835 on beautiful and vast land once owned by The Priory of Bath Abbey, you can expect a quintessential, traditional English tea experience here.

Speciality: Homemade cakes including lemon drizzle, and strawberry and pistachio tartlet.

FOOD & DRINK

TRY THE

MAD HATTER’STHEMED TEA AND EXPECT TO SEE OVERSIZED TEACUPS,

CANDY FLOSS AND NOVEL CAKES

Something different: Try a quirky dessert of set vanilla butter milk with Cheddar strawberries and white chocolate. And for those seeking a touch of luxury, the head pastry chef Jonathan Blair, recommends the Champagne Afternoon Tea which includes a glass of Perrier-Jouët bubbly.

Special guests: “We recently hosted Mary Berry,” says Jonathan. “She even called me ‘the real star baker’!”

What else? You can take tea on the terrace and enjoy the beautiful gardens tended by head gardener and Chelsea Flower Show silver medallist Jane Moore.

The sweet-meets-savoury choice at Bea’s Vintage Tea Rooms in Bath

Weston Road, Bath; www.thebathpriory.co.uk

THE ONE WITH THE FASCINATING HISTORY

Emily’s Tea Room at the Francis Hotel

What makes it stand out? Dominating the south side of Queen Square, the Francis Hotel was built between 1728 and 1736 by architect John Wood the Elder. Queen Square was Wood’s first major project, and number nine – the property that now forms the main entrance of the hotel – was where he made his home.

The vibe: Set inside a Regency-inspired townhouse hotel, the tearoom combines a 21st century elegance with the splendour of a by-gone era.

The chef recommends: The G&Tea – a twist on the timeless classic, with the accompaniment of Bath Gin. Something different: Warm savoury scones with cream cheese and red onion marmalade.

Special guests: “Many of the actors performing at the Theatre Royal take tea here,” says general

manager Mads Nielsen. “Nigel Havers visited on several occasions whilst performing in the pantomime last year.”

Did you know? In 1942, the hotel was hit by a German bomb, destroying 24 metres of frontage.

Queen Square, Bath; www.francishotel.com

The G&Tea Afternoon Tiffin in the Francis Hotel garden

THE ONE THAT’S 1940S THEMED

Bea’s Vintage Tea Rooms

What makes it stand out? The tea rooms are set in the 1940s with music, ration book menus and aprons to match – not forgetting the waitresses’ bandanas and red lipstick.

Speciality: Finger sandwiches, buttermilk scones and homemade cakes.

Something different: Pies, quiches, and bubble and squeak.

Special guests: “Rupert Everett popped in a couple of times for our coffee and walnut cake,” says owner Bea Haywood. “Linda Robson and Peter Capaldi have also visited.”

Did you know? “The building itself has housed a grocery store in the 1950s, a traditional toyshop, an antique dealers and a vintage guitar shop,” says Bea. “So it would appear that it’s always had a vintage slant.”

Claim to fame: The tearooms have been used as a backdrop for two BBC shows including Michael Portillo’s Great British Railway Journeys.

Saville Row, Bath; www.beasvintagetearooms.com

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www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 29

FOOD & DRINK

THE ONE THE QUEEN HAS DINED IN

The Pump Room Restaurant

What makes it stand out? It’s fit for a Queen, literally. She and Prince Phillip have partaken of afternoon tea at the Grade I listed venue, as have Jane Austen and Beau Nash.

The vibe: The Grand Pump Room was opened in 1795 by the Duchess of York as the focal point for Georgian society, replacing the original Pump Room that had opened in 1706. It remains true to its historical roots and has a traditional, elegant feel.

Chef recommends: Poached salmon shots, raspberry choux buns, macaroons and scones – 400 of which are made every day by the in-house pastry team.

Something different: Try the tasting tray featuring three glasses of Besserat Champagne.

Expect to see: A thermal spa drinking fountain, a crystal chandelier and a long case clock given to Bath in 1709 by Thomas Tompion, Britain’s most celebrated clockmaker.

Stall Street, Bath; www.romanbaths.co.uk

THE ONE THAT MATCHES ITS COCKTAILS AND CAKES

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa

What makes it stand out? You’ll take tea in the library or drawing room of the 18th century Palladian mansion – which was built in 1720 as a private home – set amidst 500 glorious acres of gardens and parkland.

The opulent tea room at Lucknam Park, Colerne

The chef recommends: Chocolate and caramel choux buns and a premium tea selection from the award-winning Darjeeling expert Deepali Gaskell.

Something different: “A must-try are the cocktails that Przemek, our bar manager, creates to match the seasonal cakes,” says restaurant manager Chris Kidd. “We have a popular passion fruit and coconut martini on the menu right now.”

Did you know? During World War II, spitfires were hidden under the trees of the mile-long drive leading up to the hotel.

Colerne, Chippenham; www.lucknampark.co.uk

THE ONE WITH THE COSTUMED WAITRESSES

The Bridge Tea Rooms

Champagne Tea at The Pump Room Restaurant, Bath 30 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What makes it stand out? Its Victorian setting and its waitresses dressed in bonnets and anklelength frilly white aprons.

The vibe: Housed in a former blacksmith’s cottage dating back to 1502, the setting positively oozes atmosphere and the classical music playing gently in the background sets a tranquil tone.

The chef recommends: English and French cheeses, plum and almond tarts and Jane Austeninspired teas served in delicate bone china.

Something different: Try the Welsh Rarebit with fried egg topping.

Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon; www.thebridgetearooms.co.uk w

TRACY PARK WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR BLACK BEAUTY, WRITTEN BY

ANNA SEWELL

FOOD & DRINK THE ONE WITH THE THEMED MENUS

The Dower House Restaurant & Afternoon Tea Garden at The Royal Crescent Hotel

What makes it stand out? The Dower House, situated in the centre of the world-famous Royal Crescent, named its menu’s offerings after historical figures who had connections with the hotel. “The Duke of York afternoon tea is named after Frederik Augustus, the second son of George III,” says head pastry chef Catherine Lock. “In 1795 he visited Bath and lodged here at The Royal Crescent. Our Elizabeth Montagu afternoon tea is named after the founder of The Blue Stocking Society who once resided in the central house of The Royal Crescent.”

The vibe: Relaxing Georgian grandeur.

Speciality: Sweet Bath Buns and fruity Morning Dew tea.

Something different: “Our master mixologist Orlando Garcia recommends The Golden Delice,” says Catherine. “It’s a martini-style cocktail made with peach schnapps, vodka, elderflower cordial, fresh lime and a twist of orange.”

What else? There are children’s afternoon teas and new vegetarian options.

A colourful spread at Tracy Park Golf & Country Hotel, Wick

The Royal Crescent, Bath; www.royalcrescent.co.uk

THE ONE THAT INSPIRED A CLASSIC NOVEL

Tracy Park Golf & Country Hotel What makes it stand out? Tracy Park, mentioned in the Domesday Book, extends to over 240 acres and its history goes back to the 11th century. The house was also the inspiration for

Birtwick Park in the book Black Beauty, written by Anna Sewell.

Speciality: Elderflower – foraged from the grounds of Tracy Park – paired with locally sourced strawberries to create a range of fresh, palate-cleansing entremets.

Something different: “Our quirk comes from how we create our afternoon teas, but never at the detriment of the tradition,” says Harriet Greenop, Tracy Park’s events coordinator. “Our quirkiness shines through in our combinations of strong flavours and enjoyable textures, whether it’s the strong dark chocolate and intense passion fruit ganache in some of our macaroons or the combination of firm sponge and soft cream cheese in our pistachio financiers.”

What else: Enjoy a game of golf before tea and look out at the view of the lush, rolling hills.

Bath Road, Wick; www.tracypark.co.uk

THE ONE THAT’S A BIT ECCENTRIC

ArtBar at the Abbey Hotel

Tea on The Terrace at the Abbey Hotel, Bath

32 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What makes it stand out? The venue – located in the oldest part of the city – has an evolving permanent exhibition of contemporary art adorning the walls, and its head chef is the multi award-winning Chris Staines.

Chef recommends: The Champagne Tea which includes a glass of Jacquart Brut.

Something different: Try the Mad Hatterthemed tea and expect to see oversized teacups, candy floss and novel cakes.

Look out for: The elaborate chandelier of drinking-glasses.

North Parade, Bath; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

ET-TEA-QUETTE We asked local afternoon tea aficionados for their top tips on the etiquette that one must follow when indulging in the delightful British tradition.

• “The ‘jam or cream first’ debate is always an interesting one,” says Luke Cunningham, deputy restaurant manager at The Pump Room, Bath.

“Devonshire people opt for cream first and the Cornish prefer jam first.

We recommend slicing your scone in half and adding the jam followed by cream. This way, the jam and the cream stick perfectly to the scone with no slippages.”

• “Do not use your tea to wash down food,” says head pastry chef at the Bath Priory, Jonathan Blair. “It should be savoured in its own right.”

• “The different terminology used often confuses people when talking about afternoon tea,” says Harriet Greenop, events coordinator at Tracy Park, Wick. “Traditionally, a cream tea consists of scones with cream and jam, served with tea. An afternoon tea is sandwiches, scones and a selection of cakes, served with tea. High tea refers to a heartier meal, generally comprising of more savoury foods.

A royal tea indicates the addition of a glass of champagne to a traditional afternoon tea.”

• “A little finger in the air is optional,” says Andrew Foulkes, the general manager at the Abbey Hotel, Bath.

“However, it should always be milk first, then hot water, when making tea.”

Enjoy Afternon Tea at Lucknam Park this summer. Full Afternoon Tea £27.00 per person.

Present this ad to receive a complimentary glass of bubbly per person.

Available Monday to Thursday. Valid until 30th September 2016.

www.lucknampark.co.uk +44 (0) 1225 742777

July:

September:

August:

October:

Catch the alternative beach party vibe and sip a Singapore Sling on the Terrace; you can pretend you’re whisked away to sunnier climes. Or experience the latest creations from the Chase Distillery’s British gin and vodka range.

We’re ready for Rio so join us for an Olympics opening ceremony party with a Terrace BBQ and Brazilian cocktails. Chris Staines Supper Club takes advantage of the summer weather with a Terrace special.

/AbbeyHotelBath

Get on your bike and join in our Tour Of Britain events. We’re also playing host to the Jane Austen Festival!

Chris goes underground to Igloo for Supper Club whilst in Allium, Vertical Vintage showcase their fine vintage wines.

It’s autumn, which means winter is on its way, which means we get the best excuse ever to eat as much as we want! It’s time for the Great Bath Feast and we’re joined by chef and author Nina Parker.

@Abbeyatbath

abbeyhotelbath.co.uk/food-fiesta

@alliumandartbar

For your delectation, in time-honoured British tradition, a selection of afternoon teas is served daily at Francis Hotel.

Our delicious tea-time morsels combine quintessential favourites with locally-sourced, seasonal offerings and speciality items for a distinctive take on the traditional.

For a truly unique experience, sample one of our signature G & Tea Afternoon Tiffin menus. Indulge in a twist on our timeless Afternoon Tea with the accompaniment of the exclusive spirit of ‘Bath Gin’.

Sittings for tea are between 12 noon and 7pm daily. Reservations are highly recommended.

Francis Hotel Bath, Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HH | Tel: 01225 424 105 | enquiries@francishotel.com www.mgallery.com

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Join us at The Bridge Tea Rooms, a former blacksmith’s cottage, where friendly staff in Victorian costumes will serve the finest leaf teas, homemade cakes, scones and sandwiches.

Light meals, cakes and cream teas are served throughout the day.

The Bridge Tea Rooms Double winners of the UK’s Top Tea Room 01225 865537 | info@thebridgetearooms.co.uk www.thebridgetearooms.co.uk 24a Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1BY

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Music/theatre/film/more

MAJOR OCEAN PICTURES

Award-winning images from this year’s Underwater Photographer of the Year competition are on display at the Fox Talbot Museum, a fitting venue given it is also considered Britain’s birthplace of photography.

The stunning collection is the result of some of the most talented underwater photographers from across the globe, who together have created an exhibition that is quirky, magical, otherwordly, full of surprises and bursting with colour.

Included is the overall winner Gold, an incredible close-up of a seahorse, but behind the beauty of the image lies an important message, as the Italian amateur photographer Davide Lopresti who took the amazing shot, explains: “Over the years, seahorses have drastically reduced in the Mediterranean Sea – only in the last period was there a significant restocking thanks to an awareness campaign of the sea and its preservation.”

Gold by Davide Lopresti is part of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 exhibition at Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock Abbey, which can be seen until 11 September; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 39

23 July – 20 August

Brazilian-born cellist, singer and songwriter Dom La Nena can be seen at the Wiltshire world music festival Womad; explore the ruins and majesty of the Roman Baths by torchlight during the summer months; Bath-based troubadour Ali George brings his uplifting, breezy and folky sounds to the Chapel Arts Centre

Exhibitions UNTIL 30 JULY

IN SEARCH OF CORNISH LIGHT A mecca for artists particularly throughout the past hundred years, the Cornish peninsula offers not only spectacular landscape and coastal vistas, but also a special quality of Atlantic light unique to that part of the British Isles. This exhibition by four painters who have all, at some point of their career, migrated to Cornwall, captures the essence of light and effect of coastal atmosphere that continues to inspire so many painters today. David Simon Contemporary; www. davidsimoncontemporary.com

UNTIL 31 JULY

STITCH BY STITCH An exhibition of beautiful, contemporary, handmade textiles from India and Nepal, which are the brainchild and design of Graham Hollick.

One Two Five Gallery; www.onetwofivegallery.co.uk UNTIL 27 AUGUST

THE SUMMER EXHIBITION: PAINTING The George Street gallery has a fantastic collection of paintings from some of the most exciting, established and emerging artists working today. This is a chance to see some original pieces using a variety of media including oil paint, acrylic and collage from talented artists such as Marc

40 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Heaton, Richard Burel and Glyn Macey. Rostra Gallery; www.rostragallery.co.uk UNTIL 31 AUGUST

SUMMER SHOW Rock‘n’roll and blues music feature heavily in this exhibition by local artist Nick Cudworth, inspired by his early career when he played piano in a band called Siren during the 1960s.

Nick Cudworth Gallery; www.nickcudworth.co.uk UNTIL 4 SEPTEMBER

A ROOM OF THEIR OWN: LOST BLOOMSBURY INTERIORS An assortment of artistic treasures from the 1920s are brought to life by recreating the famous Bloomsbury rooms, with

works by Roger Fry and Duncan Grant, including his portrait of Vanessa Bell who was the painter and interior designer sister of Virginia Woolf. Many of the exquisite objects and paintings, amassed from private and public collections, have not been seen together for over 50 years. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk UNTIL 4 SEPTEMBER

CARLOS ZAPATA: CARNIVAL Carlos Zapata was born in Colombia in 1963 and currently lives near Falmouth, Cornwall.

Self-taught, his painted wood carvings belong to, and take inspiration from, folk and tribal arts from all over the world.

His work, which is in museums

W H AT ’ S O N

around the world, reflects both his experience of living in a foreign country, and life in Colombia where a civil war rages on relatively unnoticed by the outside world. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk UNTIL 1 OCTOBER

THE REMARKABLE MISS BRETON Produced in collaboration with Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, this exhibition celebrates the life and works of Victorian archeologist, artist, explorer and Bathonian Adela Breton, who is best known for her watercolour copies of the wall paintings of Mexican temples, which have been an invaluable contribution to archaeological records. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution; www.brlsi.org

ARTS

to the work of both charity organisations. Combe Park, Royal United Hospital; www.artatruh.org UNTIL 30 OCTOBER

ON THE WILD SIDE

BY SIMON KING Longleat plays host to worldrenowned TV wildlife presenter, photographer and cameraman Simon King’s latest exhibition.

King has been concealing himself throughout Longleat’s animal paddocks during the winter, capturing unique images of the animals inside their world, from a never-seen-before perspective. To complement the safari park’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the exhibition will be included in the entrance fee.

Longleat; www.longleat.co.uk UNTIL 27 NOVEMBER

UNTIL 2 OCTOBER

STUBBS AND THE WILD A haunting exhibition of animal portraits, grand fantasies, exquisite prints and drawings by renowned British 18th century wildlife painter George Stubbs. He managed to beautifully encapsulate the uneasy relationship between the domestic and the exotic in polite Georgian society. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org UNTIL 13 OCTOBER

1ST WORLD WAR ACTS OF KINDNESS This exhibition, funded by the Heritage Lottery, reflects upon the day-to-day life at the Bath War Hospital and offers the opportunity to explore the concept of compassionate community support and the comfort that this brought to recovering soldiers, as well as insight into how such relationships support treatment and wellbeing. RUH Bath; www.artatruh.org UNTIL 13 OCTOBER

12 X 12 SILENT AUCTION To mark the 20th anniversary of Bath Artists’ Studios (BAS), the Studios are collaborating with Art at the Heart and have located the popular Sealed Auction of 12”x12” works by BAS artists in the RUH’s central corridor. The successful bidders will be announced in October and all proceeds will be donated

PLANNING FOR PEACE While Great Britain was in the middle of the First World War, architect Robert Atkinson designed an extraordinary project to redevelop the city of Bath. His incredible neverbuilt designs, which included an amphitheatre, a huge war memorial and a concert hall, are explored in this fascinating exhibition. Were they really going to demolish the beautiful Georgian buildings, or was it all an elaborate ruse to distract people from the misery of war? Museum of Bath Architecture; www. museumofbatharchitecture. org.uk UNTIL 11 DECEMBER

DAILY DELIGHTS OF GEORGIAN BATH Using Thomas Rowlandson’s famous 1798 satirical etchings, The Comforts Of Bath, as inspiration, the more decadent side of Bath is celebrated in the Daily Delights of Georgian Bath exhibition. It explores the rich amusements Bath had to offer such as dinners with 20 different dishes and card games where £10,000 could be lost in one sitting. There is also a collection of exquisite and expensive trinkets visitors often treated themselves to in the city’s ‘toyshops’, including a tiny ivory cage used for keeping a pet cricket. No. 1 Royal Crescent; www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk

St Ives Sails by Glyn Macey can be viewed at the Rostra Gallery; See what’s new pussy cat at the Stubbs and The Wild exhibition at The Holburne Museum UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY 2017

See an intricately-embroidered waistcoat worked in coloured silks and glittering metal thread worn by an aristocratic woman from the time of Shakespeare, then fast forward 300 years and see an appliqué embroidered jacket by Paris couturier Lucien Lelong, worn by Gone With The Wind actress Vivien Leigh in 1948; Fashion Museum; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

RED – CULTURE, HISTORY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP Have you ever wondered why the colour red is so important to Asian culture? This new exhibition explores the many different aspects of the colour red in Chinese culture, from the materials used to produce red to the symbolism of the colour, and the rapid advancement of red wares during the Ming dynasty.

Museum of East Asian Art; www.meaa.org.uk

Plays/shows

UNTIL 1 JANUARY 2018

UNTIL 30 JULY

A HISTORY OF FASHION IN 100 OBJECTS The Fashion Museum presents 100 ‘star’ objects that illustrate a history of fashion from the 1600s to the present day, referencing moments in history, as well as more personal stories.

WHILE THE SUN SHINES On the eve of his marriage to Lady Elizabeth, the Earl of Harpenden makes the mistake of allowing a drunken American lieutenant to spend the night in his apartment. What follows in this entertaining Terence w

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

ARTS

W H AT ’ S O N

Rattigan play, starring Michael Cochrane, is a classic mistakenidentities-and-crossed-wires farce. £36.50-£15. Bath Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

5 AUGUST

ALI GEORGE Ali George returns with a band of stellar musicians and Fallen Jewel – a new album of breathtaking material. Support includes Dexter Selboy and The Shonky Trio. 8pm, £7.

Chapel Arts Centre; www.chapelarts.org

25 JULY

PHIL NICHOL / LUCY PORTER As part of the Edinburgh preview line-up, Phil Nichol, who has presented 20 years of solo comedy shows and won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2006, celebrates with a ‘Best of’ routine. Lucy Porter is also on the bill with her heart-felt personal revelations and incisive cultural observations. 7.30pm, £8. Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

6 – 14 AUGUST

BATH FOLK FESTIVAL Bath Folk Festival, now in its seventh year, is not a traditional field-based folk festival. Instead, concerts, dancing, storytelling sessions and workshops are held at a variety of venues across the whole city. There’s also a music summer school offering a variety of classes including the flute and fiddle. Artists playing include Lau, Beth Porter and the Availables, and Fay Hield and the Hurricane Party. For more information visit www.bathfolkfestival.org

27 - 30 JULY

GOD OF CARNAGE When an argument between two young schoolboys results in one of the boys losing his teeth, the parents of both children decide to meet to discuss the matter. But what begins as a civilised chat soon spirals into a hysterical, alcohol-induced night of name-calling, tantrums and tears as each couple sinks to the level of their bickering children. 7.30pm, £12.

The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk 4 – 20 AUGUST

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM One of the UK’s most popular comedians and performers makes his Shakespearean debut in Bath this summer.

Phill Jupitus plays Bottom, the weaver and a would-be thespian, who is magically transformed into an ass, in this brand new production of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy. £36.50-£15.

Bath Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk 5 – 6 AUGUST

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The popular outdoor Shakespeare company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, make a welcome return with their all-male cast to Dyrham Park just outside Bath, with the bard’s sparkling story of trickery, treachery and true love. 6.30pm, £16.50/£9.50. Dyrham Park; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Family fun UNTIL 23 AUGUST Bath Folk Festival plays host to a range of artists including Beth Porter and The Availables; Have a fan-tastic time at the Fashion Museum on 9 August

Music 23 – 24 JULY

SMOKED & UNCUT With VIP glamping, a campfire dinner from Angela Hartnett, goodie bags and luxury loos on offer, no wonder this music and food event bills itself as quite possibly the most select and civilised small festival in the UK. Providing the music is a proper line-up of big names including The Stranglers’ Hugh Cornwell and Turin Brakes. The Pig near Bath, Pensford. For full details of tickets and pricing, visit www.smokedanduncut.com 28 – 31 JULY

WOMAD Founded back in 1980, this music event remains one of the strongest, most exciting and original festivals in the UK. Their commitment to presenting excellent, passionate and individualistic music and embracing all genres and geographical origins is once again reflected in their eclectic

42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

and inspiring line-up which includes John Grant, Roots Manuva, Dom La Nena, Charles Bradley, and the phenomenal George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. There’s also a dedicated kids zone, a huge range of treatments and workshops, as well as world of foodie delights to sample and global gifts to shop. Charlton Park, Wiltshire.

For more information, visit www.womad.co.uk 31 JULY

10 STRING SYMPHONY Duo 10 String Symphony began as a creative release valve for Rachel Baiman and Christian Sedelmyer, veterans of Nashville’s music scene.

With their shared love of the fivestring fiddle, the pair pay homage to the American oldtime tradition while challenging its limitations with unique arrangements and progressive melodic palette. 2pm-3pm, price is included with gardens-only admission. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org

SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES There’s a whole series of fun and informative events and workshops at the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery to keep little ones inspired this summer holiday, including a chance to dress up in toga and tunics, make a Roman soldier shield, explore the hot springs, design mini cross-stitch, construct puppets, draw imaginary sea monsters, create collages and model your own candle holder. For more information and pricing details, visit www.bathnes.gov.uk UNTIL 31 AUGUST

TERRIFIC TUESDAYS AND WILD WEDNESDAYS Every Tuesday at Prior Park during the summer holidays, there’ll be pond dipping, bird watching and other such nature-inspired activities to enjoy. Every Wednesday on the Skyline, kids can go wild with den-building and mud piemaking at the Woodland Play Area. 10.30am-12.30pm, £1.

For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk w

ARTS

W H AT ’ S O N

27 JULY

MATT JEANES Join professional artist Matt Jeanes and learn the secrets of bringing your own cartoon characters and illustrations to life. Matt has illustrated a wide range of much-loved and famous characters, including Winnie the Pooh, My Little Pony, and Wallace and Gromit, as well working on well-known greeting card ranges. 10am12pm, £10. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org 2 AUGUST

MISS MINOES This utterly charming classic family film tells the tale of Miss Minoes, a cat who is transformed into a young woman and befriends Tibbe, a shy, bumbling cub reporter for the local newspaper. Miss Minoes, still recognised as a cat by the neighbourhood felines despite her new appearance, organises them into a newsgathering service and helps Tibbe become a star reporter.

Also included in the price is an afternoon of children’s activities and crafts. 2.30pm, £8.75.

The Edge, University of Bath; www.icia.org.uk 4 AUGUST

IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY Create your own intergalactic battle model, lightsaber, or Yoda ears after watching Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, which will be screened from 2.30pm in the Stables. 1pm-4pm. Price included with gardens-only admission. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org 3 AUGUST

PUPPET PEOPLE The first of one of the many free drop-in summer holiday workshops being held at the city centre gallery, is a fun arty, crafty activity creating your very own character from a wooden spoon. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk 9 AUGUST

FAN-TASTIC AT THE FASHION MUSEUM Fans were once regarded as expensive toys and reserved for use by royalty and nobility.

Discover their beauty and history at this collection,

including the 18th century Georgian-inspired. 10.30am12.30pm. Included in admission price. Fashion Museum; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Other UNTIL 31 AUGUST

TORCHLIT SUMMER EVENINGS The Roman Baths will be open until 10pm every evening in July and August. As darkness falls and by the light of flickering torches, you can explore the ruins of this vast and aweinspiring Roman building with its steaming magical waters, for an unforgettable and unique experience. For more information and pricing details, visit www.romanbaths.co.uk UNTIL 4 SEPTEMBER

AN AFRICAN SUMMER During the summer of 2016, Longleat will be immersed in African culture, with native dancing, vibrant daily shows, and activities for all ages.

There will also be spectacular daily parades through the grounds, in the form of both custom-built, interactive floats and extraordinary costume puppetry. For more information visit www.longleat.co.uk UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER

FRANKENSTEIN IN BATH It may have started in Geneva, but most of Frankenstein was written in Bath by Mary Shelley 200 years ago. This nightly walk takes you to all the unmarked places that tell Mary’s chilling tales including that of her half sister’s suicide, the real reason she came to Bath and the secrets she was desperate to hide.

7.30pm, £8, cash only.

The tour starts and ends Rebecca’s Fountain, Bath Abbey. www.showofstrength.org.uk 6 AUGUST

BATH DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE Watch teams compete in dragon boats, large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragons’ heads and tails to raise money for charity. This is the first annual Bath Dragon Boat Challenge and is set at the picturesque riverside venue of The Boathouse. 10.30am-

44 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Georgia Cox’s Magpies and Eucalyptus can be seen as part of Bath’s Royal United Hospital’s 12 x 12 Silent Auction; Miss Minoe is feline fine at The Edge

3.30pm, Free to spectate.

For more information, visit www.dragonboatevents.com 11 AUGUST

BATH YOGA AND WELLNESS GROUP Come and mingle and hear a free talk on green smoothies and juicing at a meet-up at Comins Tea House with the folks from the Bath Yoga and Wellness group. 6pm-8pm. For more information, visit www.meetup. com/bath-yoga-and-wellness 11 – 14 AUGUST

CINEMA UNDER THE STARS The Little Theatre Cinema goes free-range and screens four terrific films outside, framed by a backdrop of stars, surrounded by the horticultural heaven of The Holburne Museum’s

grounds. The running order is Romeo & Juliet, The Revenant, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The café will serving food, soft drinks and alcoholic refreshments and gates open at 7pm. Screenings will take place at 9pm, or as soon as it becomes dark. £10. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org 13 AUGUST

SUMMER MINI-MARKET The Kingsmead Traders are setting up stalls and packing the square with arts and crafts, artisan chocolate and retro clothing galore. The Dark Horse will be popping up with Pimm’s and punch, while Sarah and Alice from Broad Street’s Best of British Deli serve up a BBQ. For more information, visit www. kingsmeadsquarebath.co.uk

nick cudworth gallery

Mobilisation Giclee prints in various sizes from original oil paintings

Summer Show 1 July – 31 August

A wide variety of paintings and prints by Nick that represent his interests and inspirations including certain objects, landscapes and music.

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

BOOKS

ARTS

the written word) is a great antidote. For a quick shot of optimistic naturalism, read Jean Giono’s incredible, wood-cut illustrated homage to the tree, The Man Who Planted Trees (Vintage, £6.99). Or for a life-enhancing novella that gives insight into the dwindling cultural heritage of the indigenous Indian population of British Columbia, try I Heard the Owl Call My Name

by Margaret Craven (Picador, £8.99).

The other way in which people are often keen to escape, is through humour – a particularly subjective ‘sense’, and therefore particularly tricky to recommend.

On the Sunday morning after Brexit, a customer bemoaned the lack of any overtly humorous fiction of wide appeal since PG Wodehouse (not including darkly humorous or brutally sardonic humour, of which there are many current proponents).

ESCAPE PLAN Relax with these nature-inspired reads which act as portals to temporary freedom from real life

By N IC BO T T OM L E Y

T

he recent political upheaval has had a more profound, immediate effect on bookbrowsing habits than any other event since we opened Mr B’s a decade ago. Unlike the week of complete uncertainty after the 2010 General Election, which was marked by a general absence of shoppers on the high street, the days that followed Brexit were busy ones; albeit busy with customers existing in something of a preoccupied fog.

Two consistent trends emerged in terms of what people were requesting in those first few days – escapism and engagement. As it’s not easy to retain the appropriate neutrality in this column whilst highlighting books to engage with the current political brouhaha, let’s leave those recommendations for the shop floor and instead focus on the escapism.

The calls for take-me-away-from-it-all books were initially fuelled by dismayed Remain voters, but then broadened to cover the majority of folk through the shop door as the endless resignations and indeed just the sheer volume of news, started to shred

everyone’s nerves.

So what do you hand sleep-deprived, anxious-looking customers who just want to lose themselves in a good book?

There’s no simple answer because it depends on each customer’s reading tastes and what a relaxing read means to them.

But there are certain books we turned to repeatedly in that chaotic week.

Tove Jansson is a good bet, for example.

The Swedish creator of The Moomins also wrote for adults, and The Summer Book (Sort of Books, £8.99) is perhaps the best example of her positivity-infused prose. The story itself centres on the odd relationship between a six-year-old girl and her artist grandma who gradually learn to live with and love one another through a summer spent on a small Finnish island. It’s the deep appreciation of the idyllic natural surroundings coupled with the story of the human connection that make it a go-to book for troubled times.

In fact, I’d argue long and hard that when the human world feels like it’s ceasing to make sense in one way or another, getting close to nature (both physically and via

I’d say that was an overstatement – there are plenty of funny novels out there. But at the same time I do know what she meant.

Wodehouse’s humour remains so distinctive, and, to my mind, reaching for Code of the Woosters (Everyman, £10.99) and chuckling along as Bertie tries to ensure Gussie FinkNottle stays firmly engaged to the dappy Madeline Bassett, is a sure-fire way to distract your mind from more newsworthy back-stabbings.

But if something more modern is required, then a glance down the list of recent significant players in the UK’s only prize for comic fiction, the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, provides a ready-made who’s who of today’s funniest novelists. Authors such as Alexander McCall Smith, Marina Lewycka, Michael Frayn, John Lanchester, Catherine O’Flynn, Geoff Dyer and Howard Jacobson have all featured, but in 2016 the prize was shared by the presumably equally hilarious The Mark and the Void by Paul Murray (Penguin, £8.99) and Hannah Rothschild’s The Improbability of Love (Bloomsbury, £8.99). I confess that I have read neither, but for present purposes only, I’d probably go for the latter over the former. Both plots revolve around money, but as The Mark and the Void is a financial crisis comedy, it may not just tick that escapist box!

Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 47

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FILM

ARTS

Clockwise from left: Splendiferous new adaptation The BFG; Weiner Dog is a film that’s bound to get tails wagging; dark dramcom The Commune; Matt Damon in Jason Bourne

charming – Diane can’t wait to meet him.

Enter Alexandre (Dujardin), a handsome, rich and sophisticated man of four foot and five inches standing. Will his charm and personality be big enough to win the day?

This sharply observed romcom is sure to be massive.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO MARK ROALD DAHL’S CENTENARY THAN THIS SPLENDIFEROUS NEW ADAPTATION

SUMMERY SELECTION

From The BFG and Weiner Dog to outdoor summer screenings in the evening sun, July at The Little offers a fantastically varied watch

L

By J E N N I F E R J E N N I NGS W R IGH T ook-see at the jumpsquiffling, whoopsy-whiffling film of the summer. The BFG hits our screens from 22 July and what better way to mark Roald Dahl’s centenary than this splendiferous new adaptation about the large amiable chap.

At the centre of the tale is young orphan Sophie who discovers the magic of giants, where one in particular teaches her about dreams, and protects her from his not-sofriendly brothers, grumptious Bloodbottler and foulsome Fleshlumpeater. It’s tiptoppling entertainment all round.

Moving away from The Good Old Days lingo, our favourite ex-assassin, Jason Bourne, is back. After 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon admitted: “I love the character, and if Paul Greengrass calls me in 10 years’ time and says ‘I have a way to bring him back’ then yeah, absolutely.”

Well, lucky for us, we didn’t have to wait quite that long – Damon returns to his role as the titular former CIA agent and quite frankly is not a happy chap. His memory

is now intact and he wants hidden truths about his past exposed. In true Bourne style, expect lots of action and adventure and thrills aplenty. Oh and lots of derring-do from my favourite French actor Vincent Cassel who features as a hired hitman.

Can’t wait.

For something altogether more sedate, try The Commune. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (co-founder of avant-garde filmmaking movement Dogme 95) and inspired by his hippie childhood, this dark dramcom tells the story of collective living in 1970s Copenhagen. A couple, on inheriting a large house, seek to establish a commune in order to make life a little less middle aged and middle class. The initial freedom and euphoria is soon replaced with the inevitable sexual tensions. A very enjoyable watch and a wonderful insight into the style and tone of the era.

Catch The Artist’s Jean Dujardin in a slightly smaller role as he plays Prince Charming in Up for Love. Smaller, as in 20 inches shorter. When Diane loses her mobile phone, she receives a call from a stranger who claims to have found it. He sounds great, he sounds sexy, he sounds totally

Staying on a love theme, albeit in a subtler form, Valley of Love tells the story of a long-divorced couple from the world of entertainment, Isabelle (Isabelle Huppert) and Gerard (Gérard Depardieu), reuniting following their son Michael’s death after receiving a letter from him six months after his suicide. The letter requests they visit Death Valley with the promise that Michael himself will reappear. Putting their scepticism aside, the couple trudge through intense heat in the hope of a sign from their son, all the while reminiscing about their failed marriage and their guilt of failing to give the son what he needed. A rather intense film but mesmerising nevertheless.

Weiner Dog is a film that’s bound to get tails, oops, I mean tongues, wagging. It’s a portmanteau feature containing within it four separate stories that are linked by the sausage-shaped canine in the title, travelling between different oddball owners. It’s a bona fide treat of a film that should lead you to The Little.

Just time to mention the hugely popular outdoor summer screenings at The Holburne Museum between 11 and 14 August. The four terrific films this year comprise Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet, The Revenant, Jurassic Park and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Arrive early to enjoy the last of the evening sun before the stars come out on and above the screen.

The Little Theatre, 1-2 St Michael’s Place 01225 466822; www.picturehouses.co.uk

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50 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Yammo!

Want to try Neapolitan street food-style combos you’ve never tasted before?

Bring an open mind and an empty tummy to this Walcot Street pocket-sized indie

By L I SA E VA NS

I

’d love to say that I have a passion for something really adventurous and cool – Ironman challenges maybe? Or even scuba diving with sharks? But no, if truth be told, I love nothing more than restaurant-hopping in search of good pizza. And I’m not even ashamed. I’ve tried every type there is – from chewy Chicago deep dishes and foldable New York-styles, to square-sliced Sicilian and a thin, crispy one I devoured while sunning myself on a cobbled backstreet in Rome.

As a pizza obsessive, I’ve wolfed down more carb-based beauties at Walcot Street’s snug little Neapolitan streetfood kitchen, Yammo!, than I care to admit. But when I visited this time around, I decided to tiptoe into lesserknown territory with their new small plates offering.

Now, as the menu changes daily, I can’t guarantee any of these little gems of scrumptiousness will be up for grabs when you visit but, as I ordered a tableful (literally) of tapas, this will hopefully give you a good insight into their culinary expertise.

Head chef Remi Di Suzana assures us we’ll have no need of the menu as he’ll bring us all of his favourite dishes. It’s an offer we can’t possibly refuse. All of the colourful dishes – eight in total, not including dessert – are piled on to the table in quick succession.

We tuck into combinations that I’ve never seen on a menu before, ones that I was a little dubious about if truth be told. Take the chilled borlotti bean dish for example; they’re normally served in a tomato-based sauce. Not these. Out they come, stained pink by crushed raspberries and muddled with crunchy, candied pistachios. It works, but I’m not sure it’s best eaten on its own. Thank goodness, then, for the golden, crispy-at-the-edges chargrilled monkfish tail, marinated in garlic and chilli and served with ocean-fresh steamed seaweed.

Then, chunks of al dente, saffron-poached pear and creamy, veined gorgonzola turn up under a thicket of wild rocket and chicory. The borderline saccharine fruit is balanced perfectly by the distinctively sharp, earthy flavor of the cheese and that fresh leaf crunch. It’s made even better followed up with a chaser of surprisingly light, deep-fried calamaretti, drizzled with lemon, and then a plateful of buttery linguine with clams.

With just enough room left in our bellies for maybe one more tiny tapas dish, out comes a full-sized, piping-hot

THE DISHES ARE FULL OF

CHARACTER AND HANDMADE CHARM

classic margarita pizza – that simple combination of tomato, mozzarella and torn basil leaves. Using a secretrecipe dough, raised between 24 and 32 hours, it’s properly risen at the crust, with that elasticity in the middle and charred, cracked smoky bubbles on the edges.

We also get purple asparagus scattered with black olives and sultanas (another fairly odd, but not unpleasant, combo); and a bowl of stew-like tender baby octopus cooked in a rich, comforting, exotic-tasting tomato, red wine and caper berry sauce. The dishes are full of character and handmade charm and they’re a little wonky and haphazard here and there which just adds to the authenticity of it all.

We thank Remi for the wonderful meal and pull on our coats but he already has a specially prepared dessert waiting for us. Oh, go on then. It’s a killer, refreshing plate of not-too-sweet peach segments soaked in honey and Disaronno, topped with mascarpone, basil and a snowfall of flaked almonds. It maneuvers away from being cloying to become moreish, which is the perfect thing after the incredible wallops of flavour we were hit with during our tapas-tasting session.

The portion sizes at Yammo!, just like their welcome, are very generous (I end up taking home substantial leftovers) and there’s also a pleasing commitment to using local suppliers – with meat from Walter Rose & Son in Trowbridge, Westcombe Dairy ricotta, and brioche burger buns from Bath’s Bertinet Bakery. It’s a trendy-looking place too; they shun the traditional Italian trattoria arrangement and instead opted for a laid-back, quirky approach. As a result, it has become a bustling venue for all kinds of folk, from the families who are after a relaxed early evening to couples who want a candlelit feast and the late-night crowd who fancy a tipple – the cocktails here are an absolute must by the way.

If you get the table next to the open kitchen you can enjoy watching the magic happen, but, when the sun’s out, my favourite seat is in the covered courtyard, which is lit by fairy lights and heated in the evenings. There’s also a new addition to the garden in the form of a wood-fired oven where they can cook even more of their awardwinning pizzas in front of your eyes.

Yammo! may be pocket-sized (with just a handful of cafe-style tables inside), but what makes it great is that it’s the cosiest of family-run foodie joints and it’s a properly independent restaurant. There is only one Yammo! in the world and we have it right here on our doorstep, so it’s definitely worth popping by ( just make sure you bring an open mind).

DINING DETAILS Yammo! 66 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BD; 01225 938328; www.yammo.co.uk Prices Small plates £4.95 – £7.25; mains £8.95 - £12.95; desserts £4.95 £6.25 Wine list a good array, and an extensive cocktail list to match Service/atmosphere Swift and chirpy

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 51

Award winning

Traditional English Pub Food Our menu features an exquisite choice of classic dishes, supplemented by fabulous daily lunchtime specials all priced at £9.95, providing great value eating.

Finest cask ales • Superb classic wines • Mouthwatering menu

biddestone arms Fine Cuisine & Country Pub

The Green, Biddestone, Nr Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7DG Tel: 01249 714377 www.biddestonearms.co.uk

Classical Thai cuisine in a relaxed and friendly authentic Thai environment Party bookings are welcome

the home of rice and noodles New Hot Pot Menu Traditional East Asian cuisine, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the centre of the dining table with ingredients placed in the pot, cooked at the table and served with a dipping sauce

01225 444 834

16 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BQ info@thaibytheweir.com | www.thaibytheweir.com

Top Lane, Whitley, Wiltshire SN12 8QX 01225 704966 T f @peartreewhitley

www.peartreewhitley.co.uk

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E F O O D & D R I N K

DINING in BATH Bath Life’s selection of the best places to eat out in Bath and the surrounding area

BRITISH

FRENCH

PIZZA

ALLIUM BATH, THE ABBEY HOTEL 1 N Parade, Bath; 01225 809469; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk/allium Stylish fine art themed modern British cuisine within the elegant Abbey Hotel

LE BISTRO PIERRE Princes Buildings, 4 George St, Bath; 01225 321840; www.lebistrotpierre.co.uk/bath Regional French dishes

DOUGH 11a The Corridor, Bath; 01225 443686 World class pizza from Massimo Nucaro

GASTROPUBS

THE BATH PRIORY Weston Rd, Bath; 01225 331922; www.thebathpriory.co.uk Michelin starred fine dining overlooking hotels award-winning gardens

THE RICHMOND ARMS 7 Richmond Place, Bath; 01225 316725; www.therichmondarmsbath.com Hearty pub grub with menu changing on a daily basis

THE OVEN 21 Westgate St, Bath; 01225 311181; www.theovenpizzeria.co.uk Neapolitan artisan pizza using local and Italian imported produce

CLAYTONS KITCHEN, THE PORTER 15a George St, Bath; 01225 585100; www.theporter.co.uk Stylish modern British cooking from Rob Clayton

INDIAN

THE DOWER HOUSE, ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL 16 Royal Crescent, Bath; 01225 823333; www.royalcrescent.co.uk/dining AA 3 rosette fine dining at one of Bath’s most iconic locations

THE MINT ROOM Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Rd, Bath; 01225 446656; www.themintroom.co.uk Creative and classic Indian cuisine in a contemporary setting

JOHANN LAFER, THE GAINSBOROUGH Beau St, Bath; 01225 358888; www. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk Menus inspired by Johann Lafer’s “Dining Without Borders” philosophy in Bath’s only 5 star hotel THE OLIVE TREE RESTAURANT, THE QUEENSBERRY HOTEL Russell St, Bath; 01225 447928; www.thequeensberry.co.uk One of Bath’s longest established restaurants, overseen by Chris Cleghorn with 3 AA rosettes

CAFÉS & COFFEE SHOPS WILD CAFÉ 10a Queen St, Bath; 01225 448673; www.wildcafe.co.uk Corner eatery with food made from local produce and organic ingredients

THE EASTERN EYE 8a Quiet St, Bath; 01225 422323; www.easterneye.com Classic traditional Bengali cuisine in grand Georgian interior space

RAJPOOT 4 Argyle St, Bath; 01225 466833; www.rajpoot.com Award-winning Indian fine dining at Bath institution

ITALIAN PONTE VECCHIO Spring Gardens Rd, Bath; 01225 466833; www.pontevecchiobath.com Fantastic central location next to Pulteney Bridge SOTTO SOTTO 10 N Parade, Bath; 01225 330236; www.sottosotto.co.uk Classic Italian with a contemporary twist in candlelit vaulted cellars YAMMO 66 Walcot St, Bath; 01225 330236; www.yammo.co.uk Neapolitan street food, pizzas, burgers, tapas and cocktails

COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS LUCKNAM PARK Colerne, Wilts, SN14 8AZ; 01225 742777; www.lucknampark.co.uk Michelin Star fine dining at the renowned Park Restaurant and more informal dining at the stylish contemporary Brasserie at 5 star country house hotel

REAL ITALIAN PIZZA CO 16 York St, Bath; 01225 330121; www.realitalianpizza.co.uk Family owned local pizzeria. Wood fired pizza with fresh authentic ingredients

STEAK HOUSES THE COWSHED 5, Bladud Buildings, The Paragon; 01225 433633; www. cowshedrestaurants.com/bath City centre location with outdoor terrace. Steaks sourced from specialist butcher Ruby and White along with a range of vegetarian and fish dishes THE HERD 12a Argyle St, Bath; 01225 316583; www.theherdrestaurant.co.uk Locally sourced meat of the finest provenance alongside a simple, seasonal menu

WIDBROOK GRANGE HOTEL Trowbridge Rd, Bradford-onAvon BA15 1UH 01225 864750; www.widbrookgrange.co.uk Modern farmhouse cuisine, locally sourced and freshly prepared

GASTROPUBS BIDDESTONE ARMS Biddestone, Wilts, SN14 7DG; 01249 714377; www.biddestonearms.co.uk Whitewashed country pub with upmarket, robust British fare in a beautiful Cotswold stone village THE LONGS ARMS Upper South Wraxall, Wilts, BA15 2SB; 01225 864450; www.thelongsarms.com Award-winning British food and cask ales in a country inn

TAPAS MADRID 5 Chapel Row, Bath; 01225 423417; www.madrid-tapas-bath.com Traditional Spanish tapas with a modern twist

THAI THAI BY THE WEIR 16 Argyle St, Bath; 01225 444834; www.thaibytheweir.co.uk Two floor restaurant, next to Pulteney Bridge and overlooking the weir, serving a classic Thai menu

THE PEAR TREE INN Top Ln, Whitely, Wilts SN12 8QX 01225 704966; www.peartreewhitley.co.uk An elegant revamped country inn with an acclaimed restaurant and contemporary rustic-chic bedrooms

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 53

PING IT ON MasterChef champ Ping Coombes has just brought out her dÊbut cookbook – Malaysia: Recipes from a Family Kitchen. Here, the Bath local shares her inspirations, favourite dishes and must-try recipes

54 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

RECIPES

W

hen we sat down to an intimate dining experience with Ping Coombes at Igloo – in the glorious surroundings of the Abbey Hotel, Bath – as well as serving us a rich, fragrant feast, the former MasterChef winner regaled us with stories of food nostalgia and filled us in on her début cookbook – Malaysia: Recipes from a Family Kitchen.

The three delicious dishes we were served – with the help of the Abbey’s executive head chef, Chris Staines, and Bath wine expert Angela Mount who paired the courses with complementary tipples – were some of Ping’s favourites from the book.

To get the ball rolling, we had a DIY spicy prawn salad (which we made ourselves from the ingredients on the table) along with

FOOD

chargrilled squid and baby leeks in satay sauce. The delicious main dish was pan-fried sea bass, with seared pak choi and sticky rice, and the moreish pud was a coconut panna cotta with roasted pineapple sorbet.

“I just adore Malaysian cooking,” says Ping. “My new book is based on food memories; the stories were sometimes so long that they left no space for recipes! It celebrates the exquisite food, colours and flavours of Malaysia. Expect to see chilli crab and caramel pork, spicy laksas and rendangs, satays and tangy sambals – classic dishes which are intensely satisfying to make, share and devour.”

Drawing inspiration from her mother and from the late-night stalls and street markets in her hometown of Ipoh, Ping put together over 100 recipes (and “put on a stone in weight after testing them all”) for the book, which she says serves as a perfect introduction to the tastes and textures of this style of cooking.

THREE TO TRY Fancy something exotic this weekend? Here are three recipes from Ping’s Malaysia to crack on with...

Nyonya curry laksa Serves four Ingredients 1.2 litres water 1 quantity of laksa paste 250ml coconut milk 1 tbsp chicken stock powder 1 tbsp of salt 6 pieces of bean curd puff, halved 100g dried rice vermicelli 50g bean sprouts 400g pack of fresh yellow noodles salt

For the chicken and prawns 2 boneless chicken thighs, skin on 1/4 tsp salt 350ml water 1/2 lemongrass stalk, bashed 200g shelled raw tiger prawns For the garnish Bunch of mint leaves 2 medium free-range eggs, boiled, peeled and halved 4 lime wedges 4 tsp shrimp chilli oil crispy shallots, to serve

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA EDWARDS

Rub the chicken thighs with salt and set aside for 20 minutes. Place in a saucepan, cover with the water and salt, add the lemongrass, bring to a simmer and poach for 20 minutes. Remove the chicken, allow to cool, then cut into strips, discarding the skin.

Poach the prawns for three minutes in the same liquid. Remove them and set aside at room temperature. Use the poaching liquid to make the laksa broth – just top it up with water until it reaches 1.2 litres and discard the lemongrass.

Bring the liquid, laksa paste, coconut milk, chicken stock powder and salt to the boil. Add the bean curd puff and simmer for five minutes, then remove from the heat.

Place the vermicelli and bean sprouts in a heat-proof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for five minutes, then add the noodles to the hot water and leave them for three minutes. Drain the mixture and divide between four bowls.

Arrange slices of chicken, prawns, mint leaves and the halved eggs on top of the noodles.

Strain the broth through a sieve into a jug and remove the bean curd puffs. Place three slices of puff on top of each bowl of noodles.

Pour the broth over the noodles. Serve with lime wedges, shrimp chilli oil and a sprinkling of crispy shallots. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 55

FOOD

RECIPES

Pandan and coconut panna cotta Serves four

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA EDWARDS

Ingredients 3 fresh pandan leaves, knotted 500ml coconut milk 500ml single cream 80g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

40g desiccated coconut 4 sheets of platinum grade leaf gelatine 1/2 ripe mango, peeled, stoned and diced 1/4 small ripe pineapple, peeled and diced

Put the pandan leaves, half the coconut milk, half the single cream, the sugar, vanilla paste and desiccated coconut in a saucepan and bring to just below boiling point. Remove the pan from the heat and leave for 30 minutes.

Place the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water and set aside for five minutes.

Place the coconut and cream mixture back on the hob until warm. Squeeze the gelatine then stir it into the warm mixture until it has dissolved.

Sieve the mixture into a bowl, mix in the remaining cream and coconut milk and divide the mix between four 500ml kilner jars. Cover and refrigerate for four hours.

Serve topped with diced mango and pineapple.

Clay pot chicken rice Serves two 4 tbsp sweet soy sauce 1 tbsp light soy sauce 3 tbsp water 200g jasmine rice Steamed bok choi, to serve For the marinade 1/2 tsp light soy sauce Large pinch of caster sugar 1/2 tbsp cornflour

Put the mushrooms in a bowl, cover with cold water and set aside for two hours. Drain and squeeze them, discard the stalks and quarter the mushrooms.

Put the chicken in a bowl and add the marinade ingredients, then leave for 20 minutes at room temperature.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the ginger and garlic, then add the sausage and fry for a further minute. Add the chicken and the mushrooms and fry until the chicken turns opaque. Add half the sweet soy sauce and all of the water. Continue to fry for two minutes, then set aside.

Wash and drain the rice a few times, transfer it to the clay pot and fill the pot with water until the water sits about 2.5cm above the rice.

Bring it to the boil over a medium heat then turn down to a simmer.

After 10 minutes, put the chicken mixture on top of the rice and cover the pot. Continue to cook on the hob for up to 13 minutes.

The rice will form a crust at the bottom of the pot.

56 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA EDWARDS

Ingredients 3 dried shiitake mushrooms 150g boneless chicken thighs, sliced 1 tbsp vegetable oil 10g fresh root ginger, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 Chinese sausage (lap cheong), sliced

Malaysia: Recipes from a Family Kitchen by Ping Coombes, published by Orion (ÂŁ25) www.pingspantry.co.uk

Independent Contemporary Restaurant Bath 4 Saville Row | Bath | BA1 2QP 01225 780055 | hello@henrysrestaurantbath.com

www.henrysrestaurantbath.com

A country pub in the city hand picked wines • local cask ales fresh and locally sourced menu

7 RICHMOND TERRACE, BATH BA1 5PZ therichmondarmsbath@gmail.com | 01225 316 725 www.therichmondarmsbath.com

A cut above...

Shop • Cafe • Plants Shop... for all of your fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, plants and more Cafe... Sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere with a fine cup of coffee or an afternoon tea. We also serve breakfast and light bites for those feeling a little peckish!

free wi-fi

Plants... We sell beautiful seasonal plants and flowers which can be found in and around the Farm Shop.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm 10am - 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays

Weekesley Ln, Timsbury, Bath, BA2, UK 01761 470089 info@meadgatefarmshop.co.uk www.meadgatefarmshop.co.uk

Try our new lite lunch menu Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EB Tel: 01225 446656 12-16 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AF Tel: 01173 291300 Email: info@themintroom.co.uk www.themintroom.co.uk

fa

FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N B AT H

Bath’s new foodie quarters Steven and Amanda have got some cheek!

FULL OF BEANS

A love of festivals, people and India inspired the opening of a new coffee shop on London Road. The Cheeky Bean is the café brainchild of Steven Piper and Amanda Harvey, and its distinctive logo was designed by Robyn McBryde. “We wanted to create a small hub where people could have opportunity to connect with others through conversation and shared experiences,” says Amanda.

They took over an old barber’s shop that was painted completely black inside and gave the premises a whole new lease of turquoise and gold life. “That was the most challenging part,” says Steven. “We needed six or so coats of paint to cover it, which took plenty of time, effort and patience.”

The venue, which offers aromatic coffee roasted by local roaster Dusty Ape, tasty, chunky sandwiches and fresh salads, as well as Amanda’s homemade gluten-free cakes, has been welcomed in the area, as Amanda explains, “We love having a base and a place in what is a fantastic, supportive local community.”

For more: www.thecheekybean.co.uk

A brand new look for The New Inn

STREET LIFE Three street food-inspired restaurants are coming to Bath in the autumn. The Thaikhun, Comptoir Libanais and the Absurd Bird are all opening up in the newly redeveloped dining quarter at Little SouthGate.

Thaikhun offers great-tasting, eclectic Thai street food dishes and will include open kitchens and décor inspired by the vibrant streets of Bangkok. Absurd Bird describes its fare as American Deep South with a cheeky twist. The Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurant Comptoir Libanais will invite diners to experience real, wholesome and healthy food in a souk-like setting.

“The restaurants will offer fresh, exciting culinary experiences and add to the already impressive foodie scene in Bath,” says Simon Green, director at the centre’s co-owner Aviva Investors. The new restaurant quarter also will have glazedfaçades and canopies providing covered outdoor seating for diners.

For more: www.southgatebath.com

INN WITH THE NEW The New Inn on Monmouth Place has opened its doors after a twomonth refurbishment and has a brand new look.

“The pub is now almost unrecognisable from its former self,” says managing director Toby Brett.

“The two bars have been knocked into one, with a new bar, parquet flooring and decoration throughout.

A new staircase has also been put in to access the sunniest roof terrace in Bath.”

The pub, which reopened on

30 June, has been taken over by Banwell House Pub Company which owns the Victoria Pub & Kitchen on Upper Bristol Road, and, along with six real ales, craft ales and local cider, there is also a varied selection of quality wine from Great Western Wine.

“We’ll also be offering quality doorstep sandwiches with Bath Bakery bread,” continues Toby, “as well as homemade Scotch eggs, local pork pies and craft burgers.”

For more: www.newinnbath.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 59

1

2

3

Where the WILD THINGS are FROM EXOTIC ANIMAL MOTIFS TO CUTE CRITTER DESIGNS, BRING THE OUTSIDE IN WITH THIS WONDERFULLY ECCENTRIC COLLECTION

4

5

1. CLAW-SOME

2. CAT-TITUDE

3. EARN YOUR STRIPES

4. HOP TO IT

5. PULL THE WOOL

The Tiger scarf by Bibi Herron, £190 This dramatic monochrome design is a bold 70’s twist on traditional animal print and has a reassuringly classic feel From Ezza, 13 Milsom Place, Bath; www.bibiherron.com

Kitten with ball pendant, £65 Quirky, charming and undeniably adorable, this necklace is sure to bring out your playful side From Bill Skinner, 15 Northumberland Place, Bath; www. billskinnerstudio.co.uk

Dazzle cushion cover, £50 Take a stroll on the wild side with this minimalist, linen, zebradesign cushion From No. Twelve Queen Street, 12 Queen Street Bath; www.juliettravers. com

HAM print, £33 HAM follows the contented life of Rabbit - capturing his daily adventures in silhouette form From Bloomsbury, 15 New Bond Street, Bath; www. bloomsburystore.com

Butcher’s cut tea towel, £7.50 This Ulster Weaving Company kitchen accessory is great for carnivorous cooks and a fun way to get the washing up done From The Foodie Bugle Shop, 7 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www. thefoodiebugleshop.com

60 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

6

SHOPPING

ED’S CHOICE

7

8

9

10

6. FLYING HIGH

7. THIS OWL THING

8. UPSCALE

9. FANTASTIC MR FOX

10. HORN OF PLENTY

Marie Sixtine Dalinda dress, £89 Featuring a delicate butterfly print, this pleatfront frock is bang on trend for SS16 From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www. mazeclothing.co.uk

Hou Hou cutting board, £18 This vibrant design, painted by acclaimed French artist Nathalie Lété, is sure to make a statement on your kitchen counter From Avenida Home, 27 Walcot Street, Bath; www.avenidahome.com

Pippa faux snakeskin grab bag by Modalu, £269 Call off the search, we’ve found the perfect day-tonight bag in an elegant and eye-catching print From Magpie & Bear, 7 Green Street, Bath; www.magpieandbear.com

Menagerie Mr Fox coaster by Repeat Repeat, £3.50 A squirrel with a parasol hitching a ride on a fox – a mad design inspired by the art of décopage From Alexandra May, 23 Brock Street, Bath; www.alexandramay.com

Gold unicorn head, £94.95 Mounted on the wall, this sparkly adornment will add a touch of magic to your living space From French Grey, 1 Burton Street, Bath; www. frenchgreyinteriors.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE LIFE II 61 www.mediaclash.co.uk I CLIFTON 69

Beach Ready...

Spray tan £25 Mini Mani and Pedi £40 Hot wax Brazilian £30 Artistic Gloss Manicure £35

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www.greenstreethouse.com

Floors for Thought

When it comes to flooring, finding a style that’s as beautiful as it is functional is a bit of a slog. With so many designs trending – from statement geometric prints to ethnic patterns and luxe silk effects – we asked a handful of local experts to tell us about the hottest looks of the moment

By L I SA E VA NS

Wood adds an instant touch of luxury to any interioR Pietra Ltd’s wood-clad floors and walls are perfectly in keeping with the modernmeets-rustic trend

INTERIORS

This natural fibre floor covering from Capitol Carpets, Bath, fits in with the minimalist look of the moment

1

AGAINST THE GRAIN

“Wood, especially parquet, offers so many choices in terms of design and colour as well as being timeless in terms of style,” says Vanessa Garrett, the founding director of Broadleaf on Walcot Street. “Aged parquet is particularly popular as it suits almost any interior style and is so much cheaper and easier to install than traditional parquet floors.

“I’d recommend narrower boards for smaller rooms to make them feel bigger; lay parquet in herringbone design to make long thin rooms feel wider; and choose reclaimed or vintage-style floors to balance contemporary furniture or design.

“I’d also avoid putting any wood floor into a damp room; this the single biggest cause of most problems with wood floors. Also, dodge oiled finishes that need regular applications of maintenance oil in high-wear rooms such as hallways, sitting rooms and kitchens – not to be confused with hard-wax oil finishes, which are ideal for this type of area.

“Of all of the flooring options available, wood is almost certainly the most versatile, the most inviting and the most environmentally friendly.

It adds an instant touch of luxury to any interior but at the same time is hard-wearing and easy to look after.”

And Stuart Faint, managing director at Pietra Ltd in Holt, agrees that wood is the way to go.

“Parquet flooring is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in both herringbone and chevron patterns, along with an increasing demand for bespoke parquet panels,” he says. “Every space is individual and the skill is matching the material to your requirements to create the correct look.”

2

AU NATUREL

“Subtle products can add warmth to a space, but can equally cool or organically influence colour schemes too,” says Bath’s Tile and Flooring’s showroom manager, Tom Weaver.

“Most customers have seen something that they like – whether at a friend’s home, out and about, or in a magazine – which they want to recreate. We always encourage our customers to follow their heart, but be ruled by their head, this allows us to point out where a contrast colour may be required or where a light-coloured product may not be the most practical solution.”

Steve White, owner of Bath Carpets and Flooring says that, when it comes to looking at the current interior fashion, there’s a growing trend for simplistic, neutral carpets.

“Natural-look and loop pile carpets in varying designs and finishes are ‘in’ right now,” he says. “These add texture and style-led character to your floor. Stripe carpets are very popular on stairs as this is a simple way of making a statement as soon as someone enters your home. But whatever colour or look you’re searching for, they’ll always add warmth and comfort, style and imagination.”

According to Andy Lloyd, a co-partner at Haliden Oriental Carpets on Walcot Street, interior designers start with the carpeting and work upwards as they realise the importance the warmth material can make to a room.

“There’s no better way to complement a fine stone or wood floor than a hand made rug,” he says. “These give warmth and softness to the touch.” w www.mediaclash.co.uk II BATH BATH LIFE LIFE II 65 65 www.mediaclash.co.uk

INTERIORS

3

ROUGH LUXE

Mark Everett, co-owner at Capitol Carpets thinks that luxurious flooring with a robust ‘edge’ to it is the way to go.

“We have a new exclusive faux silk range of flooring which is both elegant and tough,” he says. “We are selling more of this than anything else. It creates a ‘luxy’ look, but it’s also bomb-proof. We specialise in luxury carpets, natural flooring and runners, so we know that choosing the right floor covering is essential for anyone wanting to create the perfect interior, which is practical and attractive at the same time.

“My advice would be to go for something different, it really can alter the look and feel of the home.”

4

THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE

“Patterned tiling is very popular at the moment,” says Tile and Flooring’s Tom. “It spices up and highlights flooring hotspots in the home. It not only offers a dazzling visual effect but, due to its very sturdy nature, can be very practical as it masks the daily traffic.

“In this day and age, the tendency is to be more neutral with most of the décor in the home and then find a space to make an impact, and this is reflected in the surge of flooring patterns in irregular areas, which adds interest.

We are seeing some outstanding marble-effect products at the moment; they’re designed to clad walls and floors in large panels.”

Andy at Haliden Oriental Carpets says that when it comes to introducing bold prints into the home, splashes of colour on the floor will make an impact that’s not too overpowering.

“Ethnic-style geometric designs and soft colours are popular at the moment,” says Andy who, along with his business partner Craig Bale, specialises in antique and modern handmade rugs, carpets and kilims. “A good quality rug will last a lifetime and can truly ‘make’ a room, complementing all styles of decoration and types of flooring. In the past year especially, there has been a change back to the more traditional colours and designs found in antique carpets from places like Persia, Russia and Afghanistan.”

DIRECTORY Bath Contract Flooring 4 Kingsmead Square, Bath 01225 471888 www.bathcontractflooring.co.uk Boniti Dunsdon Barn, Chippenham 01225 892200; www.boniti.com Broadleaf 134-136 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 463464; www.broadleaftimber.com Capitol Carpets 120-122 Walcot Street, Bath 01225 333341; www.thecarpet.co.uk

66 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

IT CREATES A ‘LUXY’ LOOK, BUT IT’S ALSO

BOMB-PROOF Laying a vibrant rug – like this one from Bath’s Capitol Carpets – is an ideal way to introduce colour into the home

Haliden Oriental Carpets 98 Walcot Street, Bath 01225 469240 www.haliden.com

Pietra Wood and Stone Ltd Holt, near Bradford on Avon www.pietrawoodandstone.com 01225 783527

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COLOUR

BURST Whether you want to contrast, complement, clash or combine your colours in the garden, here are the contemporary trends that will have the biggest impact this summer…

By E M M A BON D

I HAVE SEEN A MIXTURE OF BRIGHT PINK AND ORANGE WORKING SURPRISINGLY WELL TOGETHER, ALMOST CHILDREN’S SWEET COLOURS

GARDENING

Purple-on-purple also works in the form of chive flowers and alliums

Gorgeous everlasting wallflower with its own contrasting colours of purple and orange

D

uring the months of July and August, Bath is full of colour and gardens are burgeoning with growth. I often notice how plants grow together and, either through deliberate planting or by accident, there are lots of combination of colours and shapes that will really enhance a planting scheme.

Some plants, whilst beautiful in their own right, will shine when partnered with either a contrasting or similar colour or shape.

Plant combining is something that all trained designers and gardeners learn, whether it is to contrast or match complementing colours or commingle shapes and textures. Gardeners have always been fascinated by colour and it was Gertrude Jekyll who introduced her own ideas to the public with her book Colour in the Flower Garden in 1908. This book did much to influence the way that people thought about their gardens and how the choice of colour could hugely affect the success of a planted border.

There is a very strong trend towards the more modern use of huge swathes of plants arranged in drifts using a single species, which has had enormous impact on the way that garden planting is now designed and thought This stately combination of acid yellow and blue-purple combine to create a stunning display

of. Piet Oudolf, the Dutch garden designer, has been highly influential in this style of planting.

His latest garden is at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton and showcases this style of prairie planting in all its glory.

Colour choice is very personal so I always make the point of asking for likes and dislikes from garden owners. Some people love a riot of different hues, others prefer a more serene arrangement of greens, purples and whites.

Sometimes too much harmony can be dull and boring so it’s good to mix things up with some pops of brighter colour.

White borders have been successfully planted in many gardens, most famously in Sissinghurst, Kent; however, I think that there are too many pale imitations and even the most low-key and minimal garden needs some pizzazz.

Green is the obvious hue to start off with. Plants come in many shades of green and this includes acid-bright lime, which works beautifully in shady gardens, perhaps partnered with a very dark purple – for example leatherleaf spurge with geranium phaeum, one of my favourite spring plants, with small dark purple flowers and spotted leaves.

Green acts as a fantastic bed for many other colours, so using evergreen planting in the garden will give you year-round interest and will act as a great backdrop. Certain colours do dominate at certain times of the year so consider the use of yellow and blue together in the spring, cool colours including purples and whites in the summer, and hot colours from late summer to autumn.

In this last week I have seen a mixture of bright pink and orange working surprisingly well together, almost children’s sweet colours, which really bring a lively feel to a border.

I’ve also seen yellow poppies, blue alkanet and a sea of purple chive and allium heads.

Very dark foliage can also inspire dramatic planting combinations. I am certainly fond of deep-hued plants including helleborus, viola ‘bowles black’, aquilegia vulgaris ‘magpie’, and

tulip ‘queen of the night’. Grey shrubs and perennials combined with darker leaves or flowers can be very striking. Stachys byzantina mixed with lysimachia ciliata ‘firecracker’, or helichrysum italicum mixed with purple sage would work well together.

For a more romantic look, I like to mix pinks together, using strong and soft shades.

Roses and cranesbill geraniums always work well together for a pretty summer border. I have noticed an increasing return to the use of yellow in gardens recently. Orange and yellow have mostly been loathed colours and I am repeatedly asked to not include them in my schemes, however I love the combination of yellow with blue and purple. This works throughout the summer and, although I would not go mad and use lots of citrus tones, small bursts of it really do work well.

Try delphiniums with gentiana lutea, or scabious with achillea ‘moonshine’. If yellow is your thing, then try hemerocallis with blue cranesbill ceranium ‘Johnson’s blue’.

Otherwise, I also love the combination of verbena bonariensis with bronze fennel or dill – the matching flower heads in contrasting colours look great and they both have stately height to them.

It is too easy to overlook colour in the winter, and I am a huge fan of well-designed interesting winter gardens. Look for colours in stems and bark as well as a range of plants that will flower in winter, especially white against dark green. We recently planted salix yelverton and salix golden ness in a garden and these, combined with a mixture of coloured stem cornus sanguinea ‘midwinter fire’, will give the garden owner plenty of colour through the winter in the form of bright orange, red and green.

Be bold and try some combinations that you enjoy and don’t be afraid of mixing it up!

Emma Bond, Bath Garden Design and Landscaping, Orchard Studio, Old Orchard, 88a Walcot Street, Bath; 07968 727415; bathgardendesign.com Photos © Emma Bond

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 69

a d v e rti s i n g f e at u r e g a r d e n i n g

New Louvre panels look great especially when the sun shines through them

New to the range...

Give your garden fencing a whole new lease of gorgeous life with JACKSONS Louvre panels – crisp, elegant lines allow for a thoroughly modern look, while offering both light and privacy

L

ast month I used this page as an opportunity to tell you about two of our exciting new panels, Tartan trellis and Venetian Hit and Miss – this month it’s my pleasure to let you know about two more new offerings, that are no less exciting than the first ones.

We’ve wrestled with the idea of producing a ‘Louvre’ style panel for some time, knowing it would look incredibly effective – in fact our original Venetian, was born out of this early experimenting – but for one reason or another, which I won’t bore you with – we weren’t happy with the prototype Louvre.

But, ladies and gentlemen, all that’s changed. I am delighted to introduce you to Jacksons' Louvre panels. You will see from the photo at the top of the page they look every bit as good as they should, and the light effects as the sun shines through to create wonderful striped shadows.

A semi-solid panel with masses of style, Louvre has the sleek and modern good

looks suited to contemporary gardens. The horizontal slats are made from planed and specially shaped Jakcured timber, which are secured at an angle, unlike the straight vertical slats of our Venetian panels. The slats are reminiscent of Louvre blinds for windows, that’s why we chose the name, and they are larger thus allowing a bit more privacy than Venetian – yet they still let in light and offer less wind resistance compared to solid panels like Chilham, or tongue and groove.

The other new panel is the Reculver; a distant relative of the palisade family, palisade is an old term for a style of fence made from vertical pales that are attached to horizontal rails fixed to fence posts. It is probably the most common construction method of making fencing, when not using fence panels and posts. The new Reculver panel could and should be described as a palisade style fence, but there’s nothing ‘old style’ about it, the crisp elegant lines give it an altogether stylish and unusually modern look.

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To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal

As with all Jacksons timber products these are made from specially kiln dried and pressure treated timber, guaranteed for 25 years against rot and insect attack, and they are designed for use with our slotted posts, gravel boards and capping rails.

To find out more go to your dedicated page: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal where you can find out more about these and our other products and news.

• louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

Reculver panels – an elegant stylish new look panel from Jacksons

For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures, please call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 71

Would you like to work in Media Sales?

We are always looking to hear from talented individuals who would like to work for MediaClash, presenting advertising opportunities and marketing solutions across our portfolio of fantastic local titles. We are a growing business and anticipate there being various opportunities over the next few months. If you would like to join our continuing success story please email your CV in confidence to steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk or give us a call anytime on 01225 475800 for a chat about the company, our magazines and available positions.

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Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions

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QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

Tourists help boost the local economy

TOURISM

SPENDING MONEY Bath’s continued rise in the tourist tables gives a boost to the local economy The news that Bath was the 12th most visited city in 2015, with numbers rising by than more than a third, is great financial news for the region.

The leap from 236,000 visitors in 2014 to 323,000 last year means a significant contribution of an estimated £548million to the local economy.

Despite challenging market conditions, Bath has continued to buck the national and regional trend with visitor numbers increasing year after year, and the city’s official tourist board VisitBath said its strategically focused marketing efforts coupled with government funding helped achieve this outstanding result.

“To jump one place in the league table of in-bound visits would have been great, but to move up five places to reach 12th is an outstanding performance and illustrates that our work has paid off,” says VisitBath’s chief executive David James. “We have our sights set firmly on reaching the top 10 but this is going to mean

further investment in our marketing efforts and support of our industry and local authority partners.”

In 2014 it was estimated the average spend per tourism day visit was £34 and around 9,213 people were employed in tourism.

“These figures confirm how much of a key role tourism plays in the economy of Bath and North East Somerset; tourism does matter to Bath and the surrounding area.” says David. “It helps create and sustain jobs and also supports and makes viable many of the services and facilities that we enjoy as residents. This, in turn, creates a destination which is attractive for investors from other economic sectors. Along with many others, we believe the success of Bath’s tourism industry, along with other sectors, is at the very heart of the economic future of the area.” www.visitbath.co.uk

“YOUR COMPUTER IS STARTING TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU DO” Which entrepreneur is logged on to how computer data gathering will dictate our choices?

Found out on page 77

£548m THE BIG NUMBER

How much, approximately, tourists bring to the economy of Bath Find out more opposite

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 73

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BUSINESS INSIDER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE HALO CLINIC Dr Jonathan Burrows, who trained at University College London Medical School, is a medical practitioner based at The Halo Clinic. Here he talks new treatments, Bond thrillers and defining beauty…

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in South Wales. My parents had a house just outside Abergavenny that looked out on to the Sugarloaf Mountain.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a doctor; I don’t think I ever considered doing anything else.

How did you progress into working with The Halo Clinic?

After UCL Medical School in London, I started my GP training, but then took a slight detour into surgery. I have continued my interest in minor surgery throughout my GP career and when I moved to Hathaway Surgery, I was pleased to be able to expand that role at The Halo Clinic.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your work?

I think it has to be the positive effects that aesthetic treatments can have on someone, such as improving their confidence.

How do you define beauty?

For me, in terms of aesthetic treatments, I think it has to be a subtle enhancement. At The Halo Clinic we aim to improve a person’s natural features without making it obvious that they have had any cosmetic work done.

So I think a look that involves restoring a client’s natural facial volume and skin quality is far more beautiful than over-enhancing their features.

What makes your business stand out from your competitors?

We are a friendly practice that offers a broad range of treatments from skin improvements with peels and fractional laser, facial rejuvenation with botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, and minor surgery for removal of skin lesions.

We are conveniently situated within Hathaway Medical Centre on the west side of Chippenham, which allows good access from the M4, as well as Bath.

74 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What exciting plans does The Halo Clinic have?

We have recently introduced the collagen PIN, which is a therapeutic micro-needling device. It works by creating thousands of micro-channels, which stimulate the skin to produce more collagen and therefore gives a firmer, healthier appearance. From a personal point of view I will be starting treatments on managing unsightly thread and spider veins with microsclerotherapy. This is a safe and effective technique that involves injecting the vein with a medicine that breaks it up, thereby improving the skin’s appearance.

What was the last book you read?

I recently spent a week in Cornwall where I read From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming. I really enjoy reading thrillers, and you can’t beat James Bond.

How do you relax?

I enjoy running and cycling. As a family we also enjoy walking and exploring the countryside around Bath.

I also have an interest in art and drawing, which I think fits in well with my aesthetic work at The Halo Clinic. www.thehaloclinic.co.uk

Dr Jonathan Burrows relaxes by reading thrillers

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER I WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR

Matt Banahan plays ‘spot the ball’ at rugby camp

MOVERS, SHAKERS, ETC

Ben Tarrant joins Thrings

PROPERTY RIGHTS

Law firm Thrings has appointed commercial property specialist Ben Tarrant as partner. He joins Thrings from Bristol-headquartered law firm, TLT. “There is a strong synergy between my experience and ambitions and that of the firm,” says Ben. www.thrings.com

ON THE MONEY

Bath financial services firms Fidelius and Money Wise have merged. Fidelius, which specialises in wealth management, employee benefits and insurance services, has a turnover of £6.8million and employs 65 people. It will continue to run Money Wise, which has a £3.9million turnover and a staff of 33, from the firm’s Queen Square office in the short-term. www.fidelius.co.uk

FULL CIRCLE

Duncan Stonier of Stonier Hobbs Property Letting and Management has welcomed back Julianne Mackrell, who qualified with the firm in 1997. www.stonier-hobbs.com

I

BATH RUGBY NEWS Bringing you the latest from the Bath Rugby headquarters

f you want to mark it like Banahan, drop kick it like Dunn and try it like Tom Ellis now’s the chance to learn to play rugby the top flight way. Bath Rugby is running Premiership Rugby camps locally for young, budding rugby players during the summer holidays.

Some of the best rugby community coaches in the country will offer specially tailored tutoring sessions, which will encompass technical and tactical aspects of the game. All activities are fun-based, but with a focus on the development of all participants whatever their level, and with camp ages ranging from under-sevens to under-16s.

There’s also the chance a member of the Bath Rugby squad will make an appearance to share their skills and their top tips. “I always try to make the time to come and help out the Bath Rugby Community team at their camps,” says Tom Dunn. “Not just because

they’re great fun, but because I remember how much I benefited from coming to similar camps when I was younger, and how they helped me develop as a player.”

Matt Banahan also endorses the sessions, “The Bath Rugby Community camps are a brilliant opportunity for youngsters of all abilities to improve their rugby skills and, most importantly, have fun whilst doing so. There’s nothing better than enjoying yourself and learning in a team environment.”

Sessions are being held at North Dorset, Swanage & Wareham, Wellington, Wells and Walcot.

• Back rower David Sisi has returned to the club following his season-long loan at London Irish.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back at Farleigh now and getting stuck back into training with this group of lads,” says David, who joined Bath Rugby in 2013.

For more: www.bathrugby.com

BUSINESS INSIDER

BREAKING NEWS

FANTASTIC FOUR Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories right now

Martin Veal, Trevor Osborne, Chris Goodenough and Martin Tracy

GIVING BACK

HERE COMES THE PRIZE

Lynn adresses the bridal issue

Less than a year after launching, the Bath Percent Club has every reason to be delighted at the amount of support the group has been able to give to local charities and projects.

To date, the members, which are made up of groups of businesses who commit to give a minimum of one per cent of their annual profits to local causes, have contributed and pledged six figure sums for local projects and charities.

Trevor Osborne of the Trevor Osborne Property Group and one of the club’s co-founders, spoke at the Percent Club’s spring event at the Bath Assembly Rooms

www.thepercentclub.com

THINKING POSITIVE

When Lynn Charrington was looking for her wedding dress last year, she found there was a lack of gorgeous gowns in larger sizes. So she decided to address the issue and set up Perfect Princess Bridal last September, which has already been shortlisted for a British Plus Size Award.

“Being nominated feels like a real achievement,” she says. “I’ve been working hard to promote plus size bridal within the industry, including holding a plus size bridal catwalk show at Bath’s Macdonald Spa Hotel in February,” says Lynn. “I showcased over 50 dresses on the catwalk using size 18 models to really promote the message ‘curvy is beautiful’.”

Lynn will find out if she has won her category Best Plus Size Bridal Range on 19 November at Porchester Hall, London.

Bath indies are getting active

www.perfectprincessbridal.com

in May, and said, “When a local business joins the Bath Percent Club, it gives the public confirmation of its corporate responsibility and support for local charitable organisations; a good sign to its customers and business contemporaries that it is run on ethical principles – and that is good for reputation and business.”

The commitment does not always have to be a financial one as Trevor explained, “Donations do not have to be monetary, they can be qualified in kind work or volunteering staff time.”

Bath’s local indie businesses have got together and are doing it for themselves with a brand new forum aimed at supporting and promoting their trade.

The Positive Projects for Bath Independents is a voluntary body made up of like-minded businesses and is organised by Bath Tourism Plus’s Leslie Redwood. “The forum will be aiming to deliver some short-term, smaller-scale ‘quick wins’ on a voluntary basis that encourage organisations to work together across the city to support independent businesses.”

The group had their first meeting on 6 July at Bath Function Rooms, Green Park Station. “Five key projects were decided on,” explains Les. “These included better signage, indie-themed special events, and one point of contact for small business support.”

The next meeting is 4 October.

For more: www.eventbrite.co.uk

GOOD SAMARITANS

The charities gather at the mayor’s parlour

76 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Eight charities and community groups from the local area are sharing almost £7,000 from Bath Building Society’s Annual Charity Awards scheme.

A further three organisations were given a pair of Bath Building Society hot air balloon tickets which can be used to raise funds, and The Samaritans were chosen as the Charity of the Year.

“It is fantastic news,” says the director of Bath Samaritans, David Ryder.

“In 2015 Bath Samaritans took 45,671 contacts from people wanting to talk, including by email or text. We are also active outside the branch, reaching those groups in the local community who are at high risk. Bath Building Society’s wonderful support will help us continue to deliver this absolutely vital service.” www.bathbuildingsociety.co.uk

SPONSORED BY:

BUSINESS INSIDER

BATH LIFE BUSINESS CLUB

LEADING STAR

H

ave a feeling the writing is on the wall for you with your employer? Then make like Dan Fallon, and set up your own digital advertising firm. Ten years after setting up SearchStar, fee revenue is up 62 per cent year on year and has a staff of 34.

“I got the idea to set up the company a few days before I was probably going to be made redundant when a recruitment firm kindly offered me £500 to run an ad campaign for them,” explains Dan. The initial promise of work didn’t materialise but what did was Dan’s realisation that there were masses of firms in the South West who needed sound advice in how to run online ad campaigns.

“Google was starting to dramatically change the ad industry by offering what, in my opinion, was the best sort of advertising that had ever existed – AdWords. For example, instead of fridge adverts being pumped out continuously, you were only being exposed to them when you looked for fridges. And it worked brilliantly. Additionally, Google levelled the agency landscape by running a pure auction-based ad sale system.”

What this meant was Dan could buy a piece of ad space for exactly the same price as Procter and Gamble would pay Google, and schmoozing clients and convincing them their money had been well spent on huge ad campaigns became a thing of the past, as it became a numbers game. “I was never very good at boozy lunches,” explains Dan. “But I did like the numbers and this way of reaching people lived and died on the numbers.”

For the first five months, Dan, who had previously spent eight years with MediaCom, worked hard at convincing prospective

clients he wasn’t a sharp-suited ad sales shark and that online ads were a good thing. He then landed his first client and word then spread fast that he delivered results. A decade later and his award-winning digital media agency is now specialising in pay-per-click (PPC), display, analytics and conversion rate optimisation (CRO). CRO, as he succinctly explains, is: “where we develop thousands of landing pages that are different depending on where the traffic has come from. So, for example, we are working for a large national property conveyancing firm and if you searched for a conveyancing solicitor in Chelmsford, we could land you on a page that showed Chelmsford town hall and information on how many conveyancing jobs the firm had arranged in that area for people like you.”

As to the future of advertising, Dan has a strong vision where this is headed: “At a Bing [Microsoft’s search engine] conference recently, they were talking about how going to a search website is becoming outdated.

Your computer is starting to know what you want before you do, removing your need to search. By using data, the advertising industry has an increasingly accurate idea of what we’re up to – for example, if a person in London signals intent by looking at Bath train times and restaurants in Bath then it can be interpreted that a good advert to show them is a day out at the Thermae Bath Spa.” And what has Dan learned personally about managing team? “The most important thing in SearchStar is the people – we employ clever people who know we are training them and developing their career better than anyone else will.”

For more: www.search-star.co.uk

PHOTO BY JESSIE MYERS

Dan Fallon of SearchStar, the Bathbased digital advertising firm, cut through the techy ad jargon to inspire and educate members of the Bath Life Business Club at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa IN A NOISY MARKET PLACE, HERE ARE DAN’S SEVEN TOP TIPS ON HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS MESSAGE HEARD… 1 Focus on what works in your marketing and do

more of it until you’ve maxed it out

2 If someone is selling you a shiny new online

marketing solution you don’t understand, then don’t buy it

3 Does your website simply, clearly and concisely

communicate what you sell and your USPs?

4 Don’t be tempted to be all things to all people.

Instead, focus on being competitive in an area where you can win. The internet is a big place and you only need to make a tiny percentage of people really happy to have a healthy business

5 People buy people – show customers who you

are and show them that people like them have dealt happily with you

6 Does your website work just as well on mobiles

as it does on desktops? There is now more mobile search than desktop search and mobile usage will only grow

7 And remember, the internet doesn’t do brand-

building and brand-awareness like magazines do.

FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH

The Bath Life Business Club is a select group of senior business people. It features a leading speaker – for example, Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis – and a damn fine two-course lunch.

The next meeting is on 5 September 2016 – if you’d like to join, please contact Stephanie Dodd (Stephanie.Dodd@mediaclash.co.uk). These events sell out quickly, so look out for the emails...

The Bath Life Business Club is sponsored

by Bishop Fleming

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 77

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a d v e r ti s in g f e atu r e F I N A N C E

RENT-A-ROOM RELIEF Jacqui Bowden from PEARSON MAY shares her expert advice on how to make sure you make the most of the tax relief available if you choose to rent a room in your home

R

elief available under the rent-a-room scheme increased to £7,500 from £4,250 from 6 April 2016, which is good news for individuals who receive rental income from a lodger or lodgers in their own home.

Ordinarily, any rental income received by an individual is taxable income for them and may give rise to an income tax liability.

The rent-a-room scheme means that the rental income received from a lodger (up to the prescribed limit) can be exempt from income tax. That limit is now £7,500 so if the total amount of rent received in the tax year (before deducting any expenses the individual has incurred in providing the accommodation) is £7,500 or less, the whole of the income is exempt from tax. It is worth noting this limit will be halved if another person is also entitled to the income e.g. if a husband and wife own their home jointly and receive rent from a lodger, the limit is halved to £3,750 each (even if the income is not split equally between them).

The various conditions that must be met in order to qualify for the rent-a-room scheme can be summarised as below. The accommodation must be: l Furnished l In the UK l The individual’s only or main residence for at least part of the tax year l ‘Part of’ the residence and not completely separate to the residence. l The relief cannot be applied to rooms let exclusively for business purposes e.g. as an office It is important to note that the rent-a-room scheme is optional. If using the ‘normal’ principles for working out the profit/loss made on any rental income gives a preferable result, then an individual can elect to use this approach instead. This is probably best explained by way of a couple of examples.

Firstly Janet receives rental income from a lodger of £400 per month (£4,800 per annum) and incurs costs of £2,000 per annum in providing that accommodation (e.g. increased heat and light costs, council tax, insurance etc.). As the ‘gross rents’ of £4,800 are less than £7,500, the total £4,800 received is exempt from income tax under the rent-a-room scheme so Janet would be wise to use the rent-a-room relief for the 2016/17 tax year If on the other hand, her annual costs of providing the accommodation were £5,000, Janet may be better to not use the rent-a-room relief as she has in fact incurred a loss of £200.

Now consider John who receives rental income of £700 per month (£8,400 per annum) from his lodger. With the new limit John would

almost certainly be better to claim the rent-aroom relief which would leave him with £900 of taxable rental income. It would only be beneficial for him to use the ‘normal’ principles of calculating the rental profit/loss if the actual expenses he incurred in providing the accommodation exceeded £7,500.

You can change between claiming rent-aroom or paying tax on your actual profits (i.e. receipts less expenses) from year to year by making the appropriate entries on your tax returns.

Where the property is subsequently sold and you have been letting a room then the amount of private residence relief should not be affected by taking in a lodger. However if you have taken in more than one lodger at a time or otherwise let out all or part of your home then you may have capital gains tax to pay when the property is sold.

The above is for general guidance only and no action should be taken without obtaining specific advice.

Jacqui Bowden BSc(Hons) ACA

- Celebrating 175 Years -

37 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DA 01225 460491 mail@pearsonmay.co.uk www.pearsonmay.co.uk

WINNER’S PROFILE

PHOTO BY PAOLO FERLA

What’s it like working with your other half?

C: I have wanted to work with Henry for quite a while now, but he took a little bit of convincing! We do get on very well but admittedly it is hard to not talk shop when we are at home. Without wanting to sound slushy, life is short and I want to spend as much time as possible with my best friend.

What are your plans for the next couple of years?

H: We hope to build on what we have achieved in the first year. Tourists will always come to Bath so hopefully the summer months will always be busy. We would like to attract more locals and be better known within the area. We are really pleased with how our first year has gone but we want to up our game and become even better.

C: Lots of people ask us about opening in the evening, so we might get the supper club off the ground.

BATH LIFE AWARDS

CAFÉ/COFFEE SHOP Sponsored by

THE GREEN BIRD CAFE Claire and Henry Hunton are co-owners of the charming independent cafe located between the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Here they talk takeaway curries, being best friends and how ‘midnight always comes’ How did you celebrate after winning the Bath Life Award?

C: After the awards we dashed up to Saint James Wine Vaults for a quick drink with Neil the owner and then joined everyone else at Sub 13. The award went to school with our son the following morning and he showed it in assembly.

What other jobs have you had?

H: I trained as a chef in Devon and came to Bath Spa University to study food management in 2001, during which time I worked for Chandos Deli on Saturdays.

After graduation, I progressed to manager.

C: Before opening The Green Bird Cafe, I had been a full-time mum to our two children Arthur, five, and Ida, three. Previous to that I worked in various administrative and organisational roles.

What do you think makes The Green Bird Cafe stand out from its competitors?

C: We make the effort to know the customers’ names and how they like their coffee. You don’t often get that in larger places.

H: Where possible we use the finest ingredients, for example Bertinet bread; Isle of Wight tomatoes; free range meat from Devon, and Chew Valley milk. Our dishes are cooked from scratch and, unlike a lot of cafes, we do not have a microwave!

Have there been any rocky patches?

H: I think staffing has been the trickiest element, and giving up family time in order to keep the cafe open.

Do you think being an active part of the Bath community is important in business?

H: Bath is a small city so word of mouth works wonders for small businesses, especially in a city that has so many cafes and so much choice.

LIFE IS SHORT AND I WANT TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE WITH MY BEST FRIEND

What do you do when you’re not working?

C: We try to spend as much time as possible with our children; we live close to Alice Park, which is very handy. There hasn’t been much family time lately, which is why we are really looking forward to a holiday in September. As a couple, we enjoy drinking in Saint James Wine Vaults or going out for dinner; we recently sampled the tasting menu at The Chequers, which we totally recommend.

What is your favourite food?

H: At the moment, I’m really enjoying exploring Middle Eastern cuisine especially the recipes of Yotam Ottolenghi. If I have run out of energy to cook, it has to be a good takeaway curry.

C: I love classic French cooking – Henry can make fab duck confit.

Who are your business heroes?

H: I have great admiration for my previous boss Iain Keith-Smith, owner of Chandos Deli.

What advice would you give someone looking to go into this sector?

C: Be prepared for it to take over your life! Also it is important to have knowledge and experience in the area; we couldn’t have survived without Henry having previously worked in the industry.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

H: I was once told by a chef that ‘midnight always comes’ and that has got me through a few tricky shifts in my career.

For more: www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk

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A dvertisin g feature a c c o u n ta n c y

Milsted Langdon takes home top professional award One of the South West’s most prominent firms of chartered accountants is celebrating being named Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm in a prestigious 2016 national award

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ilsted Langdon is no stranger to professional accolades, having previously won the British Accountancy Awards Independent Firm of the Year in the South West and being crowned three times as Best Large Practice at the national Practice Excellence Awards. Now the firm, whose Bath office can be found in the heart of the city, at 1 Queen Square, has done it again.

“We are absolutely delighted with our 2016 Tolley’s Taxation Award win, which reflects our commitment to providing high quality tax advice and exceptional service to our clients in Bath and further afield,” says Bath office partner Ian Lloyd.

The firm offers a full range of accounting and tax services for businesses ranging from start ups through to sizeable owner-managed groups, as well as looking after individuals, charities and not for profit organisations.

Its experienced tax team has a wealth of experience and regularly advises on all areas of tax, including property investment and development advice; the use of trusts; planning to reduce inheritance tax;

“We are already seeing numerous opportunities arising from the weaker pound”

Milsted Langdon Bath office partner Ian Lloyd and Milsted Langdon tax partner Rachael Verinder

Milsted Langdon award winners collect their Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm 2016 trophy

issues relating to divorce and separation; residency and domicile tax planning; structuring and fundraising using EIS and Seed EIS relief; claiming research and development tax relief; VAT planning and stamp duty land tax advice.

Despite the uncertainty in the financial world created by the recent Brexit vote, Milsted Langdon firmly believes that businesses throughout the South West will continue to thrive. “The pace of change in the tax world will undoubtedly continue over the coming years as the UK negotiates a new relationship with the EU,” explains tax partner Rachael Verinder. “We are already seeing numerous opportunities arising from the weaker pound, including export and corporate finance opportunities, all of which have tax planning angles.

“Future reductions in corporation tax will, if enacted, almost certainly make the corporate structure a more attractive one for planning purposes, despite recent changes to tax rates on dividends. We look forward to helping to guide our clients through the changes ahead.”

Established in 1988, Milsted Langdon

is one of the largest independent firms in the South West, with offices in Bath, Bristol, Taunton and Yeovil, and employs approximately 200 staff.

The firm offers a no-obligation meeting with a senior member of the Bath team for anyone wishing to discuss how it can assist with their business, personal or charity affairs.

For more information about Milsted Langdon’s award-winning tax, accountancy or corporate finance services, please visit the firm’s website or call the number below.

www.milsted-langdon.co.uk 1 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HA Tel: 01225 904940

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

WORDS of WISDOM We check in with the five of the city’s best dentists and check out how good they are as patients when it comes to their own check-ups, if they ever eat sweets and their personal career highlights

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here’s no two ways about it – we need these guys, and even for the most dentist-phobic of us, a trip to a good dentist will leaving us smiling and feeling minty-fresh. Gone are the days of gruesome-looking instruments of torture, painful needles and hours of agony followed by excessive numbness. Instead, dentistry has polished up its act and we are now seeing bright, clean clinics with gentle, caring and considerate professionals who explain their work, talk us through treatments and help us preserve and protect our pearly whites. Whether you are looking for a simple check-up, to cosmetically improve your smile, need dental implants, major orthodontics, minor dentistry or a touch of tooth whitening, you need to know your teeth are in good hands.

Here we caught up with five of the best of Bath’s dental professionals to get to know the people behind the dentists’ masks...

GRAHEM MEHARG Dentist Bath Dental Excellence How did you get into dentistry?

My dad and two of my uncles were dentists and my grandfather was a dental technician, so I suppose it happened by osmosis.

Did you always want to be a dentist?

I used to cast gold and pour models of teeth in my dad’s lab, and I saw that he really enjoyed being a dentist so I didn’t consider doing another course.

How would you best define modern dentistry?

It focusses on the patient having a positive, stress-free experience while 84 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

getting their gums and teeth into the best condition possible.

What have been your career highlights so far?

I really enjoyed working with children in an orthodontic setting – winning over anxious children, was very satisfying.

When did your last visit the dentist?

Well, I haven’t been in a while...

What’s your favourite sweet thing?

Portuguese custard tarts are hard to beat.

What might we be surprised to learn about you?

My name is a palindrome – only one patient has ever spotted that. www.dentists-bath.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

TOBY TALBOT Specialist in Restorative Dentistry TALBOT CLINIC Did you always want to be a dentist?

I started out serving an apprenticeship in engineering in my father’s business for three years after leaving school. I decided that a life arguing with my old man in a cold workshop wasn’t for me.

Dentistry was a eureka moment – I could use my hands and brain, and have one-to-one contact with people. Seemed a perfect fit.

How do you spend your time at work?

It is equally divided between research, clinical practice and report writing.

Why are some people scared of going to the dentists?

Only bad experiences are shared and everyone has a nightmare story to recount. The situation is changing though as treatment is discussed and negotiated with patients.

What have been your career highlights and proudest accomplishments so far?

Getting a call in 1980 from the University of Washington from the Graduate Director at midnight to tell me I had been successful with my candidature – one of only two places available after a shortlist drawn from 1,050 candidates.

What you are like as a patient?

Switched off and totally trusting in my own dentist.

What do you love about Bath?

It’s a city with the heart of a village.

What might we be surprised to learn about you?

When I left home to go Sheffield in 1973 to start my dental training, my plan B – if dentistry didn’t work – was to become a hairstylist under Vidal Sassoon. www.talbotclinic.co.uk

GEORGE MEXIAS Dental Surgeon Circus House Dental & Implant Centre Did you always want to be a dentist?

I attended a dental technician course after I finished school and this triggered my interest in dentistry.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

One of the most things I enjoy in dentistry is how it is always evolving and how traditional technique merges with new modern developments. So I always want to stay up to date and advance my skills in new techniques mainly related with implantology.

What you are like as a patient?

Terrible, but luckily I have a several close colleagues who I call on should I need

treatment; I know I must be the worst patient of their day.

Describe your ideal day.

A mix of surgery, consultation and final treatment appointments. About 90 per cent of my work is now dental implants, and I enjoy this surgery.

It’s also rewarding that my patients are always surprised at how straightforward the process is.

Did your mum ever have to tell you to brush your teeth?

She still does when I visit her.

What might we be surprised to learn about you?

I recently acquired my private pilot’s license and I love to spend my spare time in various small airports around the UK. I hope next year to be able to fly myself to Greece. www.bathsmile.co.uk w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 85

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PAUL VIVIAN General Dental Practitioner and Facial Aesthetician Widcombe Dental Practice Did you always want to be a dentist?

There was never any doubt I’d be a dentist. My father and grandfather were both dentists so I was literally born into the profession. I even used to complete my homework in the practice I now own.

What has been your proudest accomplishment so far?

After taking on my father’s practice in 2012, I spent a lot of time and energy modernising it and I am extremely proud to have been able to continue to serve the community for so long.

How would you describe your job?

Dentistry is a demanding profession but it is highly rewarding, in particular when it comes to nervous patients, especially when they are pleasantly surprised by the positive experience.

What you are like as a patient?

I confess to finding it difficult to relax and relinquish control!

Describe your ideal day at the practice...

Finishing a complex treatment plan, which has taken a great deal of careful planning and execution, and seeing a huge grin on the patient’s face when they see the final result.

SANDRA MAS General Dental Practitioner Bath Spa Dentistry Why did you decide on dentistry?

I like health and natural science, dealing with people, and manual work – so I thought dentistry could give me everything.

Do you think people have any misconceptions about dentists?

People often think that dentists are expensive and cause pain.

At Bath Spa dentistry we practice preventive dentistry, taking care of people’s oral health before they start to experience toothache or develop gum disease.

What you are like as a patient?

I am a very good patient, although I have never had toothache.

What do you love about Bath?

I’m from Spain so I find Bath a beautiful place to live in; it has everything I need… except sunshine and a beach! But this is a compromise I am willing to make – I can always take holidays!

Did your mum ever have to tell you to brush your teeth?

Yes, I have to admit that I wasn’t very good when I was a teenager.

What’s your favourite sweet thing?

I love anything with chocolate – brownies, ice-cream and biscuits. www.bathspadentistry.com

86 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Were you good at brushing your teeth as a child?

My parents would both have to sit on me to keep me still enough to brush my teeth, it worked though as I have still yet to have my first filling!

What’s your favourite pudding?

Creme brûlée, I could eat it every day of the week. www.widcombedentalpractice.co.uk

GIVE US A CALL ON 01225 447600 www.bathsmile.co.uk

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Circus House | Bennett Street | Bath | BA1 2EX Email: info@circusdental.co.uk

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ad v e r ti s i n g featu r e d e n t i s t ry

Understanding dental implants Whether it's for cosmetic or practical reasons, Toby Talbot of talbot clinic explains what you should be looking for if you're considering dental implants

D

espite the high standards of modern dental care, thousands of UK patients suffer tooth loss every year through injury, decay and gum disease. Historically, the only solutions for tooth loss were bridges and dentures. Today however, dental implants are becoming a far more common and accessible option.

Implantology is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the replacement of a tooth root with a titanium pin, to secure a permanent or removable artificial tooth. We largely have pioneer in tooth replacement procedures Professor Brånemark to thank for the development of modern implantology. Today millions of Brånemark patented implants are carried out worldwide through the close collaboration of specialists in prosthodontics (dental prosthetics), oral surgery and periodontics (the branch of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, diseases, and conditions that affect them).

Whether a tooth needs to be replaced for eating, or for cosmetic reasons (usually front teeth), a range of materials can be used, including metal alloys, plastics and porcelains, depending on the circumstances.

For example 20 per cent of patients exhibit evidence of tooth grinding, which can suggest the use of stronger materials. The metal alloys available today can be matched to physical demands, whereas resins and porcelain materials achieve a more lifelike colour, but have a tendency to chip or break. Make sure you discuss the benefits and risks associated with different materials with your dentist to ensure the right choice for you.

“dental implants are becoming a far more common and accessible option.”

Tooth coloured restorations, porcelain veneers and crowns offer exceptional results when your dentist works closely with a dental ceramicist. A daylight environment is an absolute necessity for assessing and matching teeth colours. Even the colour of the walls of a surgery will influence the shade and colour of natural teeth, so drag your dentist outside if necessary!

Implant procedures have become simpler over time, and these days any qualified dentist with an interest in offering implantology has the option to attend a postgraduate training programme to do so, without the necessity for specialist accreditation.

While minimum requirements for continued training are set out by the General Dental Council (GDC), as with any surgical procedure there are many potential complications, including infection, rejection and failure, which only a suitably trained dentist may notice.

This issue is a little confusing because of the sheer number of dental surgeries advertising themselves as ‘Implant Clinics’ or ‘Implant

Centres’, or offering ‘advanced restorative dentistry’ services. Play it safe and do your homework.

Toby Talbot is a specialist in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontics and endodontics with more than three decades of experience (www.tobytalbot.co.uk). He dedicates his time to caring for his patients at his Bath-based Talbot Clinic and educating the public on dentistry. He is also clinical director of BOCA oral health care products (www.boca.co.uk).

01225 426222 enquiries@talbotclinic.co.uk www.talbotclinic.co.uk

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

This home’s bold and unusual decor radiates a creative and fearless energy

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SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

Set within one of Europe’s architectural masterpieces, you’ll find two Grade I listed houses that have been knocked into one spectacular, artistic space w

By E V E LY N GR E E N

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

Did you spot this colourful light fixture on our front cover?

94 LIFE LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk 114I I BATH CLIFTON I www.mediaclash.co.uk

W

e’ve lost count of the number of superlatives we’ve written to describe the houses on these pages. And while we’ve been taken aback many a time by Bath’s finest properties, this one has to take the award for most jaw-droppingly magnificent.

We had to give our eyes a little rub and take a second glance when we spotted this beauty which sits within one of Europe’s architectural masterpieces, Lansdown Crescent. And it’s not just a wildly attractive townhouse, it’s a unique combination of two elegant Grade I listed crescent houses that have been knocked into one spectacular space.

The concave Crescent, with its convex wings which follow the curving contours of the south east slopes of Lansdown, is one of the most conspicuous elements on the Bath scene. Among the many famous Crescent residents was the illustrious English novelist William Beckford – the man responsible for building Beckford’s Tower, a prominent landmark in the region.

Beckford lived at number 20, whereas the home 

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 95

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

featured on these pages (well, half of it anyway) was once occupied by astronomer and meteorologist Henry Lawson.

He built an observatory on the roof, published a number of papers and was made a Fellow of The Royal Astronomical Society in 1833.

It was Sir Francis Younghusband who bought the two houses separately in the 1890s and combined them to form accommodation of extraordinary grandeur and scale.

Built between 1789 and 1793, the Georgian exterior of the house remains, as you’d expect, largely unchanged, with the original and restored overthrows, decorative, wrought iron lamp holders and ornamental railings still in situ.

Inside, a stand-out, although impermanent and changeable, element that makes the house unique is the artistic and unusual interior décor. With its offbeat, rococo accessories, bold, punchy focal points (like the light piece in the dining room which you’ll spot on our front cover) and pops of jovial colour, it radiates a creative and fearless energy.

Despite this massive decorative regeneration inside, the level of original architectural detail echoes that of the façade, with many period features including exquisite cornicing, fireplaces and deep sash windows with original shutters still remaining.

If you’re not already knocked off your seat, then hold on for the next bit we’re about to tell you which is unique in the crescent. Its luxurious master bedroom is not just a penthouse suite, but it’s laid out across two floors. It’s truly staggering with balconies to both the front and rear offering breathtaking views over Bath and the surrounding hills and countryside. In 1819, Egan described the views as “like looking down from St Paul’s Cathedral into the streets of London”.

In total there are a whopping 11 bedrooms – nine in the main house and two more in the self-contained coach 96 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Clockwise from top left: Just look at that view that extends for miles; on the façade you’ll find fine period features still in situ; a modern living room set-up; just one of the many colourful reception rooms

HOUSE NUMBERS

14,500 sq ft of space

9

bedrooms

£5.75M guide price

2

bedroomed coach house

1

large lawned garden

house, accessed via Lansdown Mews.

The property itself is split between five storeys.

Upon entering the main reception hall, the astounding proportions are immediately apparent. On the ground floor is a double reception room that extends from the front all the way to the rear of the building, and a stunning stone staircase rises to the upper levels.

Of particular note is the first floor drawing room in which the ceiling height is sublime and the fireplace at the heart of the room is at least seven feet high. A large opening leads into the withdrawing room, then on to a beautiful dining room and kitchen-meets-breakfast room.

Then, on the second floor are four bedrooms, one of which is a remarkable two storey-high gallery room with a vaulted ceiling and a spiral staircase to the third floor where you’ll find a library, dressing room and a principal guest bedroom suite.

Just when you thought the tour of the house was complete, you’ll also find numerous basement rooms, store rooms and hidden vaults.

There’s even a double garage and handsome gardens which offer a quiet haven rarely found this close to the centre of the city and boasts mature trees and planted borders as well as a large lawn and a patio area.

In the vicinity is a private tennis and squash club, an 18-hole golf course and many excellent private and state schools. Saint Stephen’s Church is close by and the centre of Bath is just half a mile away.

It’s not often that the opportunity to live in a house as magnificent as this presents itself. All we can do is wish and hope for our lucky numbers to come up in next week’s lottery.

Savills Bath, Edgar House, 17 George Street, 01225 474 500; www.savills.co.uk

A handsome individual home with fabulous accommodation set high above the town in a sought after location. This one is all about space & light of which it offers both in abundance. The welcoming entrance hall & galleried staircases lead to all the generously proportioned rooms many of which are dual aspect & the upper floors which have far reaching views. Good suite of receptions; sitting room, adjoining dining room & conservatory. Upstairs is a large sitting room with fireplace. Four bedrooms including the spacious master with ensuite. Good kitchen breakfast room.

Plenty of garden to get stuck into & for the kids to kick a ball. Driveway parking & a double garage in a block to the rear.

N EW

Bradford-on-Avon.

Guide Price ÂŁ750,000.

N

EW

Freshford.

Guide Price 375,000.

This strikingly attractive listed village home forms a top floor apartment within a handsome Grade II listed character building. The well-proportioned accommodation has an entrance shared with just one other apartment. The living room is very comfortable, light & airy, has exposed beams and a wood burner plus French doors leading to the fabulous sun terrace. We also find three double bedrooms & kitchen breakfast room. The lovely garden is mature, full of character & colour.

There is also the bonus of a garage, and a separate allocated parking space & handy store room.

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

P R O P E R T Y a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e

we Raise A Glass In Honour Of Hf Lettings tenth Anniversary Bath-born letting firm, HF Lettings are celebrating a successful decade of business expansion and an excellent reputation, thanks to their unrivalled expertise and dedicated customer service

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A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E P R O P E R T Y

Laura Larkin, director at HF Lettings

O

riginally a Bath born business, HF Lettings was established by director Laura Larkin back in 2006. Now based in Corsham, the company‘s reputation has continued to go from strength to strength and, while it retains its core Wiltshire coverage, the lettings management service has now expanded to include Bradford on Avon, Malmesbury, Tetbury and surrounding villages.

“We would like to thank all the landlords and tenants that we’ve worked with over the past decade, they have helped to play a major part in HF Lettings’ success,” says Laura. “We may be celebrating 10 years in the business, but our passion never grows old for ensuring our customers always receive the very best service.”

All too often being a landlord can be a challenging undertaking, particularly with the ever changing complexity of housing industry regulations, but HF Lettings believe that owning a rental property shouldn’t be stressful. By securing the right tenants and taking care of each crucial aspect of the rental process, including all the mandatories and evolving legal requirements, HF Lettings strive to ensure it’s a very positive experience for landlords, giving them the reassurance that their property is being cared for.

Reflecting on the growth of HF Lettings and how it continues to expand Laura says, “It’s an exciting time for the team as we focus on how to ensure the next 10 years see the business flourish in the same way.

Our experience and commitment remain our

biggest assets and it’s this that’s earned us the reputation we have today.”

HF Lettings offer a range of options for landlords: ● A fully managed service ● A find a tenant only service ● A find a tenant only & rent collection service ● A personal tailored service Devoted to meeting the needs of their clients, HF Lettings ensure they are proactive in their approach with each member of the team playing a vital role in the day-to-day management of the properties on their portfolio. Between them they have more than 33 years of experience, which guarantees landlords the very best advice and great local knowledge.

For a free valuation and to experience the difference please call Laura, Sally-Anne, Matthew or Clare on 01249 716333. They look forward to helping you.

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a d v ertisin g feat u re p r o p e r t y

COMPLETION UNCERTAINTY PUSHES INVESTORS TOWARDS BATH Investors pondering whether to place their hard earned cash in bricks and mortar following the referendum vote are being guided to the historic city of Bath and in particular a brand new development called Bath Riverside

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uilt by Crest Nicholson Regeneration, completions at the multi award-winning development are continuing on a daily basis, providing assurance to investors that they won’t have to wait for build work to finish before they can start getting a return.

News that properties are available for immediate purchase at the waterside development coupled with the opportunity to get the stamp duty paid for, is now making canny investors, looking for favourable returns, sit up and take notice.

“The referendum result has made some buyers hold back from placing deposits on properties that aren’t yet built,” says Mary Timlin, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson.

“It’s important however that buyers are aware that the build programme here at Bath Riverside is progressing well with some properties ready for an immediate occupation.

“This is an attractive proposition for

“Bath holds all the cards when it comes to tempting investors”

investors wanting to get tenants in as soon as possible.

“In addition to the fact that there is no lag on completions to have the stamp duty paid will, for example, save £19,200.”

Within walking distance of Bath city centre and Bath Spa railway station – which is ideal for commuters - a burgeoning student population has placed additional pressure on the city’s rental stock.

This will add further to the appeal of the development to those looking to place their cash in bricks and mortar which, with its central location and high-end spec, has appealed to tenants looking for somewhere suitable to live.

Mary added: “Tenants who live here will have the advantage of having everything right on their doorstep and this is why we believe Bath holds all the cards when it comes to tempting investors.

“We know as well that Bath Riverside is the location of choice for those looking to rent in Bath and with limited stock currently on the market means there is a ready supply of

tenants keen to move in.

“Striking now would therefore mean getting the most from the investment not only in terms of potential equity, but future rental returns.”

For further information please call 01225 463 517 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/bathriverside The marketing suite on Victoria Bridge Road is open daily from 10am to 5pm

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DOVETAIL PROPERTIES GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO FIND THE RIGHT PROPERTIES FOR TENANTS AND THE RIGHT TENANTS FOR LANDLORDS.

Moving homes your way.

With 120 years experience, we know it’s not just a matter of moving things from A to B. It’s about the smallest detail and the greatest consideration.

Wherever your destination, each of our branches offers purpose-built storage facilities with quick and easy access to ease the strain of moving house.

For generations, we’ve helped our valued customers move their way and we’d love to do the same for you.

• Independent regulated letting agent based in Bath • Over 20 years industry experience • Committed to providing a personable and tailored service

“�is was the fourth time we rented an accommodation in UK and undoubtedly you were better than all the other agents we dealt with. Prompt and professional. Best wishes to you all and your company!” Debjyoti Paul, Tenant

As an ARLA licensed member we are qualified and compliant for the reassurance of our clients and tenants alike.

Call us today or visit our website, and we’ll get in touch within 24hrs.

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Or visit: www.robinsonsrelo.com Fully accredited member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and a Which? Trusted Trader

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B AT H L I V E S

Q&A

T

here was a time in the not-so-distant past when traditional record shops looked doomed, but with the colossal resurgence in vinyl, the tides have now turned. Having worked in the music industry for over two decades – in which time he also set up his own label – Mark O’Shaughnessy has just opened an independent record store in Bath’s Green Park market. We dropped by Resolution Records for an enlightening chat with him…

So you’ve just opened the doors of your record store. Why, in this digital age, do you think there’s a demand for vintage vinyl in Bath?

Bath people are definitely big record buyers; I am extremely busy already. I think Bath was crying out for a good indie record shop – and mine is the only one – and there’s been a huge upsurge in the amount of people buying records recently.

Music and records are a huge part of my life; I’ve worked in the music industry for 23 years and have been a professional record dealer since 1993, and I saw that there was a huge gap in the market for a record shop here, so I thought it was the perfect time to set up the business.

Bath has a very eclectic, creative scene. Do you feel your shop fits in with this dynamic?

My shop helps to promote and fulfil several parts of Bath’s eclectic scene – DJs come to me to buy records for their gigs, producers come to me to buy tunes and samples, and artists come to me to buy music to inspire them.

Why do you think records have come into fashion again?

People want to ‘own’ stuff again – it’s not enough just to have a track on your phone anymore.

A record is something to actually hold, read and love – which you can never get from an MP3.

There has also been a huge resurgence in all things vintage recently, which helps.

What do you think the difference is between listening to a song on a record compared to the sound of it on a iPod or CD player?

It’s a different experience completely; I believe records sound so much better audio-wise than digital tunes.

MARK O’SHAUGHNESSY The record dealer, who has just opened a store in Bath, talks vintage vinyl, childhood memories and his favourite al fresco spots in the city Where do you source the records for your shop?

I buy people’s collections. I mainly have records which were made in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I stock everything from rock, prog and psyche to folk, Latin and Reggae genres.

Are records as expensive as people may think?

That has never been an issue, people are happy to pay the price for a record they really want. Records aren’t actually that pricey; when compared to other items, they are relatively cheap.

What’s your first memory of buying a record?

When I was nine years old I purchased Slade’s Everyday single in Birmingham, where I was born.

What’s your all-time favourite record in your collection?

Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On LP. Where’s home for you and what are the pleasures of living in Bath?

I live in Lower Weston right now. There are nice relaxed vibes in Bath and great people here.

106 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Share a favourite spot in the city…

The beer garden of The Hare & Hounds pub in Lansdown (even though I am strictly teetotal nowadays); I also love The Locksbrook Inn. How do you like to relax after a hard day at work?

I love cycling, walking and playing football.

Anything sporty, really.

Your most treasured possession (apart from your records)?

My three children.

Surprise us…

I lived in the USA when I was in my 20s, which gave me a love for that country and its different cultures from an early age.

Your finest hour so far?

Setting up my own label and releasing several records that had high critical acclaim.

www.resolutionrecords.co.uk