Bath Life – Issue 400 by MediaClash

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY @BathLifeMag

ISSUE 400 / 13 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2019 / £3

ISSUE 400 / 13 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2019 / THAT’S RIGHT, ISSUE 400!

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ISSUE 400

“STRONGER AND STRANGER” 400 ISSUES OF BATH LIFE

T Pulteney Bridge and the Weir at dusk: when you’re feeling blue, just open your eyes and look up. Bath has a way of cheering you up every time

he famous Russian novelist, poet, butterfly collector and chess player, Vladimir Nabokov, once said, “I think it is all a matter of love; the more you love a memory the stronger and stranger it becomes.” What a wise and clever, if somewhat odd, fellow he was. On the debit side, he disliked Jane Austen – which we, most assuredly, do not. On the positive side of the ledger, however, he makes a good point about love and memory. For we love Bath, this amazing city the magazine celebrates, with a vengeance, but at the same time we recognise how strange it can be. And stranger yet, as we’ve discovered while flicking through the archives, can be Bath Life itself at times. Strange, but almost always amazingly good fun. How, we wondered as this landmark approached, are we meant to prepare ourselves for the next 400 issues if we do not, on occasion, take a rummage through our back pages? All 4,000 or so of them. So we did just that – and you’re invited to join us on that journey. The first issue of Bath Life – cover dated July 2002, 68 pages “thick” and with a somewhat overcast Cavendish Place on the cover – came with a rather blunt opening statement. “Bath Life gives you an insight into properties currently on the market to help you shortlist the best for

viewing appointments,” it said. Well, we still more than touch upon the property market, but these days – with Bath Life’s remit having expanded exponentially – our excitement about the best this place has to offer has broadened considerably, and become more giddy. Our quest to help you, good people of Bath and visitor alike, get the most out of the city remains reassuringly the same. As we celebrate our 400th issue (and 17 years in the biz), with this swollen, goodie-packed birthday edition, don’t forget that, behind the archive photos and reminiscences, you’ll still find that the meat and two veg we do every fortnight – the Society pages, the restaurant reviews, the business profiles, the events round-ups – are buzzing away in the background. You’ll find them all on page 49, and from there through to page 200 and beyond. But for now let’s put to one side Sting’s favourite writer, and instead embrace Bath’s most dazzling daughter. (Even if, as people keep telling us, Jane Austen didn’t always see eye to eye with the city – possibly because she, in turn, was dazzled by our bright stonework.) “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good magazine, must be intolerably stupid,” is what we think we remember her saying, and we’re not going to argue with that…

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“Issue 111 was when Bath Life got its new look, surely the most eagerly awaited since Christian Dior’s”

THE EARLY DAYS

Bath Life didn’t arrive in the world fully formed, but rather evolved into what is is now, Darwin-style

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t’s a strange experience looking back at the very first issue of Bath Life. Dated July 2002, it has 68 pages, and almost all of them are about houses. The editor is virtually invisible, the owner is the then-mysterious Surf Media (with no address, just a PO Box), and there are two introductions, one from the publisher – describing it as “the ultimate property guide” – and another, for no immediately apparent reason, from a partner at Mogers Solicitors, as was. And as you flick through the pages you’ll find one or two familiar features – the four-page Property Showcase isn’t too dissimilar to the one you’ll find towards the back of this very issue, and there’s a short piece on Bathampton, which we learn has ducks, barges, and “very little traffic”. But as for the rest of it, well, it’s pretty bland. It is fun flicking through the property listings, though. Back then, we learn, you could have bought a double-fronted, detached five-bedroom Georgian house on Sion Hill for a round million, or a rather fine five-bed barn conversion in Wellow for £279,000. It didn’t take long, however, for Bath Life to up its game. Issue 3 took a look at The Tramshed at the bottom of

This is the sort of thing you’d see endlessly in early issues: Bath’s worldfamous architectural highlights, iconic entertainment possibilities like cute little river boat Lady Sophia, and posh houses: in 2007, Sion House was on the market at rather less than it would be now

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We also had plenty of interviews with Bath characters like Lady Margaret, looks at what the city used to be like, and exciting new arrivals like the egg or Thermae Bath Spa to explore. Plus: more houses. Standerwick Court (top right), in 78 acres of parkland, was £4.5M in 2008

Walcot Street, now home to Neptune Kitchens but then being done up for the first time, as well as the just-built St Andrews Terrace town houses, next door to Café Lucca. And there’s the first incarnation of Editor’s Choice – then called Gift Guide – and a restaurant review too. (We liked the Walrus and Carpenter, just up from the Theatre Royal, and a city institution for decades – and why not, when “the portions are certainly generous and will get the thumbs up from diners with a hearty appetite”?) With issue 20 came a small but crucial change – the mission statement under the logo, where it now says ‘Celebrating the Best of the City’, had changed from ‘The Ultimate Property Guide’ to ‘The Ultimate Lifestyle Magazine’ – and Bath Life now featured such exciting elements as a 30-page 2004 Calendar, printed as part of the magazine (so you’d have to punch your own holes) and illustrated by adverts for The Eastern Eye and Great Western Wine. (If you think this feature goes on a bit, you should see that one!) You may not think it sounds all that promising, but the magazine was certainly working and, by issue 90, had put on a bit of middle-age spread. The Bath Life Awards were well established by then, and along with 148 pages of regular magazine, this one featured an extra 16-page bound-in

section to celebrate 2007’s gong-fest. By now Deri Robins had been editor for some time, MediaClash was the publisher, and everything was much, much slicker – and posher. And the Awards had become a major undertaking to match with burlesque performancers, fancy dress, the familiar Doric column awards, and winners such as Demuths (Best Restaurant), The Marlborough Tavern (Best Watering Hole) and Juice Recruitment (Best New Business, would you believe?) Also, by now a five-bedroom house on Sion Hill – albeit a rather posher one – was up to £2.75m. The next big moment was Issue 111: the one when Bath Life got its ‘New Look’, surely the most eagerly awaited since Christian Dior’s. Gone were the inevitable Bath stone houses on the covers and the logo in capitals in a white strip along the top, and in came bright-as-you-like covers in a Andy Warhol style, recognisable Editor’s Choice pages, and interviews with visiting stars, like Alison Steadman (at Bath Theatre Royal for a Peter Hall production called Enjoy) and Jamie Oliver, in town for the launch of Jamie’s Italian (and whatever happened to that?); Jane Seymour even turns up in one early Society page. So what – by this point, and ever since – did each issue contain? Turn the page to find out…

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TALES OF THE CITY

What’s Bath Life made of? The top of most covers says ‘food, arts, entertainment, shopping and property’, but there’s this stuff too… 28 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

HOUSES

The first proper feature in the launch issue of Bath Life was a profile of a house for sale, and so was the second. (And, er, the third.) We don’t take close gander at anywhere near as many houses on the market these days, of course, but we do still love a fine property – and, especially, if we get to take a good snoop around inside. To that end, recent years have seen the regular, ongoing Property Showcases, which have been in the mag from the very beginning, complemented by the new Residence feature, in which enviable and welcoming Bath residents show us around their rather fine homes. Expect amazing views, giant-sized kitchen islands and free-standing baths galore, plus plenty of inspo for your own home, big or small. Expect, also, choice items dotted around – ideal for ‘style-stealing’ purposes – from Bath’s top-notch selection of interiors stores, to found on Milsom Street, Walcot Street, Broad Street and all about.

Amazing, enviable homes from one of Bath Life’s most recently introduced regular features, Residence. Expect lots of light, lots of space, lots of neutrals and quirky details, and occasionally the biggest of dogs – because they’ll fit…

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“None of them are our real friends, but for an hour each, it felt like they might be”

CELEBRITIES

Famous folk are always coming to Bath, and we like to meet them: from top, James Blunt, Jennifer Saunders and Sophie Ellis-Bexter. But we give the star treatment to Bath business types too, like (far right, from top) Richard Godfrey of Rocketmakers, Chloe HarrisonTemple and Suzanne Temple of The Loft and Blue, and Tim Moss of Moss of Bath

Celebrities bumble through Bath all the time, sometimes to promote a book, another time to star in a play, and they’re almost always a delight. Michael Caine was much taller than we thought he’d be, David Suchet rather shorter. One time, chatting with John Cleese in the gardens of The Royal Crescent Hotel, his girlfriend wandered over and plopped their giant Maine Coon cat on his lap, which he proceeded to stroke like a Bond villain. Another time we turned up to interview Terry Pratchett – probably at Toppings, we can’t quite remember – and he looked at our notes (a dozen or so points to cover off, all scribbled down in haste), and said, “Oh, you’ve prepared questions! Amateur.” (The first time we met him, he stole the mashed potato off our plate at lunch; we’re still not sure if he thought he’d got away with it or not.) Wow, we miss Terry Pratchett. Above you’ll see some of our favourite celebrities on their visits to Bath, chatting away. None of them are our real friends, we confess, but for an hour or so each, they felt like they might be.

BUSINESSES

Over the years, Bath Life’s dedicated business section has grown, changed name, flirted with different tones of pink page, and provided a useful, ever changing snapshot of commercial life in the city. But BathWorks – as it’s now known – is just one small part of Bath Life’s business coverage, which actually permeates the whole of the mag. Whenever we talk to a shop owner, or an interiors expert, or a property guru, or a hairdresser, or a chef, or a digital entrepreneur, that’s business too. Everyone who visits here notices Bath’s wealth of independent shops – struggling sometimes, of course, but still in far finer fettle than on most high streets you’ll see elsewhere – but behind the scenes, and often completely invisible, the city hosts a wealth of further smart people doing clever thinking and driving their companies – and Bath’s reputation – forward, and often on an international scale, too.

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THE DERI ROBINS YEARS 2003-2012 Deri was Bath Life editor from 2003-2012, and still appears on the masthead as managing editor 30 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

If you put the first and most recent issues of Bath Life side by side, you’d think they were entirely different publications.

Here’s the potted history. Bath Life was originally launched by Surf Media in 2003, as a three-weekly magazine designed to feed the universal obsession with houses during the last big property boom. 90 per cent of the editorial content was made up of profiles of local houses for sale. There was always a house on the front of the mag – and given that these were invariably Georgian piles, the covers ended up looking a bit homogenous. In March 2007, Surf Media was bought by Jane and Greg Ingham, and relaunched as MediaClash. Jane and

Greg wanted to revitalise the magazine, so we introduced all the new lifestyle features and sections – food, shopping, arts, interiors, local profiles, social diaries – which still form the framework of the magazine today. In November that same year, we took the bold step of taking the magazine fortnightly – coincidentally, in the same week as the Bath’s main local newspaper went from daily to weekly. Print, dead? Sorry; we didn’t get that memo…

Deri and friends: Michael Caine, John Cleese (and cat), Caitlin Moran. She’s always been rather partial to a little topless number too…

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“Print, dead? Sorry, we didn’t get that memo” Creatively, the most exciting change came in August 2008. That was when we brought in designer Trev Gilham

to give the magazine a fresh new look. We finally ditched the ‘house on the front of every issue’ rule, and wowed our readers with a fluorescent pink cover featuring a dayglo Bladud’s pig. Trev still designs every one of our covers, and never fails to amaze me with his endless ingenuity. Over the years I added more tweaks. We brought in columnists of the calibre of David Flatman, and getting Nic Bottomley to write his regular book column was an especially happy decision.

I remember one ‘get-in’ moment shortly after we’d done the redesign. Deirdre McSharry – an absolute

doyenne of magazine publishing, the first editor of Cosmopolitan UK and the woman who discovered Twiggy – rang me out of the blue one day and said, ‘Darling, this magazine is like Bath’s Vogue’. We were once shortlisted for a national award, too, which was quite exciting. Being charmed by Alan Bennett and Leslie ‘Ding Dong!’ Phillips, though doubtless in rather different ways…

Obviously, you never get blasé about fangirling over your heroes in face-to-face interviews. A cup of tea

with Alan Bennett at the back room of Toppings. David Attenborough talking about his incredible career. Jamie Oliver giving me his special recipe for polenta chips. A

hilarious selfie with Caitlin Moran (hard to say who looked the worst). Being seated next to Sir Peter Hall at dinner at the Royal Crescent Hotel, and then arranging to meet him for coffee the next morning for some entirely unprintable gossip about the English theatre establishment. Wangling a visit to the house of Tony Head, simply because I’d loved him in Buffy, but ending up being even more bewitched by his partner Sarah Fisher, who does magical healing work with animals. Drinks with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart after Godot at Theatre Royal Bath. Sharing a sofa with Michael Caine in a room at The Olive Tree for an hour, while his vigilant PR frowned, tapped her watch and indicated all the books he had to sign before his talk at The Forum. (How Topping & Company managed to swing that exclusive bit of access for me I’ll never know, but I’ll be eternally grateful. The Topping name is an absolute celebrity magnet, and the bookshop’s been an amazing asset for this city.) When you work on a local magazine you’re given the keys to the city. That’s an extraordinary privilege. The

other great moment comes every two weeks on Bath Life, with new-issue day. I still love it when the boxes of shiny, freshly-printed copies arrive at the office, usually on a Friday morning. Never gets old.

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“I loved that it consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone”

THE KATE AUTHERS YEARS 2012-2017 Kate worked on Bath Life, on and off, from 2006, and was editor from 2012-2017

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When I started on Bath Life as an assistant editor, there was a house on every cover. It was

2006, I’d just arrived in the city, and it was still predominantly a property magazine. With all those Georgian townhouses on the front, it wasn’t always obvious to readers when a new issue was out! I liked fashion back then – still do – and getting in touch to suggest that what was then called Surf Media might perhaps like to consider adding some fashion pages to the mix, which they did, turned out to be one of my best decisions. I worked on or around Bath Life for almost ten years,

with four-and-a-half of those as editor. And over that time, the magazine has become virtually unrecognisable from the old days. The property crash meant diversifying – we’d have more food, more lifestyle, more interiors, more business coverage and yes, more fashion – and I hope I left the magazine as a vibrant celebration of all that’s great about Bath. There are certainly now plenty more of my favourite things within its pages. Maybe it was just me, but the city, too, felt like an even more creative and interesting place to be by

Kate always rocked a good frock: at a Bath Life Awards bash, and (from top, on left) with Williams, Blahnik and Hom

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the time I left the magazine. We had more festivals, more arts events, more pop-ups and more cool brands turning up, and the down-from-London crowd and global businesses kept moving in. Interviewing Manolo Blahnik, the great shoe-maker

and Bath resident, was one of my highlights of working on Bath Life. It was in a church, ahead of a Toppings event, while being filmed for a Netflix documentary about his life, The Boy Who Made Shoes For Lizards. It was all a bit of a happy coincidence, but sharing airtime with the likes of Anna Wintour, André Leon Talley and Rihanna in that doc is still surreal, and will alway make me smile. But there are more things I loved. Having tea with Biba More fun: rocking a ’40s look, with columnist Flats, chatting with the late Antonio Carluccio, and in one of Bath’s famous hot air balloons, floating high over the city

founder Barbara Hulanicki – the trademark sunglasses stayed on inside, and she said she liked my dress. Staying at Claridge’s in London – it was something to do with Bath Life, honestly – and having the opportunity to sashay across the iconic chequered floor in the lobby. Interviewing the design director of Cutler and Gross, Marie Wilkinson, on stage for a Bath in Fashion event. I’m terrified of public speaking, but there was something about her softly spoken manner – and the fact she shared a first name with my mum – that instantly

put me at ease. Getting to meet so many of the celebrity chefs I’ve loved for years: Nigella, Ken Hom, Rick Stein, Antonio Carluccio, Genaro Contaldo, Jamie Oliver… And, most of all, coming across so many inspiring local businesses and the people behind them, many of whom I’m fortunate to count as firm friends today. The people are one of the greatest things about this city, and this magazine. Knowing about everything that was

going on in Bath, and getting the opportunity to do so many ‘a million girls would kill for this job’ cool things was, well, pretty cool. And I loved that it consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone. The fortnightly deadline could get a bit much, though…

One thing I hated was the celebrity interviews that got away. It was always annoying when someone interesting was

coming to town, but their schedules didn’t quite work with our print deadlines, but I’ll still always look back on the ‘Bath Life years’ as ones of incredible opportunity. And for a small city, it’s incredible how there are always new things to do – or old ones you somehow haven’t tried. As a resident of 13 years, it’s probably time I ticked off the Jane Austen Centre, wild swimming and a match at Bath City FC…

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THE LISA EVANS YEARS 2017Lisa Evans is the incumbent editor, currently away on maternity leave but returning to the magazine in the spring 34 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I’d known about Bath Life years before I worked on it. When I

wrote for a magazine in Swansea, before I’d ever even set foot in Bath, my boss used to regularly plonk a Bath Life on my desk and say, “Like that. Do it like that”. So it’s been a publication I’ve respected for a long time. It’s a huge – and, I’d say, integral – part of the city, so the fact that I’m able to call myself its editor often seems surreal. When I landed the job a few years ago, it was a

Helen-Rich-winning-a-Bath-Life-Award moment for me (if you know, you know). I feel very lucky. When I ﬁ rst started reading the magazine, I realised it had real ﬁ ngeron-the-pulse freshness; it was sophisticated, but with a cool, witty edge. And, hopefully, it still is. Of course, I’ve added my own tweaks, but my aim was always to keep the essence intact, and not to disturb Bath Life’s connection to everything that’s important, fun and intriguing in the city. There are more voices in the magazine now. We’ve got quite a few columnists and endless interviewees – I counted

Lisa comes over all Ghost at the pottery wheel, and chills at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa; she didn’t get to paint a Bath owl (top), but she wanted to

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how many were in a random issue recently, and there were 65, so we certainly don’t skimp on involving people. The media landscape in Bath has also changed over recent years, so I’m proud that Bath Life is one of the publications still thriving, and still has its HQ in the city. The city has changed over the last few years too.

Sadly, some great independent shops and restaurants have closed, but more are constantly popping up, and there are exciting times ahead. There’s been plenty of cultural growth too, such as the expansion of Bath Carnival and Bath Festivals.

I’ve had palpitations meeting, interviewing and, sometimes, even simply being in the same room as some properly talented people. People like Ricky

Gervais and Gabrielle Aplin, Amanda Abbington and David Walliams. And during my so-far relatively brief time in Bath, some of my biggest life moments have happened: I bought my first house, got married, and had a baby. (Props to the RUH for that.) My favourite thing about working on the mag? The

food: is there a better city to live in if you’re a foodie? My job has allowed me a city-wide culinary journey; the restaurant reviews are a serious highlight.

I could do without Bath’s traffic, its pasty-stealing gulls and the pollution. But the number one thing I’d like

Fun at Smoked & Uncut at the Pig near Bath: one of seemingly dozens of new festivals that have cropped up during the Lisa years

“The fact that I’m able to call myself its editor often feels surreal”

to see eradicated is the inequality here. In our extremely affluent city, one in five children lives in poverty – a shocking statistic. Shamefully, I’ve never walked the Skyline. But I’ve

almost seen enough Instagram pictures of the views to force me to stop being lazy.

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COVER STORIES Bath Life comes out quite often – you may have noticed – so it eats up cover ideas, and over the years certain themes have started to emerge. Here are a few you may have spotted… ART

We love a fancy piece of art on the front (even, occasionally, on issues with hardly any arts coverage inside), whatever it may be. Some of these you’ll like, some you may hate, but you’ll notice them all…

BIG NAME STARS

Great actors – often household names – regularly rock up at Theatre Royal, and we’ll snag an interview if we can. But comedians play Komedia and elsewhere too, and there are musicians and sports stars and more; occasionally one of two will hang around of a while. We still remember getting our hair cut next to Charlton Heston, eating a table away from John Cleese, and regularly putting our bins out alongside Nicholas Cage…

DOGS

We love a dog. We figure few people hate them. So if we can think of a reason to put one on the front, we will…

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EVENTS

Festivals, competitions, our own Bath Life Awards: there’s always something interesting going on in town. Quite often, we’ll put it on the cover.

FASHION

Sometimes, we put on our glad rags. (We never look as good as the folk on the front of the mag – especially not David Downton’s willowy lasses – but we try…)

FOOD

We don’t run as many food covers as we used to (not least since the launch of sister magazine Crumbs, seven years ago), but maybe we should. Looking at these has got our saliva glands working overtime…

GRAPHIC

Pow! Sometimes just a few well-chosen words, and perhaps a pretty shape or two, is all it needs.

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ISSUE 400 INTERIORS

Bath Life started out as a property mag, and we still love a snoop around someone’s gaff, or a how-toupdate-your house piece.

LOCAL HEROES

What’s better than a visiting star? A local girl or boy made good. Some, like Jamie Cullem or Gabrielle Aplin, become properly internationally famous; others are more local celebrities in their own town. We don’t pick favourites, but love them all.

PATTERNS

Some of the prettiest, most successful Bath Life covers are pretty basic: just an amazing piece of wallpaper or fabric, or some simple interior design item repeated again and again.

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POSTERISED

When Bath Life began its modern incarnation, back in 2008, and started putting people on the covers, everything changed. But for reasons practical (the images used weren’t always as high quality as we’d have liked them to be) and philosophical (the sort of posh-punk MediaClash vibe), we tended to mess around with them a little, punching up the colours, drawing all over their faces, or posterising them, Andy Warhol style. And we still do, occasionally – not because we have to any more, but just because we can…

SHOPPING

One of the great things about the vibrant Bath economy is that our high street is more resilient than most, and still packed with cool independents – big and small – alongside the high street names. We love to celebrate them on the regular, and have found plenty of different ways to do it…

WEIRD

There’s no way to define these ones: some of them are pieces of artwork, but not all of them. What they have in common, though, is that while it’s not always clear what they’re all about, you can’t help looking at them anyway…

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MORE TALES OF THE CITY Did you like the stuff on pages 28 and 29? Here’s the slightly disappointing sequel 40 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ART

Bath is built on art: the buildings (heck, the whole skeleton of the city) are a form of it, and over the years it’s hosted painters by the score – Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Peter Blake, Sir Thomas Lawrence and Peter ‘Pete the Street’ Brown – and other creative types too. There are actors (Andrew Lincoln, Anthony Head, Leo McKern; occasionally a John Cleese or Nicholas Cage) and comedians (Russell Howard and Bill Bailey), heroes of fashion (Manolo Blahnik) and film (Ken Loach), and writers galore. (As well as Jane Austen, we’re talking Jacqueline Wilson and Mary Shelley, and frequent visitors like Henry Fielding and Charles Darwin.) This is a city that’s alive with creativity of every stripe – on a smaller scale, it heaves with talented creator-makers too – and this buzz is part of what makes it so worth living here. We love, love, love a bit of art, like these great pieces by (clockwise) emerging talent Erica Timothy, Bath-based fashion graduate Mo Adams, and Mike Mawson

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FOOD

Bath is awash with amazing food from (clockwise from top) The Scallop Shell, Corkage, The Olive Tree and Sweet Little Things, while – over on the right – we have some of the faces of Bath we’ve interviewed in recent years, from Eboni Usoro-Brown through Joe Cussens and Raymond Blanc (just visiting!) to Athena Cauley-Yu

Bath has long punched well above its weight in terms of food: there may be only one Michelin star (The Olive Tree, of course) in the city, and a few others just outside, but damn, there are plenty of ﬁne restaurants, some quite new (the likes of Corkage and The Scallop Shell have been quite the hit in recent years) and others well established. (We review one on page 110 this issue. Can you guess which?) Partly, it’s because Bath has so many people passing through. Partly, it’s because it’s such a pleasant place to be, so attracts quality chefs. And partly, it’s because there’s so much cool produce right here on our doorstep. Restaurants – and cafés and pubs, come to that – are a tough old business but an exciting one, and the fact we have so many good ones is to the great credit of the guys in the industry. Amongst the best meals we’ve ever had in Bath lately have been at Menu Gordon Jones and at Castle Farm Café up at Midford, but we’ve fond memories of the greats of the past – Allium, Beaujolais, Blunos, The Hole in the Wall, Le Petit Cochon, Lettonie, The Moody Goose, The Moon and Sixpence, Popjoys, Vitos, and so many more – too.

INTERVIEWS

We don’t just talk to the internationally-known great and the good, but celebrate those local heroes who make Bath such an exciting, fun, and occasionally somewhat oddball place to be too. Everyone has a book in them, they say – it’s nonsense, but they do say it – and they certainly have an interview. They might be an sports star like Team Bath’s Eboni Usoro-Brown (née Beckford-Chambers) or someone running a successful foodie outﬁt like Joe Cussens of Bath Pub Company, a local professional with international clout such as architect Andrew Grant or a clever craftswoman like Athena Cauley-Yu of Walcot Street’s Meticulous Ink, but they’ve always got something interesting to say – and invariably give us new insight into how this city works. What makes a place? Ultimately, of course, it’s the people, and the more of them we can connect with, the better. Bath is blessed with a huge number of genuinely fascinating folk, and here’s to talking with plenty more of them in the months and years to come…

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The Guildhall Your idea, our venue, the event of the year

Maybe you have attended a wedding in our grand Banqueting Room, or had the joy of registering your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birth in our Georgian building. But were you aware that the Guildhall has hosted book talks, gin festivals and film screenings to name a few of our diverse events? The Guildhall has four picturesque rooms, is only a ten minute walk from the Bath Spa train station and is the only heritage venue in Bath where you can select a caterer of your choice. If you are searching for a venue to hold your unique event then come to the High Street for a new experience. To book a viewing or to find out more contact Sara Brooks, Events Manager, at sara_brooks@bathnes.gov.uk â&#x20AC;˘ 01225 477442

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Don’t you just hate being put on the spot? One writer of the future at the Children’s Lit fest (p72); BELOW: Essential gym kit (p124)

e all know what can be unpleasant, demotivating, intimidating or just plain wrong about gyms, and Bath is currently full – and getting fuller – with gyms that say they know what’s wrong about gyms too. And have a new way of doing things to fix it. They might even be right – and if you’re a gym bunny type, you’ll have fun trying them all and finding out. But what if you’re not? What if the idea of visiting the gym fills you with dread? Fact is, you’re probably going to have to get over it. Even if – like me – you sit at a desk most of the time, you need to do at least a little exercise, just to keep everything working properly. For instance, think about what you do all day, whether it’s pulling on your jeans or petting the dog or typing, like I’m doing now. It involves bending forwards. And that ain’t good for the back – so every hour or so, stand up, lean back, throw your hands behind your head and stretch for a moment. You’ll open your chest and pull yourself back upright. Of course, the guys at the gym – any one of them, whichever you choose – will give you much more (and doubtless infinitely better) advice than that. And they really aren’t intimidating places any more. Hopefully, this issue we’ll help you decide which one you want to try first (page 153). Elsewhere in these pages, we look at the area’s best schools (page 128), and connect with our inner bookworms at the upcoming Bath Children’s Literature Festival (page 72). Oh yes, and then there’s that bumper issue 400 thing. (But if you’ve got this far into the mag, you’ve probably already seen it; hope it brought back a few memories.) This my last issue as fill-in editor for Lisa Evans, currently on maternity leave but back in the spring. Next issue the baton is picked up by Harriet Noble, who you may remember as deputy editor in these parts not long ago. You’ll be in safe hands, but in the meantime, thanks for reading. I’ve had a ball editing Bath Life for my short stint, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it too.

MATT BIELBY Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 49

Issue 400 / 13 – 27 September 2019 COVER Piece from The Blue Hour collection by Jean-Baptise Besançon, at Francis Gallery; francisgallery.co

400TH ISSUE

25 THE BATH LIFE YEARS Flick backwards 24 pages for

the start of our nostalgia-fest

CHILDREN’S LIT FEST

72 MEET THE AUTHOR Sophie Dahl, Patrice Lawrence,

Holly Bourne and top illustrator Ben Court bare their beautiful bookish souls at Bath Children’s Lit Festival

THE ARTS 83 84 86 97

ARTS INTRO Life in black and white BOYZLIFE Brian and Keith are coming to Komedia WHAT’S ON Art, drama, comedy and festivals galore BOOKS Does reading a book on holiday make it better?

Nic thinks it probably does

99 FILM Catch Fleabag on NT Live 102 THEATRE Anna reflects on what 400 issues worth of

change looks like at the Theatre Royal

FOOD&DRINK

107 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Foie gras no more 108 TRY 5 The best spots to grab a cake and a brew 110 RESTAURANT The Circus: small but perfectly formed

SHOPPING

123 INTRO The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers... 124 EDITOR’S CHOICE Sporty spice

128

153

LIFESTYLE

65 INSIDE STORY The grown up children’s bedroom 153 HEALTH CLUBS & GYMS With Bath’s recent bulk up

on the gym front, we visit some favourites, old and new

EDUCATION

128 BACK TO SCHOOL All the academics, extra-curriculars

and community-building that makes Bath schools great

BUSINESS

173 BATHWORKS Learn to code, sponsor a film festival,

build a house – what busy bees we are!

PROPERTY

187 SHOWCASE Penthouse serenade

DEPARTMENTS 53 57 63 202

SPOTLIGHT SOCIETY A MAN’S WORLD BATH LIVES

Editor Matt Bielby matt.bielby@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Editor Lydia Tewkesbury lydia.tewkesbury@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash. co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Editor’s Photo Damon Charles Contributors Nic Bottomley, David Flatman, Paul Marland, Philippa May, Harriet Noble, Anna O’Callaghan, Kathryn Riley, Matilda Walton and Imogen Wilde Group Advertising Manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager Polly Jackson polly.jackson@mediaclash.co.uk Account Manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Louis Grey louis.grey@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@ mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production Designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of 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 and Exeter. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). 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

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

SPOTLIGHT Festival

21ST CENTURY SPA Is Bath doing much for your mental wellbeing? According to the minds behind the Therapeutic City Festival, running from 20-27 September, it should be. Through a week of walks, talks and activities in and around Bath, the festival will attempt to answer the question: how can we make a city that’s good for body, mind and soul? Wellbeing is in Bath’s blood, after all. We all know about the thermal waters, but did you know that 18th and 19th century visitors also came to the city for a bit of spiritual

enlightenment? Back in the day this was a place of radical ideas, thought and debate. It’s more this side of the ye olde spa experience that the festival will attempt to emulate, with a blend of wellness activities – like a guided walk with a chat about how we interact with natural and built spaces – and a series of relaxed but rigorous debates about how we might shape a therapeutic and healthy city. The festival is organised by Architecture Is, the brains behind the 2017 Festival of the Future City.

BEST OF THE FEST

20 September: Therapeutic City Festival launch, 6-8pm, the Guildhall It begins with a PechaKucha – in other words, a short but sweet presentation format, where the speaker shows 20 images, each for 20 seconds. Apparently this stops architects from talking too much – and will give us insights into the past, present and future of Bath as a spa city. 21-22 September: LOVE Milsom Street A range of creative activities, explorations and exercises take over Milsom Street. 27 September: Therapeutic City Conference, 9am-5pm, Apex Hotel Policymakers, designers and developers explore how a city can support wellbeing. www.therapeuticity.org

E-bikes: the smart way to get about

Cycle September

ON YER BIKE Time to hop in the saddle and get peddling – there’s 50 per cent off e-bike hire in Frome. The offer, which allows you to rent a bike for an entire day for only £5, is perfect for anyone curious about alternatives to car travel. Electric power-assisted bicycles make cycling much easier (and less sweaty) that the regular deal, and offer a great way to save both money and the environment. For more: www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/ebikes; use code CYCLESEPTEMBER at check out

Check out these shots from some of Emily’s former students: not bad, eh?

What do we want? More wellness, please!

Photography course

GET SNAPPING

Want to up your Instagram game? Pro-snapper Emily Middleton is bringing her seven-week photography course to Bath for the first time. Learn the tricks of the trade, unlock your artistic soul and finally take your fancy camera off auto, thanks to Emily’s tricks of the trade. Classes start on 24 September for seven weeks, and cost £115. It all takes place at Nexus Methodist Church in Walcot, Bath. For more: Visit Emily’s Art & Photography Courses on Facebook, or email emilyartandphotography@gmail.com

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SPOTLIGHT Open studios

HIGH ART

So, how well are Bathonians coping with the climate emergency?

The Bath Artists Studios lot are throwing open their doors to the public for the always popular Open Studios event. The Open Studios, which falls on the last weekend of September, kicks off with a party on the Friday night, the soundtrack provided by Drum Machine and DJ Eddie Boy. In addition to the music, expect beverages a-plenty, spectacular plant-based food from Bernard’s Kitchen, and (the main events of the night) exhibitions, plus a chance to meet the artists. Throughout the weekend the studios will be open from 11am until 5pm for further opportunities to nose around, as well as workshops with Lorna Bode and Victoria Topping for members of the public hoping to flex artistic muscles. For more: www.bathartistsstudios.co.uk We weren’t kidding about the beverages

Climate emergency

STRONG FEELINGS Birthday

WOODWORKS TURNS FIVE

Bath and North East Somerset-based charity Woodworks is celebrating its fifth birthday, a half-decade of pushing traditional woodworking and upholstery skills as a way to empower people, giving them some purpose in life, as well as providing them with fun and useful new skills. These guys support people over the age of 18 who are experiencing difficulties with their mental or physical health, as well as those with a history of addiction. They’re inviting everyone to join their b-day celebrations too, with a competition on their social media. Submit a photo of a craft project that has helped improve your wellbeing on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by tagging it #woodworksturns5 before 21 September to be in for a chance of winning a pair of Bath Balloons hot air balloon tickets, courtesy of Bath Building Society. For more: www.thewoodworksproject.com

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

Woodworks helps people find a purpose in life

As you probably noticed if you ever frequent the high street, Greenpeace volunteers have been out in full force lately, interviewing Bath residents and collating data detailing the general feeling about the climate emergency. And, like most places, Bath doesn’t feel great. According to the Greenpeace guys, most of those they interviewed want more done from the government to tackle the problem. “We need to take urgent action on the climate emergency,” says Gill, a volunteer with Greenpeace Bath group who lives in Oldfield Park. “The overwhelming majority of residents we spoke to here in Bath – 82 per cent of them – are noticing the local impact of climate change, such as extreme weather and the loss to local biodiversity.” Fortunately, amongst the 132 people they spoke with they found a lot of people already taking action in their own lives – from driving less to cutting down on meat consumption or installing solar panels – but generally agreed that it’s the job of the government to lead the way to a solution, even if we have to make lifestyle sacrifices along the way. For more: www.greenpeace.org.uk

SCENE T H E L AT E S T A DV E N T U R E S I N PA R T Y- GO I N G AC ROSS BAT H

Chrissie Clyne

Genevieve Rose

John Rose and Emma Rose

Justine Baxter

Joe Sell Louise Rushford and Ayca Wheating

LA VIE EN ROSE

David Newton and Dr Banafshe Larijani

Guests gathered at Emma Rose’s Walcot Street Gallery to say goodbye to the premises after ﬁve happy years. On a particularly sultry night, friends and clients rubbed shoulders, chatting about past exhibitions and discussed Emma’s future plans. Artist Emma will now be based full time out at The Art Studio in Wellow, a mere six miles from Bath City Centre. You are guaranteed a warm welcome should you pop in sometime, she says. www.emmaroseartworks.com

John Wright and Davina Judy Wright

Jules Lowrie

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SOCIETY

Penny Vernon and Tobias Vernon

Benjamin and Catarina Riccabonna, and Florence Saumerez

Ollie Adlam-Saunders and Nadia Selm

BIG IN JAPAN

Artists and art enthusiasts gathered at 8 Holland Street for the private view of their exciting Art of Boro exhibition, which ends on 14 September. The shop on Margaret’s Buildings, sister store to the original London premises where the exhibition’s rocking up next, was ﬁlled with striking Japanese Boro textiles – it means ‘tattered’ or ‘repaired’, and informs the contemporary trend for distressed items – from the collection of art and antiques dealer Gordon Reece. The works were shown alongside contemporary pieces by Catarina Riccabona and Abigail Booth of Forest + Found, who were also in attendance on the launch night, along with the team from 8 Holland Street London. www.8hollandstreet.com Richard JS Young

Photos by Nick Cole

Chris Hill and Carrie Hill Doug Whitelaw, Kate Clark and Camilla Johns

Enjoying the art – and a few drinks Sally Kite and Jane Kite

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

John Eaton and Jane Eaton

Hannah Battershell, Becky Hoghton and Chloe Edwards

SOCIETY

Rosie Phillips, founder and chief executive of DHI

Zoe Newton

FUNDRAISING SUCCESS

Eddie Illic hosted a fundraiser event for Eddie’s Street Cuts, his voluntary initiative to support people who are homeless or struggling with addiction, at Boston Tea Party in Alfred Street. Eddie and his volunteers give free hair cuts while spreading a vital message of hope and recovery. A charity raﬄe raised £567, with a whole range of lovely prizes donated from people in the local community, while an additional £700 was raised through the auction of a holiday at a villa in Spain. “A special thank you goes to Rosie from DHI and Jimmy from Sporting Family Change for sharing with us their worthy causes,” Eddie says, “and, of course, the support they have provided to help Eddie’s Street Cuts move forward with its goals. Working alongside so many worthy causes is a privilege. I am learning so much – more than I ever dreamed, in fact – on this journey.” @eddiestreetcuts on Facebook Eddie Illic and Phil Thompson

Photos by Jay Taylor

Topaz the dog

Helen Mulloy Reid and Olivia

Jimmy Deane of Sporting Family Change

Julie settling the bids for the villa in Spain 60 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Handing out raffle prizes

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马生拍卖

Items coming up in our September 19th sale – Catalogue online via www.masanauction.com

Ma San Auction in Bath

S P E C I A L I S I N G I N C H I N E S E A N D A S I A N WO R K S O F A R T A Large Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse. Est. £4000-5000

A Nest of Genuine Fossilised Dinosaur Eggs – Hardosaur. Est. £600-800

A Blue and White Porcelain Plaque in Hardwood Frame. Est. £400-600

g Acceptin nts e m n consig sian A for our mber e v o N t Ar le a S

A Kangxi Famille Verte Porcelain Teapot and Cover. Est. £400-600

A Kanxgi Famille Verte Biscuit Porcelain Figure of Immortal. Est. £200-400

A Large Multiple Trilobite Fossil Plaque. Est. £2000-3000

Free valuations and home visits • Over 30 years experience • Competitive commission rates Direct contacts in Hong Kong and China • Sales every two months 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED

www.masanauction.com

Tel. 01225 318587

A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

Lord gym

Flats loves the gym, and he hates the gym. In this, we suspect, he’s pretty much like us all…

“In every gym exists personality types – some are best avoided”

hat’s the thing with gyms: they’re all so boring and full of meatheads and posers and wannabe He-Men and failed athletes who are seemingly training for their own office Olympics. Everybody’s always grunting and flexing and body shaming the rest of us, and all the girls are fully made-up and all the boys have altogether-too-perfect facial hair. They’re all just such loathsome spaces. Except when they’re not. Or, more pertinently, except when one enters them with the right mindset. Now, in every gym in the world exists the same handful of personality types. Some are best avoided, and some are worth the occasional removal of a wireless headphone for a ‘how’s your summer been?’ chat. There are the blokes (it’s always blokes; women don’t seem to fit this category) who view their gym sessions as social occasions, and stand chatting for eons between working sets, seemingly with no place else to ever be again. I congratulate these chaps on how little they clearly have to work during the week, but I do not want to be in their gang. Then, naturally, there are the members whose role it is to show the rest of us what perfection looks like. They wear very little clothing, but all of it is either Lululemon (lovely gear, but I just cannot compute spending a hundred quid on a T-shirt then slamming filthy dumbbells onto it while I leak sweat like a Balinese goat herder) or one of those brands that pops up on your Instagram feed between Pimple Poppers and Land Rover Love (just me? Okay). To a point, one has to respect these people, as physiques like theirs can’t be stolen; they take a huge amount

of work. But that doesn’t mean I don’t look at them and assume that their dinner parties aren’t as fun as mine. I could be wrong, but I bet I’m not. The next two groups are my favourites. The first group of gymmers I admire are those folks so clearly out of shape that their mere attendance tells you that they are trying to change things in their lives, trying to improve things. I love that, and always find their efforts inspiring. And the oldies. I love the oldies. If you want to keep moving, as my late grandmother once said, then all you have to do is keep moving. She made a good point and, to this end, gyms can be wonderful places. I used to attend Crossfit Bath a lot, but my schedules have changed totally so the timings don’t currently work for me. This saddens me, as that place has such a lovely, inclusive, uncomplicated vibe. My mum is 70, and I’d happily recommend it to her. All they need is a building in central Bath to call their own (it staggers me that they’re so hard to find) and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. As it is, I use other places with the chin-strapped chatters and the scantily clad six-packers and, do you know what, it’s just fine. Don’t be intimidated, and don’t make the mistake of thinking gyms aren’t for you. There are 858 new gyms in Bath now, and all of them will make you feel welcome and, ultimately, healthier. Sadly, there doesn’t yet appear to be one that can guarantee that my abdominal muscles will be visible for fifty quid a month.

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

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INSIDE STORY PHILIPPA MAY

Bugs galore at Graham and Green

CHILD’S PLAY Children’s rooms can be both exciting and stylish, says Philippa, if you give them a fun twist on adult style – and remember to reserve a corner just for you

’m stepping into new territory here, but as you get older there comes a time when all of your friends suddenly start having babies. I’m now surrounded by new or expecting mums, and one of the main topics of conversation of late has been decorating a kid’s rooms so it still fits with your style, and with the vibe of the rest of the house. It got me thinking about what Bath has to offer, and it turns out there are some amazing places to deck out a room for your favourite little bundle. When it comes to decorating for children, it makes sense not to stray too far from your own tastes, especially until they’re older – the time will come, of course, when they’ll want to change it to suit their own style anyway. That said, though, there’s definitely an opportunity to be a bit braver and bolder that normal; after all, a kid’s room should inspire the imagination, and be anything but dull. It’s important to make the space feel magical for them – of course – but for you, too. That way, spending time in there, with them, will be as enjoyable as spending

“After all, a kid’s room should inspire the imagination, and be anything but dull”

time in the rest of the house. Gone are the days when all furnishings for kids were twee or emblazoned with cartoon characters and, with some amazing independents in Bath, there are some special finds to be had. If there’s one place I’d always start my hunt for cool kids’ stuff, it has to be Spotty Herberts on Queen Street, where children are welcome and playfulness is encouraged. This Aladdin’s cave for children is overflowing with not just clothes but also beautifully sourced toys, all of them warm, nostalgic yet cool, and perfect for the modern kids’ room. And if you pay on the Pixie app, you’ll be earning yourself a deserved coffee at the same time… In fact, Bath is brimming with hidden pieces worth picking up to help curate a kid’s palace, and not just from the typical children’s stores. My personal favourite idea is to go down a themed route, but with a grown up twist. The wild safari-scape is always a safe bet – we all love animals, and it’s easy to mix and match for total freedom. Go seek out French Grey’s framed safari prints for an authentic-feeling take on the safari trend – I certainly prefer them to those stuffed animal heads, which look like you’ve executed your favourite characters. You could even mix them up with prints of birds, butterflies, beetles or magnolia flowers from Graham and Green to add big and bold grown-up colour to the room.

All kid’s rooms need a storage basket – a place where you can dump the dirty clothes quickly in a frenzied tidy when guests are coming over. Anthropologie has a whole collection of décor pieces perfect for kids’ rooms made of rattan or wood that mean there’s no chance of nasty breakages. Keep the safari style going with their bamboo storage basket, a classic that you’ll love anywhere in the house, and which can be pressed into all sorts of uses. Turned upside down, the kids will have endless fun sitting under it and pretending to be caged animals… To top it all off, there has to be a corner for you. Sit back and watch them play with the Hendrick armchair in cashew baylee linen from Sofa.com. Its modern yet timeless style is comfy and minimal and lends itself perfectly to a safari supper. This chair would feel at home anywhere, but with its solid arms and plump cushions it will make the perfect recliner for sitting back with a hot cup of tea, ready for a bedtime story. (You’ll have to do the reading, unfortunately, but if you make sure to grab the book from Toppings, there are more Pixie points to be had that could even equate to a free glass of wine. After all, you need a treat too.) Philippa May is an interiors enthusiast and the head of marketing for the Bath-based accessory label Abbott Lyon. Follow her on Instagram @_philippamay_ www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 65

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children’s lit fest

CITY OF BOOKS

By Lydia Tewkesbury

by books, so it’s always exciting to meet some of those magical author creatures, who created the fictional universes I was, and am, so enamoured by. Even as a (mostly) grown up, I still get a thrill being in the room with the brains behind my favourite stories. There’s plenty of opportunity for that this month, as the Bath Children’s Literature Festival blows into town. With a mix of names writing across the age and subject spectrum, there’s sure to be something on the programme to intrigue even the most reluctant young reader. We sat down with a smattering of the authors and illustrators taking part to find out what’s in store…

t’s the books we read as children that stick with us the most, I think. I can still remember escaping into The Magic Faraway Tree as a child – reading by a sneaky torch under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping, of course – with The Saucepan Man, Mr. Watzisname and Moon-Face for company. I’m of the generation that will never stop waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter – or consider boarding schools in general to be anything other than full of orphans having paranormal experiences. Indeed, it’s safe to say a lot of my worldview has been shaped

What’s in store at this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival? Let’s find out, eh?

It’s time to get happily lost in a book – and meet our fave authors

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“Even as a (mostly) grown up, I still get a thrill being in the room with the brains behind my favourite stories”

Sophie Dahl was understandably nervous about her first children’s book

THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION SOPHIE DAHL explains how she finally got around to writing a children’s book So, Sophie, where did you get your inspiration for Madame Badobedah?

My grandmother lived on the Sussex coast, and in my head I saw Mabel walking on a shingle beach with her bare feet and her fishing net, going home to a tumble down B&B, full of secrets. Then an enigmatic old lady, surrounded by trunks – unappealing to grownups but catnip to a child – walking into the B&B. I’m always interested in people’s back story, how they end up where they are and how, much of the time, we don’t know half of what people have lived. That was the impetus for Madame Badobedah herself. I’m a geek about vintage wallpaper, dressing tables and perfume bottles, so all of those things became part of the fabric of Madame B too. As a child I was a fiend for the idea of secret passages leading to magical lands, and so I couldn’t have a story without a magical land. Was Mabel’s character inspired by anyone?

I was an only child till I was seven. I was very nosy and loved detective books – Emil and the Detective, Harriet the Spy – and was convinced there were secret passages lurking at every corner. Mabel’s adventuring and pragmatic nature is all my daughters! What made you want to write a children’s book?

Because of the Dahl mantle, I’d sworn never to touch children’s books and wrote about food and grown-up fiction. Then I had children and was reading all of those books I loved as a child, and it felt like a totally natural (albeit terrifying) trajectory. I guess if I was going to think too deeply about my grandfather’s legacy, I’d never leave my bedroom and lie rocking in my bed and staring at the wall, so I rolled my sleeves up and just got on with it. Were you inspired by your own children?

As a parent to a six and eight year old, we spend a lot of time reading. I got to re-read all the classics from my childhood and my siblings’ childhoods – long form picture books like Miss Rumphius, Make Way for Ducklings, Madeline, We’re Going On a Bear Hunt, Owl Babies, Five Minutes Peace and the rest. Through my kids I’ve discovered exciting contemporary authors like Jessica Love, Polly Dunbar, Laura Dockrill and Sonya Hartnett. Now we’re on to longer form fiction, Astrid Lindgren, Joan Aitken, David Walliams and Chris Riddell. It’s a treat to rediscover and discover books through their eyes.

How did you come up with the name Madame Badobedah?

My step grandmother would say: ‘Who do you think you are, Madame Badobedah?’ and it’s stuck. I’d play a game of it with my kids where I was a mysterious old lady called Madame Badobedah and they could boss me around. Do you think adults will see a different layer to the story when reading it with their children?

Obviously there’s a pathos to her, she’s on her own – she’s escaped a war – she’s very vulnerable. But to Mabel she’s something else entirely and I love this, that to children, grownups are who they are then, and not their past. How did you find working with an illustrator on this book?

I loved working with Lauren: she intuited so much of what I saw in my head, but also made it perfectly her own. The illustrations

were both so familiar and so exciting. She’s supremely talented. In my head, Madame B was a mix of Auntie Mame and an elderly Eastern European Ava Gardner, with a bit of mine and my husband’s grandmother thrown in. Lauren nailed it. Finally, what were your favourite books to read as a child?

Ronia the Robber’s Daughter, The Brother’s Lionheart, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Goodnight, Mr Tom, the Ramona books – the list is endless.

Sophie Dahl presents her debut children’s book, Madame Badobedah 6 October; 11-11.45am; £7.50; Masonic Hall; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

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CHILDREN’S LIT FEST

“I wish there had been nuanced and complex characters in books when I was growing up”

Patrice Lawrence is bringing Malory Towers up to date

FINDING SOLACE IN BOOKS PATRICE LAWRENCE doesn’t shy away from tough topics What was it like to jump into the wellestablished world of Malory Towers?

I hadn’t read the Malory Towers books as a child so, perhaps, didn’t feel held back by childhood nostalgia. I was worried that I wouldn’t relate to the characters – there isn’t much for black feminists to grasp onto in children’s books of yore – but I read the books and enjoyed them. The characters are flawed and relatable and the school itself is like a film set, with all sorts of nooks and crannies to explore. What do you love about the Malory Towers world? What made you want to tell this story?

I loved the fact that this is about female friendship. As I’ve grown older, I’ve had so many reasons to admire the enduring strength of these friendships. At the Edinburgh Book Fair this year, my first ever best friends from when I was six surprised me by coming to my events. We hadn’t seen each other for more than 35 years, but I recognised them as soon as they introduced themselves and we were chatting away for ages. Those friendships are the backbone to your adult life and should be celebrated.

What does it mean to you to write Marietta, the first black character in Malory Towers?

For me, it’s impossible not to write a black character! I wish there’d been nuanced and complex black characters in books when I was growing up, so this was my tribute to all the black and mixed race girls who have been missing from this nation’s stories. Your novels tackle some pretty tough topics. Why is it important to you to write about young people navigating difficult situations?

I think we need all sorts of books, from those focusing on the tough stuff to those that are flat out funny. There are two reasons why my YA can be filed down the tougher end of the spectrum. Firstly, I worked in the charity sector for more than 20 years, including with families involved with social services and with the families of prisoners. I want to help push away the stereotypes and untangle the many stories underneath. I am also passionate about representation. On the surface, this means ethnicity, gender, sexuality, but for me it’s more than that. It’s about the young people who live in different types of family structure. It’s the young people who have experienced loss and bereavement but can’t tell anyone. It’s the young people who are moved from one place to another and have to work out the rules. I know how much comfort I have found in books and hope to give some of that back.

We’re talking a lot about diversity in publishing at the moment. Do you think we’re seeing much progress?

I think there are more YA books by writers of colour, but a significant number are from the US. I have been to a number of events in London where I am the only – or one of a very few – people who are not white. Although there are initiatives to support emerging writers and illustrators from under-represented backgrounds, the challenge is how all aspects of publishing – editors, marketing, PR, sales – become more diverse and share backgrounds with the writers whose books they produce and promote. In five years time, I hope we’re in the place where we want to be. Our guess is you’re going to have a lot of aspiring young authors in the audience at your festival talk. What do you have to say to them?

Take time to find your voice. The way you’re encouraged to write at school isn’t the way you have to write. Experiment. Read different genres and work out what you love/hate about them. Finally, keep everything you write because, when you look back, you’ll realise how good you were. Patrice Lawrence introduces the students in A New Class at Malory Towers 28 September; 12-12.45pm; £6.50; Guildhall; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

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CHILDREN’S LIT FEST

THERE’S ALWAYS TIME FOR TISSUES HOLLY BOURNE on reading, mental health and tackling issues in a way that young people can engage with Your new book, The Places I’ve Cried in Public (due out on 3 October), depicts the girls we have all seen, or been ourselves, silently crying with their face against a bus window, or wiping a tear away in a crowded classroom. Was Amelie’s experience of heartbreak inspired by a real-life story?

The book is not autobiographical, but I did get the idea for it while crying in public. Platform 13 of Clapham Junction train station, to be precise. I’d been having quite a time of it and ended up stranded there due to train strikes for an hour and a half, and just totally and utterly lost it. I’d wanted to tell a story about toxic love for quite a while, but was struggling with how to frame it. But on that very cold, snotty platform – the idea of linking it to crying in public came to me, and cheered me right up.

Did you start writing books dealing with world issues as a result of working to help young people as a relationship advisor?

My job as a relationship advisor was the most transformative job I’ve ever taken, and I learned so much from it. Not just about all the issues facing young people, but how to speak to teenagers in a way that lands, and helps them. I will always aspire to write novels that empower young people to make informed, healthy decisions about their lives, and that help them feel understood and less alone. Do you believe that reading can help our mental health?

Completely! And there’s a wealth of evidence to back me up. Reading helps your sleep, lowers your stress levels, helps build empathy both towards yourself and others... the list of its benefits is endless. There’s nothing more powerful than coming across a book that ‘gets it’. That said, there’s also the power of getting totally lost in a story that has nothing to do with your life and is just a fun way to escape.

That’s why I believe you should never judge anyone for what they’re reading. If they’re reading, and they’re enjoying it – I don’t care that it’s not Moby freakin’ Dick – shut up and let them get on with it. What they’re reading is great because they’re reading it. And finally, what are you writing about now?

I’m working on my next YA novel which is a story all about stories, and the legacy we leave behind at secondary school. Holly Bourne brings her new book, The Places I’ve Cried In Public, to audiences with a moving and insightful chat about romance, feminism and healthy relationships 29 September; 6-6.45pm; £7.50; Guildhall; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

And do we put too much hope in romantic love as the recipe for happiness?

I think there are so many different types of love, and we do tend to focus on romantic love as the big win. We can often not notice all the other ways we are loved, by our family and friends and pets, and hopefully, ultimately, by ourselves. With that said, however, humans are built for attachment, and romantic love is a hugely powerful force. I don’t think we should judge ourselves, or others, for focusing on it so much. When love’s done right it can be one of the best bits of the human experience. When it’s done wrong, however, it’s one of the worst. Which is what I wanted to explore in this book. Do you think that young people – broadly speaking, those aged 12 to 25 – these days are under more pressure than their parents’ generation were? And where do you think that pressure comes from?

I do think there are a lot of evergreen pressures facing young people that our parents faced – puberty, exam pressure, poverty, friendship issues, bullying, love problems, mental illness, etc. Lots of things aren’t new and the pain of these evergreen issues is often marginalised, which is unhelpful. The two new issues that I see hitting young people are particularly how all these evergreen problems are exacerbated through social media and the internet, and the huge concern of climate change.

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Holly Bourne draws on her experiences as a relationship advisor in her books

CHILDREN’S LIT FEST

CHILDREN LOVE UNDERPANTS

Ben Cort was always destined to be an artist. (Can you spot one of his underpants-loving creations?)

BEN CORT, illustrator behind the Aliens Love Underpants series, created with author Claire Freedman, gives us a glimpse into his creative world Have you always wanted to be an artist?

I come from a family where my dad was a professional artist and my brother and sister both went to an art college, so I think it was always slightly inevitable I’d become an artist of some sort. I didn’t start out doing children’s illustration, though, when I first left college I was doing much more sort of ‘grown up’ illustration, but I didn’t find that very inspiring. The subject matter I was getting offered was stuff about mortgages or pensions – a lot of editorial work was quite boring for me. I realised that, for me, doing picture books gave me much more scope to use my imagination. What’s the process of illustrating a children’s book?

I’ve illustrated over 90 books by now, and I’ve probably only met about five or six of the authors, so a lot of the time you don’t really have collaboration in the sense you’re sitting down together and working out ideas. Sometimes I’ll suggest changes, or other ideas might come into my head as I’m reading the text, but it’s a mixture. If I like a story, it’s usually because I like the words, so I should be able to find enough imagery in the text to be able to make a nice picture anyway. If someone has to sit there and explain to me, and write lots of notes about what they want illustrated, to some extent the text isn’t really doing its job anyway, because it should stand up in its own right. What do you think it is about the Underpants series, in particular, that caught everyone’s imaginations?

That’s a really good question because obviously, if I knew that, there’d be a formula I could just keep reapplying! I suppose it was quite an unusual book at the time, the funny, unique name – and it was just a really funny story. When I do events, I get kids coming up and they have lots of different reasons for liking it. Some like the detail, they like the colour, they like the funny rhymes, they like looking for different aliens hiding in stuff. It’s a mixture of all sorts of things, but I’d say it’s probably the humour more than anything. What’s it like seeing the books adapted for the screen and the stage?

The TV show was really interesting, because I was working on some of the designs of the

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“I never thought one day I’d see puppets based on my characters” characters. Obviously they’ve got the books as reference, but there were certain other things that they needed from me to animate them. It’s really strange seeing a 2D, 12-page book turn into a full animation. Just like with the stage show – some of the sets are based on my artwork, and Claire’s words are obviously in the rhymes and songs – but it’s just very strange seeing them in different formats. It’s amazing, really, when you see someone else’s approach to your work. I never thought when we were doing these books that one day I’d see people with puppets

based on my characters re-enacting certain scenes – it’s very strange. I love it, but it’s quite surreal at the time. Speaking of surreal, you illustrated Octopus Garden, the picture book of the Beatles song. What was that like?

It was a real challenge, but it really worked well as a 12-page double spread book. It naturally broke down into sections – a lot of songs probably wouldn’t do that, but each verse was like a page in its own right. I remember I had to go and meet Ringo with my publisher at the time, and I wasn’t so

CHILDREN’S LIT FEST Festival audiences are always full of aspiring young authors – and perhaps illustrators too, ready to emulate Ben Cort’s lively, detailed pictures (inset)

“I met Ringo Starr at the time... I was nervous that he wouldn’t like what I was doing” much nervous about meeting him, but I was nervous that he wouldn’t like what I was doing. I was actually really short of time at the time, and thinking, if he doesn’t like this, I’ve got to go back and come up with a load of new images, and it’s going to be really difficult – but he was really happy with it. It was really stressful in the sense that, once it was announced that this book was coming out, there are a lot of people who obviously love the Beatles, so there was a lot of interest in this book appearing. Normally I do a book, it comes out and there isn’t any pressure on me leading up to it, but that one I felt pressure – it was probably self-imposed. But it turned out really well, and I was really happy in the end. Who influences your artwork?

I’ve found a lot of different influences. When I started out, just based on children’s illustrators, there’s Janet Ahlberg – she’s very famous – who’s Alan Ahlberg’s wife. Unfortunately she’s no longer alive, but I absolutely loved her books. Mrs Wobble the Waitress and Burglar Bill and Cops and Robbers – they were lovely. Then, obviously, people like Tony Ross. Probably my favourite illustrator is an American comic book artist called Jack Kirby

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who created the Incredible Hulk, Captain America – all the major Marvel characters people know now from the films – he pretty much created all of those. I just love his really dynamic cartoon work in comics, so he was a massive influence. Growing up I used to love reading comics, and it’s probably again more the visual side than the stories. It’s the impact of the pictures on the page. In fact, a lot of my influences aren’t necessarily obvious in my work, but it’s stuff that interests me outside of my work – so it could be William Hogarth etchings or photographers like William Eggleston. There’s lots of people where I like certain aspects of the way they visually create pictures and maybe that even feeds into my work. I used to love The Smiths – well, I still do love The Smiths – but when you think about it, Morrissey liked The New York Dolls and all sorts of strange groups that don’t necessarily sound like the end result that he came out with. I think that’s the same thing visually with me – a lot of the things I like, I take them and feed them in, but it’s not that apparent in my actual artwork always. What are you working on now?

I’m going to be doing my own book where

I’m actually writing and illustrating – that’s an interesting situation, because I can pretty much illustrate what I want, but then I’ve got to make a story work. I think the best picture books are when you’ve got the text there and the illustrator will also be adding other elements that aren’t in the text. I don’t want to just think up a load of nice pictures and then describe them. It’s trying to do both parts, so I’m adding more to the text or more to the pictures. I think, for me, it’s a very different process from just drawing – and I don’t mean ‘just’ drawing, that’s a difficult thing in itself – but it’s trying to think like a writer as opposed to an illustrator, who’s coming to find words already there. I am enjoying it – it’s a nice challenge. That’s what I like to have all the time, to change the way I work, challenge myself rather than doing one type of style. Ben Cort will bring Aliens Love Underpants to life in a fun interactive event for all the family with lots of drawing, stories and laughs 29 September; 3-3.45pm; £6.50 Masonic Hall; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

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THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

DANCING IN THE DARK

So here’s the question: is she emerging from the dark, or being consumed by it? It’s the sort of thing you can’t help but start asking when looking at ‘Leap’ by Paul Wright. The twirling, glimpsed figure at the centre of the work remains inaccessible as she glides through her swirling world of indeterminate darkness. This monochromatic acrylic-on-linen piece is part of the collection at ART Salon on Broad Street, and will soon be shipping off to Ascot for the Fresh Art Fair. Artist Paul is known for creating with great energy – he apparently has a paintcovered runway up to his latest work in progress! – and we can just imagine that process while looking at this finished piece. It’s certainly easy to believe that his technique is part of what lends such a sense of movement to this glow-in-the-dark dancer as she leaps about the blackness.

‘Leap’ by Paul Wright; acrylic on linen; £7,000. This piece will be on display at ART Salon on 13 and 14 September, 10.30-5.30pm, ahead of the Fresh Art Fair in Ascot. The remaining works from his collection will return to Bath at the end of the month. For more: www.artsalon.co.uk

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it’s a boy’s life W Classic songs, brand new tour By Lydia Tewkesbury

hen we caught up with Brian McFadden a few weeks before the start of the Boyzlife 2019 UK tour, he and Keith Duffy, his Boyzlife co-star, were in Marbella with their families. The band, made up of Brian, previously of Westlife, and Keith of Boyzone fame (together it equals Boyzlife – get it?) have had a pretty busy summer, and they were both feeling the lack of family time, so they’d packed up their respective loved ones and moved them into a Spanish villa for a bit. Brian and Keith had an album to record – as well as a tour to rehearse for – but they were fitting in the family time in between sessions. “We’re doing a Boyzlife album for Christmas, and it’s going to be five Westlife songs and five Boyzone songs,” Brian explains, “all reimagined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s so weird, because I’m so used to the original versions of these songs – the Westlife songs I’ve been singing for 20 years, and Keith 25 years singing the Boyzone songs.” The album – and the thousand-strong crowds they’ve sung to as a duo – weren’t really on their minds when they got the band together. It started, like so many projects before it, as an idea over a pint. The pair have known each other since 1998, when Westlife started as Boyzone’s support act, so Brian and Keith have been friends for a long time. “Keith came to see me doing a solo show in Dublin maybe four years ago, and afterwards he came to my dressing room. We had a couple of pints of Guinness together and he told me this idea he’d had about doing a one man stand up show, where he basically told stories about his life and his time in Boyzone.”

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on tour

“I don’t want to give it away, but in the show we’re going to pay homage to our boy band brothers from the last 20 years” After seeing Brian’s performance, Keith had the idea of adding songs to the set, and for that he wanted a performance partner. So when they first started touring, Brian explains, it really was just him and Keith in armchairs telling tales of a youth spent in a boy band, and then singing the occasional song – but as it’s grown, it’s evolved to being much more about the music. Hence, the recording – and this new tour, which Brian says is a totally changed set. “We’ve kind of been doing the same set for the last few years and, because of how this has all panned out, we’ve actually re-recorded all of the Boyzone and Westlife songs, so the tracks are all more modern, and we’ve added a few more songs. Now it’s a whole concert of Westlife and Boyzone, sung by myself and Mr Duffy. We’ve got a few little curveballs in there as well – I don’t want to give it away, but in the show we’re going to pay homage to our boy band brothers from the last 20 years, and perform a little medley.” The songs aren’t all that’s changed – the hard-touring lifestyle of their early careers is in the distant past. These days, you’re much more likely to see him and Keith donning the argyles and heading out with the clubs, rather than to them. “It’s one of the best things we ever did, taking up golf. I mean we’ve been playing our whole lives, but we made it a part of Boyzlife, so we go away on golf trips pretty much every day. The hard part of touring is the down time – the sitting in hotels and travelling in cars. When we go on tour now, we try to stay at golf resorts so we can get off stage, go home, get up in the morning and go out and have a nice game of golf. Then we have a bit of lunch and go and sound check and do the next show.” Everyone involved is a bit more grown up these days – even the fans. There are a lot of familiar faces they see at shows again and again over the years, hard-core fans who have been there since they were kids – and since he and Keith were kids too, relatively speaking. “It’s so funny when you see these fans who were kids in the front row of the audience – now they’re still there, and they’ve got their own kids with them as well. They’re part of our family, really, because we’ve watched them grow. We’ve been part of their lives, for Boyzone 25 years and, for me, 20 years.” Yeah, and the way things are going, we expect them to be around at least 20 more. Brian (left) and Keith: it all began over a pint of Guinness...

VMS Live Presents: Boyzlife Thursday 19 September, 7pm, Komedia, £28.50; komedia.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON 13 September – 13 October

Recreating the original classic Alec Guinness movie poster, Stephen Mangan dashes into action in The Man in the White Suit, now on at Theatre Royal Bath

EXHIBITIONS Until 23 September

ART AT THE HEART OF THE RUH AUCTION Bath Artists Studios and Art at the Heart of the RUH are joining forces for a rather tempting art auction. Check out all the pieces that’ll be available to buy at the RUH before it all transfers to The Roper Gallery at the end of September. Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm; Central Gallery, Royal United Hospitals; final auction takes place 27-29 September at BAS Open Studios; www.artatruh.org

Until 6 October

THE ENGLISH WOMAN’S FLORA Like much of the rest of nature, Britain’s wildflowers are having a

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little bit of a crisis. In an exhibition that is part celebration and part mourning, artist Fiona Hingston will display wildflowers made from masking tape and graphite, based on illustrations from The Observer Book of Wild Flowers, a popular pocket book from the 1960s. Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm; Black Swan Arts, Frome; www.blackswanarts.org.uk

21 – 25 September

DESIGN MA EXHIBITION Have a gander at the big names of the future at Bath Spa University’s exhibition of postgraduate work. With three graduate exhibitions and a selection of fascinating speakers on hand, this is a great chance to enjoy a wide-ranging collection of work. 10am-5pm; free; Schools of Art and

Design, Bath Spa University, Sion Hill Campus; www.bathspa.ac.uk

21 September – 24 November

EXPERIMENTS WITH FLYING Artist Richard Twose is displaying a collection of works inspired by a residency at Elisabeth Frink’s former studio. Inspired by her bird men, horses and bulls, Twose created his own characters using studies of acrobats at CircoMedia in Bristol. The works deliberately test the limits of balance (and falling). Mon-Sun, 10.30am-5pm; free with general admission; Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

21 September – 6 October SOMERSET ART WEEKS Celebrate the 25th anniversary

of Somerset Art Weeks by touring the county’s most exciting creative talent. Paintings, sculpture and jewellery form a wide-ranging collection of work to be displayed in galleries, barns, a library, a hospital and even a creepy old prison. Various times, prices and locations; www.somersetartworks.org.uk

24 September – 14 December

PLAYING THE PICTURESQUE A lot of people think our obsession with the ideal ‘Insta-perfect’ life is a new phenomenon, but this exhibition is here to reject that assumption. Playfully traversing the space between real and virtual realms, the work shows the way that eighteenth century artists and architects became obsessed with

WHAT’S ON producing aesthetically pleasing, stylistic, ‘ideal’ landscapes. Tues-Sat, 11am-5pm; Andrew Brownsword Gallery, The Edge; www.edgearts.org

25 – 28 September

HOLDING SPACE This exhibition considers wellness, and how art can be a powerful tool for encouraging it. Ten artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines explore art as a therapeutic means of expression. 10am-6pm; Walcot Chapel; www.walcotstreet.com ABOVE:

Delightful puppetry in We’re Going On a Bear Hunt LEFT: Mean, troubled old Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire BELOW: Laura Wade’s Bullingdon Club-inspired Posh really couldn’t be more timely

28 – 29 September

U3A PHOTO EXHIBITION A group of 33 self-described OAPs are showing their photography in Bradford on Avon. They’re part of the U3A Photographic Group; the exhibition will also include a raffle. 10am-4pm; Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon; search Bradford on Avon U3A Photographic Group on Facebook

28 September – 31 December

INTERVENTIONS/2 Yoko Ono’s first solo show to visit Bristol arrives there this month. Including a series of iconic films that she made back in the ’60s and early ’70s – as well as the installation ARISING, first exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013 – INTERVENTIONS/2 asks Bristol audiences to engage with the city’s less proud history. The curator, Jimmy Galvin, says, “It is a way to bring a new spotlight onto Bristol’s heritage and involvement with the slave trade, and, as with all great art, it gives us permission to open dialogue and create a better understanding of ourselves and our city’s past, as well as its future, and what role we need it to perform.” Sat-Tues, 11am-4pm; The Georgian House Museum, Bristol; www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

PLAYS/SHOWS Until 21 September

THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT Imagine this: that you’d invented a fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out. Well, that’s exactly what Sidney Stratton (Stephen Mangan) does in The Man in the White Suit. If you think that wouldn’t cause too many problems, you’d be wrong. Poor old Sid quickly finds his life getting very complicated, as manufacturers and trade unions

come after him, terrified by what his invention might mean for their jobs. This fast-moving comedy is a new stage adaptation of the famous film, and reunites Mangan with his Jeeves and Wooster partner Sean Foley, so you know it’s going to be good. Mon-Sat 7.30pm, matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm; various prices; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

23 – 28 September

POSH This well-timed revival of Laura Wade’s all-male Bullingdon Clubinspired work couldn’t be better timed as another of its former members settles into life as PM. Posh sees The Riot Club back in business, but this time they have to behave. After an incident at their previous dinner, the current president – Tyger Drew-Honey out of Outnumbered, making his stage debut – has promised its ex-members to keep them out of the headlines. Mon-Sat 7.30pm, matinees Weds and Sat 2.30pm; various prices; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

25 September

THE ROOM A girl alone in a room. Why is she there? Through snippets of conversations, pictures and songs, this one-woman musical tells the story of a life. Fresh from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, star Louise Thomas gives a compelling performance. 7.30pm; £12 (£10 concs); Rondo Theatre; www.rondotheatre.co.uk

25 – 28 September

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Enjoy the iconic tale of tragic Southern belle Blanche DuBois, presented by the Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society. Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece takes us a chaotic ride through Blanche’s downward spiral as she seeks solace in her sister, Stella, but instead finds herself face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski. 7.30pm; £12; The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

3 October

ELLIE TAYLOR: DON’T GOT THIS Following the success of her recent Netflix stand up special, Ellie Taylor, star of The Mash Report, Live at the Apollo and QI, is touring a brand new live show. This time around she’s here to talk life, love and what’ll happen to the next

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WHAT’S ON person to tell her ‘you got this’. Doors 6.30pm, show starts 8pm; £15; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

11 October

SH*T-FACED SHAKESPEARE: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM The fringe darlings and internationally renowned thespians are finally touring their acclaimed production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The concept isn’t complicated: it’s Shakespeare, but with one entirely sh*t-faced cast member. What could go wrong? Doors 6.30pm, show starts 8pm; £20; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

MUSIC

21 September

DERVISH A group of Ireland’s finest traditional folk musicians are stopping by Wiltshire for an injection of much-needed Irish spirit. Renowned for their energetic performances at festivals all around the world, their stunning interpretations of traditional songs defy your toes not to get tapping. 7.30pm; £19 (£9.50 under-18s and students); Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford On Avon; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

24 September

RODRIGO Y GABRIELLA This Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo are stopping by Bath on a tour supporting their brand new album, Mettavolution. This ambitious new collection of songs sees them tackle Buddhism, the history of human evolution and the liberation of the potential we all have as a species. So, you know, all the light stuff. 7pm; various prices; The Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

28 – 29 September

MUSIC @ THE CHAPEL Beautiful classical music in Hartham Park’s rarely used chapel? This is one of the more atmospheric musical options in store this month. Featuring Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 for Soprano and eight cellos, it’ll be a truly magical evening. Doors 6pm, show starts 7pm; £25 inc. refreshments; Hartham Park, Corsham; www.harthampark.com

2 October

DAMIEN O’KANE AND RON BLOCK What happens if you cross a

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bluegrass banjo and an Irish tenor banjo? BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards Best Album award nominee Damien O’Kane has joined forces with Alison Krauss & Union Station’s banjo star Ron Block to create a captivating new sound. Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8pm; £14; Chapel Arts; www.chapelarts.org

FAMILY

26 – 29 September

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Little Angel Theatre tells this much-loved tale with entrancing puppetry and music. Captivating and magical, you’ll get as much out of this as the little ones will. 10am, 12pm and 3pm; £9 (£8 children and students); the egg [note: weekend performances sold out]; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

28 – 29 September

WILTSHIRE GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR With attractions including the insane-sounding ‘horseboarding’ – for the uninitiated, it’s kind of like water skiing but instead of a boat you’re dragged along by a horse on a skateboard (you’re on the skateboard, not the horse) – there’s more than enough at the fair to keep the whole family entertained. 10am-6pm; ticket prices vary; Bowood House; www.wiltshiregameandcountryfair.co.uk

OTHER

Until 20 October

SCULPTURE EXHIBITION The Courts Garden has an exhibition of Somerset-based sculptor Ian Marlow’s work on display. His latest pieces are all about highlighting the juxtaposition between the natural world and our man-made modern lifestyles. 11am-5.30pm (closed on Wednesdays); normal admission applies; The Courts Garden, Holt, Wiltshire; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

13 – 22 September

JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL Don a bonnet, curl your hair and get ready to swoon: it’s time for the 19th of Bath’s much-loved Jane Austen Festivals. Bigger than ever before, this year’s festivities boast over 90 Regency-themed events – from costumed promenades, to balls, to Austen-themed performances.

ABOVE: The topnotch Ellie Taylor will perform at Komedia LEFT: Banjo madness with Damien O’Kane and Ron Block BELOW: Eight cellists will perform at Hartham Chapel (six not pictured)

WHAT’S ON Various times, locations and prices; www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk

17 September

WORLD CUP DINNER Great food, great rugby – what else could you need? Lucknam Park invites you to their exclusive Rugby World Cup-themed dinner in their Michelin starred restaurant. Executive chef Hywel Jones will be at the helm, providing a five-course meal that will tastefully reflect the Rugby World Cup nations. Girvan Dempsey and Luke Charteris will be joining the event, along with two Bath Rugby players, to offer their speculations on what we can expect for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. 7pm; £90 per person for five courses accompanied by selected wines; Lucknam Park; www.lucknampark.co.uk

20 September

HARRY POTTER CONCERT SERIES You know what’d make Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone even better? A live orchestra providing the soundtrack. Fortunately, our dreams are coming true as the Czech National Symphony Orchestra is blowing into town to perform John Williams’ unforgettable score live, as the film plays on a high definition 40-foot screen. There’s a real power to this, actually, and it takes you back to the early years of cinema, when silent films were quite often accompanied by live orchestras. 7.30pm; various prices; The Forum; www.harrypotterinconcert.com

22 September

BATH WORTH THE WEIGHT KILO SALE A vintage sale extravaganza is coming to Bath. Hundreds of quality and sought after vintage items will be up for grabs during the sale, where you can pick up a pile of clothes for only £15 per kilo. It’s nothing less than a shopaholic’s heaven! 10am-4pm; 10am early bird entry £3, 11am general admission £1.50; Green Park Station; @worththeweightvintage on Facebook

From 23 September

ADULT THEATRE SCHOOL Fancy exploring that part of you that’s always secretly wanted to try acting? Then you’re in luck: it’s time to set it free. The awardwinning Natural Theatre Company is once again running a 10-week performance and theatre skills programme. Students will learn the Naturals’ trademark style of comedy

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

acting, with improvisation, physical performance and street performance skills all part of the deal. Monday evenings; £95 for 10-week term; Natural Theatre Company’s Widcombe HQ; www.naturaltheatre.co.uk

2 October

THE BECKFORD BIRTHDAY LECTURE Charlie Courtenay, Earl of Devon, is popping up to Bath to tell the story of William Beckford and William, third Viscount Courtenay. Poor old ‘Kitty’ Courtenay (as he was known to family and friends) was always somewhat maligned – everyone considered him a flamboyant spendthrift who fled England to escape his creditors – but, as Charlie will reveal, recent research has revealed “the most beautiful boy in England” to be a much more complex and sympathetic man. 6.30pm; £15, please book in advance – this event is exected to sell out; Beckford Tower; www.beckfordstower.org.uk n

ABOVE: Fiona Hingston’s paper flowers at The English Woman’s Flora at Black Swan Arts reflect our changing landscape LEFT: Horseboarding, anyone? BELOW: Dress up like you’re trying to catch Darcy for the Jane Austen Festival

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The Rodney Cook memorial rally Trowbridge metal detecting club and friends raise huge sums in memory of Gary Cook

he Rodney Cook Memorial Rally all started when my good friend and fellow Trowbridge Metal Detecting Club Member Gary Cook unfortunately lost his dear father Rodney to

cancer in 2017. Rodney was treated at the RUH in Bath and the staff there were simply amazing and the care he received during his treatment was nothing short of incredible. Now Gary wanted to give something back and as the hospital was raising money for a new cancer care unit, he decided that he wanted to help by raising some money towards the new building. So, with the help of some of his friends it was decided that a metal detecting rally would be the best course of action. We made contact with the Forever Friends of the RUH Appeal, the main fund raisers at the hospital, and the Rodney Cook Memorial Rally was born. A very kind landowner friend of ours called Ian kindly donated the use of his farm including a converted barn and plenty of land to detect on. 92 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

So, on the weekend of the 22 September 2018, 500 metal detecting enthusiasts some from as far as the USA and Canada descended on a farm near Cirencester for a three-day event. During the course of the weekend they could metal detect the land searching for ancient coins and artefacts dating from the Bronze age and Roman and medieval periods right up to the present day; some of these being up to and over 2000 years old. Entertainment was laid on with live music in the evenings. Food wagons and wood-fired pizzas were available all weekend along with a licenced bar. Many local businesses, metal detecting shops and manufacturers generously donated some incredible prizes for the Saturday and Sunday raffles. The weekend was a great success with some fantastic finds made that were recorded with the area archaeologist and the portable antiquities scheme. But most importantly a simply phenomenal amount of money was raised to the sum of £28,500 over the course of the weekend.

Due to the overriding success and support for the event we have been persuaded to do it all again this year. For 2019 we’ve gone even bigger and with the support of our sponsor Ashford Homes and our metal detecting sponsors at a location near Bath on 6 September we raised money for not only the Forever friends appeal RUH but for CLIC SARGENT (cancer leukaemia in children) and for the children’s charity Starlight. I consider it a great honour to be part of this amazing group of people who give up their time over not just the weekend but all the months of organising leading up to the event. I am sure Rodney would be very proud and a little embarrassed by all the attention. ■

The Rodney Cook Memorial Rally & The Forever Friends Appeal f rallyorganiser; f foreverfriendsappeal

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A reason to celebrate

WE HEAR YOU (WHY) reach an all-important milestone as they celebrate their 25th anniversary

e Hear You (WHY) are delighted to celebrate an important milestone of our own in this special issue of Bath Life: 2019 marks our 25th anniversary of supporting people affected by cancer or a life-threatening condition. In 1994, WHY founder Jill Miller installed a second phone line in her home as a helpline for women with breast cancer, following her

own cancer journey. Today, 25 years on, WHY provides more than 115 counselling sessions each week in 20 locations across B&NES, Somerset and Wiltshire for children and adults from age four to 84 who are affected directly or indirectly by cancer or any lifethreatening condition, including four locations in central Bath. The emotional impact of a life threatening diagnosis can be devastating and its effects often reach far beyond the obvious connections of close friends and family. WHY places no restrictions on the people we will support and, uniquely in our area, there is no time limit for accessing counselling: whether the diagnosis was last week or 20 years ago, we’re here for the long run. It costs more than £5,000 each week to provide our services and we receive no central government funding, so the support of the communities we work in is absolutely vital. Regular or one-off donations make a huge

difference, but there are so many other ways to help – from skydives, half marathons and sponsored treks to bingo nights, bucket collections and coffee mornings – if you have the will, we have the way! n

If you could be part of the next 25 years of We Hear You, please contact us at fundraising@wehearyou.org.uk or visit www.wehearyou.org.uk/cancer-charity-fundraising

This year celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Somerset Art Weeks Our FREE FESTIVAL GUIDE is now available in Tourist Information Centres, libraries, galleries, museums and other outlets, as well as online FESTIVAL 2019 features over 130 venues as well as a special event programme including SAW projects and commissions, workshops, demonstrations and Family Friendly activities somersetartworks.org.uk

BATH OLD BOOKS

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BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

What we read on our holidays Nic’s managed to squeeze in a break, but he’s taken some reading with him…

“It adds a certain something if you’re lucky enough to read a book in the location where it’s set”

enerally speaking, I subscribe to the theory that it adds a certain something to the enjoyment of a book if you’re lucky enough to read it in the location where it’s set. That said, having just come back from the longest family break we’ve managed to grant ourselves since opening Mr B’s 13 years ago, I’ve been reminded that – whatever the book – reading on holiday is often an even more immersive and enjoyable experience than reading at home. And for me that would be true even if I were reading a polar thriller whilst walking through the desert. Happily enough, I didn’t spend my holidays walking through the desert. Instead we were lucky to travel through Malaysia via family in Hong Kong, and the first two books I read were set in that part of the world. First, I read The Nail House by Gregory Baines (Fairlight, £7.99), one of the new(ish) series of novellas from independent publisher Fairlight Books. Set in urban China, the story begins with Lindon’s arrival in town from Australia to take on his new job overseeing the development of a construction project. His first challenge is to deal with one last tenacious elderly resident who refuses to abandon his home in the centre of the new building site. This troublesome ‘nail house’ has to be removed for the works to continue, but negotiations prove tough, and surprisingly violent from the off. At the same time Lindon becomes slowly entranced by Zhen, a punchy young Chinese woman who he bumps into repeatedly around the city and who, predictably perhaps, soon turns out to be a resident of the nail house – it’s her father who has been stubbornly resisting. What had promised to be a lucrative and straightforward contract to distract Lindon from the personal upheaval he’s left behind in Australia, quickly becomes a stressful scenario over which he has no control. As Lindon drifts out of his depth, The Nail House adeptly combines a sweet and eventful romance with a broader plot exploring the rapid development of China and the corruption that inevitably comes with it. The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw (Fourth Estate, £8.99) is a tense and atmospheric novel of twentieth-century

Malaysia. The story is told in three distinct segments, each with a different narrator, and yet at no point do we hear directly from the enigmatic and skulduggerous main protagonist, Johnny Lim. Instead, we piece together his story – and that of his family, collaborators and enemies – from, first, his son; secondly, the diary entries of his young wife; and finally the latterday recollections of his English expat friend, Peter Wormwood. The story covers World War II and the decades either side, and takes place predominantly in Malaysia’s humid Kinta Valley, a lowland between sea and highlands where fortunes were built on colonial tinmining activity. From Johnny’s son, writing as he struggles to mourn his father’s recent death, we receive a bitter biography of his father’s wrongdoings, including his serial betrayal of everyone from family to fellow resistance fighters. As the perspective shifts, though, we see a more vulnerable and conflicted side to Johnny’s character. His wife, Snow, recounts her first impressions of him, and then describes their peculiar, action-packed and hedonistic trip to some remote islands together with Johnny’s close friend Peter, an unbearably boorish expat mine boss named Honey, and a newlyarrived Japanese police chief, with whom she is clearly captivated. And finally, just when we think we’ve understood the awkward goings-on of this trip and are finally getting a handle on Johnny’s true character and the events he has orchestrated, we witness the same journey from the mouth of the now ageing aesthete, Peter. Cue as many questions as answers, and a brilliantly intriguing and unresolved character study. And the one I took away that didn’t have an appropriate setting? Well, that was Graham Greene’s Travels with my Aunt (Vintage, £9.99), a classic that I have never got around to reading, and whose action steers clear of the Eastern Hemisphere. Nevertheless I’d argue that the adventures of Aunt Augusta, her unsuspecting nephew and her seemingly endless cast of dubious associates will keep you entertained wherever you might be. 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 97

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FILM KATHRYN RILEY

FROM FAR LEFT:

Phoebe does Fleabag; it’s all smiles in the Downton Abbey film; fractious families in The Farewell

How to be a woman

Or perhaps how not to be; the ones you’ll meet down the cinema this month may be strong, but they’re not always admirable…

hings may be cooling down a touch outside, but they’re hotting up down the cinema – and not least for fans of strong female characters. There’s the eagerly awaited big screen sequel to Downton Abbey, packed – as you might expect – with sumptuous costumes, opulent surroundings, and scenestealing turns from the likes of Maggie Smith; there’s a revival of the original one-woman-play Fleabag, inspiration for the endlessly discussed TV show of the same name, which you can see at the cinema through NT Live; and, less of a big name but by no means overshadowed, there’s The Farewell, a poignant tear-jerker by Lucy Wang about a Chinese American family paying tribute to their terminally ill grandmother by arranging a family wedding. Before he ever made Downton Abbey, actor, novelist, screenwriter, Conservative peer and occasional game show host Julian Fellowes wrote the film Gosforth Park, a country house murder mystery with English aristocrats, the occasional visiting rich American, dozens of servants, and Maggie Smith as a dowager countess. Directed by the great Robert Altman it was an arthouse smash, and Fellowes planned a TV spin-off, which eventually mutated into the similar-but-different Downton Abbey, set earlier in the 20th century than Gosforth, and one of the great international TV success stories of the last decade. Now the story’s come full circle with a movie spin-off of Downton, continuing the story but set a couple of years later. Downton began in 1912 and finished in 1925, and the film moves things on to 1927, with the estate thrown into turmoil by an unexpected visit from King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James). Most

of the famous TV cast have returned, but there are new additions too, not least Imelda Staunton as Lady Bagshaw, plus Tuppence Middleton (War and Peace), Kate Phillips (The Crown) and Stephen Campbell (The History Boys) too. With the aristocratic Crawley family running their Yorkshire estate with fewer servants than before – thank World War I and the Great Depression for that – Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary is forced to cajole their old butler, Carson (Jim Carter), out of retirement to rally the diminishing troops. Expect plenty of top-notch tantrumsand-tiaras moments as Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton cross swords, and a few shocks as Lady Mary seriously contemplates leaving the estate for a new life, only to be dissuaded by her loyal lady’s maid, Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt): “Downton Abbey is the heart of this community, and you’re keeping it beating.”

“Most of the famous TV cast have returned, but there are new additions too” American TV director Michael Engler has worked on everything from 30 Rock to Sex and the City, and directed a handful of the later episodes of Downton – including the very last one – so we should be in safe hands. Safe is not where you want to be with Fleabag, of course. Phenom Phoebe Waller-Bridge – also celebrated for her work on Killing Eve and

the upcoming 007 film, of course – delivers an award-winning revival of the one woman play that inspired the hit BBC series, alongside director Vicky Jones. This is stark, seemingly unfiltered stuff, with Waller-Bridge simply seated on a stool to deliver her sharp comic monologue. The play completed a sold-out New York run earlier this year, and is currently running at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End; if you’re not able to get up there to see it, this emotionally charged roller coaster ride – riotous, relatable, over-sexed, self-obsessed and often extremely painful – can be seen live for one night only at cinemas through National Theatre Live, followed by a handful of encore showings. She’s certainly come a long way from the first time she performed this piece, to mixed reviews in a tiny Edinburgh venue six years ago. Finally, there’s The Farewell by writerdirector Lucy Wang, said to be “based on an actual lie”. This poignant story of a Chinese American family revolves around the close bond between Billi (played by Crazy Rich Asians star Awkwafina), whose family emigrated to New York when she was a young child, and her grandmother Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen), who still lives in China. But Nai Nai has terminal cancer, and the family makes a pact to protect her by withholding the news, rallying around and planning a family wedding to in pay tribute to their dying matriarch. The Farewell features a complicated family dynamic, but a universal theme. Sophie-Claire McLeod is on holiday. The Little Theatre; www.picturehouses.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 99

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ISSUE 400

THEATRE ANNA O’CALLAGHAN

Centre stage As Bath Life has changed over the years, so has that tentpole of the city’s cultural life, its theatre. Anna O’Callaghan looks back at some landmark productions – and at the physical changes Theatre Royal Bath has undergone over the last 400 issues, too…

s the first issue of Bath Life was going to press, a party was in full swing at Theatre Royal Bath – Abigail’s Party, the 25th anniversary production of Mike Leigh’s cringy yet hilarious classic, which this time starred Elizabeth Berrington as the ghastly Beverly. And there’s been a lot more celebrating in the intervening years… In 2003, the distinguished director Peter Hall presented his first season of plays in Bath. The Peter Hall Season took place annually until 2011, enhancing the Theatre Royal’s reputation as one of the UK’s foremost venues for excellent drama. That first year the programme included Coward’s Design for Living, Pinter’s Betrayal, DH Lawrence’s The Fight for Barbara and Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Sir Peter’s 21-year-old daughter, Rebecca Hall, made an early stage appearance in two of them, before international film stardom. At the other end of the spectrum, legendary comedian Eric Sykes made his last ever stage performances in As You Like It, aged 80. In the Ustinov Studio, Sir Peter directed a distinctly raunchy piece called Cuckoos, which mostly took place under an enormous bed cover. In October 2005 the revelling ratcheted up, as the Theatre Royal celebrated its 200th birthday. Sheridan’s The Rivals, the celebratory production, might well be described as the theatrical equivalent of Bath Life – a thoroughly enjoyable romp through Bath society. Two of the West Country’s

favourite residents starred: Stephanie Cole played Mrs Malaprop, with George Baker as Sir Anthony Absolute. Less than two weeks later a spectacular party announced the opening of the egg, a theatre for children and families converted from what had been Robins Cinema. Architects Haworth Tompkins were to win awards for its uniquely child-centric designs, and the venue has become nationally recognised as a hub for creativity. Cue more celebrations when Kate Cross, the egg’s director, became an MBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, in recognition of her work in children’s theatre and for the Bath community. IT WAS NEXT the turn of the Ustinov Studio to move into the limelight. During its yearlong closure, the building received a ‘major architectural reinvention’, which included a complete upper tier of seating, which hadn’t existed before. The now state-of-the-art venue reopened in February 2008 with a powerful drama, Breakfast with Mugabe by Fraser Grace, which starred Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). In 2011, the Daily Telegraph proclaimed, “Something wonderful is happening in Bath”, as the Ustinov launched its ﬁrst season of UK premieres, a programme of adventurous and widely acclaimed new works which were to make it the most successful small-scale producing theatre in the country. In fact, by 2016, three shows which had originated in the Ustinov Studio – The Father, Bad Jews and The Mother – were running concurrently

“Sir Peter Hall directed a raunchy piece, which took place under a duvet cover”

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

in the West End, and Kenneth Cranham won the Best Actor Olivier Award for his extraordinary performance in The Father. In 2010, the Main House got a makeover. Closed for just two months, the building emerged swan-like, with a spacious reconfigured foyer, a brand-new stalls bar, and improved access for all. And what could be a more appropriate show with which to open the newly-refurbished auditorium than Sheridan’s comedy about Bath life, The Rivals, this time starring old sparring partners Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles? Fittingly, Peter Hall, who was celebrating his 80th year, directed the production. (In 2016, all the seats in the Main House auditorium were revamped in the week between A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Libertine!) In 2017, one of the UK’s finest directors, Jonathan Church, became Artistic Director of the Bath Summer Season with a feast of drama which included works by David Hare, Alan Bennett and Alfred Hitchcock. His 2018 season delivered packed houses, critical superlatives, West End transfers for The Price and Switzerland, and three Olivier Award nominations. As Bath Life celebrates its 400th issue, Theatre Royal will be in the spotlight once again, hosting the world premiere of The Man in the White Suit with a star-studded cast. It’s been an amazingly dynamic 17 years for this illustrious edifice; here’s to the future for all those who contribute to making Bath so unique. Anna O’Callaghan, Marketing Manager, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose; 01225 448844; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

CLOCKWISE: Theatre Royal shining brightly; Rebecca Hall dazzles in As You Like It; the new and improved Ustinov; Joseph Marcell in Breakfast with Mugabe; Kenneth Cranham in his jim-jams in The Father; Stephanie Cole and George Baker battle it out in The Rivals

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 103

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FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S F O O D S C E N E

CLINK CLINK Beckford’s Rum and Caramel has been awarded The Guild of Fine Food’s highest possible certification, earning three stars at the prestigious Great Taste Awards. The Bath-based company behind Beckford’s Rum and Caramel so wowed the judges they’ve now been invited to London’s Intercontinental Hotel to present it to over 300 influential figures from the food and drink, hospitality and retail sectors at the Guild’s annual awards ceremony. Judges apparently commented that the rum ‘set the room alight’ (hopefully not literally) with its finely balanced blend of caramel with a hint of burnt orange laid over a vintage rum sourced from the Caribbean. For more: www.craftywolf.co.uk

The Gainsborough: leading by example

DUCK DUCK GOOSE Award-winning luxury hotel and spa The Gainsborough has binned foie gras from its menu. The move follows the lead of BANES council, which banned the sale of the meat, made by force-feeding ducks and geese, in all council-registered outlets back in 2011, after a campaign led by Viva!, a vegan campaigning charity based in Bristol. “For ethical and sustainability reasons, [chef] Dan Moon has removed foie gras from the menu,” they say. “He is dedicated and passionate about sourcing his produce locally and responsibly.”

For more: www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

The Bath Vegan Festival is set to return this November

TAKE TWO

The perfect warming drink for the evening chill

After a successful day back in July, Bath Vegan Festival will return to Bath Pavilion on 9 November. Over 70 stalls, cookery demos, inspirational talks, workshops, yoga and children’s activities should offer more than enough to get you feeling enthused about plant-based living. For more: www.veganeventsuk. co.uk/bath-vegan-festival

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 107

TRY FIVE 2

COFFEE SHOP LOVE Whether you’re on a weekday coﬀee dash or a lazy Saturday morning lounge session, when it comes to coﬀee shops in Bath we’re totally spoiled for choice

THE COURTYARD CAFÉ From the brightly coloured spattering of rainbow tables in its eponymous courtyard to the snug and eclectic interior, The Courtyard Café near the Abbey is somewhere you can quite happily curl up with a coffee and watch the world go by for a little while. There’s a great balance of sweet and savoury treats on offer, with cakes that’ll make you quake with sugar frenzy when you but glance at them, side by side with flat breads piled high with fresh and colourful veg and meat. Make sure to try their recently launched ‘Bloody Special’: breakfast of your choice with tea or coffee and a Bloody Maria (basically a Bloody Mary, but with tequila) for £15. www.courtyardbath.co.uk

THE GOOD BEAR The Good Bear café and bar up on Bear Flat offers some welcome relief from the tourist traps in the city centre. A great spot for brunch, you’ll find a welcoming mix of families and group hangs meeting to catch up on the week’s events. Unusually, The Good Bear also has its own shop, where you’ll find a tasty range of wines, liqueurs, flat breads, olives and posh condiments, all sourced from Sardinia. They even offer frozen ready meals from chef Christophe Lacroix. It’s worth keeping an eye on The Good Bear’s events – they run regular supper clubs with exciting guest chefs. Coming up: MasterChef champion Ping Coombes will host a Makan Malaysian cookery class. www.thegoodbear.co.uk

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

ADVENTURE CAFÉ BAR The type of place that’ll take you straight through from breakfast to the wee hours (and back again), Adventure Café on George Street is as good a stop for a night out as it is a hung over breakfast. Whether you’re after said breakfast, lunch or dinner, food at Adventure is just plain satisfying. Gourmet sandwiches like Old Favourite (packed with grilled bacon), free-range Cajun rubbed chicken breast and Dijon mayonnaise or, for the less meaty among us, the Veg Dream, bursting with homemade hummus, red onion, cucumber, grated carrot and green olives, will satisfy. www.adventurecafebar.co.uk

CASCARA Make sure to wander down Upper Borough Walls to Cascara. The epitome of the modern coﬀee shop, this vegan café has that cool-as-a-cucumber warehouse chic-look. Exposed brick walls, distressed wood and the reaching fronds of deep green houseplants just ooze modernity. Like most vegan places, you’ll have a range of plantbased milk options for your coﬀee – we lean towards oat – and an array of tasty and creative cake options. A vegan cinnamon knot, rose and vanilla loaf, or banana croissant cake (amongst many other options) make for perfectly sweet companions to your morning brew. Later, you can pop back in for lunch, too! @cascarabath on Instagram

DUTCH BOY WAFFLES A relative newcomer, Dutch Boy Waffles on Grove Street is a little piece of Amsterdam in Bath. Dutch Boy Waffles specialise in stroopwaffles, and if you’ve never had one before you are in for a treat. A wafer made of two layers of thin dough baked with caramel in the middle, they are sweet, sticky and unbelievably moreish. You can go traditional, but if you’re feeling adventurous there are many dipped in chocolate, marshmallows and all sorts of exciting options to accompany your latte. ■ www.dutchboywaffles.com

RESTAURANT

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THE CIRCUS RESTAURANT

It’s not the flashiest restaurant in Bath, and it’s certainly not the biggest. But The Circus endures, and makes new friends every day By Matt Bielby

estaurants come and they go, but there are a few you’d trust with your life – or at least your lunch – every time. For issue 400, it seemed only right we revisit an old favourite, and there aren’t many that fit the bill better than The Circus Restaurant, which has hardly changed over the past decade. It’s been around since 2008 (making it about 77 in restaurant years, similar to dog years), and it’s a ‘favourite’ in that, well, everybody likes it. Owners Alison and Geoffrey Golden bought The Circus in 2007, did it up, and reopened the following January, following a model they’ve never wavered from: great ingredients, deft cooking, friendly service, and classic influences from the likes of Elizabeth David and Jane Grigson. These days their son, Jack, is heavily involved too, and the end result remains nothing more or less than a topnotch neighbourhood bistro: buzzy, busy, relaxed and fun. Inside it’s no-nonsense but pleasing: parquet floors, mint walls, a few Art Deco touches, and plenty of mirrors to make it seem lighter and larger than it really is. The whole place

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is intimate, of course (the tables are, of necessity, so tiny that finding somewhere safe to put the wine bottle can be like struggling with a sliding block puzzle), but at least having two levels means there’s a chance you might bag a table. The food is not intimidating, but it can be surprising. (The Asian influence seems high in the mix on the new Autumn menu, for instance.) This is somewhere you’ll be genuinely torn between dishes – the pork or the lamb? The squash or the fish? It all sounds too good. In fact, we ended up having to do a little horse trading – “if you get first pick of the starters, I’ll get dibs on the mains” – to make sure we both got a meal we’d be happy with, confident there’d be no losers. I won the first round, and went for the mackerel tataki (£7.70). Super-fresh, uncooked fish was rustically chopped then soaked in a naturally fermented soy sauce, with lemon juice, toasted sesame seeds, spring onion, nori seaweed and ginger. Cornwall meets Kansai, the end result tasted fresh as the sea, with a pleasing mix of textures. It was a terrific start. Other tempting starter options include a venison loin carpaccio with a fascinating jumble of associated flavours

RESTAURANT

(orange, juniper, lapsang souchong) and an Ottolenghiesque mezze – even the curried parsnip soup sounds more seductive than soup often does, thanks to added parsnip bhajis. Our choice, though, was a generously sized salad of fresh figs, borlotti and green beans, plus smoked almonds, sheep’s cheese and tarragon, and date molasses and Cabernet Sauvignon vinaigrette (£7.50). It made for a winning dance of contrasting flavours and temperatures. Next up, mains: there’s always fresh fish on (today it was seabass with seaweed butter and samphire), plus a half-dozen further options, including lamb rump with ratatouille (on our shortlist), pan-fried flat iron steak, and a mushroom dish. All appetising, but not our choices. Instead we went for the Creedy Carver duck breast, rubbed with Asian Five Spice and pan fried until pink, with pak choi and, to the side, a confit leg meat and bean sprout roll and sweet sour plumb sauce (£23.70); since this didn’t sound too massive, we went for ‘fat chips’ too (£2.90), one of a small selection of similarly priced sides. The meat was high quality, the chips top-notch, and the accompanying roll a sweet touch, offering a secondary variation on the duck theme. Opposite, the pork rib eye of Hampshire boar, with a black pudding and leek patty, plus sauerkraut, apple purée and Somerset cider gravy (£21.90). This cut, from a small, lean pig, is beautifully marbled, and while perhaps not the most photogenic dish – coming in assorted shades of autumnal browns – was quite the knock out on the fork and, said my companion, “probably the best pork I’ve ever had.” Puds come in the cutest little red book, containing just four regular dessert choices plus other fun: ports, whiskies, dessert wines, and seasonal cheeses. It’s actually worth reading too, packed with intriguing snippets. (Who knew espresso martini was only invented in the ’80s, or that Rene Lacoste won Wimbledon the same year Bruce Forsyth was born?)* From the actual desserts, we swerved the flourless chocolate and almond torta from Capri (£6.70) and the damson, plum and bay leaf crème brûlée (£5.30), and went for two that would have looked at home should Prince have ever gone on a date with Darth Vader – and who saw those two coming? – then commissioned Vermeer to paint the scene. Elegant refugees from a gothic universe, both positively throbbed with a deep, rich purple that bordered on the black. The blackberry and creme de mure sorbet (£5.30), accompanied by a handful of huge uber-berries, was the most blackberryish thing I’ve ever eaten. But the pears (£6.90), while not for everyone, were something else: poached in Cassis, they came the colour of night, and there was liquorice and star anise in there too, plus soft chunks of gingerbread and cool clotted cream. That made it six out of six for our choices tonight. Comforting and familiar, but with unexpected temptations on its regularly-changing menu and the smiliest service, The Circus is a restaurant you’ll find it hard not to love. n *1928, if you were wondering

“The end result tasted fresh as the sea”

DINING DETAILS The Circus Restaurant, 34 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LN; 01225 466020; www.thecircusrestaurant.co.uk We ate Mackerel and a warm salad of figs, beans and sheep’s cheese, then the duck and the pork rib eye, and the sorbet and the pears. The house white did us fine Vegetarian options Three of the starters and a couple of the mains, with one autumn menu dish built around mushrooms and another around butternut squash Prices Starters £7.10 – £8.70; mains £17.70 – £23.70; sides around £3; desserts £5.30 – £6.90 Drinks An interesting selection of wines, some by the glass or half bottle, with a French house

red or white at £21.30, and further options from old world countries including Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and yes, England. There are sparkling wines, Champagnes, rosés, a short list of classic cocktails and a decent selection of lagers and local craft beers, including Lost & Grounded and Wild Beer Co Service / atmosphere Not just good, exceptional: most of the tables were full on a Wednesday night, with attentive, friendly staff who know when to fill up your water and when to leave you alone What else? People come again and again to The Circus, and now we know why: not only is it the most relaxed, reliable experience, but you have to keep coming back because you’ll want to try everything

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A whole waﬄe love

Satisfy your sweet tooth with DUTCHBOY WAFFLES

e all love a coffee shop, right? We know our lattes from our espressos and whether we have it skinny, with an extra shot or with an alternative milk. We also know nine times out of 10, we’ll probably grab a treat to go with said coffee – be that cake or a cookie. But what about something a little different – like a stroopwaffle? I introduce… Dutchboy Waffle Café in Bath!

Originally looking for a kitchen site, founder Bob Kersten couldn’t find any premises that were quite what he was looking for. That is, until he stumbled across 1 Grove Street in Bath – big enough to accommodate both a large enough kitchen for his wholesale orders and enough space left to house a small cafe on top. Bob isn’t new to selling his stroopwaffles. The idea was originally born in Bali, where he began selling his unique waffle receipe to specialty coffee shops. He explains: “I’ll admit I was new to this stroopwaffle game and had seen them all over Instagram when people were travelling to the Netherlands.” Developed in the early 1800s, these humble waffles were made from left over breadcrumbs from bakeries in Holland. Two thin, circular waffles are pressed flat on a pizzelle iron, which gives them their distinct checked pattern. The baked waffles are sandwiched together with a sticky sweet caramel and the edges finely trimmed. Bob makes the waffles to order so you know they are going to be deliciously fresh. The result is a mouthwatering biscuit-ey,

Photos © Connor Fathers & Jessica Greaves

cookie-ey, waffle-ey disc of joy with a slightly crisp outer and a deliciously gooey, rich and chewy centre. Unfortunately these aren’t vegan, but Bob is looking to develop both a gluten free and vegan option in the coming months. Needless to say, Bob is keen to support other local businesses. He says: "The ingredients are sourced locally and my coffee of choice comes from Bath’s infamous Roundhill Roastery and Girls Who Grind Coffee. The cafe might be small in size, but the stroopwaffle is mighty!" ■

07542 278808 dutchboywaffles@gmail.com www.dutchboywaffles.com

THE GOOD BEAR CAFE & BAR

BREAKFAST - BRUNCH - LUNCH and special supper clubs evenings

Open Mon - Sat 8-5 01225 330255 www.thegoodbear.co.uk 7 Hayes Place, Bear Flat Bath BA2 4QW b a @goodbearcafe

Welcome to Mantra, an Indian Restaurant in the heart of Bath, that specialises in serving progressive Indian food. Mantra is a family run authentic Indian restaurant. Our dishes are healthily packed with flavour, crunch, punch and zing offering plenty of choice to vegetarians and vegans.Inspired by seasonal ingredients, our food contains only the freshest produce prepared in a way that captures the amazing diversity of India’s regional cuisines and childhood street food memories. 5, Bladud Buildings, The Paragon, Bath BA1 5LS Tel: 01225 446 332 Email: info@mantraofbath.co.uk | www.mantraofbath.co.uk

Tel: 01225 585 100

rob@claytonskitchen.com

15a George Street, Bath BA1 2EN

www.claytonskitchen.com

a ClaytonsKitch

claytons_kitchen

B O O K N O W F O R T H E C H R I S T M A S PA R T Y M E N U £45 for 3 courses

N E W : P R I VAT E D I N I N G R O O M

LUNCH MENU

Opening Times

2 courses £20 | 3 courses £25

Mon to Thu: 1200-1430 & 1800-2130

Monday – Saturday from 12pm.

Sat: 1200-1500 & 1730-2200

Main menus and more can be found on our website.

Sun: 1200-1500 & 1800-2100

Fri: 1200-1430 & 1800-2200

GREAT BURGERS FRESH LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE DELICIOUS COCKTAILS

MEATBUSTERS Previously Burgers and Barrels

2 Victoria Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3EH www.meatbusters.co.uk

OPENING HOURS Monday - Thursday 5pm - 2am Friday - Saturday 5pm - 3am Sunday 10pm - 2am 2 Saville Row Bath, BA1 2QP info@commonroombath.co.uk commonroombath.co.uk

Enjoy Modern British Cuisine in a relaxed friendly atmosphere alongside a range of craft ales, cocktails and selection of wines. Join us for lunch Tuesday to Friday 12–2.30pm and enjoy 2 courses for £19.50, 3 courses for £22.50 from our set lunch menu. Now offering our 7 course tasting menu £55.00 per person.

14 Silver Street, Bradford On Avon, BA15 1JY Telephone: 01225 938088 Email: maylee@thebunchofgrapes.com

www.thebunchofgrapes.com

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

Bath Life team 01225 475800

Bathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ nest bespoke tailoring, dressmaking and alterations service We cater for all types of tailoring including made to measure and bespoke hand made suits for both men and women to bridal alterations

25 Milsom Street, Bath, BA1 1DG t: 01225 920 263 info@citytailors.co.uk www.citytailors.co.uk

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

THEREBY HANGS A TALE

In an era of ugly Twitter spats and political disharmony, it’s reassuring to see two people – okay, one person and a wolf – who’ve patched things up and decided they can both live happily side-by-side. Enter Little Red Riding Hood, looking not even a tiny bit scared, and the Big Bad Wolf, looking quite big but not bad, in this delightful depiction of the famous children’s fairytale. This playful, quirky coat hook comes courtesy of Marie Dickinson, who runs her furniture design company Mirabelledesign in Bradford on Avon. Marie handcrafts wooden wonders for children, or anyone young at heart, inviting all to enter the imagination-filled world of childhood. Amongst her repertoire are chairs, bookcases, wooden toys and storage. All her items are made to order, using materials that are sourced responsibly and eco-friendly paints; they’re also guaranteed to raise a smile.

This coat hook is £35 and can be purchased on www.mirabelledesign.com or on www.etsy.com

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THE REC MUG, £7.99 Whether you ﬁll this statement mug with whisky or tea during the game is really none of our business; the main thing is, you’ll be supporting the boys in black-and-blue From Bath Rugby Shop, 1 Argyle Street, Bath; www.bathrugbyshop.com

BE A GOOD SPORT And stay both sleek and stylish with these exercise-themed beauties

GOLD CHOCOLATE MEDALS, £12 Great for a party, sports day or the Olympian in your life, each of these four chocolate medals has been handcrafted by artisan chocolatiers from the ﬁnest milk chocolate and dusted in gold edible dust, then strung on a brown satin ribbon From Bath-based Choc on Choc; www.choconchoc.co.uk

VIOLET JASMINIUM BATH SOAK, £9.95 After a sweaty, musclepounding gym session, light a candle and pop yourself in the bath to enjoy the heavenly scents of this sophisticated body soak From French Grey, Burton Street, Bath; www.thesomersettoiletryco.co.uk

VINTAGE STYLE BOXING GLOVES, £47 Redecorating your home gym? Or starring in Bugsy Malone? These beauties are hand-made, using 100 per cent supple leather and ﬁnished off with leather laces From Bath-based vintagesportsuk; available on www.etsy.com

LOVE PILATES ART PRINT, £7 This heart, made entirely of words associated with the principles and practices of Pilates, will set the mood in your home studio From Bath-based Lines and Designs Co; available on www.etsy.com

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ED’S CHOICE

PERSONALISED TENNIS BALLS, £19.50 Know a tennis nut? Gift them these sweet personalised tennis balls and they’ll love you forever (even if you do keep hitting them right in the… oh, you know) From Bath-based Price of Bath; available on www.etsy.com

PIPPA SHORTS, £25 AND SPIRIT CROP, £25 This limited edition run of cycling shorts nails style and practicality in one fell swoop, with flatlock seams for comfort, quick drying fabric to keep you fresh and a high waist design for an oh-so flattering line. And, at the same time, stay supported and comfortable in this ladies cropped gym top, designed to keep you secure whilst you exercise. With mesh panels and flat lock seams, this crop top creates a streamlined shape, with a racer back to show off the shoulders From Boudavida, 17 Milsom Place, Milsom Street; www.boudavida.com

FITNESS MAD PRO-SPEED ROPE, £8.99 David Beckham’s always skipping, so you know it’s a good idea, and you can do it in your back garden. This smooth-turning speed skipping rope promises high durability and has easy grip, low density shatter-proof handles to ensure you keep on jumping From John Moore Sports, 2 Argyle Street, Bath; www.johnmooresports.co.uk

UBIETY FACIAL MIST, £20 Going straight from the gym to the pub? The ingredients in this spray have a natural cooling eﬀect that’ll reduce that red, out-of-breath look, while the birch water is a powerhouse ingredient for calming and treating sensitive or irritated skin. The perfect post-workout ritual to get you back to your calm, handsome self From Kilver Court Designer Village, Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com

BUILT WATER BOTTLE, £14 This hydration water bottle is not just easy on the eye – its double walled, vacuuminsulated body is made of stainless steel, which insulates cold drinks for up to 24 hours and hot ones for up to six hours, keeping you feeling hydrated and happy From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

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LIVE AND LEARN Bath schools may perform brilliantly on the exam front, but what about the other stuff? We take a look-see… By Imogen Wilde

Fun at All Hallows: the chances of catching the same jumper you threw in the air seem fairly slim to us…

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EDUCATION

“The head actively encourages the pupils to have a voice, and so welcomes knocks on the study door”

f you’re lucky, you’ll have a bank of happy school memories. But for those of us of a certain age, we can’t wistfully smile at the memory of baking our own pizzas, building our own bug hotels, or crawling on our hands and knees through enchanted forests, because these kind of jollies – sorry, ‘extra-curricular activities’ – simply did not exist in the olden days. You might have been allowed to watch Kenneth Branagh’s unabridged, near four-hour long adaptation of Hamlet on the last day of term. Oh, how times have changed. These days there is so much fun stuﬀ to do at school and, quite rightly, it’s considered as important as the curriculum. Which is great, really, when you consider the likes of social media – and other scary things totally out of our control – that modern young adults are going to have to cope with. Today’s schools are putting their all into making the education experience one that’s geared towards building well-informed adults, yes, but also puts an emphasis on creativity, care, and happiness.

THE PARAGON SCHOOL, BATH

An independent co-educational day school for children aged 3-11 Where is it? Tucked away on Lyncombe Vale, 1 mile from the centre of Bath. What are its strengths?

They’re big on art, music and sport and have extensive forest school and outdoor learning facilities.

What about the fun stuff?

As well as the usual sports days, parent and child choirs, school plays and concerts, the guys here hold special events for family members to join their oﬀspring at school. Expect an invite to thread a needle or two at sewing club or to help build a bug hotel, or come along to Father Friday, Mother Monday or a grandparents’ tea. In their own words…

“Set in eight acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, The Paragon is a school which values childhood, happiness, kindness and a joy of learning. Because we are a family school, everyone is welcome to participate. “Children at The Paragon are busy, happy and involved. In a typical week, they might attend a school trip, welcome a visiting speaker, participate in a house meeting, perform in a lunchtime music recital, play in a sports match and attend several of the 65 extra-curricular clubs on offer. Children enjoy using the facilities that our senior school, Prior Park College, offers. Learning is not confined to the classroom and children enjoy frequent outdoor learning sessions with their own teachers, as well as with outdoor play specialists Swainswick Explorers.” www.paragonschool.co.uk

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EDUCATION DOWNSIDE SCHOOL

A co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11-18 Where is it? Stratton-on-the-Fosse, just 25 minutes from Bath. Give us a virtual tour…

You can’t visit the school without being wowed by the historic abbey, visible like a beacon for miles around and surrounded by rolling Somerset countryside. Your kids, in turn, will be hard pushed not to be impressed by top-notch facilities like the indoor swimming pool and recording studio, dedicated to music. Who are the teachers making waves?

The head of computing, Ian Ramsden, has taken the computing provision at the school to new heights over the last two years and they now offer computing at GCSE and A level. Meanwhile, English teacher Paul Jones has helped budding journalists set up their own school magazine, Horizon. In their own words…

“We are known for our warm Benedictine welcome and you can tell an Old Gregorian by a mile – the values learned at Downside, of welcome concern for the individual, building community, listening and humility, characterise an Old Gregorian. They are the ones most likely to raise money for charity or do the washing up after a party.” www.downside.co.uk

ALL HALLOWS PREP SCHOOL

An independent co-educational prep school Where is it? East Cranmore, 15 miles to the south of Bath. In a nutshell?

The folk down at All Hallows describe their joint as “an excellent all round prep school with an outstanding scholarship record for entry to senior schools.” They cite creativity as a particular strength (and they’ve got a plush state of the art creative space to prove it) and were an early adopter of the forest school system. Any star teachers?

Head of art Sacha Guppy gets a shout-out for her approach to teaching art with the introduction of common themes, to which the whole school works, culminating in an exhibition. For the enchanted forest theme, the entrance to the forest (aka the art studio) became a woodland tunnel to be negotiated on hands and knees to enter the exhibition, a celebration of everyone’s efforts. What is a forest school, really?

In its simplest terms, it’s about spending time outdoors. The younger pupils here enjoy regular time learning outdoors in the nine-acre wood which includes outdoor classrooms, a cabin with an indoor space, food preparation areas, fire pits with cooking facilities, a pizza oven and much more.

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In their own words…

“All Hallows is a friendly school where pupils welcome newcomers, whether they’re relocating to the area, changing schools locally or starting out on their educational journey. Extra-curricular opportunities abound, so from budding tennis players and athletes to designers and artists, there is something for everyone to further their skills or to discover a new passion. The head actively encourages the pupils to have a voice, so welcomes knocks on the study door from pupils who want him to consider their proposals.” www.allhallowsschool.co.uk

ST MARGARET’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL, CALNE

An independent day school for boys and girls aged 3-11 Where is it? The Wiltshire town of Calne, 20 miles or so from Bath.

In a nutshell...

Small class sizes, and a broad curriculum with performance and specialist teachers. Pupils achieve extremely well at 11+ with many winning scholarships to their first choice senior school. What about the facilities?

Not too shabby, especially if you’re well into your sports; expect to find a good sports centre, swimming pool, tennis courts and multipurpose Astro Turf.

In their own words…

“The pupils experience a broad and challenging curriculum that is expertly tailored to their needs. Wonderful school grounds provide ample space for the children to learn and socialise outdoors. Regular trips to our St Mary’s Senior School, which is located on the same site, further enhances each child’s learning experience and the depth of opportunities that they’re exposed to.” www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk

EDUCATION DID YOU KNOW? The Paragon was originally built as a spa retreat in 1742, to attract visitors to the natural mineral spring discovered in the area in 1737. The Spa was an alternative destination to the hot springs of the Roman Baths and was intended as a curative resort. At Monkton Combe School pupils write their own end of term reports, and personal reflection is an embedded part of the learning journey here. Prior Park College is listed as one of the most beautiful boarding schools in the UK by the Oxford Royale Academy. The Mansion was almost destroyed by fire twice – once in 1836 and again in 1991. After the latter, it took four years and £6M to restore the building back to its original grace. Downside School holds bagpipe practice every Thursday afternoon. At Wells Cathedral School, the heating and electricity is controlled by an artificial intelligence. They are hosting a hugely innovative pilot project investigating how schools can become more energy efficient.

Downside pupils demonstrate that Axl Rose is not the only one who can rock the guitar-plus-kilt look; BELOW: getting into the Peter Pan spirit at All Hallows

“A Sixth Form student commented, ‘I think it is the teachers I will miss almost as much as my friends’”

PRIOR PARK COLLEGE, BATH

A mixed Roman Catholic independent school for both day and boarding students Where is it? Combe Down. What’s great about it?

Well, the location for starters. Prior Park’s stunning setting means glorious views overlooking the city of Bath. There are top-notch sport facilities, including a fitness centre; Astro, cricket and rugby pitches; indoor swimming pool; and an extensive creative faculty with its own Sixth Form product design workshop; Sixth Form centre; health and wellbeing centre; 150 seat theatre and chapel. What about the teachers?

The staff here get a big thumbs-up. In a recent survey, the parents said that staff were “attentive and nurturing”, while students added that “teachers are so supportive here at Prior.” A Sixth Form student even commented: “I think it is the teachers I will miss almost as much as my friends, as they invest so much time and energy in us.”

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EDUCATION

In their own words…

“Students are encouraged to embrace all the opportunities at Prior – acting and singing in first class productions, competing for their team, producing impressive works of art and design, leading our charity work and taking a full role in house activities. Boarding life is happy, vibrant and dynamic, with a full weekend activity programme and access to the on-site facilities after hours. Our aim for our students is that they leave Prior Park as confident, capable, independent-minded, compassionate young adults.” www.priorparkcollege.com TOP: Forest school at King Edward’s: these guys appear to have foraged marshmallows somehow; ABOVE: Pupils at Sheldon School don’t always have their feet firmly on the ground

KING EDWARD’S SCHOOL, BATH An independent co-educational day school for students aged 3-18 Where is it? Central Bath. Particular strengths?

King Edward’s has quite the reputation for academic achievement, with results consistently ranking the school amongst the highest performing in the South West of England. What about the other stuff?

This includes everything from Amnesty International to yoga, astronomy to textiles, coding to debating, dance to an environmental action group, KES Pride to Lego robotics, jiu jitsu to theatre tech club. Got a kid that thrives on the stage?

Then this might be the school for them. KES won the Independent Schools of the Year Award for Performing Arts. Why?

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Judges were impressed by the breadth of opportunity here, from performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to junior school pupils staging a production of Romeo and Juliet at the egg theatre.

SHELDON SCHOOL

“Children thrive most when they are given the opportunities and support to find their voice and to express themselves, be that through sport, music, drama, art, debating, creative writing, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, CCF, outdoor pursuits or any of the dozens of clubs and societies that help our pupils grow into confident, engaging and well-rounded young men and women who are ready to throw themselves into the joys and challenges of life beyond school.” www.kesbath.com

Sheldon has 1,750 pupils, nearly 400 in the Sixth Form, meaning that whoever your child is, they’re bound to find their tribe here. The school scores well on the Ofsted side of things too, with reports particularly pointing to the students’ wellbeing.

In their own words…

A mixed comprehensive secondary school and Sixth Form for students aged 11-18 Where is it? In Chippingham, around 17 miles from Bath. What’s it all about?

Fun stuff outside the classroom?

Lots. There are a whole load of clubs where students can learn circus skills, code-breaking, Lego robotics, knitting, gaming, jazz, life drawing, and there’s even something called the reptile club. (We’re in!)

EDUCATION In their own words…

“The students are a joy to work with: proud of their school, and keen to learn in a place where it is cool to achieve. Ultimately, this is a school with a happy, purposeful atmosphere, firmly rooted in strong relationships between all who come here – children and adults – where students achieve highly, but are doing so through exposure to so much more than just the academics. It is a genuine pleasure to be in our wonderful setting and to come to work each day.” www.sheldonschool.co.uk

WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

A co-educational independent school for 2-18 year olds, with boarding and day students Where is it? Wells, 20 miles from Bath. Particular strengths? This is one of the world’s leading music schools, and around a third of pupils are specialist musicians, drawn from around the globe. The virtual tour, please…

Pretty impressive. Expect a beautiful, quirky estate of some 60 buildings encompassing medieval treasures, Georgian grandeur and bespoke, state-of-the-art modern facilities, such as the performing arts centre Cedars Hall, and a new cricket pavilion. Do they have one of those mottos?

They do indeed: it’s ‘be what you are’. This extends not only to the pupils but also to the teachers, who are given free rein to inspire pupils with their individuality, knowledge and passion. Case in point is geology teacher David Rowley, whose classroom is an extraordinary treasure trove of rocks and fossils he has personally collected when leading school trips over the years, including a recent one to Mount Everest.

Wells School: next up she’ll be climbing the west front of the Cathedral, no doubt

In their own words...

“Our ‘be what you are’ philosophy means that each pupil’s experience is completely unique. Around half of our senior school pupils are boarders and half are local day pupils; some are highly academic, some take part in outdoor activities, some are very sporty, some pursue music. What binds everyone together is the very strong sense of community – the school really does feel like a family.” www.wells.cathedral.school

“At Monkton Combe School pupils write their own end of term reports” 134 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

MONKTON COMBE SCHOOL

What’s the school experience like?

and face challenges with greater strength. We celebrate failure (literally – in assembly) as well as excellence, because performance isn’t how we measure success and authentic resilience cannot be built without it.” www.monktoncombeschool.com

Any star teachers?

HAYESFIELD GIRLS’ SCHOOL AND MIXED SIXTH FORM

An independent boarding and day school Where is it? The senior school is in the village of Monkton Combe, while the nursery and preprep are in Combe Down on the edge of Bath. They’re big on encouraging students to get stuck into activities, whatever their ability, such as the thriving ‘Choir Who Can’t Sing’. Definitely worth a mention are teachers Jamie Rouan, who successfully climbed Mount Everest, and Simon Brown, who missed out on breaking the 30 day record to row across the Atlantic by only 500 miles. The school is very proud of the ambition and scale of vision of their teachers, which inspires their pupils. In their own words…

“Monkton holds true to the belief that self discovery is the key to success; not only do happy children learn, but they explore their strengths and weaknesses, develop resilience

An all-girls secondary school with a co-educational Sixth Form Where is it? Freshford, seven miles from Bath. What makes the school unique?

Hayesfield Girls’ School is the only state girl’s school in Bath and its surrounding areas. Ever keen on challenging stereotypes, they have a Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force contingent at the school, allowing students to venture out at sea (despite Bath being land locked!) and experience leadership training at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

EDUCATION

Girls at Hayesfield: this lot will be setting the future alight, we reckon

MORE SCHOOLS ON THE BLOCK The Bath Academy Independent college (GSCEs and AS Levels) and language school www.bathacademy.co.uk Beechen Cliff A boys’ secondary school in Bath, with a co-educational Sixth Form www.beechencliff.org.uk Churchfields School Primary school with two bases, one in Atworth and one in Monkton Farleigh www.churchfields.wilts.sch.uk Kingswood School An independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 9-18 www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk The Royal High School An independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18 www.royalhighbath.gdst.net

“We celebrate failure as well as excellence, because performance isn’t the only way we measure success” Any star teachers?

Never known to rest on their laurels, the staff here win gold stars all-round for their recent sporting endeavours: Mr Deane the Maths teacher competed in his age group for the UCI World Gran Fondo Cycling Championships in Poznan, Poland this summer, while last winter, the headteacher, Miss Yates, gained her Level 2 Ski Instructor Qualification. Hats off. In their own words…

“Hayesfield provides an inspirational environment in which girls not only achieve the highest academic standards (we are currently the school with the highest progress 8 score in the DfE’s performance tables for the entire South West) but where they also develop their own sense of identity, enjoy freedom from stereotyping and feel liberated to develop their own limitless aspirations. We pride ourselves that by the time they leave us, all our girls are individuals with their own character and personality.” www.hayesfield.com

ST MARK’S SCHOOL

A co-educational comprehensive secondary school Where is it? Larkhall. What’s their story?

Barnaby Ash has been the headteacher here since 2014, and during that time the school has entered a period of growth that has seen the student numbers rise to just under 300, with that number now set to double over the next five years. Even after that period of growth, however, the school will remain the smallest of the state secondary schools in Bath, offering excellent opportunities for individual support and pastoral care to facilitate academic progress. What are the facilities like?

Furnished with a multi-use Astro pitch, newly re-surfaced tennis courts and outdoor activity zone, there’s plenty to keep the kids active here. The school also offers improved rugby access through their partnership with Bath RFC. Anything new?

Yes. A newly revamped house system, inspired by famous Bathonians. In their own words…

“Our vision is to inspire students for future success. We achieve this by developing confident, ambitious learners through an unstinting focus on academic excellence whilst prioritising well-being and self-esteem.” n www.st-marks.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 137

ADVERTISING FEATURE

A warm welcome

Mr Luke Bromwich has taken over as Head of one of the most successful preparatory schools in the south west

r Bromwich, 35, became Headmaster of St Margaret’s Preparatory School, Calne this September following the retirement of Karen Cordon after 22 years. St Margaret’s is the sister school of St Mary’s, Calne and offers a co-educational experience for both boys and girls aged 3 -11. Mr Bromwich, who was Deputy Headteacher of Kellett School, the British International School in Hong Kong, was chosen to lead the school after a rigorous selection process carried out by the Governors. Chairman of Governors Svante Adde said: “He was our unanimous choice and stood out as the leading contender in a very strong field of candidates, both from this country and abroad.” “This reflects the high reputation that both St Margaret’s and St Mary’s hold in the independent

school world internationally as well as at home. We are confident that Luke will prove a very worthy successor to Karen and that he will steer the school with great success through the years ahead.“ Mr Bromwich brings with him extensive experience of leading successful schools both in the independent and state sectors, in the UK and internationally. He is eager to ensure that all aspects of the St Margaret’s school community, from its academic success to the pupils’ provision in the arts and performance, languages and sport, continue to thrive. Mr Bromwich grew up in Devon and studied Engineering at Exeter University before pursuing his passion in education which eventually led him to Hong Kong where he has lived for the last six years. His wife Frankie is also a teacher with experience of working in both the private and public sector, more recently specialising in working with children with special educational needs. They

have a two year old son, Noah, and the family moved to Wiltshire this summer. Mr Bromwich will be welcoming prospective parents into the school so that they can discuss the possibility of joining this vibrant learning community and see first-hand the high-quality facilities that are on offer for boys and girls aged 3–11. n

Parents can either book a 1:1 tour or attend the school’s Open Morning on Thursday 10th October - please contact Mrs Simone Hughes in the Admissions Department on 01249 857379 or email hughess@stmargaretsprep.org.uk www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Sporting values

DOWNSIDE SCHOOL explain the benefits of sports

t Downside School our sporting culture exists in harmony with our academic values. It is an indispensable part of our unique character; something that goes far beyond fitness and competition. Our pupils recognise and embrace the opportunity to develop their self-esteem, leadership skills and resilience, participating fully and striving to improve, regardless of aptitude. The value of competition is inherent to our approach and we know that it is as much about learning to lose – to ‘fail better’ – as it is about learning how to win with grace and empathy. The fantastic sporting grounds at Downside are just a short hop from the World Heritage City of Bath and consist of 500 acres stretched out across the bucolic Mendip countryside seemingly designed for cross-country. It is a beautiful and transformative environment with an extensive range of rugby and cricket pitches, tennis, hockey and netball courts, and our modern sports pavilion. Pupils make frequent use of our first-rate

indoor facilities, including squash courts, cricket nets, a fitness suite, swimming pool and gymnasium. Downside School’s sporting programmes have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years. Outstanding leadership is provided by dedicated heads of development and strengthened by our close links with Bath Rugby and Somerset Cricket. We are delighted and intensely proud that more pupils than ever are competing at representative level – district, county, regional or academy – in rugby, cricket, hockey and netball. This includes representative honours this past year at international level for Wales Rugby. Such achievements are the pinnacle of our sporting endeavours and Benedictine values of discipline, humility and the stewardship of gifts. Downside School’s unique atmosphere and our celebrated Benedictine traditions means that all pupils enjoy and value the sporting life at all levels, from the celebrated house run, the Downside Dash, to the impassioned rivalry of inter-school sport. Our pupils know that there is a sporting

activity that they can enjoy and find challenging, and that helps them to grow in confidence as members of our community. They recognise implicitly the value of sporting endeavour at Downside in supporting every pupil to reach their potential, both on the playing field and in terms of character and aspiration. It is an unparalleled culture of genuine sporting enrichment. To find out more about sport at Downside, including scholarships, the School invites you to their Sixth Form Subject Fair on 5 October and an Open Day on 12 October. Alternatively, private visits are available on a date to suit you. ■ Downside School, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 4RJ 01761 235103; www.downside.co.uk admissions@downside.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the tutor The education experts

VERONIQUE DAVIS

COURSE LEADER, FOREIGN LANGUAGES CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF BATH 01225 383991; www.bath.ac.uk

HENRY PIKE

What qualifications do you have? I have a degree in English Language and Civilisation from Universite’ Paris Diderot and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from the University of Oxford. What is your career background? I have over twenty years’ experience of teaching French in secondary schools and at university level. I worked as a language coordinator in secondary schools, at the University of Oxford and at the University of Bath. At Bath, I supervise all the language programmes we offer and make sure the teachers do a great job in the classroom. How do you structure your sessions? In my experience, I noticed that students want two things from a language class: they want to speak and understand what is said to them. For this reason, I make sure that our classes at the Foreign Languages Centre are always interactive and students communicate with each other and with the teacher. Learning a language is fun, but can be a little daunting: I know I have done a good job when I see our students comfortable in using the language inside and outside the class. Our teachers always make sure that every student has the support needed to improve and to develop lifelong language skills.

What do you most enjoy about being a tutor? Tutoring allows me to provide tailored tuition, which means I can respond precisely to my students’ needs in a way that often cannot be achieved in a classroom environment. This empowers my students to feel in control of their learning and gives me the freedom to tutor creatively, with tangible results. I enjoy helping students problem solve and seeing them get the results they need for the next stage of life. What are the biggest challenges for your students? Learning the detailed specification and applying it to exams. I structure my tutoring programmes to enable students to have confidence when taking their exams. Tutoring is perfect for all students, especially those who find school restrictive; for example highly creative or dyslexic students that don’t receive the support they need. What are the qualities of a good tutor? A tutor must gain a rapport with the students as individuals, have outstanding subject and exam knowledge, provide challenges which enable learning for struggling students through to gifted students, whatever their academic ambition.

TUTOR, CRESCENT TUITION 01225 469971; www.crescenttuition.co.uk

Veronique Davis

Henry Pike

JACQUI KNOWLES

LUCY BILLINGTON

What do you specialize in? I specialise in helping students improve their maths and English. Typically students come to me because they are struggling at school and need help in either one of both of these subjects. However, I also have a few students who have a great love of maths, who are doing really well at school and who want to challenge themselves further. What do you most enjoy about being a tutor? I love working with each child and seeing the look of pure joy on their faces when they have managed to complete a piece of work which they have previously struggled with. You can’t put into words the sense of accomplishment they feel when they sit an achievement test at the end of a level. It’s seeing that change in their attitude towards their studies of going from “I can’t” to “I can do that”. It makes every moment worthwhile. Where are your sessions based? I have two centres, Bath South and Midsomer Norton. My Bath classes run in Claverton Down Community Hall on Mondays and Thursdays, with a Tuesday class running at Southdown Methodist Church Centre. My Midsomer Norton classes run at Somervale School on Mondays and Wednesdays.

What do you most enjoy about teaching? I love to see children flourish, to watch their confidence grow and to observe as they begin to believe in themselves outside of their learning too. It is a wonderful thing to see a student change their mindset from ‘I’m rubbish at this’ to ‘I can do this!’ And of course the laughter! Why did you decide to run a tutoring business? Much as I enjoyed class teaching, I realised my passion lay in building the confidence of my students in a more personal, one-to-one way. I could see how great the link was between a student’s self-belief and achieving his or her highest potential. This is why, as well as tutors, I have many different types of therapists and mentors on my books in order to provide a holistic approach to nurturing and empowering the whole child. What is your career background? I studied languages at university, but then followed an initial career as a family law solicitor. I switched to teaching 17 years ago to pursue something more positive and never looked back! I have worked in local schools in the state and private sector as a class teacher, French teacher and a learning support teacher. I specialise in working with primary aged children with a range of special needs. I am a specialist dyslexia teacher and am studying for a post-graduate qualification in autism.

KUMON www.kumon.co.uk

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

TUTOR, INSPIRING KIDS www.inspiringkids.co.uk (coming soon)

Jacqui Knowles

Lucy Billington

Starting School?

We'd love to see you at one of our

OPEN DAYS Atworth

Wednesday 2nd October 2019

10am

No a

-2p

m ppo nece intment ssar y

Monkton Farleigh Thursday 3rd October 2019

We love our nurturing school and you will too! All are welcome to visit to see it in action…

We look forward to meeting you Ofsted rated 'Good' 2017

Headteacher: Mr Simon Futcher Bradford Road, Atworth, Wiltshire, SN12 8HY Tel: 01225 703026 Email: admin@churchﬁelds.wilts.sch.uk www.churchﬁelds.wilts.sch.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Good apples Find quality staff for your school with APPLE A DAY SUPPLY

inding the best staff for your school can be time consuming, stressful and expensive. Apple A Day Supply supports local schools with all of their recruitment requirements with their ethical, upfront and professional service. As a local, teacher-run and APSCo accredited education recruitment company, they pride themselves on sourcing the best candidates for your positions.

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Foreign Languages Centre

Enrolling now! Daytime, lunchtime and evening foreign language classes for members of the public.

Are you struggling with Baby/Toddler sleep challenges, need help with separation anxiety or experiencing difficulties adjusting to a new sibling? I can provide responsive and personalised sleep, feeding or behaviour solutions for your child.

Please ring Michelle on 07909 691140 email michelle@dreamsleepers.co.uk

www.dreamsleepers.co.uk

Arabic French German Italian Japanese Mandarin Chinese Portuguese Spanish We offer a wide range of foreign languages at beginner through to advanced level. To find out more about the courses available, or to enrol, visit our website www.bath.ac.uk/flc and apply online or call 01225 383991.

Make Tennis and Squash YOUR sport

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Success in Tennis and Squash will add so much to your life: health, fresh air, friends and fun. It’s easier than you might think, and before November 30th, 2019, it’s free!  We’ll take you through the basics of the game and ensure you know what you are doing and how to play, whatever your experience.  We'll help set you up, with free lessons and like-minded people to play with.  We’ll encourage you and help you along your path to sporting success. All at the most beautiful and largest tennis and squash club in Bath, with 11 tennis courts, 4 squash courts and a welcoming bar with a lively calendar of social events for all age groups. Our offer to you includes six group training sessions with a professional coach, use of the courts (at specified times, for practice), and unlimited use of the bar and facilities up to December 31st, 2019.

The Lansdown Club, Northfields, Bath BA1 5TN | 01225 425763 | www.lansdownclub.co.uk | reception@lansdownclub.co.uk

New Jack City health

The Bath Life guide to working out smarter

Toniq has a nightclub vibe, so expect lots of pink lighting

Want to get pumped like a superhero? Or just be able to see your shoes again? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been checking out the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increasingly vibrant fitness scene to find out where to go, when, and for why By Paul Marland www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 153

HEALTH

here’s nothing wrong with having willpower (or so we’re told; it’s elusive for some of us), but that’s not the secret to fitness. Turns out, life actually starts to get better when you quit fighting your own laziness. How so? It’s all to do with creating situations where willpower becomes irrelevant. So you want to read more? Put a book by your bedside, and ban the laptop from the bedroom. Want to eat better? Put carrots where you can easily reach them (and hide biscuits where you can’t). And want to get fit? Pick a gym you actually like, and which isn’t too far away. But – and here’s the crucial bit – do pick a gym. The fact is that, for most of us, if we don’t have a specific space we go to on the regular, we’re making our training voluntary. And once you do that – even if you try to go for regular runs around Vicky Park – sooner or later you’ll find other things to do. Only Rocky is driven enough to get world-class fit by chopping logs and pulling sledges and punching sides of meat. The rest of us need to channel Ivan Drago, and hire a back-up team. Basically, until you make a gym part of your life, you’re leaving yourself open to hundreds of excuses not to train. And you’ll put on kilogram after kilogram each year. There’s nothing natural or inevitable about fitness – and especially not after 30 – so you’ll have to work at it. Luckily, Bath is packed with places – and increasingly so, with new boutique gyms opening all the time – to help you do just that.

The facilities at Team Bath, up at the Uni, seem almost endless

“SPIN VILLAGE IS DEDICATED to make you fall in

love with spinning again,” says founder Charlie Bird. “Every aspect has been designed with the rider in mind. Intimidation has never been part of our vocabulary, and around 80 per cent of our riders come with little or no spinning background, and more often than not haven’t exercised in years.” The instructors here refuse to offer the bog-standard ‘generic house music’ spin class. “They’ve free rein to throw anything and everything into their playlists,” Charlie says, “from AC/DC to Ariana Grande. The team is constantly changing it up, so you never hear the same playlist twice. They’ll guide you through each track too, giving RPMs and gears to keep you riding to the beat of the music at an intensity that suits you. You’re always in full control of your bike’s resistance, but – for those who’re more competitive – our in-studio leaderboards display your live power score. But don’t worry – this isn’t compulsory!” The whole place is spanking new, air-conned to keep you cool, and every detail has been thought about. You can book through an app; cycling shoes and a towel will be waiting under your bike; and you can even pop your phone on charge in one of their charging lockers. They clean each bike after use too, so you don’t have to, while the changing rooms, Charlie says, “are stacked, not least with baskets of toiletries, filled with all those little things it’s so easy to forget. Our mission is to make you feel fresher when you leave than when your arrived!” Speaking of leaving, on the way out you’ll receive an email with a breakdown of your performance: calories, distance travelled, average and maximum RPMs and power, so you can see your improvement class by class. “Our front-of-house gang are the lifeblood of the studio,” Charlie says, “and not only know every rider’s name, but also where you’ve been on holiday and what breed of dog you’ve got. After a long day at work, we realise how important it is to be greeted by a smiling face. We want every 45 minute class to feel like 20 minutes!”

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EVEN NEWER IN TOWN is CLASS Boutique Fitness, usefully tucked

into the ground floor of Sovereign Point on Bath’s Riverside. Rob Suchet is co-founder here, and has even pressed his dad – Poirot actor David Suchet – into becoming the studio’s ambassador for fitness over 60. Now 73, David says, “exercise has easily added 10 years onto my career, and my life,” and CLASS offers specific ‘Upper Class’ sessions for mature clients, focussing on flexibility, strength, mobility and balance. “We want to make it as easy as possible for you to train,” Rob says, “so there’s no joining fee and no contract. We have a wide range of membership options, from £37 per calendar month, as well as pay as you go credit for ultimate flexibility. This lasts a year, and can be shared with friends and family.” Staff here are all experienced industry specialists and, most importantly, practice what they preach. “Our team includes a professional aerialist, a GB age group triathlete, a handstand technician and an award-winning nutritionist,” Rob says. “CLASS isn’t just another gym – it’s a concept, a culture and a family. Our class sizes are small, to keep them intimate and ensure you get maximum focus from your instructor. And our studios and other facilities are reminiscent of a boutique hotel, from rainforest showers to luxurious cotton bath towels, Natural Spa Factory products to GHD hairdryers. We want you to love coming to CLASS, and feel like training is a treat – not a chore.” And to keep this ‘more than just a fitness studio’ feel going, the guys here run free monthly member events, from SUP stand-up paddleboarding down the river to meditation and hypnotherapy workshops. “Often these evenings involve a glass of fizz and nibbles from our health bar,” Rob says, “but they always include lots of fun and laughter.”

“Our studios are reminiscent of a boutique hotel”

Familiar faces sometimes crop up at CLASS; warpaint at Toniq; and great views across town from the running machines at the good old YMCA

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HEALTH or, let’s face it, never got going – is group workout programme Power 10. “We’re great at helping people who are just getting back into fitness, or have never been in the game before, to love working out and eating healthily,” says co-founder Alexandra Mackenzie, “and in just 10 weeks too. We’re friendly and fun, but will always give it to you straight. Our trainers are great at helping you believe in yourself.” The big difference between this and other gyms is just that – how big it is. “People are at their best when working together to get the most out of each other,” Alex says, “and the energy you get in our massive space, filled with a big group, is unlike anything you’d find at either a regular large commercial or small boutique gym.” Power 10 began when Alex teamed up with her own personal trainer, Joe, to bring to the rest of us all the protocols he’d used to help her lose 50lbs. “Since then, Alex has gone on to become a PT and sports massage therapist herself,” Joe says. “She’s walked the path our members are walking, so has an added understanding of what it takes.” ANOTHER RELATIVE NEWBIE is TONIQ , perhaps the first of Bath’s

current crop of boutique, group fitness-based gyms, which arrived just over a year ago. “Our members have seen some amazing results, which is probably why they keep coming back,” says founder Arron Collins-Thomas, who’s been a personal trainer in these parts for nearly 15 years now, but has trained clients all over the world, as well as run his own health retreats in Europe. “This has helped us build a strong community that trains together and socialises together, before and after class and at our monthly social events. The last class of the day is set to our live in-house DJ, then the party continues with G&Ts for all.” As you might have guessed, the motto here is ‘work hard to play

Let’s take this outside: mixing things up at Toniq

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

hard’, and they advocate a healthy balance, hosting monthly fitness challenges, running groups and more. “TONIQ is unique, looking and feeling more like a nightclub than the typical sterile gym,” Arron says. “The bespoke LED lighting, top of the range sound system and DJ curated playlists enhance the atmosphere and energy. Upon joining every member receives a detailed nutrition guide, and gets 1:1 support from the trainers and consultations with our nutritionist.” Arron stresses the importance of recovery and rest to achieve optimum results, and teaches specialist breathing, qigong and recovery classes, while the gym’s ex-PE teacher manager, Laura, was once a professional footballer, playing for Tottenham Ladies. “Classes are made to challenge you safely,” Arron says, “so you’ll always feel you’ve earned your sweat by the end. It starts with a great workout, but ends with true friendships.” OF COURSE, FITNESS isn’t just about going to the gym. Lansdown

Tennis, Squash and Croquet Club – just off Lansdown Road near Royal High School – has 11 tennis courts with every sort of surface you can think of (Astroturf, clay and tarmac), plus four squash courts. And if you want something more relaxed, you can enjoy that here too: there’s also a croquet green. “Our coaches are the best in their field,” says manager Philip Torjussen, “so, no matter what standard you are, you can really enjoy your sport. For instance, Tom Therrien has been coaching tennis for over 20 years, from teaching beginners to training national competitors both in the UK and abroad. And then there’s Hadrian Stiff, who heads up the squash coaching team. Again, he has over 20 years’ experience, with a proven track record of producing top players, including three national junior champions and 12 regional champions. He’s coach

ALSO KEEN TO HELP those of us whose fitness regime has lapsed –

“The last class of the day is set to our live in-house DJ”

Top notch equipment (but questionable socks) at Spin Village

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 157

Apparently you’re allowed to eat the giant chocolate digestives (after you’re done lifting them)

to some of the world’s best professionals too, including the current world number 1, Mohamed El Shorbagy, the world number 4, Marwen El Shorbagy, and the world number 7, Joelle King. Whatever your standard, though, our aim is simple: to help our members stay healthy, and encourage young people to make sport a part of their normal lives.” NOT ALL BATH GYMS are of the group-focussed new breed. At Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre, up at the University of Bath Sports Training Village at Claverton Down, they have three dedicated fitness zones comprising nearly 1,600 square metres of space. Make no mistake, this place is big, with over 100 different exercise classes each week, and access to top-notch on-site physio and sport science support too. There are free personalised training programmes, reviewed every six weeks to meet your changing needs. “Our Gym & Fitness Centre has more than doubled in size this year, thanks to a new two-tier extension,” says their Ben McPhee, “and has everything you need under one roof. Staffed and supervised seven days a week, it’s fitted with state-of-the-art Matrix Fitness equipment and boasts brand-new spin and fitness studios. And this is just part of a wider Sports Training Village. Team Bath+ members also receive access to our tennis courts and Olympic-sized swimming pool.” The personal trainer team here is world class too, including Emma Collins-Jones – one of the pilates and yoga instructors – who’s also a reigning British Weight Lifting Champion, and Olly Biddulph, a former bobsleigh pilot for Great Britain. Then there’s Sandra SmithVokroj, who also represented her country in athletics, weightlifting and powerlifting. “It’s an inspirational training environment,” Ben says. “Keep an eye out for the Olympic and Paralympic medallists, or rising young sporting stars working towards the next Games – but remember that this is

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

an inclusive environment too. Whatever your personal gold-medal standard is, whether it is getting in shape or boosting your self-esteem, we can help you achieve it.” FINALLY, AN OLD FAVOURITE: the YMCA. Based right in the

centre of Bath, they put great emphasis on being both friendly and professional. “They’re certainly the two words we hear most from our members,” says Trish Fairbeard, who amongst other things teaches yoga there. “We have great staff who genuinely love what they do, and will support you all the way. Over 50 classes a week and a great gym mean we offer it all.” And it’s true: they also run workshops, retreats and yoga holidays – “we’re a great alternative venue to the more expensive yoga studios” – with Trish still running a free gentle yoga class every Wednesday at 11.30am, so anyone can pop in and give it a try. “I set it up nearly five years ago, wanting yoga to be accessible to everyone – not just those who could afford it – so we never charge for our time, and the YMCA gives us the studio space, and access to all the facilities, to match. It’s hugely popular, and although I’ve recently passed the class over to Tamara to teach, it’s still free to all.” As well as the regular assortment of PTs – led by manager Mick, who leaves this year after 20 service – there are more specialist staff on offer, including sports therapist Craig, who specialises in sports physio therapy and sports injuries and offers dry needling and dry cupping, along with general massage techniques. In fact, four staff members are qualified massage therapists, offering treatments from Indian head massage to full body massage on site. “We encourage a holistic approach to health, and really see the benefit of group exercise,” Trish says, “so we’ve developed this significantly over recent years. We’re a charity and social enterprise, so our ethos is different – any surplus funds come back into our work.

HEALTH

TOP: The Power 10 gang strike a pose; BELOW: Just a few of the 11 tennis courts up at Lansdown

“We’re fun and friendly, but we’ll give it to you straight” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 159

HEALTH We’ve just redeveloped our changing rooms, which look amazing – and have changes to the gym coming up. Every time someone takes out a membership, they’re helping support our charitable work with vulnerable young people in Bath. We’ve been able to open a new project this year called Daystop, specifically geared at young people who need support and advice and don’t know where to turn. These projects are part-supported by our club – so by being a member you are also giving something back, and impacting the lives of people who’ve hit a tough time.” Much of the appeal of the YMCA is that it’s one of the cheaper options; they’ll charge you £29.95 a month all in, giving unlimited access to the gym, classes and staff, who’ll provide assessments, programmes and support your fitness journey. “We aim to make fitness and wellness accessible to all,” Trish says, “so we offer an affordable allin-membership and pay as you go options – with classes at £6-£7 per session for non members.” ■

GLORY DAYS

Seven great places to have fun, feel fantastic, and generally look after your body. But which one is right for you? CLASS Where? Sovereign Point, Bath Riverside What is it? Boutique fitness studio overlooking the river, with on-site health bar offering a range of recovery smoothies, meals and healthy snacks to eat-in or take away Specialities: A fusion of high intensity exercise, restorative yoga and primal movement classes with nutrition all under one roof Lansdown Tennis, Squash and Croquet Club Where? Northfields, Bath Specialities: 11 tennis courts, for squash courts and a croquet green, plus top-notch coaching Power10 Where? Percy Community Centre, Bath What is it? A 10-week group workout and diet programme Specialities: Helping you achieve a 10-week body and health transformation

“Every time someone takes out a membership, they’re supporting our charitable work”

Spin Village Where? Milsom Place, Bath What is it? Bath’s only boutique indoor cycling studio Specialities: Amazing spin classes, of course Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre Where? University of Bath Sports Training Village, Claverton Down Specialities: More than 100 exercise classes each week, and world class facilities

YMCA Health and Wellbeing Centre Where? Broad Street Place, between Broad Street and Walcot Street Specialities: A huge range, a friendly price, and a holistic approach to health

TOP: Keeping a keen eye on the ball;

BELOW: Team Bath: race you to the end and back

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TONIQ Where? 5 Green Park House, Bath Specialities: Varied classes – “you’ll never repeat the same workout twice” – plus what they claim are the best personal trainers in Bath

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Is back pain stopping you from fully enjoying life? Many of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. Mr Mike Katsimihas, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at THE SPINAL CENTRE AT BMI BATH CLINIC shares his advice...

ften, back pain is a result of strains and minor injuries, rather than something more serious. Most cases of back pain will get better over time and won’t require surgery. That said, although back pain is often nothing to worry about, it can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life. Not only can your normal daily activities become difficult, but if your symptoms persist for a long period of time, chronic pain can affect your mood too. With this in mind, it’s important to be aware that the earlier you begin treatment, including taking steps to help yourself, the quicker you can get back to enjoying life. What are the symptoms of back pain? Back pain differs from person to person. Common symptoms can be felt as a dull ache or, contrastingly, a sharp shooting pain, depending on the cause. Symptoms can also include muscular spasm and leg pain or leg numbness/weakness. It is always worth seeing a qualified professional to investigate the cause of your pain. Seek help immediately should you experience difficulty urinating, a lack of bladder/bowel control, numbness in the saddle area, weakness in both legs or severe unremitting pain that gets worse. What’s the cause of my back pain? It’s very difficult to attribute back pain to one specific cause. Sometimes it can be a result of simply ‘overdoing it’ or lifting incorrectly which can cause muscle or ligament injuries. Other times, it can occur as part of the ageing process or from degenerative conditions, such as arthritis. The stiffness associated with arthritis can reduce the movement of your spine and may cause you to experience pain. Having poor posture while sitting in front of a computer or driving for long hours can also be the cause. Common back pain conditions include: l Herniated cervical disc – when a disc between the vertebrae breaks down and pushes against the nerves or spinal cord. l Sciatica – a pain down your leg which is caused from pressure on a nerve where it leaves

“IT IS ALWAYS WORTH SEEING A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN.” your spine. Sciatica can occur when a disc becomes worn and bulges. l Spinal stenosis – where the space in the centre of the spine narrows, trapping nerves which can cause weakness or pain in your legs. l Scoliosis – an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. How can I manage back pain? There are some things you can do to help prevent back pain, such as improving your posture and range of movement, as well as adjusting the way you sit. However, the most effective way to prevent back pain is to maintain a good level of exercise. The good news is that many back problems won’t require surgery. If your symptoms aren’t improving, however, then it’s best to get a firm diagnosis, which can not only help to resolve your issue,

but can help you return to your normal activities as soon as possible. Please contact us if you wish to book an appointment with the Spinal Centre at BMI Bath Clinic. n

Mr Mike Katsimihas Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon The Spinal Centre at BMI Bath Clinic Claverton Down Road, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 7BR; 0808 101 0337 www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/bath www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 163

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Launch event for new electric moped John from ECO-MOVE shares their mission...

e all as both businesses and people recognise the importance of climate change. Everyone would like to own an electric car however they can be quite expensive. Not everyone can afford one. Cars, particularly in cities, face common problems with traffic and parking. Eco Move was launched to introduce electric mopeds as a viable method that’s easy to get around on and easy on your bank account. You can cut through traffic, drive in bus lanes, fuel costs less than 1p per mile, need no road tax and even have a government scheme funding 20% of the normal RRP. They are also free to park and easy to charge. The battery is removable and can be charged at home, in the office or even in your local café.

Anywhere with a three point plug socket. Ultimately, we want to help people get to where they want to go quickly and cost effectively whilst reducing the negative impact on the environment. One of the great things about electric mopeds is that they’re light, which has the dual benefit of making your charge last longer and ensuring the moped is extremely easy to manoeuvre. Eco Move offers three different options, ranging in price from just over £1,300 to a little more than £3,000. Each has a Panasonic battery and a Bosch motor, and is controlled by an app that provides access to GPS, ride history and information on battery usage, as well as sending alerts if your moped’s moved or touched. ■

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The Dental Negligence Team at Royds Withy King (L–R) Steve Wake, Katie Parr, Naomi Todd, Samantha Swaby and Sophie Angwin

What is dental negligence?

The team at Royds Withy King can help with any substandard treatment received

egligent dental treatment can involve anything from substandard root canal treatment to delays in diagnosing and treating gum disease, and even misdiagnosis of mouth cancer. You may not be aware that you have received negligent dental treatment until you visit a new practice and all of the problems with your teeth and gums are explained to you. Alternatively, you might suspect that you have received substandard treatment but have no idea where to turn for answers. That is where expert dental negligence solicitors can help.

What we do Dental negligence is a specialism of medical negligence that isn’t widely practiced in England and Wales, but Royds Withy King pride themselves on delivering legal assistance where others may not have the expertise to do so. Widely accredited as experts by the Law Society and other professional bodies, they are experienced in seeking the maximum compensation possible for clients, including a record-breaking dental settlement of £172,000 secured by Katie Parr in 2018. “Because we deal almost exclusively with dental negligence claims, and we have a valuable team of experts who we work with

very closely for all of our claims, I feel that we’re able to give our clients the level of expertise that is required to bring a claim to a successful conclusion. I think other firms who don’t deal exclusively with dental claims don’t have that same level of expertise to help their clients,” says Naomi Todd, Senior Associate and head of the Royds Withy King dental negligence team. No matter what kind of poor treatment you have received, Royds Withy King will no doubt

“Royds Withy King pride themselves on delivering legal assistance where others may not have the expertise to do so”

Royds Withy King. The first step is to call free of charge on 0800 051 8069 for a free initial assessment. From the first discussion we will take the problems out of your hands and provide solutions. Making a claim does not have to be stressful, and we will do our very best to make sure that it is not.

How your claim will be funded There are a number of ways to fund a dental negligence claim, but most claims are funded on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, also known as a conditional fee agreement. If you win your case, our costs will be paid for by your opponent, but there will be certain items which you will have to pay for, from the compensation you recover. However, you will always receive at least 75% of the compensation and if you lose, you will be charged nothing. n

have dealt with similar cases before. They are able to draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as relationships with leading dental practitioners, to drive your case forward and achieve a full settlement for you.

How it works Making a claim is a simple process if you instruct

Midland Bridge House, Midland Bridge Road Bath BA2 3FP 01225 730 100; www.dentalnegligenceteam.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I bath life I 165

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Prevent a litter, neuter your critter! You’ll find useful advice, tips and support at BATH VETS surgeries

eutering your pet is an essential part of responsible pet ownership, not only in preventing unwelcome pregnancies, but also in helping prevent illnesses and diseases related to the genital tract. Neutering means surgically preventing pets from reproducing. In males, the operation is called castration and in females it’s called spaying. With castration both testicles are removed which takes away the main source of the male hormone testosterone. With spaying, both the ovaries and the uterus are removed which means the female is unable to become pregnant. There are many benefits of neutering: Male dogs: • Neutered male dogs are less likely to roam, which means they’re less likely to go missing, get hit by a car, get in a fight or get hurt. • Castration significantly reduces the chance of them getting prostate disease and reduces the risk of some cancers. • An unneutered dog is more likely to show aggression to other dogs, whether they’re on or off the lead. Female dogs: • Neutering greatly reduces the risk of mammary cancer, particularly if carried out before the first season, and infection of the womb (called pyometra). Both of these are seen quite often in older, unneutered dogs and they can be fatal. • Many unneutered female dogs have a false pregnancy after a season and, although this is natural, it can cause behavioural and even medical problems. Male cats: • Unneutered male cats are likely to stray over a large area, will mark their territory with a very pungent spray and are much more likely to fight – with attendant noise nuisance. • Fighting males are much more likely to spread diseases such as FIV and FeLV to other cats. They are also likely to suffer from fight injuries such as abscesses. Female cats: • Female cats will ‘call’ (come into season and be receptive to the male cat) regularly, about every three weeks during sexually active times of the year if they do not get pregnant. • Female cats which are not neutered are more

likely to suffer from pyometra (infection of the womb) later in life and with mammary tumours. Queens with infectious diseases may pass these on to their kittens.

OUR CLINICS

Male rabbits: • Neutered males will not spray urine and become aggressive and are much happier and more relaxed. • Neutered males will stop spraying urine even if the operation is performed later in life.

• Bath Cat Clinic, 4 Beaufort East, London Road, BA1 6QD; 01225 312061

Female rabbits: • Spayed females are likely to live longer lives than their unspayed sisters. Up to 80 per cent of unsprayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer by the age of five. • Females who are not spayed when young and in good health may have to undergo the operation as an emergency in later life (e.g. cancer or pyometra) develops. Speak to your veterinary practice about the ideal time to neuter your pet and for further advice regarding the actual procedure. ■ Words by Lisa Walters RVN of Chapel Vets

Rosemary Lodge, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 5RL; 01225 832521; www.bathvetgroup.co.uk f Bath.Vet.Group

• Rosemary Lodge Hospital, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 5RL; 01225 832521

• Chapel Veterinary Surgery, Forest Road, Melksham, SN12 7AA; 01225 702427 • Marshfield Veterinary Surgery, 57 High Street, Marshfield, SN14 8LR; 01225 891171 • Oldfield Park Veterinary Surgery, 4 Third Avenue, Oldfield Park, BA2 3NY; 01225 423652 • Peasedown Veterinary Surgery, 46 Bath Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8DL; 01761 435673 • Saltford Veterinary Surgery, 478B Bath Road, Saltford, BS31 3DJ; 01225 872002 • Station Road Veterinary Surgery, Lower Weston, BA1 3DY; 01225 428921 • Park Road Vets, 11 Park Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1BX; 0117 9339 933

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 169

Launch event for PhotoBath’s 4th Showcase book (23rd September) and ‘Witness’ Exhibition at 44AD (1st - 6th October) PhotoBath is holding a book launch for its Showcase book on Monday 23rd September at 6:00pm, upstairs at The Boater, 9 Argyle Street, Bath, BA2 4BQ. This is the 4th edition of Showcase and represents a more ambitious demonstration of the work by the PhotoBath collective. The group are showing more images by each photographer to allow them to explore a consistent and coherent narrative either in terms of story or stylistic interpretation. A wide range of approaches are used, as is expected and desired, including the exploration of light, colour, subject, composition, movement, place, social comment, emotion and ideas. Everyone is welcome to join the Showcase launch event where you can see the book, prints and a slide show and meet the photographers of the PhotoBath collective. The book, which is a limited edition, will also be available in local bookshops and online where prints can also be obtained. Although PhotoBath is a photography collective centred in Bath, these photographs are not necessarily of the city. The book showcases the images that the members consider significant for a variety of aesthetic, intellectual and/or emotional reasons.

Visit: photobath.co.uk facebook.com/groups/PhotoBath/ Contact: info@photobath.co.uk

As a documentary and fine arts photography collective, the group is primarily interested in the final image. For Showcase, the route that is taken to creating the image may result from post-production activities or in-camera decisions. PhotoBath has an image-first principle that means that no boundaries are placed on the creative pathways taken to achieving the final image, only the image in itself or the series matters. The intentions, skills and inner eye of the photographer count above all, even if they are sometimes challenging to the viewer. ‘Witness’ is an exhibition featuring 10 externally selected photographs by PhotoBath members representing social change in contemporary settings. It is free and runs from 1st to 6th October at 44AD Gallery (4 Abbey St, Bath, BA1 1NN), open from 10 am to 6pm each day. There will an opening event on Tuesday 1st October at 6pm. All are welcome. ‘Witness’ is thematic in approach being described by the organisers ‘The world is currently going through significant socio-economic, cultural and political change. We are entering an era of uncertainty, anxiety and disruption that is touching every aspect of our public and private lives. We felt as a creative documentary and fine arts photography collective that it was at least beholden upon us to attempt to engage visually with such change.

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BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>THE DIVERSITECH FUND (173) >>RECORD BREAKING AT BISHOP FLEMING (174) >>MEET ALASTAIR TIGHE (177)

WHY CODING IS FOR EVERYONE Mayden Academy has announced a new funding scheme to encourage a much wider range of people to take up careers in coding. The Diversitech Fund has been set up to increase diversity in the UK technology industry, and offers people from underrepresented groups – including women, black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds – a discount on the fees for the academy’s Full Stack Track course. The course involves 16 weeks of intensive training, where students will learn everything they need to know to get their first job in the industry; you need no previous experience to apply. None of this is cheap, of course, and has been made possible by the generosity of Marden Academy’s hiring partners, as well as a selection of South West-based tech companies and contributing partners. Adam Jones, CTO of Redington, is one such Diversitech contributing partner. “As a tech business, we know that diverse teams make better products and deliver better services,” he says. “Supporting initiatives like the Diversitech fund allows us to drive positive change in our industry.” For more: www.mayden.academy

C’mon, learn to code

Holly Tarquini, executive director at FilmBath

FilmBath: desperately seeking sponsors FilmBath is inviting local businesses to support its wide-ranging programme of events. Starting from only £500, sponsorships allow the well-regarded festival, which runs from 7-17 November, to continue its diverse programme of around 45 feature films and 35 shorts to be shown at various locations around Bath. “We thrive and survive thanks to our wonderful sponsors, and our supporters use their sponsorship in different ways,” explains Holly Tarquini, FilmBath’s executive director. “Some, such as Aaron Evans Architects, buy additional

tickets to the films they have sponsored, hold a networking drinks party at the office beforehand and then bring their guests to see a film which – they tell us – makes for a really great night out, especially when the film has Q&As with the filmmakers. Others simply use the sponsorship to promote their brand, while some sponsor us so that Bath can continue to have a thriving, independent film festival.” Fancy it? Businesses interested in getting involved can email hello@filmbath.org.uk For more: www.filmbath.org.uk

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

BATHWORKS

BRICK BY BRICK Bath-based outﬁt Touchstone has partnered with charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) to support their work across Bath and North East Somerset. The specialist property management ﬁrm is working with DHI to renovate a three-bedroom house with wheelchair access for a family in need. Renovations and accessibility requirements meant the house needed considerable work, so in addition to volunteering employees, the company also funded the complete decoration. The team at Touchstone spent two days working with DHI and the local community to make the house ready for the family, who are in what could be described as desperate need of a home. Helen Kings, Touchstone’s managing director, says, “Our charity work is massively important to us and, being

based in Bath, we wanted to ﬁnd a local charity where we could make a tangible diﬀerence. Our colleagues have loved giving their time to renovate this home. It’s fantastic knowing their hard work will have such a positive impact for this family, and many others in the future.” For more: www.dhi-online.org.uk

BATH SPORTS NEWS Bringing you the latest in sporting news

David Walton of DHI, with James Perrett, Zoe Kerr, Tina Fry, Robyn Bishop, Tom Winnan and Jamie Duncan

Chris Arbuthnott, Jesse Reynolds and Sophie Pascoe

FRESH FACES Bishop Fleming has hired Bishop Fleming partner James Finnegan, and people’s a record 34 graduates director Anna Averis, welcome the new trainees and school leavers. The new employees will work throughout the top 30 accountancy firm’s seven offices across the South West and Midlands. The appointments include a mix of graduates, school leavers and two 12-month industrial placements, who will all receive significant support as they complete training programmes to gain their accountancy qualifications. Bishop Fleming’s people director, Anna Averis, says, “The employment of record numbers of graduates this year demonstrates our continued growth and success. “We have recently confirmed our commitment to create the most rewarding working environment for our people. One of the many ways we are aiming to achieve this is by ensuring that our new joiners and current employees have the opportunity to receive continued training, coaching and development to enable them to reach their full potential.” For more: www.bishopfleming.co.uk

GOING FOR (YET MORE!) GOLD Nine-time Paralympic gold-medallist Sophie Pascoe is among the exciting New Zealand squad training at University of Bath ahead of the 2019 World ParaSwimming Championships in London. Joining her are Rio 2016 Paralympians Tupou Neiuﬁ, Hamish McLean and Jesse Reynolds, as well as Chris Arbuthnott and Celyn Edwards, to complete the six-strong Kiwi squad. “This is my ﬁrst time in Bath and it’s a beautiful city,” says Pascoe. “The people have been so nice and friendly, and I’m enjoying the facilities – great pool, great training complex, and it’s great being able to stay on campus.” www.teambath.com GOING DEEP Bath Rugby has appointed sports performance psychologist Joseph Dixon for the 2019/2020 campaign. Joseph joins as part of Bath Rugby’s long-term strategy to develop a more supportive environment for players. He’ll be responsible for developing a high performance culture, supporting players to develop the resilience needed to consistently perform under pressure, and providing emotional support through rehabilitation from injuries. www.bathrugby.com

Partying like it’s 2020, not 1999

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

From networking breakfasts to invaluable evening courses, make a note of the dates and classes that will help your business flourish

SNAP UP THOSE SPONSORSHIPS! Momentum is building for the 2020 Bath Life Awards, with category sponsorship opportunities being snapped up left, right and centre

n big news, the coveted Platinum Award sponsorship has this year been taken by business communications company Datasharp Integrated Communications, which joins an already prestigious line up of sponsors at the 2020 Bath Life Awards, to be held on 27 February next year. “We’re thrilled to have such a perfect Platinum partner, and one that is deeply rooted in Bath,” says Steph Dodd, MediaClash’s events director. When this edition of Bath Life went to print, just a few category sponsorship opportunities remained. Last year saw all 22 categories sponsored way in advance of the big night, which sells out each year with many on the waiting list – and next year is expected to be no different. The already-packed roster of sponsors includes Headliner The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Platinum sponsor Datasharp and category sponsors Jelf, Bath BID, Novia, Savills, Spaces, Stone King, Sub 13, Kersfield, Hotel Indigo, Bryers,

Curo, Juice Recruitment and Freestyle Designs. “From sponsoring a category to benefiting from our shoulder events, sponsorship of the Awards not only means involvement with a remarkable event, but also reaps the benefits of months of high-profile marketing, peaking in February,” Steph says. “We’re thrilled to have once again had such a positive response from so many companies, and a whole six months before the big night, too.” Shoulder events supporting the Awards include the Finalists’ and Sponsors’ Reception, the Champagne reception on Awards night and the Winners’ Dinner after the event. Businesses can also benefit from sponsoring individual categories or supporting features like the ‘Live Cover’ photo opportunity, always widely shared on social media. For sponsorship enquiries, please contact Rosanna Hood; rosanna.hood@mediaclash.co.uk bathlifeawards.co.uk @bathlifeawards

17 SEPTEMBER TRIBE NIGHTS Tribe Nights are run by the Women’s Business Club to help business women in Bath find their tribe – so, it does pretty much exactly what it says in the tin! Running a business and building a career can be an isolating experience for some, so the Women’s Business Club hopes to remedy the situation and foster some new connections. 7.30pm; £19.76; Hall & Woodhouse www.womensbusiness.club/ listing/bath-club/ 20 SEPTEMBER BRADFORD ON AVON BUSINESS BREAKFAST 2019 No speeches, no name badges – just good old fashioned conversation. Open to businesses of all kinds, the Bradford on Avon Business Breakfast is a relaxed, informal and welcoming networking event for anyone open to making some new work connections. 8am; various prices; Cumberwell Park www.boabusiness.co.uk 26 SEPTEMBER VESTRE AFTER WORK EVENT Enjoy a drink, eat good food and be inspired by Nordic design at Vestre’s first South West pop-up event. The evening also serves as a pre-conference launch for the Therapeutic City Festival (see page 53 for more on that). 6-10pm; free; Green Park Station www.vestre.com

Paul Oaten, new at Datasharp

MAN ABOUT TOWN

Bath voice, data and video communications company Datasharp Integrated Communications has appointed Paul Oaten as marketing manager. Paul has lived in Bath for 13 years and joined the company after eight years working as a digital marketing consultant. Paul says, “I’m very excited to have joined Datasharp in this, the company’s 20th anniversary year. It’s a dynamic team with a great deal of skill, knowledge and energy, plus links to many of Bath’s fantastic Top 100 businesses. I’m looking forward to being part of the thriving business community and raising our profile even further.” www.datasharp-ic.co.uk

TIME TO EVOLVE

After four successful years on Broad Street, Icarus Jewellery has expanded with a brand new shop on Pulteney Bridge to complement the Broad Street space.“It’s an unbeatable, lively, exciting spot to exhibit our timeless, unique, handmade pieces to valuable Bath visitors and locals alike,” says founder Dilek Koroglu. It’s a great place for footfall too, with Dilek reporting that she now feels like they are reaching their “full potential” in terms of visitors, as well as seeing increased interest in ordering special handmade pieces. www.icarusjewellery.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 175

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BATHWORKS

their academic work, their musical, sporting or dramatic activities, or just simply how they show kindness and generosity towards each other and the wider community. Last term, I received a letter from an elderly Wells resident who had fallen in the street and who was grateful for the help of some of our pupils. That made me smile.

“I’M CONSTANTLY IN AWE OF WHAT PUPILS ACHIEVE”

Alastair Tighe We catch up with Alastair Tighe, headmaster at Wells Cathedral School, as he prepares for the school year to begin So, tell us all about being headmaster at Wells Cathedral School. What does your typical day look like? I love my job. It’s great to live and work in such an historic and beautiful place with pupils and colleagues who are talented and passionate about what they do. I love the variety of my role; no day is ever the same. I might start by leading an assembly in the Cathedral, then meet with a prospective parent or pupil, followed by teaching or visiting a lesson, and go on to read a story to our pre-prep children before attending a recital or watching a sporting fixture. And that’s all before lunchtime! This is only your second year in this position, right? So in what ways would you say the school has changed since your appointment as headmaster? Many people have asked me what I want to change about Wells Cathedral School as its new head. My answer has consistently been that I don’t want to change the school fundamentally: its family ethos; its provision of an all-round education; its emphasis on creativity, not least music; its through

education from nursery to Sixth Form; its sense of history and tradition; its boarding and day mix. These are some of the things that attracted me to the school, and that I want to preserve and enhance. But I’m also keen to work better to promote the sheer variety and excellence of what we offer pupils. We strive to be the best we can academically, without losing any of the co-curricular activity, which I believe supports a truly holistic and healthy education, and to continue to work to know every single pupil as an individual and support their aspirations and interests. Ultimately, however, I want everyone at Wells to be kind, especially given our increasingly unkind world. What would you say is interesting and different about life at Wells Cathedral School? Every school likes to think of itself as unique. To my mind, while individual components at Wells might not be unique, when they’re combined, I really believe there is no other school like ours. Our 1,000 year plus history, our aesthetic and spiritual links to the Cathedral, our world-class musical provision, our emphasis on an all-

round education, which values academic, sporting, creative and charitable endeavour equally… these are just some of the things that, when you put them together, really do make Wells a very special place. And what would you say are some of the challenges that come with the role? Being prepared for the unexpected is certainly a challenge! This includes keeping abreast of ever-changing educational demands, while not losing sight of the true essence of educating children; managing our estate and finances responsibly; and finding time to be visible and to meet and speak with as many pupils, parents and colleagues as possible each day. I suppose these are some of the key challenges. What do you find most satisfying about the job? The pupils’ ability constantly and daily surprises and impresses me… that’s definitely the most satisfying part of my job. I am constantly in awe of what pupils achieve, or how they approach things – be it

What are you most proud of professionally? In a former role I prepared pupils to perform in the Royal Albert Hall for both the BBC Proms and the Festival of Remembrance. They were pretty special moments professionally, as was my choir singing with both the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. I’m also proud of the way I was able to drive up academic standards in my previous position as a deputy head academic, doing so without undermining the value and importance of pupils’ co-curricular endeavours. And personally? Being awarded an organ scholarship to Cambridge, marrying my husband and singing for Sting’s 40th birthday party – but not necessarily in that order! Anything exciting coming up? Well, it’s the start of a new academic year and that’s always an exciting time. We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Girl Choristers this year, which is wonderful. We also have plans to enhance our sporting facilities, and our senior pupils will be performing the musical Grease this autumn, while our Symphony Orchestra will be playing Stravinky’s ‘Firebird Suite’ in concert. We are also planning a Careers Evening for the spring which will involve parents and former pupils, and our Junior and Pre-Prep School pupils will be harvesting their recently grown veg and engaging in an ecobricks project. These will undoubtedly be some of the highlights, but if the experience of my first year at the school is anything to go by, there’ll be something exciting happening pretty much every day! www.wellscathedral.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 177

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bath: A walkable city Allison Herbert, CEO of BATH BID, talks about Bath's pedestrian areas…

ver the summer we have been treated to excellent conditions for enjoying Bath in all its glory, walking from top to bottom of the city with no need for umbrellas and raincoats. There are lots of benefits to having such a compact city to work in, and one of them is definitely the ease with which we can reach most places on foot within a few minutes. One of the challenges to the walkability of the city remains the interruptions to pedestrian flow created by the criss-crossing small roads, which are often filled with delivery vans. We have pedestrian areas in Bath, which are hugely successful and their popularity demonstrates how well commerce is served by welcoming people on foot. You only have to look at the hundreds of people enjoying the sunshine on the new circular seating in Southgate to see how dwell time is affected by areas to sit, away from cars and vans. Other parts of the city are less successful as pedestrian-friendly spaces. The side entrance to the Pump Rooms for example, where there seems to be a constant stream of delivery drivers weaving in and out of nervous crowds. That particular area is supposed to be closed to traffic between 10am and 4pm and the BID is keen to see this more closely managed to improve safety and comfort. Retailers have mixed views about pedestrianisation. Some are nervous about losing those customers who might like to park just outside and pop in to collect an item. Others report that the pop and shop customers are insignificant in comparison to the new footfall that the attractiveness of a pedestrian area has brought. This month, we are working with the Council and WECA (West of England Combined Authority) on a pilot closure of Milsom Street. On 21 and 22 September the street will be closed off to traffic, allowing the shops to express themselves across the street and creating spaces for performance and seating. This event coincides with the Bathscape Walking Festival, which has themed walks taking in different aspects of the city, so it is definitely time to make the most of our compact, bijou and walkable city. ■

Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID Third Floor, 21 Stall Street, Bath BA1 1QF 01225 430640 www.bathbid.co.uk

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BATHWORKS

Jennifer Cufaude and Naomi Roberts of Sims Hilditch

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2019 Award-winner Emma Sims-Hilditch, founder and creative director at Sims Hilditch, on design, fundraising – and the very best things about working in Bath So, Emma, how did it feel to win a Bath Life award?

It was so lovely to win, and such a surprise. We are very proud to be based near Bath – we’re in Cold Ashton – and were up against some very successful businesses.

HOMES & INTERIORS AWARD

And where do you keep the award? In our design studio, proudly on display in a bookcase.

Why do you think you won? The Bath Life awards are a brilliant way of not only highlighting fantastic businesses, but showcasing what those businesses do for their community. We have been very fortunate over the past two years to host various events to raise money for great charities, including Save the Children, Genesis Trust and Macmillan. Culture is also a very important part of our success – we embrace a team environment and celebrate being a London-class design practice proudly located in the West Country.

“I LOVE BEING IMMERSED IN OUR DESIGN LIBRARY, SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL FABRICS, COLOURS AND FINISHES”

What sets you apart from your rivals, do you think? Our passion for great design, which should be practical yet beautiful. Many of our clients have families, so we are always mindful of how one wishes to live in a home before we begin creating schemes. Clients are also surprised by our strong ﬁnancial and project management team; it makes them feel in very safe hands, and well looked after throughout their journey with Sims Hilditch.

What do you really love about your job? I love being immersed in our design library, surrounded by beautiful fabrics, colours and ﬁnishes, designing schemes for our wonderful clients. When I’m not in my studio, I love being out and about with my eyes wide open, drawing inspiration, always on the lookout for new ideas. Antique and art hunting are a favourite activity.

Where do the frustrations lie? Never having enough hours in the day!

What’s the best part about working in Bath? It is such a beautiful city with stunning architecture that is such an inspiration. We recently completed an apartment for some clients on Great Pulteney Street that is full of character and elegance. We commissioned bespoke pieces of furniture and joinery to compliment the Grade I listed building.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? To do the right thing, no matter how challenging or difﬁcult a situation may be.

Any exciting plans for us to watch out for? We are currently working on a family home in Jersey, two London townhouses in Chelsea and a farmhouse in the Cotswolds. In all these properties we will produce full interior architectural designs, including kitchen, bathrooms, ﬁtted joinery and lighting design. This will be in conjunction with the interior decoration schemes.

Tell us something surprising about you or your company. I started my career in ﬁlm production with Ridley Scott! This is where my love for scale and proportion began, and was what inspired me to begin my interior design career.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

MEET THE

EMPLOYMENT EXPERT The right people for the job www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 181

ADVERTISING FEATURE DAN BARFOOT

OPERATIONS MANAGER, CMD RECRUITMENT LTD 01225 805080 / 07500 262721 www.cmdrecruitment.com What key bit of advice would you give to a client? When interviewing candidates who have been introduced by an agency, during the interview you should always ask them for feedback on their experience; getting an insight through the candidates’ eyes will give you a better understanding of the agencies 360 service. As a recruiter, naturally their standards should be on par or above your direct process, always ensuring that your brand is portrayed in the best light. There are an increasing number of recruiters who

unfortunately (even with GDPR) submit CVs to clients without the candidate’s permission. It’s incredibly frustrating for genuine recruiters who have taken the time to qualify properly, ensuring full compliance throughout the process – at CMD we ensure all candidates send us permission to represent before we send any CVs to our clients. What recruitment challenges do employers face in the current economic climate? The market is tough and finding the right talent is becoming increasingly difficult. Methods which have historically worked for you may not continue to do so, so be open to changing the process and be open to accepting CVs from agencies not on your PSL (Preferred Supplier List). A good way one client has implemented this is by bringing in a tiered PSL where results move the agency up

the tier so encouraging them to be proactive and then the client rewards upon results. What is your favourite part of the job? My team – I work with some amazing people. In recruitment there are highs and lows so it’s important that the people around you are there to support the tough and celebrate the success. It’s also good to be able to have a laugh when you’re working – after all we spend a lot of time together.

ELLE CHAPPELL

DIRECTOR, CIRCLE CONSULTING 01225 685888; www.circle-consulting.co.uk

POLLY RATHBONE WARD

RATHBONE HR SOLUTIONS 07740 432734; www.rathbonehrsolutions.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job? I love helping businesses to grow by recruiting and retaining the right people and establishing the right workplace culture for their employees. Happy and healthy employees are more likely to be engaged and productive at work, have less absenteeism and be less likely to leave. Getting the HR basics right helps to maximise performance, reduce recruitment costs and enable all to achieve their full potential. Why should I use an outsourced HR consultant? An outsourced HR professional will provide essential guidance on legislation and HR best practice. Using an HR expert will give peace of mind that you are fulfilling legal obligations to employees and save your business money through greater efficiency, employee engagement, retention and productivity. What are common HR practices that need improving? Businesses are fighting to hire and retain talent. Recruitment can be time-consuming, costly and risky. Businesses that do not have a clear recruitment strategy are at risk of not getting the best person for the position and worse, there could be legal implications. Having a fair and objective recruitment process in place will help to avoid these risks. 182 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What advice would you give when building culture? Be patient! Culture is the end goal. It’s a collection of behaviours, built from values and beliefs. Development isn’t easy; create a compelling story, involve everyone and create systems and process that support behaviours you want.

VICTORIA JOHNSON OWNER, GREEN JAY

07884 344 003; greenjaygroup.co.uk What makes you different from others in your profession? Circle is a people performance consultancy. Whilst recruitment is a huge part, we go further than that. Culture, leadership, team development, resilience, well-being and social impact is the rest of Circle. What advice would you give to a client? Look after your people! Help them feel empowered, with permission to make mistakes in order to grow. Need a recruiter? Do your research, ensure they’re credible (CIPD or REC qualified), that they understand people and teams. What advice would you give on how to motivate existing teams? Incentives only get people so far; get to know your people and what drives them. Create an environment where people feel like they have a sense of freedom in what they do, and how they do it, as well as a sense of achievement. Finally, pick up a copy of Dr Paul Marciano’s, Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work.

What you do specialise in? As a qualified HR and change management professional with nearly 15 years of HR experience, I love helping organisations to create a positive people management culture. I started Green Jay in 2018 to offer pragmatic and innovative talent management solutions to start up and scale up organisations in Bath and Bristol. What is talent management? Talent management is all about implementing inclusive people management initiatives to allow your people to thrive. I help organisations to develop holistic talent management strategies that incorporate job design, recruitment, employee engagement, performance management and training and development. I strongly believe that a good talent management strategy should always reflect the unique culture and values of an organisation. How can a good talent management strategy improve your business? A well-designed talent management strategy is vital to any growing business as it focuses on identifying high performers and growing future leaders from within an organisation. As a result, organisations usually see a reduction in the people management costs associated with recruitment, staff turnover and absence as they create a culture based on proactive initiatives rather than costly, reactive ones.

ADVERTISING FEATURE VICKY KINGSTON MANAGING DIRECTOR, JUICE RECRUITMENT 01225 447870; juicerecruitment.com

ANGELA WEST

What professional accomplishment has made you proudest? After starting my career within brand management and sales and then investigating the intriguing world of recruitment, I quickly realised I loved the pace and interaction with both businesses and people, knowing I was able to make a real difference to both. Despite being successful, I quickly realised that I wanted something that allowed me to bring more of my personality to work. After meeting Emma Summers, I knew Juice was the environment for me because as a business they love what they do and are exceptional in their ability, and now ten years on, I am delighted to be MD of this amazing and fast expanding organisation. Becoming MD means I now look after Juice’s strategy, operations, financials and its people – all of which play to my extensive experience and knowledge of the recruitment market. This is my proudest moment!

Why is employment/HR law so important? Your employees are probably your most important business asset. Without your employees your business could not function. Sir Richard Branson is infamous for having stated, “Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your business”. This is so true. I am often required to advise on grievances and disputes brought by employees, which snowball into very unpleasant situations and sometimes result in a complete break down of the working relationship, when quite often these situations could easily have been avoided. With the absence of tribunal fees, we see many employees bringing claims at tribunal which have little or no merit, but still require considerable operational time and cost to defend. Many employers and employees will spend most of their adult life in work, so being able to create a positive and rewarding working environment is so important, and the key to many successful businesses.

ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR & HEAD OF THE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT, GOUGHS SOLICITORS 01249 444499; www.goughs.co.uk

What advice would you give on how to motivate and incentivize existing teams? My advice would be to work with passion, have an honest approach and communicate when support is needed – there is no better support than the team around you. As an organisation we listen to what individually incentivises our team and act on it . We have a bespoke rewards scheme that not only incentivises….. but motivates! The people I work with every day are incredible. Not only from a work perspective – they’re also all-round great people who I care for dearly. I love our clients, and for me, hearing how we exceed their expectations and how we are critical to their success is my inner motivator to continue to expand on what we do great. What makes you different from others in your profession? I joined Juice because it was the only recruitment company I had come across that I felt shared my vision for constantly providing innovative solutions to work-based problems. In order to do this effectively, we are working on transitioning the company from being a pure recruitment company into a talent consultancy, where we partner with our clients to look at the entire workforce journey in their organisation. We’ll improve it at every step: from their attraction strategy to the recruitment of new staff, to the retention and performance improvement of current staff. It’s a new journey! What makes me different… I am that crazy person that loves recruitment and actually wanted a career in it. I believe you spend the majority of your life at work so you have to love what you do… I love what I do!

What is your favourite part of the job? Without doubt it is the variety of issues which arise – there is never a dull moment! I also enjoy the psychology involved when dealing with people and how to resolve a difficult situation. In a typical week, I will advise various companies on numerous issues including sickness absence management, occupational health referrals, directors service agreements, disciplinary hearings and dismissals, recruitment, performance management, and corporate and contractual documentation. Quite often I will come into the office knowing what (I believe) my day holds, and then receive a call from a client requesting urgent advice. This week alone an employer has needed urgent advice about an employee who attacked another employee with a Stanley knife, a commercially sensitive non-disclosure agreement, and a senior executive who was given an ultimatum to resign or face serious allegations of misconduct. I pride myself on getting to the heart of the issue and achieving a good outcome as quickly as possible.

JO KANGURS

FOUNDER, KeystoneHR 07866 487673; www.keystonehr.co.uk What key bit of advice would you give a client? Your people are your most important and valuable asset, so take time to ensure that you are looking after them. Happy, motivated and engaged staff are much more likely to go the extra mile, therefore improving productivity and, in turn, profitability. What is the most common staffing issue you see? Not nipping poor performance in the bud. If you allow people to under-perform, you are setting yourself up for a problem further down the line.

There are always challenges whether that be changes in legislation, new technology or employee’s expectations. It is also extremely rewarding. I love helping businesses make positive changes, which in turn have a big impact on company performance and culture. Why should one use an outsourced HR consultant? As a business owner it is down to you to figure out how to attract, retain, manage and motivate your people. All this takes time. The law can be complex and ever-changing; managing people is time consuming and often, tricky. Outsourcing HR gives you the peace of mind that your people, policies and procedures are being taken care of, leaving you to do what you do best – running your business.

What is your favourite part of the job? HR is never boring and no day is ever the same.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE SEAN MCDONOUGH

2. Try to make commercial decisions quickly as they are cheaper in the medium and long term and running your business is far more important than falling out with an employee.

What makes you different from others in your profession? The employment and HR team at Mogers Drewett take a practical and straightforward approach to helping clients. We aim to get to the issues quickly and solve the problems. That is what we do well and is one of the key points of difference between us and other law firms.

What interview questions can prospective employers not ask? A lot of the narrative around this topic is scaremongering. We are all human and interviewing a candidate for a job where that person will be required to work with other human beings requires a normal level of exploration of their personal life. Whilst I wouldn’t recommend asking directly about child-related plans, if your questions are focused on their ability to do the job and fitting into your organisation’s culture, then those questions will, on the whole, be fine.

PARTNER, EMPLOYMENT & HR, MOGERS DREWETT 01225 750000; www.mogersdrewett.com

What key bit of advice would you give to a client? 1. Try not to delay dealing with a problem employee as the problem will only get worse.

LYNDA HUXHAM

MANAGING DIRECTOR, PARTNERS EMPLOYMENT 01225 760777; partnersemployment.co.uk

EMMA HOGAN

What recruitment challenges do employers face in the current economic climate? In today’s highly competitive, candidatedriven job market, finding and hiring the ideal candidate can be quite hard. With talent shortages and those in work reluctant to leave in a volatile market, it’s all about retention, networking and candidate engagement.

What makes you different from others in your profession? About Your Tribe is focused on creating a great employee experience. I help my clients improve their workplace and retain talent by listening to their staff and encouraging team involvement.

Why should a business use an outsourced recruitment consultant? Recruitment can become a costly and time-consuming process. Recruiters often have access to a talent pool that may be unreachable otherwise and build networks with candidates who may not be actively looking, but would be a good fit for the role.

What makes you different from others in your profession? We provide a personal service to all our clients, who are both employees and businesses. Trust is extremely important to us, and our clients know that they can rely on us for sound advice, a quick response, and that we are up front about our charges.

What advice would you give when it comes to selecting new recruits? Always consider your company culture and the future of your team before making a job offer. It can be tempting to offer the position to the most qualified candidate at the time, but team dynamics or any drastic changes could result in your candidate choosing to move on, starting the whole process from scratch.

Why should you use an employment law specialist? To avoid expensive mistakes! Getting the right advice early on can save businesses thousands of pounds in compensation claims, and avoid stressful and time-consuming tribunal proceedings. It is also good for staff morale to know that the business cares about them. Employees should take advice when they are experiencing difficulties at work, so they know what their rights are.

FOUNDER, ABOUT YOUR TRIBE 07772 402664; www.aboutyourtribe.co.uk

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy? Getting to know a business and spotting quick wins that can make a huge impact. I started About Your Tribe to help leaders who are keen to try something different. I enjoy nothing better than sharing insights on how to create an environment that their staff will love. What advice would you give when building workplace culture? Listen to your team. Culture is built by the people around you, so give your employees a voice and involve them in shaping your values and behaviours. What advice would you give when it comes to employing new people? Go through each step of the journey in their shoes – make sure your messaging is aligned and that the hiring team are fully engaged. Too many great candidates are lost because of a poorly managed recruitment process. 184 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

JENNIFER RENNEY-BUTLAND OWNER, RENNEY AND CO SOLICITORS 01225 632240; www.renneyandco.com

What changes and challenges will Brexit bring to the employment market? We have already seen a lot of EU workers returning home over the past two years, which has caused a serious shortage for businesses. Given recent assurances by the government that EU workers will be allowed to remain working in the UK, the current shortage may continue for a short while, but the position will improve once it becomes clear that EU nationals will remain entitled to work in the UK.

ADVERTISING FEATURE SALLY HALL

DIRECTOR, ST DAVID RECRUITMENT SERVICES 02920 797920; www.stdavid-recruitment.co.uk How long have you been established for? St David Recruitment has been established since 2002. Having previously worked for national agencies, we wanted to establish an independent agency that offered a professional yet personal service, tailored to the individual needs of our clients. What sets you apart from other agencies? We have an established team of consultants, the majority of whom have been with us in excess of 10 years! Clients appreciate that when they need recruitment assistance, they can work with the same consultant; one who knows their business and the type of candidate that will complement their team. We prefer to meet all candidates before submitting their CV’s, conducting an interview to assess their skills, experience and personality, ensuring that we deliver a reputable service to both parties. How big is your team? We are a team of 12. We have five consultants dedicated to permanent recruitment and four consultants focussed on fulfilling temporary assignments. Our in-house finance manager is responsible for payroll and accounts, and our branch administrator provides a warm welcome to clients and candidates alike, as well as providing administrative support to the consultants. And then there’s me! I like to oversee the day to day running of the office and keep on top of everything! What areas of recruitment do you specialise in? We specialise in providing permanent and temporary staff within the commercial and industrial sectors at all levels. Within the commercial field we recruit administration staff, customer service, secretarial, marketing, finance and IT. Within the industrial sector we recruit production operatives, cleaners, warehouse and labouring staff. We have also achieved superb success within executive recruitment and are keen to enhance our presence within this area. Over the years our business has changed and evolved; we are adapting our service to meet the requirements of an ever changing workplace and always relish a new challenge.

DEBBIE TAYLOR

DIRECTOR, PEOPLE & BUSINESS 07801 443880; www.peopleandbusiness.co.uk What makes you different from others in your profession? We are not HR, we are peopleandbusiness, ‘all one word’. One without the other does not compute. As I see it, our role is to understand and support our clients achieve their strategic goals whilst complying with regulation and good practice. Good HR is not an end in itself although it can be easy to forget this and lose sight of the bigger picture. Keeping close to the client’s business is essential to gain understanding, respect and the right to advise in a fair and commercial way. What key piece of advice you would give to a client? Put yourself in the shoes of your employee and listen. Whether making decisions about their future career

PETER WOODHOUSE

HEAD OF BUSINESS SECTOR AND EMPLOYMENT TEAM, STONE KING 01225 326753; www.stoneking.co.uk What would you change about employment law? I sympathise with small businesses! The impact of unfair dismissal and discrimination laws mostly bear on one-person employers the same as on PLCs. Whilst employees of small businesses deserve equal protection, there’s not enough recognition that small employers have less resources to avoid employment law bear traps. I’d like to see more small employer exemptions, potentially limiting procedural requirements, or linking compensation to percentage of turnover. What part of your work do you particularly enjoy? I initially trained at the bar, and have acted as advocate in hundreds of cases. I now practise as a solicitor and I like the dual aspect of my role, which allows me to work with clients dealing with strategic risk, and to assist if a matter goes to tribunal. I’ve been trained to “think trial day one” and I invite clients to think the same way. Why should people contact you? Lawyers can forget that behind a corporate client are real people who shape the company’s approach to risk and resolution. At Stone King, we establish the client’s approach to risk and implement a strategy effecting that approach – from day one.

within your business or if it is time for them to leave, it is essential to balance your thoughts against what they are thinking and feeling. The best people and business decisions are compassionate and evidence-based rather than emotional, and are proven to significantly reduce costs of tribunal claims. If you could change one thing about employment law what would it be? My vision, hopefully in my lifetime, is to see the removal of the need for an Equality Act, where, in the employment context, it is skills and ability not race, age, sex or any of the other protected characteristics that influence business decisions. We have come a long way since the vote for women, but there is still a mammoth climb to be free of those boxes. For me, key to this is greater integration of employment, financial and commercial legislation from government to be serious about true equality.

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A PLACETO CALL HOME

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

THE HIGH LIFE Luxury living on the eighth floor By Matilda Walton www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BATH LIFE I 187 141

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PROPERTY

P Sovereign Point is the further of the two rounded, ship-shape buildings right on the water’s edge; you could perhaps communte into town by scull, if you so wished

enthouse life: towering above Bath, enjoying the panoramic view of our World Heritage City as you sip wine on the rooftop terrace and watch the sun slowly fade into the horizon. Sounds quite nice really, doesn’t it? And it can be yours at the new Crest Nicholson Riverside development, where you’ll currently find two-bedroom The Pulteney Penthouse – one of only three penthouses in the entire development – on the market. Located in the Sovereign Point building, it’s one of the best addresses in the entire Riverside community, an elevated home in such an enviable position – right at the edge of the River Avon, and surrounded by green spaces – that you’ll feel very much at one with nature, despite being in the centre of the city. You’ve got sky, you’ve got water, you’ve got Victoria Park just a couple of minutes away across a new bridge, and you’ve got wide-open spaces around these buildings that invite a community feel. Tying in with the development’s eco theme, you’ve got pedestrian and cycle routes into the city too, so leave the motor at home, and enjoy one of the best parts of city centre living: a carless commute. The path you’ll be using ain’t bad either – you might even spot some of Bath’s mythic otters on your way to the office.

Inside, it’s the quintessential modern bolthole. All the buzzwords are accounted for: open plan, natural light, dressing room, en suites and under floor heating cover just a few of the essential luxuries. You’ve got two bedrooms on opposite ends of the apartment – complete with those aforementioned en suites – offering all occupants a level of privacy and seclusion unusual to this mode of living. Whether you envision the penthouse as a private paradise or one in which you’ll regularly be entertaining guests – and, we assume, with that roof terrace it’ll be the latter – there’s no risk of anyone feeling like they are under someone else’s feet. The bedrooms are both spacious and beautiful, with floorto-ceiling windows making the most of the beautiful views out across the city – on a sunny morning we dare you not to feel just a little bit inspired to start the day after a glimpse of that view. The rest of the house is equally designed for sharing with friends – the open plan kitchen means no one need ever be relegated to the pots and pans, but instead cooking can be a sort of communal experience with

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PROPERTY

friends and loved ones. Then you’ve got the glorious dining room, which can accommodate a stylish long table – very on trend right now; think of the table decorations! – which also benefits from that lovely view, if you’re facing the right way. Finally, that roof terrace we’ve been making such a fuss about. Private, secluded and accessed via a winding staircase from the apartment, it offers a bird’s eye view of the city. You can make as much or as little of this area as you want – it comes with a few carefully designed flowerbeds, but we love to envision it filled to the brim with pots bursting with blooms, your own private eco system in the sky. Or you could just keep things simple – though that doesn’t sound as much fun to us. Modern, luxurious and quite the status symbol, this penthouse won’t hang around for long.

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HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage

1,743

Bedrooms

Bathrooms/WCs

Outside Beautiful roof terrace, allocated basement parking and ample cycle storage. The development is surrounded by communal green spaces

and located virtually on top of the foot and cycle path into the city Price

£1.1M

Where The Pulteney Penthouse, Sovereign Point, Bath Riverside For more: Crest Nicholson Bath Riverside, 75-76 Victoria Bridge, Bath; 01225 979029; www.crestnicholson. com/developments/bath-riverside

pritchards-bath.co.uk

Caroline Place, Lansdown

An exquisite double fronted Georgian style property ideally positioned within a cul de sac off the lower slopes of Lansdown next to a 5 acre park with far reaching views, having been renovated to an exceptionally high standard offering 4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, drawing room, study with its own private courtyard, L shaped kitchen with dining and family area, laundry room. Pretty courtyard gardens, double garage and off road parking for 2 vehicles.

Bloomfield Crescent

An elegant 4/5 bedroom Grade II* Listed Georgian townhouse in a Bath crescent updated to an exceptional standard. Garage and parking. Far reaching views. Potential for self contained 1 bedroom apartment at lower ground floor level.

Guide Price: £1,250,000

Guide Price: £1,350,000

Batheaston

Bathwick Hill

Guide Price: £950,000

Guide Price £925,000

Sharpstone, Freshford

Great Pulteney Street

An impressive recently extended and modernized 5 bed link-detached family home set in an enviable position elevated with far reaching views in this sought after village just east of Bath. Extensive gardens, double garage and off road parking for several vehicles.

A handsome double fronted 4 bedroom period village house retaining a wealth of charm and character enjoying wonderful far reaching valley views over open countryside in a peaceful and particularly sought after village, south of Bath.

Offers Over: £915,000

A rare opportunity to purchase a mid-terraced family home on Bathwick Hill, built in the late 1960's, REQUIRING UPDATING & REFURBISHMENT. Versatile accommodation: 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms over 3 floors, with lovely gardens and 2 garages.

An impressive 3 bedroom maisonette forming part of a Grade I Listed Georgian townhouse situated in one of Bath’s most prestigious streets, a short walk of Bath Spa station, The Holburne Museum and the city centre. The apartment benefits from its own private entrance and walled courtyard garden towards Henrietta Park. GARAGE available by separate negotiation in Darlington Mews.

Guide Price: £850,000

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Looking to move house?

ALLEN & HARRIS is one of the longest established names in Bath Estate Agency

or decades, the collective efforts of Allen & Harris’ George Street and Larkhall offices have produced consistent results across a broad spectrum of property in both city and rural markets. They offer their clients a depth of local knowledge – really knowing what makes Bath special. This local expertise is combined with the strength and coverage of a national network, and their commitment to training ensures that the highest possible standards of compliance and performance are maintained. Their marketing is outstanding, with a multilayered plan which includes a results-tracked social media campaign. Designed to capture the highest possible levels of buyer interest, their aim is always to achieve the best price in a timescale to suit clients, whatever the trading conditions.

WHY CHOOSE ALLEN & HARRIS? ● They offer a range of specialised property

services including sales, lettings, mortgage services, home conveyancing, new homes and surveys. ● The endeavours of their long established, prime city centre and Larkhall offices are collectively applied to achieve the best possible results. ● Their special relationship with renowned London estate agent Barnard Marcus gives them an effective link to buyers relocating to Bath. Land for sale in Bath? To discuss your land requirements, please contact land manager Richard Saunders on 07595 636573 or richard.saunders@allenandharris.co.uk who will be delighted to discuss them whether you are buying or selling.

New homes for sale in Bath? Allen & Harris sell a range of new homes throughout the Bath area and would be delighted to discuss. Please contact Mark Bury in the Larkhall branch on 01225 482244 or email mark.bury@allenandharris.co.uk. Want to sell your home? We sell a diverse range of homes across Bath. To discuss your requirements please contact Simon Lord in the city centre branch on 01225 425111 or email simon.lord@allenandharris.co.uk ■

7 Princes Buildings, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 425111 1 Balustrade, Larkhall, Bath BA1 6QA; 01225 482244 www.allenandharris.co.uk

7 Princes Buildings, Bath BA1 2ED 01225 425111