Bath Life – Issue 443 by MediaClash

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ISSUE 443 / 7 – 20 MAY 2021 / JUST OUR TYPE

BRAND!

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

ON THE TRAIL OF THE BEAR FLAT ARTISTS

URBAN LIVING

THE NEW COMMUNITY GARDENING CENTRE

ARTS AND RECREATION

BATH’S ENTERTAINMENT SCENE OPENS UP

WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW

LOCAL AUTHORS CELEBRATED AT THE BATH FESTIVAL

COMING UP ROSES DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON TEA AT THE ROSEATE VILLA BATH

ROCK OF AGES

USING NATURAL STONE IN THE HOME

• DAVID FLATMAN • CRUMBS TAKEAWAY • BANDOOK KITCHEN

THE CREATIVE COLLABORATION SHARING BATH’S BIZ STORIES ISSUE 443 / 7 – 20 MAY 2021/ £3

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EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Exploring the use of stone in

the home (page 72)

BELOW: The Courtauld collection at

The Holburne (page 23)

did it. I committed. I bought a 2021 diary. It was from the Barnardo’s charity shop on Moorlands Road, cost £3, and comes with a gold pen. And I’m luxuriating in the act of writing actual, proper IRL events in it. Family, friends, meals and visits – they’re being assigned – ‘I’ll check my diary, yes I’m free’ dates, and it’s glorious. Things to do, people to meet – it’s a real thing again. Thanks to page 14 and onwards, with our museum and arts venue special, I nearly ran out of ink, there was so much to jot down in anticipation of the 17 May easing of restrictions. It made me aware of how much I’ve still yet to explore in the city – I’ve never visited the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, or eaten a bun at Sally Lunns, or called into the Bath Postal Museum. I am looking right now to rectify these oversights. One of the things lockdown has made us all mightily aware of is that life is short, yes, but it’s also an expanse to ﬁll with positivity, wonder, and things that make us happy. As things open up, and we embrace and relish our freedom, I’m determined to make the time to keep learning about, explore, enjoy, and appreciate, this beautiful city of Bath, and ﬁll that 2021 diary!

SARAH MOOLLA

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 3

Issue 443 / 7–20 May 2021 COVER Athena Cauley-Yu of Meticulous Ink, photographed by Betty Bhandari (page 52)

COVER STORY

52 Betty Bhandari shares the inspiration behind her

photography venture, The Creative Collaboration

THE ARTS

23 ARTS INTRO Intricate Islamic metalwork pieces now on

FOOD&DRINK

37 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Tasty updates from Bath’s

foodie scene

41 TAKE 5 Simon Rollings of Canned Wine Co. talks start

up life and bringing fine wines to the masses

42 RESTAURANT We enjoy a sunny afternoon tea alfresco

at The Roseate Villa Bath 44 RECIPES Make Indian-style street food from home with the help of Bandook Kitchen

SHOPPING

47 INTRO Prize-winning portrait and landscape artist Ben

display at The Holburne

24 WHAT’S ON Arts, theatre, The Bath Festival and more 31 BOOKS Awards buzz with Mr B 14 MUSEUMS 25 wondrous places to visit in the city

Hughes is holding an open house

48 EDITOR’S CHOICE Our picks from the Bear Flat

Artists Trail

BUSINESS

59 BATHWORKS News, views and interviews from our

successful local businesses

63 BIZ Q&A Low-waste shopping made easy

PROPERTY

65 INTRO The garden at Beckford’s Tower is getting some

much needed love

66 PROPERTY NEWS Updates from the market 68 SHOWCASE Start a new life in the country in this

Claverton coach house

72 STONE How to use natural stone in the home

LIFESTYLE

80 GARDENS Nick visits Bath’s newest garden centre and

social enterprise The Urban Garden

82 LIVES Author Helen Fripp shares the inspiration behind

her forthcoming book, The French House

DEPARTMENTS

7 SPOTLIGHT The Jane Austen Festival returns September 13 FLATLINE Flats on the beauty of Bath stone 57 GREG INGHAM In praise of weekend thinking 82 BATH LIVES Meet author Helen Fripp

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@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 Contributors Nic Bottomley, David Flatman, John Mather, Matilda Walton and Nick Woodhouse Group advertising manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@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. 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

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

SPOTLIGHT Bath Fringe

EXPLORE THE FRINGES The Bath Fringe returns at the end of the month with an exciting programme of performances, music, comedy and visual arts. The arts event sees local favourites The Natural Theatre Company return to the stage with a revival of Dirty Bath – the hidden tales of our city’s debauchery, villainy and depravity. The Mission Theatre will also reopen its doors for the festival for The Memory of Water, the Olivier award-winning play by Shelagh Stephenson about three sisters’ different experiences of their mother, uncovered on the eve of her funeral. The Bath Fringe runs from 28 May until 13 June. For more: www. bathfringe.co.uk

David Ewins’ remarkable collection of Paulownia trees are of scientific interest

Gardening

TREE HUGGER Bath’s first foxglove tree collection has official Plant Heritage accreditation. The Paulownia trees owned by David Ewins include all ten species of the plant that can be found in the UK – a result of David’s 30-year fascination with the trees, which are characterised by their extraordinary foxglove-like purple or white flowers. So unique is this collection that the International Dendrology Society are studying it, headed up by John Grimshaw and with work from Michael Dvorak, Westontonbirt Arboretum’s dendrologist. For more: www.plantheritage.co.uk

Dirty Bath uncovers the city’s less savoury history...

The Jane Austen Festival

BONNETS TO THE READY

We’re jumping for joy at the return of the Jane Austen Festival

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Bath just isn’t Bath without the Jane Austen Festival. It’s making a welcome return this year, and from 10-19 September we’ll spend ten days celebrating all things Austen. “The excitement is mounting in the Festival office, as each event is confirmed and the programme filled,” says Jackie Herring, the director of the festival. “The Grand Regency Costumed Promenade will leave from outside the Holburne Museum on Saturday 11 September at 11am – and what a joy it will be to see and take part in this spectacular opening event. There are walking tours, lots of dancing, Prof John Mullan, Austen Undone, theatre tours, concerts and of course the Masked Ball in the Pump Rooms with its reception by the Roman Baths. We just can’t wait to see everyone again!” For more: www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 7

SPOTLIGHT

Because Bath really is as pretty as a picture

Bath will be the backdrop for period thriller Fear the Invisible Man

Bath on Screen

NOW YOU SEE IT...

As you may have noticed, Bath has found itself the setting of yet another ﬁlm. Fear The Invisible Man, based on the H.G. Wells classic, is part action-adventure thriller and part period drama that tells the chilling tale of a young widow and one invisibility serum inventing-scientist’s reign of terror.

Rag ‘n’ Bone Man will perform at Bath Racecourse in July

@life_and_signs

“The little boy inside me still gets excited by scenes of action and suspense alongside mature matters of the heart,” says director Paul Dudbridge. “Blessed with a brilliant cast, including Mhairi Calvey whose ﬁrst screen appearance 25 years ago aged seven was in Braveheart and is now a leading lady. Amid the Victoriana we’re creating a very hi-tech production involving state-of-the art technology.” For more: www.sterlingpictures.com

Music

BEAT THE BLUES

@bristolexplorer

Live music is coming to Bath Racecourse on 31 July with Rag ‘n’ Bone Man. Following the announcement of his long-awaited follow-up his 2017 debut Human Human,, he’s back in the road with album two: Life By Misadventure. Misadventure. The album sees Rag ‘n’ Bone Man take a big step forward as an artist – though the heavy blues and soul we all fell in love with remains. So far his return has been a triumphant one, with Record of the Week selections from both Greg James and Arielle Free on BBC Radio 1 and from Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. For more: www.ragnboneman.com @theseptemberchronicles

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

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FLATLINE DAVID FLATMAN

The philosopher’s stone

Flats on the irresistible and magical lure of a Bath stone home

“I am currently doing my best to get the keys to a new house into the pocket of my pink summer shorts”

ith the sun heating it from the inside out, Bath stone can come to glow in a way that, despite its hardness, can make it warm. Somehow the old houses in this city can, on the good days, feel soft and enveloping. I don’t know quite how such great swathes of simple stone manage this, but it’s real. The grafters who earned their crust in constructing these homes would no doubt have seen less majesty in them as they soothed their broken, calloused hands after months on the grind, but those of us fortunate enough only to have to admire their completed works can indeed look on and wonder at the gold that lies within this precious product of the ground. As mentioned before on this page, I am currently doing my best to get the keys to a new house into the pocket of my pink summer shorts. There are always things that one regards as nonnegotiable when looking for a new home, and my list is long. It looks roughly like this: garden, side access, lots of parking, not directly on a road, more lateral space than vertical. So the house I seem to like the most is an old town house with a relatively small garden, no side access, and no parking. I came home from a viewing only conducted to keep others happy, in truth, wondering why on Earth I so badly wanted a house that I deﬁnitely hadn’t wanted an hour earlier. It’s in town, which is good, but I like the countryside. It’s pretty, which is good, but I don’t really care about looks. It’s eﬀectively everything I’ve never wanted, yet I really want it now, and the reason, I think, is stone. Lots of stone. I beforehand saw a house outside Bath in the countryside, yet still only a ten-minute drive from my girls’ school and I decided quickly that it was

exactly the project and location I wanted. But there was something nagging away at me that evening as I flicked for the hundredth time through its photos on that homes website. It was a great house. It had a big garden, loads of room for barbecues and old Land Rovers and motorcycles and ride-on lawn mowers. It had room for lots of friends and loads of kids for sleepovers. It was great. Is great. But it’s not a Bath house, it’s not built of Bath stone. You can’t stand against it, rubbing your hands against its shining sandiness wondering quite how it looks so wonderful, but also how it hasn’t crumbled into dust by now. When asked about this Bath house by friends, my response was telling, I think. ‘The hallway is nice and wide,’ I said, ‘and the floor is all Bath stone. It goes right the way through to the back door.’ An odd thing to recall, commented one mate, but to me this remains the detail most prominent in my memory of a home that appealed to me so strongly that all of my long-held absolutes melted away. Using stone on the inside of a home can probably be a risky business. It might easily look too brutal, too lacking in compromise and invitation. But when the stone is the right stone – when it’s our local stuff – then I think you probably can’t go wrong. I haven’t agreed on the house yet – a few technicalities to sort – yet I’ve already spoken to my mate Eddie the stone guy about making that hall floor sing again. I hope very much that my battered old feet will be padding along that battered old stone floor soon. And who cares about parking?

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby player turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Find him on Twitter @ davidﬂatman and Instagram @ dﬂatman www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 13

CULTURE CLUB

ARTS

From theatre to arts and dancing to music, we celebrate the anticipated lifting of restrictions with our 25 must-visits Compiled by Sarah Moolla

ow we’ve missed it –the cultural hugs – from music in the Forum to exhibitions in The Holburne. The learning, stimulation and appreciation, along with the collective experiences, is as much a part of Bath as the Crescent or the Abbey. Here we bring you 25 highlights from just a few of our beloved venues, museums and arts centres due to open on or around 17 May. And don’t forget every fortnight, we make it our cultural mission to keep you up to date with best arts happenings in the city.

3VICTORIA ART GALLERY

Bridge Street, Bath; www.victoriagal.org.uk The Gallery will open with a major new exhibition by celebrated British painter Kurt Jackson, whose passion for nature and commitment to the environment are central to his work. This new exhibition, Biodiversity, demonstrates his holistic approach to his subject, which seamlessly blends art and politics, providing a springboard to create a hugely varied body of work unconstrained by format or scale.

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

37 Gay Street, Bath; www.houseoﬀ rankenstein.com While the world slept, a monster was born in the middle of Bath. Arranged over four atmospheric ﬂoors, including a dank, if you dare, basement, you can immerse yourself in Mary Shelley’s complex and often tragic past, and uncover the true story behind the world’s favourite monster. Bursting with unusual artefacts and vintage items, interactive multi-sensory environments and assorted body parts, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, which opens in June, delivers an unnervingly visceral, illuminating, and entertaining experience.

2THE FASHION MUSEUM

Assembly Rooms, Bennett St, Bath; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk Showcasing 350 pairs of boots and shoes, some drawn from the Fashion Museum’s existing world-class collection, alongside celebrity shoes borrowed for the exhibition, Shoephoria! will illustrate the evolution of shoe style over the last 300 years. Look out for footwear from Noel Coward, Queen Victoria, Margot Fonteyn, boxer Nicola Adams from her Strictly Come Dancing appearance, and ﬂoral blades from Bath’s very own Harmonie-Rose Allen.

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

“Uncover the true story behind the world’s favourite monster”

4THE HOLBURNE

Great Pulteney Street, Bathwick, Bath; www.holburne.org Along with socially distanced workshops, creative activities, and a revamped café, The Holburne returns with three major exhibitions including Canaletto: Painting Venice (see page 24); Precious and Rare: Islamic Metalwork from The Courtauld (see page 23); and Nicholas Pope: Portraits of a Marriage featuring ten sculptures using a range of materials, representing him and his wife at various stages of their 40 year marriage.

5AMERICAN MUSEUM

Claverton Manor, Bath; www.americanmuseum.org With a remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts, the museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. The Shooting Stars exhibition features the work of Carinthia West and a series of her intimate photographs of rock and ﬁ lm stars of the 1970s, shot on the beaches of Malibu in California. LEFT: Bioblitz of Vauxhall Bridge Road by Kurt Jackson

can be seen at The Victoria Art Gallery;

CLOCKWISE OPPOSITE: Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger in

1976 captured by writer and photographer Carinthia West who is exhibiting at American Museum; An exhibit from the new House of Frankenstein; The Fashion Museum’s Shoephoria!; Frank Staff’s postcard collection that can be seen at the Bath Postal Museum

ARTS

left: Coco Tomita, a pupil of the Menuhin School, is playing at The Forum on 20 May; above: Standing guard over the Roman Baths, one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world

programme of events includes outdoor cinema and theatre plus the Garden Festival with exhibitions, food stalls, music, and talks.

8THE ROMAN BATHS

Abbey Church Yard; www.romanbaths.co.uk Many of us walk past it every time but don’t use the opportunity to step inside. But we should. The Roman Baths consists of the remarkably preserved remains of one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world, with our city’s unique thermal springs meaning the Baths still flow with natural hot water. It also plays host to activities, trails, and events including some of this year’s Bath Festival concerts.

9IFORD ARTS

15 Market St, Bradford-on-Avon; www.ifordarts.org.uk The season launch sees a return to the stunning 18th century grounds of Belcombe on 21 August. Rarely open to the public, the Grade I listed house is set in 60 acres of glorious formal gardens, parkland and woodland, and offers a packed programme of events starting with an evening prom and includes a performance of Peter and The Wolf.

MUSEUM OF EAST ASIAN ART

12 Bennett Street, Bath; www.meaa.org.uk MEAA’s collection consists of nearly 2,000 sets of objects from East and South East Asia. The collection of Chinese art is incredibly comprehensive, spanning in date from 5,000 BC to the present, and features ceramics, jades, bronzes and much more – all telling their own story. Many of the Chinese bamboo and wood carvings are known to be among the finest found in European collections.

THE BISHOP’S PALACE

Wells; bishopspalace.org.uk The Bishop’s Palace is the 800-year-old home of the Bishops of Bath & Wells with 14 acres of stunning gardens. Within the grounds is an arboretum; formal planted gardens; the ruined and romantic great hall; waterfalls and well pools; a community garden; and the new garden of reflection. The upcoming

10TROWBRIDGE MUSEUM

The Shires Shopping Centre, Court Street, Trowbridge; www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk The fantastic renovation and expansion of Trowbridge Museum means it has now doubled in size. The new space will tell the 1,000 year-old story of Trowbridge, and reveal the heritage of its residents through new displays featuring never before seen objects and interactive activities for all ages.

“The collection of Chinese art spans in date from 5,000 BC to the present”

MUSEUM OF ASTRONOMY 11HERSCHEL

19 New King Street, Bath; www.herschelmuseum.org.uk A brand-new audio tour is now available bringing the house to life with stories about the Herschel family, and their significant contribution to music, science, and astronomy, including the discovery of Uranus whilst at this house, using a homemade telescope.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 17

ARTS

12BECKFORD’S TOWER

Lansdown Road, Bath; www.beckfordstower.org.uk Book a guided tour or self-led visit and follow in William’s footsteps, by walking from Beckford’s Ride up to the Tower, which is now home to a museum displaying original furniture, alongside paintings, prints and objects, illustrating the author’s controversial life. (Turn to page 65 for news of the restoration of the gardens of Beckford’s Tower)

13MUSEUM OF BATH ARCHITECTURE

The Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, The Paragon, The Vineyards, Bath; www.museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk Using maps, designs, drawings, videos, paintings and tools, including a 1:500 scale model of Bath, the exhibition offers a fascinating birdseye-view of the whole city.

14NO.1 ROYAL CRESCENT

Bath; www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk No.1 Royal Crescent, which featured in the Netflix smash Bridgerton, has a new and remarkable immersive experience allowing visitors to see life as it was truly lived in Bath during the late 1700s.

15HIGHGROVE HOUSE

Doughton, Tetbury; www.highgrovegardens.com Highgrove is the private residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and where His Royal Highness has devoted much energy to transforming the gardens around the house. The grounds are now renowned as some of the most inspiring and innovative in the United Kingdom.

ROYAL LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION 16BATH

16-18 Queen Square, Bath; www.brlsi.org The BRLSI, which regularly hosts an amazing range of lectures and talks, also houses a free exhibition of Jurassic fossils that date from 183 million years ago. Jurassic Ark illustrates how these ancient creatures lived and interacted, how they died and were preserved, and what they can tell us of the history of life.

17SALLY LUNNS

4 North Parade Passage, Bath; www.sallylunns.co.uk More than just a tea house, the historic building is one of the oldest houses in Bath, with a kitchen museum used by the legendary young Huguenot baker Sally Lunn, who created the first Bath Bunn back in 1680.

The fabulous musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is coming to Theatre Royal Bath later this year

21THEATRE ROYAL BATH

Sawclose, Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk The Lights Up Season is about to light up our lives starting with Ralph Fiennes in Four Quartets running 25 May – 5 June, along with a packed programme including productions of Oleanna, The Woman In Black, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

22THE FORUM

1A Forum Buildings, Bath; www.bathforum.co.uk The Grade II listed Forum was built as an art deco cinema in 1934, and is Bath’s biggest venue with a capacity of 1,640 seated or mixed standing/seated. The first gig on 20 May is the Concert for the People of Bath, designed to encourage future generations to develop a love for classical music.

“There is a unique 265 year history waiting to be MOLES 23 explored”

27 Northgate Street, Bath; www.bathpostalmuseum.org.uk The actual post office may have moved but there’s a new display in the Northgate Street basement celebrating postal workers and their contribution to the wartime efforts.

14 George Street, Bath; www.moles.co.uk Since opening in 1978, Moles’s stage has been graced with legendary and eclectic acts including Radiohead, Oasis, Eurythmics, Mumford & Sons, and Ed Sheeran, as well as hosting regular DJ and dance nights. While we’re still not able to basement boogie the night away, it is holding The Big Cheese Sit In Sessions starting on 18 May, building up to the Hey Ya! – The Parties Are Back! on 21 June, when all restrictions are hopefully lifted.

19OLD THEATRE ROYAL

24JANE AUSTEN CENTRE

20RADSTOCK MUSEUM

25MUSEUM OF BATH STONE

18BATH POSTAL MUSEUM

12 Old Orchard Street, Bath; www.oldtheatreroyal.com The Old Theatre Royal may seem an anonymous building in a quiet cobbled backstreet but there is a unique 265 year history waiting to be explored. Along with hosting productions, meetings and gigs, the building is home to one of England’s oldest Masonic Lodges.

Waterloo Road, Radstock; www.radstockmuseum.co.uk The Somerset Coalfield once comprised 75 coal mines covering an area of 240 square miles and this museum tells the fascinating story of those mines and the Somerset mining communities.

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

40 Gay Street, Bath; www.janeausten.co.uk This museum focusses, not just on the life and works of Jane Austen, but also the period in which she lived. The experience is an interactive and immersive one with actors dressed in Regency costume to help guide, and enliven, the visit.

54a Combe Road, Combe Down; www.museumofbathstone.org Discover the stories of Combe Down Stone – the material from which our Georgian city of Bath was built, and learn about Ralph Allen, the man behind the enterprise. n

And breathe...

Wellbeing in the Gardens Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation Classes and workshops for adults + yoga for children Bath, BA2 7BD

americanmuseum.org/whats-on

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

HEAVY METAL

The Holburne Museum is about to exhibit ten remarkable highlights from The Courtauld’s world-class collection of Islamic metalwork, which has rarely left London since their bequest more than 50 years ago. Dating from the 13th to 16th centuries, these objects are some of the finest examples of this intricate craft from modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Turkey. One exceptionally rare piece is The Courtauld Bag – seen here – made in Mosul (present-day northern Iraq) in around 1300-1330 for a noble lady of the Persian-Mongol court. This bag is recognised as one of the finest pieces of Islamic inlaid metalwork in existence and the only surviving object of its kind. The Precious and Rare Islamic Metalwork from the Courtauld exhibition starts 17 May until 1 August at the Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 23

Enjoy a five-hour global livestream Glastonbury, organised by father and daughter team Michael and Emily Eavis, on 22 May

WHAT’S ON 8 May – 4 June

EXHIBITIONS Until 21 May

DAN PARRY-JONES Bristol based artist Dan Parry-Jones initially trained in Illustration and Graphic Design, before turning to painting in 2008. Dan produces expressive mixed media landscapes and townscapes, taking inspiration from the gritty urban surroundings of the city, as well as the beauty of the south west coastline. Adam Gallery; www.adamgallery.com

Until 29 May

STILL Get peaceful with this series of tranquil still life paintings at Beaux Arts. The exhibition will include work by renowned Wiltshire painter Helen Simmonds, as well as drawings by Lewis Chamberlain, former winner of the Discerning Eye Award, and a regular in the BP portrait exhibition. Local artists will also feature work, including South

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

West-based Alex Callaway, Harriet Porter and Linda Felcey; Beaux Arts; www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

Until 31 May

BATH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY SPRING EXHIBITION Over 30 photographers have responded to the theme A Diﬀerent View for this latest exhibition from the Bath Photographic Society. Shots explore the out of the ordinary, abstract and quirky utilising a variety of techniques from fragments to close-ups, reﬂections and digital adjustments. The exhibition is in memory of late president of the Society, Paul Betts, and features two of his works. www.bathphotographicsociety.org.uk

Until 6 June

HENRY TAYLOR Using collected objects and a mix of his inimitable paintings and sculptures, Taylor has created a holistic record of his everyday

Always check Covid-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

routine incorporating both his personal experiences and broader cultural references. It’s a multifaceted narrative with a wildly diverse range of subjects and sociocultural frameworks. Slots by reservation only; www.hauserwirth.com

Until 19 June

GATEWAYS Gateways is Los Angeles-based artist John Zabawa’s ﬁrst solo show in the UK, featuring 24 oil paintings on canvas and wood. Their warm colours and abstract forms embody two branches of Zabawa’s art practice: a conceptual series of diptychs, and more ﬁgurative works, such as still life compositions of geometric fruit bowls and plants. Francis Gallery; www.francisgallery.co

Until 30 June

RUH ART FOR HEROES AUCTION Each exhibit is for sale as part of

this online auction – 60 per cent will go to the artist and 35 per cent will go to the RUH’s two charities, Art at the Heart and the Forever Friends Appeal (and the remaining 5 per cent will cover the auction costs). Contributing artists include Jason Dorley-Brown, Ben Hughes (turn to page 47 for more on Ben), and Emma Taylor. RUH www.artatruh.org

Until 30 June

KURT JACKSON: BIODIVERSITY In this series of paintings, sculptures and mixed media works, Jackson aims to celebrate the planet’s biodiversity, but also highlight where it is being lost. The exhibition can be viewed online now, but restrictions permitting will be open IRL from 18 May. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 31 October

OUCH! This exhibition from 44AD draws

WHAT’S ON

on themes explored by research undertaken by the Bath Centre for Pain Research. Based at the University of Bath, the Centre is made up of an interdisciplinary team of researchers exploring how pain affects how people live – from everyday aches to long-term, chronic pain. The hope is the physical exhibition will take place from September of this year, but for now a selection of the featured works are available to view online. www.44ad.net

17 May – 5 September

CANALETTO: PAINTING VENICE This once in a lifetime exhibition will enable art lovers to enjoy and study up-close twenty-three beautiful paintings, in a fascinating exhibition that also explores Canaletto’s life and work, alongside themes of 18th-century Venice and the Grand Tour. Holburne Musuem; www.holburne.org

above: Portable art, like this installation by Shirley Sharp, is on display at the Inch by IN:CH exhibition being held at the Bath Artists Studio left: Face Study I by John Zabawa, seen here in situ at the Francis Gallery, can be viewed by appointment only until 19 June right: The Battle by Emma Taylor is one of more than 50 artworks up for auction to help raise money for the RUH

17 May – 8 September

THOMAS LAWRENCE COMING OF AGE The Holburne Museum’s first virtual show will give fresh insight into the first 25 years of one of Britain’s greatest portrait painters who lived in Bath for a while, and will include films, games and rarely seen images together with some of his most celebrated works. Through a selection of 25 paintings and drawings, the exhibition will consider Lawrence’s self-image as a prodigy, the impact of Bath’s artistic, cultural and commercial life on the young artist’s formation, and development of his painting technique. Holburne Musuem; www.holburne.org

28 May – 12 September

TALES OF THE GARDEN Experience specially commissioned sculptures blooming up across the expansive landscaped grounds of Longleat. Using a variety of materials and crafting methods,

designed and curated by UK-based artists, these nine installations tell the unique and fascinating story of Longleat, such as the time kangaroos roamed the lawns in the 1800s. Longleat; www.longleat.co.uk

29 – 31 May

BEAR FLAT ARTISTS ART TRAIL & OPEN STUDIOS Discover the creativity of more than 20 artists at Bear Flat’s Art Trail. Includes painting, ceramics, jewellery, printmaking, photography, sculpture, woodwork, millinery, glass and more. Meet the artist, browse original artwork and buy direct from socially-distanced spaces and gardens. Turn to page 23 for more. 11am-5pm; various locations; www.beatflatartists.co.uk

29 – 31 May

INCH BY IN:CH Inch by IN:CH is an artist-led project organised and curated by ‘Incubation Chamber’ (IN:CH)

an artists group based in Bath. Bringing contemporary art out of the protected space of studios and galleries and into communal areas of our everyday lives. The 11 artworks, each presented in a travel case to form a portable touring exhibition, will go on display at a garage tucked behind Bath Artists Studios on Comfortable Place. Each piece will have a shared focus on the transitive nature of thinking. www.inchbyinch.uk

MUSIC

19 May & 24 May

BEETHOVEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Delayed from March, this is part of the worldwide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven. The Carducci String Quartet and the Heath Quartet will between them perform a series of six concerts of the composer’s entire cycle of 16 String Quartets. Assembly Rooms; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON COMEDY

22 May

KRATER COMEDY CLUB Live stand-up is back albeit socially distanced and kicking off with I’m A Celebrity survivor Shappi Khorsandi, Nick Page and MC Sally Anne Hayward. The cabaret style seating comes with several dinner options and table service. Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

THEATRE Until 9 May

THE ALFRESCO THEATRE From the creators of Pub in Park and Drive and Dine Theatre, this outdoor, in-car experience for pandemic times is coming to Warleigh Lodge Farm. Enjoy film screenings including sing-along Grease and The Greatest Showman, along with tasty food. Prices start from £8; www.thealfrescotheatre.co.uk

20 – 22 May

NORA: A DOLL’S HOUSE As outsiders looking in, we see a woman holding together a home. But when a secret from the past threatens to dismantle Nora’s carefully constructed world, she is forced to make a choice. Henrik Ibsen’s brutal portrayal of womanhood in A Doll’s House caused riots when first performed in 1879. This bold new version by Stef Smith reframes the drama across three different time periods. the egg; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

25 May – 5 June

tours, literary talks from the likes of Mel Giedroyc, Kadiatu KannehMason, Richard Osman and Robert Webb (turn to page 32 for more on local talent appearing), skin health care from Caroline Hirons, plus theatre from Apphia Campbell, and music by The Gesualdo Six at the Roman Baths. www.bathfestivals.org.uk

22 May

LIVE AT WORTHY FARM GLOBAL LIVESTREAM The five-hour spectacular will feature performances from a host of amazing artists who are giving their time to help support the festival, cancelled for a second June: Coldplay, Damon Albarn, HAIM, IDLES, Jorja Smith, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka, Wolf Alice, plus DJ Honey Dijon. There will also be a number of unannounced surprise performances. Wellies optional. £20, www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

OTHER 11 May

GYLES BRANDRETH ON PHILIP: THE FINAL PORTRAIT Friend of the Prince for more than 40 years, Gyles Brandreth has a unique insight into the life of the Duke of Edinburgh. Now, he details this extraordinary story of the longest-serving consort to the longest-reigning sovereign in British history in a new biography. Online. 7pm, Toppings; www.toppingbooks.co.uk

19 & 26 May

FOUR QUARTETS Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in a world premiere adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets to welcome audiences back to live theatre. Compelling, moving and symphonic, Four Quartets offers four interwoven meditations on the nature of time, faith, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

EVENING WITH JAMAAR SEMPER Jamaar will be taking over the kitchens at Lucknam Park to prepare and cook some dishes that inspired him during his appearance on Masterchef: The Professionals. The evening will begin with a glass of Champagne and canapés on arrival, a three course menu comprising Jamaar’s signature dishes. For more on the young chef turn to page 37. Lucknam Park; www.lucknampark.co.uk

FESTIVALS

Ongoing

17 – 24 May

THE BATH FESTIVAL An innovative 2021 programme offers both live and online events with The Bath Festival At Home, a digital broadcast for audiences to experience at home. There’s Bridgerton and Frankenstein walking

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STORIES FROM DREAM SPACE The online exhibition from The Dream Space is a collection of stories told by local people that offer unique insight into how their lives are impacted by the pandemic, racism and the climate and ecological crisis. The project hopes to inspire social change. www.thedreamspace.co.uk n

above: Shappi Khorsandi is standing up and being funny at Komedia on 22 May left: The Heath Quartet will be performing Beethoven’s 16 String Quartets at part of The Bath Festival below: The Church of the Redentore on the Giudecca by Canaletto will be on display at The Holburne from 17 May until 5 September

SPONSORED CONTENT

Child pictured is not a TRC client

A decade of transforming lives THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTRE in Bath celebrates 10 years of helping children, young people and families recover from complex trauma

he Trauma Recovery Centre (TRC) believes that children and young people have the right to learn, to feel safe and to enjoy life. For some children, life presents significant difficulties, challenges and trauma that can be completely overwhelming and can significantly hinder their feeling of safety and security. This often then impacts how the child behaves, feels, learns and builds relationships. The TRC places the child at the centre of their work and builds a recovery plan around their specific needs, specialising in complex trauma. Through the carefully managed recovery plan, the TRC help the family to not just manage symptoms in the short term, but to make a long term recovery from the impact of their significant traumatic experience. The TRC was founded in 2011 by Betsy de Thierry after she had a vision of seeing children find lasting recovery. Taking her 20 years of experience as a teacher, a psychotherapist, an author and a mother of four, Betsy set about creating the charity and finding a way to help families recover from significant trauma and crisis. Since that day, the TRC have worked with over 1,000 clients and delivered over 20,000 hours of face to face recovery intervention. Over the last 10 years, the TRC has worked with

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many local families in their Bath headquarters on Lower Bristol Road, and have opened more centres in Oxford and Guernsey. Working with a highly trained team of complex trauma professionals, psychotherapy is provided at the TRC via play, music, art and creative therapy sessions for the child or young person, with therapeutic sessions provided for the parent/carer happening at the same time. The TRC also provide specialist help for other professionals working with the child, such as help with an EHCP plan in educational settings. Working holistically in this way, gives the family a chance to recover from the trauma as a unit and brings hope in what can be a really difficult time. The effectiveness of their work has been evaluated by Christ Church Canterbury University Salomon Applied Psychology Department using clinical data from 248 clients in 2019 and it was found that 98.8 per cent of the sample had significantly clinically improved through the TRC’s intervention, with difficulties significantly decreasing, and strengths significantly improving. More than that though, are the many hundreds of positive stories from families and children of lives completely transformed due to the specialist care and love from the TRC team over many months and often from families who have not found help or hope from anywhere else. n

If you would like to help the work of the Trauma Recovery Centre continue to bring hope to children, young people and families in Bath for another 10 years or more, then you can donate via their website www.trc-uk.org/support-us For more information about the Trauma Recovery Centre visit www.trc-uk.org

NEW NURSERY OPENING IN SPRING 2021!

The team behind Midford Road Nursery and Oldfield Road Nursery in Bath are bringing our play-centred ethos to Wiltshire with Neston Farm Children’s Nursery, opening spring 2021! This new 80-place nursery is situated in a beautiful barn conversion on a stunning organic farm just outside of Atworth. At all of our nurseries, we are passionate advocates for play-based learning. The children direct their own play, fostering curiosity and self-

confidence. Our skilful educators are on hand to follow their lead, extending ideas and creating moments for learning. Our incredible grounds offer us the space to embrace the natural world every day. We are surrounded by picturesque countryside and our site includes woodlands, open spaces, a play park and animal paddocks.

barn to create inspiring, beautiful spaces for the children to explore. To register your interest in a space at Neston Farm Nursery, or to request more information, contact us at info@nestonfarmnursery.co.uk. For a £50 discount on your admin fee when signing up for any of our three settings, please quote BL21 when contacting us.

We have lovingly converted our indoor space, taking inspiration from the features of the former

Neston Farm Children’s Nursery, Bath Road, Atworth, Wiltshire SN12 8HP | 01225 707512 | www.thepowerofplay.co.uk

S T Y L I S H , C O N T E M P O R A RY F U R N I T U R E

We are a Bath-based business creating high quality, hand-built pieces for your home. Our furniture linoleum, used on our desks, floating shelves, coat racks and bedside tables, comes in a range of modern colours to create a vibrant finish. For further information, visit: www.theurbanhome.co.uk Tel: 07920 002062 marcus@theurbanhome.co.uk @theurbanhomebath

Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires

HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH to host both short-term and long-term students. We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation. For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Accommodation Manager: Sarah Wringer, Kaplan International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 473502, Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Prize ﬁghters Celebrating the return of the literary prizes and worthy shortlists

“The Republic of Consciousness Prize is close to my heart because it celebrates small presses”

ne of the pleasing things to see amongst the slow unravelling of the book industry lockdown is that some of our more exciting literary prizes have survived and are back this spring with fascinating shortlists for us booksellers to display in our newly opened shops. This last fortnight alone we’ve seen the contenders announced for the Jhalak Prize and the Republic of Consciousness Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize has also revealed its longlist. The Jhalak Prize was established just four years ago and this year, for the first time, has widened its scope to embrace a separate children’s award. Its mission is to celebrate and reward writing by BAME authors based in the UK and it’s completely open-minded when it comes to genre. As a result, we get an adult shortlist this time around that features poetry, memoir and fiction. How the judges navigate that, I’m not sure; but for the browser looking for fresh ideas it’s boomtime. Two of the books on the shortlist were ones we featured in our shop’s Christmas catalogue in 2020 and either would make a worthy winner. There’s Rachel Long’s debut poetry collection My Darling from the Lions (Picador, £10.99), an entertaining but illuminating series of poems that oscillate from the laugh-out loud funny to light-touch critiques of racism and the complexities of cultural heritage. And then there’s First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Oneworld, £16.99), an equally impressive debut, but this time a novel which follows a bright young girl named Kirabo growing up in a culture of powerful women against the backdrop of Idi Amin’s brutal Ugandan dictatorship. The Republic of Consciousness Prize is close to my heart because it celebrates small presses. Unusually for a literary prize the key criteria relate not to the author or the book but to the publishing house it has emerged from, as only publishers with fewer than five employees are eligible. This prize has been going for half a decade now and each year throws up a fascinating mix of books on its shortlists. 2021 is no exception with a translated Argentine novel from the often-brilliant Charco Press, in the form of Luis Sagasti’s A Musical Offering (Charco, £8.99), sitting alongside LOTE, a novel about a forgotten Black

modernist by Scottish writer Shola von Reinhold (Jacaranda, £8.99). Perhaps the pick of the lot though might be The Mermaid and the Black Conch by Monique Roffey (Peepal Tree Press, £9.99). This might be from a small publishing house, but it has already picked up a major award in the form of the 2021 Costa Prize. Set on the Caribbean island of Black Conch, and particularly in the tiny fishing community of St Constance, the novel begins with an island fisherman, David Baptiste, encountering a mermaid who has been swimming the sea for centuries. Not long afterwards he becomes her rescuer after he realises that she has been extracted from the water against her will by two other fishermen. David plans to return her to the water, but whilst she resides temporarily in his bathtub these two lonely souls become drawn to one another. This short novel laced with watery mythology is full of larger than life characters and exquisite descriptions of close-knit island life. The Desmond Elliott Prize might only be at the long-list stage so far but we’re already very excited about it because our bookseller Jess’s debut novel is in the running. I wrote about How We are Translated by Jessica Gaitán Johannesson (Scribe, £12.99) here recently and she’s in great company on this longestablished debut writers prize list. Of the other contenders I’d pick out Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Penguin, £12.99) as being another novel that we’ve been recommending widely over the last few weeks. It’s a lyrical and beautifully-written story that reflects on Black masculinity in 21st century Britain. What’s more you can see him talk about his brilliant emotionally charged novel at the forthcoming Bath Festival – he’s going to be sharing the stage with Daisy Buchanan to talk about their writing on 21 May at 4.30pm. And yes, that’s an actual stage with actual seats and an actual, socially distanced, audience! How refreshing that, cautiously and barring no relapses, we are slowly closing in on the day that the authors in the running for these prizes – and any author or creative for that matter – might be able to visit our city once again and talk to us all about their work. Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; tel: 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

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READ ALL ABOUT IT...

Bath is awash with literary talent and this year The Bath Festival is helping us connect with just a few local novelists By Lydia Tewkesbury 32 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

omething in the air in our city inspires the imagination, because Bath is absolutely full of authors. The Bath Festivals new bookish project, Bath Reads kicks off with a celebration of this fact in the form of an invitation to read five exciting titles, all by writers living in or near the city. The series of exclusive author interviews supported by the Mayor of Bath Cllr Manda Rigby and the Charter Trustees of the City of Bath will form part of this year’s new Bath Festival at Home digital programme, so you can listen to insights from the writers about their work and what inspires them in the comfort of your loungewear. Chat about the books online using the hashtag #BathReads and read along at home – the books cover a wide range of genres from thriller to contemporary literary fiction so there’s something in there for everyone.

MEET THE BATH AUTHORS NATASHA PULLEY The book: The Kingdoms The first memory Joe Tournier has is stepping off a train in the 19th century French colony of England. The only clue he has about his identity is a mystery century-old postcard of a Scottish lighthouse, written in illegal English and signed only ‘M’. The search for the postcard’s author – and himself – takes Joe on a journey from French-ruled London to rebel-ruled Scotland and into a battle that will remake history. The author: Natasha is an associate lecturer with Bath Spa University, where she teaches on the Creative Writing BA. Her first novel, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street was an international best seller that held space on The Sunday Times bestseller list for most of the summer of 2016. It won the Betty Trash Award and was shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award and the Locus Awards. For more: www.natashapulley.co.uk

opposite page, clockwise from top left: Jo Nadin; Jessica Gaitán Johannesson; Lucy Diamond; Natasha Pulley; Tim Weaver

LITERATURE LUCY DIAMOND The book: The Promise Following the sudden death of his brother, Dan makes a plan: he will live up to the man his brother was, support his grieving sister-in-law and her young children, and ensure the family’s happiness. But tying up the loose ends of his brother’s life reveals a secret that makes Dan question everything he knew about his big brother. He’s faced with a choice: tell the truth and risk breaking what is left of the family – or adopt his brother’s secrets as his own? The author: Following a career in publishing, a dash of world travel, a stint at the BBC and a few children’s books under her belt (which are published with real name, Sue Mongredien), Lucy took the creative writing class that would lead to her first novel for adults. She has since written 14 more, including The Beach Café, Summer at Shell Cottage and An Almost Perfect Holiday. For more: www.lucydiamond.co.uk

“Something in the air in our city inspires the imagination” JESSICA GAITÁN JOHANNESSON The book: How We Are Translated Kristen, an immigrant from Sweden living in Edinburgh, won’t talk to anyone about her secret project. Her Brazilian-born Scottish boyfriend Ciaran has declared he will only speak Swedish now to learn the language in preparation for their future together. Every day their flat feels smaller, and soon they will be forced to address the problems they have both been desperately avoiding. The author: When she isn’t writing, Jessica is a bookseller at Mr B’s Emporium and a climate activist. How We Are Translated is her debut novel. It came out in February of this year and has already been longlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize. For more: Follow @JessJohannesson on Twitter

TIM WEAVER The book: and alum of the Richard and Judy Book Club, Missing Pieces Rebekah Murphy is trapped on an abandoned island with a killer on her trail. The killer in question is after her because of a secret – only Rebekah doesn’t know what that secret is. Detective Frank Travis is set to retire in a week – and he still hasn’t found missing Louise Mason who vanished three months ago. If he doesn’t find her, no one ever will. Rebekah and Frank both hold the pieces to their respective puzzles – but finally fitting them together could cost them everything. The author: Tim is a stalwart of the thriller genre. Author of The Sunday Times bestselling David Raker Missing Persons series and alumni of the Richard and Judy Book Club, he has been nominated and shortlisted for many awards including the National Book Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in the Library Award. Podcast fans will know him from the Missing podcast, a show about missing persons investigations he hosts and produces. For more: www.timweaverbooks.com JOANNA NADIN The Book: The Talk of Pram Town This multigenerational story follows 11-year-old Sadie Earnshaw, her vibrant, buddingsinger mother Connie Earnshaw, and Connie’s mother, Jean Earnshaw – who Connie hasn’t seen since she ran away from the family home when she fell pregnant at 17. When the unthinkable happens, Jean gets a call she never expected – before she knows it, she is responsible for the granddaughter she has never met. The author: A former broadcast journalist and special advisor to the prime minister, Joanna now specialises in books – she has written more than 80 – and teaching at Bath Spa University, where she is a lecturer on the Creative Writing MA. She has won the Fantastic Book Award and the Surrey Book Award and been nominated for many more besides. For more: www.joannanadin.com The Bath Festival at Home will be available from 28 May – 11 June at www.thebathfestivalathome.org.uk

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SPONSORED CONTENT

The magical years Sally Sutton, nursery manager at LITTLE WILLOWS DAY NURSERY on life as an early years practitioner

ittle Willows Day Nursery works with parents across Bath and Corsham to provide the very best education and childcare possible for children aged between three months and 12 years. Nursery manager Sally Sutton tells us why she loves her role and how the nursery has adapted over the past year. How long have you worked at Little Willows? I joined Steve and Lisa’s previous nursery back in 2006. I was taken on as a level 2 nursery assistant and from there I built upon my experience and education. The nurseries fully supported my journey and helped shape me into practitioner I am today. In 2010 I moved with Steve and Lisa from their old nursery across to our current location. I was on-site during the renovations and helped to establish Little Willows – so I’ve worked here 15 years to date!

What do you most enjoy about managing a nursery? There are so many aspects of managing a nursery I enjoy, from watching children grow in their confidence and independence to meeting new families and being a part of their journey. Knowing that children have fun and want to come to nursery fills me with pride. I have to say that I have the most wonderful team who inspire me and each other every day. I love walking into a room in the morning and seeing the activities they have set up and the children’s art work across the walls! Working alongside these guys at Little Willows make even the hardest days fun. What are the qualities of a good nursery practitioner? Whilst qualifications are important in this sector, they are not the be all and end all. A practitioner needs to firstly have love and patience for children of all ages and abilities. You need to have good instincts and be prepared to think on your feet at any moment. You can teach the academics of early years, but it’s dedication, patience, organisation, positive attitude and communication skills that make a great practitioner. You can’t ‘fake it till you make it’ in early years – it is a demanding and fast paced sector. What are you most proud of professionally? I am really proud of Little Willows’ continued success. When Steve asked me back in 2016 if I

could envision a nursery in Corsham on the old Post Office sorting site, that was the biggest challenge I had faced in my career at that time. I shocked myself on how well it came together, how much I enjoyed the challenge and then to be able to be a part of its continued growth. I am so thankful for the lovely Corsham team, especially Abi and Alyce, who have worked hard to develop a wonderful nursery community in Corsham. What measures have you put in place to make the nursery Covid secure? There have been a few changes to ensure the safety of everyone at both nurseries, the strangest being that parents are currently not allowed in the setting during handovers, meaning we do everything at the front door! But everyone quickly adapted to this and it has become the new normal for now. Showing new families around also became difficult, but luckily at our Bath nursery we have been able to offer ‘garden visits’, where we are on one level and you can see inside all of the playrooms from the garden. Both nurseries are currently restricting visits to one adult per family, per day so that we can keep on top of track and trace. As a nursery we are used to cleaning all day every day, hand sanitising and washing hands, so this hasn’t felt much different, but wearing a face mask whilst trying to have a discussion with a parent about their little ones can prove tricky sometimes. Every family receives our LW Covid guidance before visiting the setting so we can make sure that everyone is on board with the changes we’ve made to keep everyone safe. We have been very strict on illnesses, which, while it can prove tricky, has played a role in why we have had very minimal issues with Covid cases at the nurseries. What has being the biggest challenge of the pandemic? The biggest challenge we faced was actually closing for the initial 10 weeks back in March 2020. It was so hard closing the doors knowing that we wouldn’t be seeing all of our children for a while, not supporting their development, their preparation for starting school and offering the parents the childcare they needed. Although preparing to re-open on 1 June was hard, it was driven by a need to have a place where the children could come for a little bit of ‘normal’. I was so worried when we re-opened the doors the children would feel unsettled and struggle with a nursery day, especially as parents were

Sally Sutton, nursery manager

no longer allowed to enter the setting, but I was proven wrong very quickly – they were amazing! I think they craved the change of pace and scenery as much as we do as adults. What exciting things are coming up at Little Willows? We are holding an open morning at our Corsham nursery on Saturday 8 May. Covid has brought us so many restrictions, one being that is has been difficult to show families around, especially at our Corsham location, so holding an open day gives us a little more freedom to showcase our lovely nursery. We have also just had a virtual tour filmed for both nurseries. Since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen a rise in families moving from areas such as London to Bath and Corsham, and the virtual tour means they can visit us remotely. How does your nursery differ from others? Every nursery comes with their unique selling points and I always say to potential families that choosing a nursery has to feel right for the whole family, much like buying a home. Both nurseries are fairly small in size and have a ‘home from home’ feeling about them. We have on-site chefs at both nurseries offering home cooked food freshly made on the day, with all dietary needs catered for. We have extended opening hours of 7.30am-6.30pm every week day, as well as some more unique sessions such as 9am-4pm and 10.30am-3.30pm. Parents are also able to tailor sessions by adding on additional hours to create longer sessions to suit their needs. n

Bath: 01225 332296; info@littlewillowsdaynursery.co.uk Corsham: 01249 701 444; corsham@littlewillowsdaynursery.co.uk www.daynurseryinbath.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 35

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

Pasta makers H’eggs Company have had a rebrand – it is now known as Pasta Uliana, after its founder, Federico Uliana. They also have a shop in Camden, Bath called Pasta Laboratory. “We started the business as the H’eggs Company, primarily focused on selling fresh pasta wholesale to restaurants and hotels,” Federico explains. “We then found this little shop in Camden two weeks before the first lockdown in 2020 and we thought – why not? We could do the production in a retail shop rather than a light industrial unit, and sell a little of our daily production to locals around.” Covid quickly changed their wholesale plans, so the Pasta Laboratory on Camden became the main site of the business and will continue to operate with that name. Pasta Uliana is the new look for the online arm of the business, where they offer pasta deliveries and wholesale now restaurants are open again. “Our Pasta Uliana website is also offering pasta dinner parties for up to 20 people. This involves a two-hour pasta making class followed by a three-course meal served by ourselves, so you have a two in one service – pasta making and an at-home chef,” Federico says. For more: www.pastauliana.co.uk

The new range is an authentic sourdough made from simple, delicious ingredients

A GOOD GUT FEELING The Bertinet Bakery has two new authentic sourdough bread ranges. Hand crafted and using only traditional methods they contain simply flour, water, sea salt – and nothing else. They are made from the bakery’s signature 20-year-old starter, which is nurtured daily to cultivate natural yeasts and good bacteria for a healthy gut. According to registered nutritionist Jenna Hope, the fibre and fermentation process in sourdough is central to its gut health benefits. “In the UK just 13 per cent of men and four per cent of women are reaching the recommendations for fibre of 30g per day”, says Jenna. “The fermentation of fibre acts as a prebiotic in the gut, producing short chain fatty acids such as butyrate, acetate and propionate, which feed the commensal ‘good’ bacteria optimising gut function and nutrient absorption.” A Bertinet Bakery seeded sourdough has eight per cent of your daily fibre per slice, as well as gut benefits – so it’s as healthy as it is delicious. You can pick up the new range in Waitrose. For more: www.bertinetbakery.com

SUPPER STAR Federico Uliana, founder and namesake of the pasta company

Their premium pasta is made by hand in their Pasta Laboratory

Don’t miss out on an exclusive evening supper with Lucknam Park junior sous chef Jamaar Semper. Jamaar recently took part in Masterchef: The Professionals and made it to the semi-ﬁnals, and now he’s back at Lucknam, he’s taking over the kitchen for two special supper clubs on 19 and 26 May. Guests will start the evening with Champagne and canapés before enjoying a three-course meal of Jamaar’s signature dishes, followed by coﬀee and petit fours. “I feel very excited and grateful to be able to takeover the kitchen at Lucknam Park,” says Jamaar. “I’ve been able to progress through the ranks at Lucknam and I know the high standards of the kitchen, so to be asked to hold a dinner at the hotel is an amazing opportunity. The takeover will be a chance to celebrate my time on Masterchef and cook dishes inspired by my time on the show. Last year was an incredibly hard year for hospitality so I can’t wait to get back in the kitchen and start cooking again” For more: www.lucknampark.co.uk

PASTA LA VISTA

For these two special events, Jamaar will cook the dishes that inspired him on Masterchef

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FOOD & DRINK left: Mitch Tonks, who sadly could not cook for us over Zoom; below: Kate Nicholls gave a talk about the current state of the industry post Covid

EMBRACING CHANGE

A look back on the key points raised at the Crumbs Takeaway hospitality conference

n 19 April the Crumbs Takeaway hospitality conference took place, with businesses from across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter invited to speak about the challenges and hard learned lessons of the Covid19 pandemic. Industry leaders on the national stage Mitch Tonks, the restaurateur behind Rockfish and The Seahorse Restaurant, and Kate Nicholls, CEO of industry trade body UKHospitality headed up keynote discussions alongside panel conversations with local experts including Joe Cussens, MD at The Bath Pub Company and The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa’s general manager Ben Danielsen, to paint a detailed picture of the struggles, frustrations and challenges of

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doing business since Covid-19 hit. The free Zoom event hosted by Greg Ingham, CEO of MediaClash, displayed the ingenuity, tenacity and community-minded nature of the industry across the cities, with a special section, The Good People Do, turning the spotlight to those businesses that have gone above and beyond to support the community throughout the crisis. In Bath, that was The Mint Room and Good Day Café. Throughout the crisis, Moe Rahman and the team behind The Mint Room have been distributing meals to frontline staff at the RUH every week – back in May of last year in one week alone they delivered 320 hot meals. They’ve also provided meals for the city’s homeless population in conjunction with Julian House, and donated free hot meals to children in need during the February half term as

part of Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign. “In 2011 when me and my brother opened our restaurant in Bath called The Mint Room, we were embraced by the local people and they really supported us, so during this pandemic time it was our duty to support our local community and do what we could do,” says Moe. Meanwhile Steph Wilder at Good Day Café raised money for charity through the medium of her irresistible brownies, and has donated thousands of pounds throughout the last year to the RUH and various local charities via her brownie boxes, for which she donates 25 per cent of the profits of each box. “You see a lot of people who have fallen through the net and are having a far worse time because of Covid,” Steph says. “When you’ve got a platform that you can use and a method

of making money that you can donate to charity, you want to do something.” What Steph can do is bake delicious brownies, and they continue to raise funds today. In a conference filled with stories of Covid-inspired innovation, important conversations about government support and the future of events, the themes of the day were community and resilience. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa’s Ben Danielsen put it best during the expert panel: “The industry over many years has had to be resilient with the challenges put in front of us. We’ve always had to think outside of the box to try to be ahead,” he says. “The moment you stand still in many industries is the moment you start falling behind, so you always have to develop and change and embrace that change. That’s what the strength of this industry is: we’ve done this over many years.” If you didn’t make it live, you can watch Crumbs Takeaway on MediaClash’s YouTube channel for insights from Josh Eggeleton, Michelin Star chef and restauranter, Aine Morris of the Bristol Food Union and Abergavenny Food Festival and Melissa Toney of GL law among many others from a broad cross section of the Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff hospitality scenes. For more: www.youtube.com and search for MediaClash

“The Grapes premises have been entirely rejuvenated with facilities fit for guest accommodation and its Jacobean structure restored to sturdy, secure condition. The once neglected building is now a vibrant must-visit space.’’ – Bath Life Awards Judges’ comments

B EST B AR

Family run and providing quality food and service since 1985 TAKEAWAY SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE WITH UP TO 15% OFF Currently open evenings only, from 6pm.

1-2 New Street, Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 466377 www.pekingrestaurantbath.co.uk a @PekingBath f pekingrestaurant Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 12 noon – 2.00pm and 6.00pm – 10.30pm | Closed Sundays.

FOOD & DRINK

did you make it work?

Our focus has always been on delivering great quality wines to enjoy at home, on a picnic or dining outdoors. The pandemic meant that we focused much more on this market, firstly through selling to independent wine merchants, who were able to trade through the first lockdown, and then our website and more recently on trade. What’s the mission?

We are obsessed with quality. We want to deliver the best experience possible with our wines and open up premium wines to new customers and wine lovers alike. Cans offer a great opportunity to try something new without risking a full bottle. Canned Wine Co. offers lesserknown varietals to make discovering new wines more accessible.

TAKE 5 Simon Rollings, founder and

CEO of the Canned Wine Co. is making wine accessible, one can at a time The Canned Wine Co. is all about wine at your convenience. It’s a way of testing out the fancy wines you’ve always been intrigued by without the commitment (and price!) of a whole bottle. Here we chat to Simon about his innovative business... What inspired you to start the Canned Wine Co.?

The company was founded by myself and my business partner Ben Franks in summer 2019, with our first wines launching at the beginning of 2020. I decided to start the company after going to a festival where glass was banned and the wine option was of poor quality served in single-use plastic cups – I felt there had to be a better way to offer wines in this scenario. We also found that there was a large and growing cohort of people looking to consume lower volumes of high quality wines at

home, which was something that resonated with us both too. Have you always worked in the industry?

Ben started his career as an English wine journalist, before he went on to launch Novel Wines, a retailer in Bath that specialises in wines from unusual and emerging markets such as those in Central and Eastern Europe. My background is in start-ups and ecommerce, but I’ve got a passion for food and drink. How are canned wines more sustainable?

Cans are infinitely recyclable, require much less energy to recycle than glass, pack more efficiently and cool faster. Some estimates put CO2 emissions for canned wine at one third of an equivalent bottle. You started a business right before the pandemic hit. How

How are you making wine more accessible?

Often when you speak to people about wine, especially if someone thinks you know about wine, the common response is ‘I like wine but I’m not an expert’. Canned Wine Co. was created to make buying wine easier and more interesting. Much of traditional wine marketing relies on knowledge of regions, wine makers, grape varieties and châteaus with little information given on the bottle to help consumers choose. We’ve designed our branding to reflect the flavour notes of the wine you’re about to enjoy, so you know what the wine is like before buying. Why is wine not typically served in a can?

Wine is a very traditional industry and there is great cultural attachment to bottles. Cans are great for certain types of wine, and less good for some others. A wine won’t age in a can like it would in a bottle for example. That being said, all wines will respond to different packaging in different ways including cans, corks, screw tops and bag-in-box. Any challenges along the way?

The greatest challenge since we launched has obviously been Covid, which disrupted all aspects of our business, from sourcing to sales. However, the pandemic has also

provided a huge learning curve for us that wouldn’t have been there in ‘normal’ times. It’s also given us a ‘free’ year to make mistakes and learn from them, and customers have been particularly supportive given the time we launched. Any non-Covid challenges?

Outside of the pandemic our challenges are similar to most start-ups – cash-flow, raising investment and scaling the business! What are you looking for when buying for Canned Wine Co.?

When we’re sourcing for Canned Wine Co. we’re looking for specific styles of wine that will appeal to a wide audience whilst also offering complexity. We look for fruit-forward styles that work well straight out of the can for when you’re drinking outdoors, but that taste just as good at home with a glass. The main thing we’re looking for is balance in the wine – so the acidity, fruit, alcohol and body all align so nothing feels out of place. What’s your favourite wine on the list right now and why?

My favourite is the Grüner, a fresh and zesty alternative to a Sauvignon Blanc full of peach and apple with a lovely peppery-spice on the finish. Perfect for summer! What would you say to persuade a canned wine sceptic?

Try it!

For more: www.cannedwine.co

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ROSEATE VILLA BATH

Lydia Tewkesbury enjoys an afternoon tea in the spring sunshine

s far as I’m concerned, an afternoon tea is the pinnacle of lovely-ness. The tiered plates, tiny sandwiches, cake and cocktail/Champagne combination, and the menu of different teas (coffee available on request – you always get the feeling a little disapprovingly) – all evoke another world where rest and relaxation isn’t something crammed between tasks on a to do list but a life pursuit. There’s a nostalgic Englishness about the whole thing, like we should all be wearing tea dresses and cravats. I let us all down. I wore jeans. Fortunately for me though, at Roseate Villa they are a lovely and relaxed sort, who won’t look at you a little frowningly if you turn up in jeans and respond ‘um, builders?’ when faced with a long list of unknown teas – though as we’ll get into, on this occasion I didn’t. I had Jasmine Mao Feng, a Chinese jasmine green tea from Hunan. What’s more – I actually liked it. I have a complicated relationship with tea as a result of a few years spent drinking Earl Grey that I didn’t really like

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followed by a few years of refusing anything but the standard English Breakfast (frown at me if you will but I know what I like, and if I’m having a good day I might even tell you what that is), so the Jasmine Mao Feng was an adventurous choice for me. It paid off. There is a danger with green tea that you end up in what my mum refers to as ‘pond water’ territory, but the Jasmine Mao Feng had a nice balance of floral and bitter notes and a freshness that rewarded my step outside of my tea comfort zone. There’s a cocktail menu too – chat to your server because at Roseate Villa they make a lot of their liquor in house, so there are options besides what’s on the list. I ended up with a passionfruit mojito, which was as tasty as it was pretty. I Instagrammed it (follow us @bathlifemag for quality cocktail content). Then the food came. The arrival of the afternoon tea is almost as fun as the actual eating of the afternoon tea. We act so surprised – all this? For moi? – as if we didn’t know exactly what was coming because we had in fact ordered it ourselves. I like this theatrical Britishness, and watching it play out along the line of socially distanced

RESTAURANT

tables on the lawn of the Roseate Villa was my primary tea time entertainment. It was all exquisite, obviously. I’m vegetarian, so they made me a few special sarnies instead of the traditional smoked salmon/ham and honey mustard fare, all of which I inhaled. Roasted aubergine and red pepper, beetroot and cream cheese and this amazing cucumber and lemony cream cheese combination were my favourites – though the real stand out was the light springy bread, which I learned they make in their own bakery. The scones were perfect too. Back in my waitressing days I was once told that the sign of a really good scone was one you could pull into perfect halves with your hands – no knife necessary. It’s a risky move – picture gluing pieces of scattered scone back together with clotted cream – but I tried it with one of them and it totally worked. If you’re wondering, I’m cream first. Because I was raised right. Then, the finale, the encore and the main event all in one: the cakes. My British theatrics hit fever pitch when presented with this beautiful plate of delicately crafted sweets – a melt-inthe-mouth lemon tart, strawberry macaroon complete with adorable icing daisies, chocolate hazelnut cake (looks like a giant Ferrero Rocher, but inside is filled with a light, nutty mousse that was actual heaven), and a passionfruit, mango and chocolate cake encased in an intricate white chocolate mesh – and if you’ve ever watched Bake Off, you know how hard those are to achieve. Put simply, it was perfect. All of this bathed in sunlight on the beautiful hotel lawn, which is ideal for alfresco dining. A couple of minutes walk from Pulteney Street, at Roseate Villa you’re far enough away from the immediate busyness of town that it has that weird Bath magic where despite being in a bustling city, you can turn a corner and find a spot so utterly peaceful you forget the outside world exists. Sunshine, birdsong and a view of picnickers in Henrietta Park were the backdrop, and it all felt like a total escape. For those in the market for something a little more substantial than an afternoon tea, there’s also a full menu of freshly made pizzas – and if their bread is anything to go by, their pizza dough will be perfection. n

“It was all exquisite, obviously” DINING DETAILS The Roseate Villa Bath, Henrietta Road, Bathwick, Bath; tel: 01225 466329; www.roseatehotels.com Availability Mon-Sun, 2-5.30pm

Gardens Beautiful front lawn overlooking Henrietta Park Recommendations Ask about their liquors. They make a range in-house so there are lots of options for your cocktails

Owned by Roseate Hotels

Prices £27.50 – £35 per person

Type of food Traditional afternoon tea with options for Champagne, a cocktail or Prosecco

Atmosphere Birdsong, sunshine, complete relaxation with very friendly and helpful staff

Covers 24 in the garden, 28 in the bar

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BANDOOK KITCHEN

Enjoy two delectable classic dishes from the Indian street food restaurant

uraliraj Narashimaraj is the head chef at Bandook Kitchen, the sister restaurant to The Mint Room, that specialises in casual Indian street food. Having trained at a renowned catering college in India and worked in several high-end London restuarants, Muraliraj has created a theatrical, ambitious and playful menu to entertain diners.

KEEMA PAV

Serves 4

“Also known as Keema Pao, this simple but ever-so sumptuous dish, originates from Mumbai, and will make happy family reunions even more enjoyable,” says Muraliraj. “To stay true to this popular street food choice, this recipe uses mutton mince however any mince can be used, including soya mince to make it suitable for vegetarians. Wash this down with a deliciously cold Indian beer or iced cola.” Ingredients ½ cup of grated potatoes boiled 500g mutton mince Brioche buns, or any pavs of your choice. 3-4 green cardamom 1 black cardamom 3 tbsp cooking oil 3 medium diced onions 2 tsp garlic and ginger paste 1½ tsp red chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tbsp coriander powder 2 bay leaves

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3-4 cloves 2 inches of cinnamon stick 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 tsp garam masala powder 1 tsp roasted cumin powder 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped ½ tbsp lime leaves, chopped 2 tbsp butter or ghee Salt to taste Lime wedge, red onions and lettuce leaves (optional) Method 1 Roast the grated potato and leave aside. 2 Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan, add green and black cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks. Stir gently for a minute. 3 Add chopped onions, garlic and ginger paste and put on medium heat. Gently stir until golden brown and caramelised. 4 Reduce the heat, add salt, chilli, turmeric and coriander powder. Stir for a minute and add ½ a cup of water.

5 Add chopped tomatoes, let it simmer until oil comes to the top of the masala. Add the mince, roasted potatoes and lime leaves, put it on high heat and allow to cook for 4 minutes. Stir continuously. 6 Whilst on high heat, allow the curried mince to lose excess water (semi-dry) and add garam masala and roasted cumin powder, give it a good stir for an extra 2-3 minutes. 7 Reduce heat right down and add coriander leaves for garnish, your curried mince is now cooked and ready. 8 In a non-stick pan a heat butter or ghee, slice the pavs/buns into 2 pieces and place on the pan, pressing down until crispy and golden brown. 9 Serve your tawa-grilled pavs stuffed with the curried mince. You can squeeze a dash of lime on the mince before stuffing and add sliced red onions and lettuce leaves for additional texture and taste.

RECIPE KING PRAWN BALCHAO Muraliraj says, “This prawn curry is a Goanfavourite and is best served with basmati rice, a crisp salad, and hand-torn torn strips of garlic naan to mop up the last of the fiery, flavoursome sauce.” Ingredients 1kg fresh water king prawns, de-veined 2 onions, finely chopped 2 ripe tomatoes 2 sprigs of curry leaves 2 tbsp ginger and garlic paste 15 dry red chillies 2 tsp whole black peppercorns 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp mustard seeds

Serves 4 1 inch cinnamon stick 5-6 cloves 2 tbsp sugar ½ cup coconut vinegar (or any vinegar of your choice) Salt to taste 3-4 tbsp oil Method 1 In a large bowl, clean the prawns under running water, strain it out. Add a pinch of salt and turmeric powder, mix well and set aside. This step will remove the typical sea food odour from the prawns. 2 In a wok dry roast the chillies, pepper, cumin, mustard, cloves and cinnamon. 3 Grind the roasted mix of spices along

with ginger, garlic and the vinegar into a smooth paste. 4 In another wok heat oil, add the chopped onions and cook until golden brown. 5 Add the chopped tomatoes and curry leaves, cook until all the water evaporates and the mixture turns all mushy leaving oil at the sides. 6 Add the spice mixture and cook until the raw smell disappears. 7 Add the prawns along with the sugar, check for spice levels and salt, adjust accordingly. 8 Cook until the water left by the prawns evaporates and the mixture turns into a thick gravy like consistency. For more: www.bandookkitchen.com

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SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

ART MOVEMENT

rtists and makers in the Bear Flat area of Bath open their homes and art A spaces to showcase their work as part of the Bear Flat Artists Open Studios, 29 – 31 May. There’s an inspiring array of talent to be explored and purchased, with the artists themselves at hand and able to talk you through their work. Ben Hughes, pictured here, is at the venue #5, 27 Chaucer Road, and is a self-taught landscape and portrait artist. His prizes include the Davison Award from the Royal Society of British Artists and the Best Emerging Artist Prize and Viewers Choice Award from the Royal West of England Academy. His work is included in numerous private collections including that of Standard Chartered Bank and the University of Oxford. Self Portrait, Blue, oil on canvas, 50” x 46”, £1,800; www.benhughesart.co.uk For more: www.bearflatartists.co.uk

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SEDIMENT BY NICK MINERS, £180 Nick is a landscape and architecture photographer fascinated with Iceland and Brutalism. His work explores the unseen – views of familiar landmarks taken from unfamiliar angles, and the geometric patterns created by modern architecture. From Nick Miners Venue #15 – 35 Upper Oldﬁeld Park; www.nickminersphotography.com

OCTOPUS 2021 BY JAMES NUNN, £395 James is an artist, illustrator and printmaker specialising in linocut as well as large charcoal, pastel and pen and ink drawings. His recent work explores our relationship with extinction, and critically endangered species. From James Nunn, Venue #6 – 54 Longfellow Avenue; www.jamesnunnart.com

ART DIRECTION

Follow the Bear Flat Artists Open Studio trail, 29 – 31 May, and ﬁnd talent and gems nestled in every corner GUARDIAN ANGEL BY TAMARA PENWELL, £600 Tamara is an iconographer and mosaicist, painting Christian sacred images in the traditional techniques of egg tempera and buon fresco, and making hand-cut marble and smalti mosaics using the double-reverse Ravenna technique. From Tamara Penwell, Venue #11 – 19 Hensley Road; www.tamarapenwellicons.com VIVALDI BEECH – WINTER BY JAMES HALSALL-FOX, £425 Working in both digital and ﬁlm formats, this year James focuses on prints made from colour negative and slides. By printing on matt paper without glass, it renders the image an almost painted quality. From James Halsall-Fox, Venue #8 – 32 Longfellow Avenue; www.halsall-fox.com KINETIC STUDY 32 BY EDWARD WILLIS, £525 The mobiles and kinetic sculptures are intended to be enjoyed both as elegant, striking forms, and as objects for contemplation and meditation. From Edward Willis, Venue #4 – 15 Kipling Avenue; www.edwardwillis.co.uk 48 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE

TULIP VASE BY CLARE HUBBLE, £90 Natural forms such seed pods, tree bark and grasses provide inspiration for the artist’s hand built ceramic vases and ﬂowerpots made in stoneware and decorated with oxides. From Clare Hubble, Venue #7 – 36 Longfellow Avenue; www.clarehubble.com

ALLOTMENTS BY SALLY POLLITZER, £350 Sally’s art and professional life has been centred around glass for buildings but more recently she has been concentrating on painting, printmaking, and her stained glass panels. From Sally Pollitzer, Venue #10 – 31 Bloomﬁeld Road; sally-pollitzer.co.uk

LEMURS BY SAMMY HAYWARD, £30 Sammy Hayward is an illustrator and animator and his work combines a variety of traditional and digital techniques and media. From Sammy Hayward Venue #7 – 36 Longfellow Avenue; contact@srhillustration. com

AUTUMN 2 BY MAGGIE SIMONSEN, £120 This abstract artist works with acrylic and mixed media on canvas and board, using a variety of diﬀerent techniques. Her latest work is a culmination of techniques of forms, shapes and depth in her visual line. From Maggie Simonsen, Venue #3 – 46 Shakespeare Avenue; maggiesimonsen@me.com

PORTRAIT OF A PEONY BY PEY OH, £35 Pey Oh creates prints and cards of botanical photography, and scenic Bath landscapes, and when you visit you might be lucky enough to see the peonies growing in her garden. From Pey Oh, Venue #2 – 10 Shelley Road; peypeyoh@gmail.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

TOGETHER WE CAN SHOW YOUNG PEOPLE WE CARE MENTORING PLUS is a Bath-based charity that connects volunteer adult mentors with a young person…

n a year when nothing felt predictable, Bath-based youth charity Mentoring Plus has provided consistent support for young people across B&NES. “Every young person has been impacted by weeks of lockdown,” says head of practice Kev Long. “And our young people were already facing tough challenges before the pandemic came along.” What can a charity do in lockdown when its work is all about face to face contact? “We connected with young people online, delivered activity packs, ran online groups and supported families,” explains Kev. “It was all we could do then, and mentees really appreciated the support. But now we’re getting back to connecting young people, to our community, and each other.” Mentoring Plus volunteer mentors are trained and matched 1-1 with a young person, meeting weekly to have fun, talk and explore. Young people are grateful that an adult would willingly give up their time to be there for them: “You know they really care, they’re not just paid to say that,” says one mentee. It costs £3,000 to fund each pair for a year, helping mentees feel improved 50 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

self-esteem, confidence and mental health. Local businesses Novia Financial and Mayden pledged match funding in the charity’s Big Give Christmas Appeal. Have Faith Tattoo did an artwork raffle, and a local AirBNB host raffled a weekend stay. Team Bath Tennis academy volunteers cleaned the charity’s ball court ready for action. Knowing their community cares about them helps young people who feel isolated and marginalised. “In the dark days of lockdown, community help and donations kept us all positive,” says CEO Ruth Keily. “There are lots of ways our community can help us and show our young people that we care about them. It’s vital to keep our work going, but even more, it helps young people who’ve been through so much feel more confident and valued.” n

Riverside Youth Hub York Place, London Road, Bath BA1 6AE; 01225 429694 www.mentoringplus.net

CASE STUDY

SAM SOWDEN When I was asked to run the Bath Half for Mentoring Plus I had no idea how my involvement with them would develop. Fundraising was just the beginning and after running the half twice and completing a skydive, I decided to take my involvement further and become a volunteer mentor. Aside from having my own children it was one of the most rewarding things I have done. My mentee and I soon discovered that we shared a passion for Marvel films and halloumi. We played table tennis, tried indoor climbing, and discovered that neither of us was particularly talented at golf. My love of long-distance running was one thing I was unable to convince him to try. I am confident however that should he change his mind in the future he will remember me and think ‘spare socks and blister plasters.’ Would I recommend becoming a mentor? Absolutely yes! Being an ear, a constant, a smiley face is a simple combination, but thinking back to our final session and the belly laughing proved what a difference it can make. You can show you care by signing up to the Bath Marches in September 2021 or Bath Half in 2022. Other ideas also available – please contact Jenny Perez – jenny.perez@mentoringplus.net Tel: 01225 429694

ATHENA CAULEY-YU OF METICULOUS INK; www.meticulousink.com ʻʻMeticulous Ink is a fine stationery shop located on Walcot Street that also offers lettering workshops. Athena Cauley-Yu is the vibrant and fun owner. Athena at work and by the Walcot Street mural [as seen on this issue’s cover] was one of my most recent shoots. Athena’s workshop, which is in the back of her shop is just as exciting as a painter’s studio – she has wooden letters, printing equipment and beautiful stationery everywhere. In my opinion Athena’s unique selling point is her vibrant and authentic personality. She is a joy to be around!’’

CLOSE UP

Betty Bhandari talks to Sarah Moolla about her new photography business, The Creative Collaboration, designed to highlight Bath’s creative indies

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or quite some time the Bath-based photographer Betty Bhandari had the idea of specialising in brand photography specifically designed to help Bath’s creative indie businesses, but it was lockdown that saw her finally find the time to implement it. The Creative Collaboration, established in February this year, focusses on local entrepreneurs and business talent. Here we chat to Betty about her work, and her drive and determination to be a part of promoting Bath’s business scene. Have you always been a photographer? My passion for photography started in my mid teens when I borrowed my dad’s analogue Nikon camera, put an Ilford black and white film in, and started taking portraits of my friends. It remained my hobby while I studied architecture back in Germany and then in London. I worked as an architect in London for many years, but continued planning and executing portrait sessions with friends in my free time. When I went on maternity leave from my work as an architect ten years ago, I decided not to go back to the profession but instead to concentrate on photography full time.

PHOTOGRAPHY What was the initial inspiration for The Creative Collaboration? When I started my photography business in 2012, I began with photographing weddings, which I still do and still love. But I am also a highly creative person and photographing other creatives and makers has always given me a particular buzz and satisfaction. When the 2020 lockdown took away almost all the wedding photography, I reassessed my situation and decided that it was time to start a brand photography business to sit alongside my wedding photography. The two work together beautifully as one is mainly on the weekends, and the other during the week. Also so many wedding suppliers are in need of good photography for their businesses so it’s a win-win!

What is it about telling the story of an indie entrepreneur that makes you spark? I am naturally a chatty person and generally super interested in people’s stories. When you photograph an indie entrepreneur or specialist maker, you are aiming to get the hub of what makes them tick, what inspires them. You try and capture their ‘why’ and convey their personality as much as possible. This is a challenging process, but one that really fascinates me. For the person that is photographed it is often an eye opening process and one that fills them with a sense of pride and achievement, which then often sparks a whole new level of confidence, creativity, and business planning.

“Photographing other creatives and makers has always given me a particular buzz and satisfaction”

Talk us through the set up of The Creative Collaboration. The Creative Collaboration specialises in brand (business) photography that captures creative businesses, makes them look great and helps them to grow by creating a unique library of images that they can use for their website, social media, and marketing. As the name suggests this is a creative collaboration between me the photographer, and the business. There is so much more to it than just taking photographs, it’s a collaborative process of looking at the individuals and their work, and together discussing how to best portray their achievements visually.

How do you work with them to help tell their business story? A full personal brand shoot consists of three elements: the pre-shoot planning phase, the shoot day itself and the post-shoot chats about where and how to implement the photographs. I give a very comprehensive questionnaire to my clients and we work through it in our pre-shoot video chat. This really helps my clients to understand where they are in their business, what they want to get out of the shoot, and how we can best structure the shoot to achieve as much as possible within the given time frames.

KRISHNAA SHYAM; www.krishnaashyam.com ʻʻKrishnaa is a luxury scarf and accessories designer based in Bath. She manufactures her scarves in India and also works with women artisans to ensure the use of ethical reusable packaging. You can find her scarves at the Holburne museum, the Art Cohort, and online. She began her business in 2017 by funding herself through a successful Kickstarter. I am in love with Krishnaa’s drawings and scarfs, she is a very talented lady. Krishnaa and I belong to a small group of female entrepreneurs who network once a month to talk business, problems, and motherhood. I have done several shoots for her and by now, feel like I know her and her business well, which hugely informs our shoots.’’

xxxxxxx

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PHOTOGRAPHY

EMMA ROSE; www.emmaroseartworks.com ʻʻBath artist Emma was my first shoot after the first lockdown and therefore the beginning of my journey as a brand photographer. I approached her and she kindly invited me into her studio and home in Wellow. There was so much to see and photograph, Emma is an artist through and through. We took many photos of her in her studio, working on her paintings as well as all the incredible inks and paints she uses in her work. The best part was her dog sitting on the sofa in the corner the whole time and watching us.’’

How do you approach your subjects in terms of the actual pictures being taken? eg venues, work places Some clients know exactly what they want and where they want to be photographed. This is often the case with artists and painters as their studio is the obvious backdrop for the shoot. However not everybody has a studio or space at home that is suitable but that’s fine – shoots can be done outside or if preferred we can hire a hotel room or an Airbnb place at affordable daytime rates.

to talk through the photos and make suggestions on how they can use them. For example social media audiences love to see the person behind the brand, so using a portrait just to say ‘hello!’ can be very beneficial. Lifestyle photos can be used to write content about the processes the business uses; packaging shots can tell a story about the environmental efforts that the brand makes. Content is key to attracting clients, get them interested and make them like you. High quality images support that written content as they help the viewer to immediately see and understand content.

“This is a creative collaboration between me the photographer, and the business”

What about the technical aspect, such as lighting for example? I started off with Nikon as a teenager and I still use Nikon today. I have two professional DSLR cameras and an army of professional Nikon lenses. I also have a clever portable studio light system, that is easy to erect in any space and doesn’t need to be powered by cables. The combination of the cameras, lenses and lights means I can shoot pretty much anywhere and have even turned up at a shoot by bike! How can people use the material once you’ve developed their portfolio? My clients receive their photographs fully edited, in high resolution, and with full user rights. This means they are free to use the photographs wherever they want. I schedule a post-shoot video chat

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Any plans in the pipeline for The Creative Collaboration? Over the next few months I am launching my spring mini headshot sessions – 25 minutes for a quick portrait session. So it means if you are simply interested in a new profile picture, this is a straightforward and cost-effective way to get a professional image. I am also looking forward to building more relationships with local businesses, particularly with female entrepreneurs and creative enterprises. I am also planning an exhibition in one of our beautiful Bath cafés of the fascinating creatives and entrepreneurs I meet while doing this, to help tell The Creative Collaboration story. n For more: www.thecreativecollaboration.co.uk

POLLY JACKSON OF WHOLE LOTTA KNOTS; www.wholelottaknots.com ʻʻPolly Jackson followed her dream and set up Whole Lotta Knots during the first 2020 lockdown. She makes very detailed macramé wall hangings from 100 per cent organic recycled cotton and sells unique homewares sourced from near and far. Polly is a great example of an early Creative Collaboration success as her images were immediately used in this magazine, Bath Life, along with an extensive interview about the business giving her instant exposure. Her business has gone from strength to strength since then and she has just opened a pop-up shop on Cheap Street.’’

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Nigel Dando WE BUY Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition.

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PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

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HYPNOTHERAPY

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#BATH TOGETHER GREG INGHAM

Let it all hang out

As Bath pulses with people once more and here’s to a little weekend thinking, every day

ello old friend, good to see you. Yes, Bath is back. Well, largely: our demi-world is recognisably Bath once more. The Crescent teems with teens, lolling, happy, notably smiling. The restaurants that can bustle already are bustling, a little selfconsciously perhaps and with the odd awkwardness, but bustling nonetheless. In shops, the tills are alive with the sound that’s music to the ears of the owners. Traffic is doing that Bath dawdle thing, pedestrians are slaloming past each other and – whisper it not – there are even some real-life actual visitors staycationing anew, with their familiar puzzling at the lack of directions while revelling in our resonating Georgiana. All good then? It’s better than good. The infinite adaptability of humans, the planet’s most successful breed, is daily on display. Yet however good it feels to have an accommodation with this next normal, we can all wish and do better. Otherwise build back better is a lost opportunity. Some of the enduring truths of the pandemic coincide here. Many of us will be working from

home more than previously. Not all cannons to one side, causing the ship of state to lurch: offices won’t be abandoned. They’re needed for teams, camaraderie, for development, for mimetic and kinetic energy of people being alongside each other. But they’ll be used less. In turn city centres and public areas won’t have the same thrum of people. Or at least, not at the same time. So they need to become yet more the social playgrounds, the destinations for adults, places of entertainment and hospitality. Permanent weekend thinking. Cities need to be places where people want to go, in much the same way that offices are having to be defined. The urban designer Thomas Heatherwick is eloquent on the need to reinvent how we think of and use our cities, to create those “accidents of human interaction”: “Not enough people are really thinking of how to cherish the city as a new kind of space, as a room, as a meaningful gathering place,” he says. “But that is going to be needed to bring people back together.” So rather than reverting to riffling through 1950s pages of

“Cityscapes are changing, because human needs, values and interests are changing”

That Which Does Not Happen in This City, our custodians could start by not fighting a war which is over, rather by loosening up, by allowing our public realm to be used more imaginatively, to create the world that we wish. Consider how the clever reinvention of Saw Close as a quasi-mitteleuropean piazza has been. One idea unlocked it: scrapping the dozen or so car parking spaces which too limitingly defined the area as a thoroughfare with a tight carpark. Taking away that small benefit for a few parkers enabled the space to be redefined for the great pleasure of thousands of Bathonians. It’s the same space, viewed through a different, creative lens. Consider also how the Queen Square Rejuvenate project almost literally opened up a less-used civic amenity with two new entrances. The result is that it is used significantly more than ever, with more people drifting through or whiling the odd hour away in a Georgian oasis. Now admittedly it remains a bit of a roundabout, but it’s accessible, used, available. Think how that wider area opens up each summer during Bath Boules, when the two sides of the Square that go nowhere are closed to traffic. The world genuinely feels a better place – easier to navigate, to enjoy, to meet people. Imagine that every summer weekend… What else might be loosened up? What if Milsom Street or Walcot Street had parklets – imaginative use of small spaces currently used exclusively by cars, with new pop-ups,

coffeebars, seats, trees, plants. They could help our streets become destinations rather than thoroughfares. And yes, there are multiple reason why this wouldn’t or perhaps couldn’t happen. But there are no ‘shouldn’t’ that I can think of. Cityscapes are changing, because human needs, values and interests are changing. The public park movement started in the 1830s, an enlightened approach to city living, a legacy bequeathed across centuries for the benefit of all. A parallel but longer movement saw cathedral or town hall squares, usually at the heart of our older towns and cities: public spaces, free to all. So how in dozens or years or centuries time might people look back on the post-pandemic period, of what we have done differently? We won’t have the answers yet. But we must be asking that question. And yes, the idea of using our existing pavements, parking areas and squares better or differently is indeed a pretty modest idea, bathetic even. But let’s start with loosening up, actively seeking or supporting ways to use our public spaces more imaginatively. It’ll help make Bath even more enjoyable… #BathTogether – always… Greg Ingham was a journalist back in the day and runs MediaClash jointly with Jane Ingham. He also chairs Creative Bath, and can be found Instagram and Twitter: @gregingh

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Throwing out the rulebook

Peter Greatorex from THE APARTMENT COMPANY on why buyers are choosing their heart over budget…

hen it comes to keeping within a strict budget and ‘thinking with your head’, it seems that we often throw the rulebook out the window when looking to buy a property. In the current property market, buyers are thinking with their hearts over their heads and are willing to pay over and above the asking price to secure the property of their dreams. One of the many factors fuelling this trend is the lack of properties on the market and the abundance of buyers. Buying a property is a significant financial commitment, probably your biggest, so it’s no wonder that buyers want to find a home that they love and this is understandably a process often fraught with emotion. We would never encourage any buyer to spend over their budget. A home is a financial commitment and you need to look at the long-term pressure of paying your mortgage. It is essential that you seek advice from a mortgage provider before you commit to purchasing a property so that you know your figures and maximum budget.

So why are buyers wishing to spend more at the moment? The most common reason is that they simply fell in love with a property. We are certainly seeing that buyers in Bath are looking at buying a property for the long-term future, whereas in the past they may have been thinking of just the next step on the ladder. This focus on the longer term means that buyers are seeking an apartment that will provide them with what they need for many years to come, for example, the space they’ll need when they start a family. It’s therefore essential that your apartment appeals to buyers’ hearts and is beautifully presented. We are lucky that our properties in Bath are full of period features, with spacious rooms and attractive locations. The key features that buyers are seeking are fireplaces, a space to work, nice neighbours, beautiful décor and original features. Buyers don’t just want to know about your property but also about your neighbours and what is happening in your local community. We operate differently when it comes to valuing a property for sale. An asking price is not an exact

figure, which is why we offer our vendors a price range strategy. This strategy alone is not effective without the work of our experienced negotiators, so it’s important that we build a relationship with each vendor to understand their situation and needs moving forward. With this knowledge, we are able to negotiate the best possible price for them and their property. If you are looking to achieve the best possible purchase price for your apartment, it’s essential that you present every area of your home beautifully, not forgetting your outside or communal spaces. For advice and guidance on selling your home, we’re always here to help. n

For more advice visit our blog at www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk Sales: 01225 471144 Lettings: 01225 303870

ROMANCING THE STONE The beauty of natural stone in the home

Sarah Turner of Stonewood Builders advises sourcing stone as locally as possible

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INTERIORS

atural stone not only lends a sense of classic timelessness, unequalled elegance and an irresistible tactility to interior spaces, but it ticks the sustainability boxes too. Stones such as granite, travertine, slate or marble commonly used in the home, have an ability to conduct and store heat called thermal inertia, which helps to maintain constant temperatures in the home making it energy saving. They are also environmentally sustainable, contain no man-made chemicals, and as a recyclable product means that can be used in new projects therefore reducing any adverse impact on the ecosystem. Here local experts talk us though the power of the stone.

BEAUTY OF THE STONE

“The most common sales pitch for natural stone is that each piece is individual and unique. It sounds like a cliché, but that’s because it is true – no two pieces are the same,” says Stuart Faint, managing director of Pietra Wood & Stone, who design, supply, and install quality flooring. “This a huge part of its appeal, along with stone conducting heat, so a lot of clients choose tiled floors for underfloor heating.” Mark Hawkins, director of Tile & Floor Bath, suppliers of classic and contemporary floor and wall surfaces, agrees, “Formed from organic materials with combinations of heat and pressure over millions of years, there is nothing quite like the character of natural stone. It comes in a huge range of types, colours, textures and finishes including tumbled, antique, brushed, honed and polished. “So, for a more time-worn country-house look, the natural riven face of say a limestone is smoothed off, then seasoned, whereas a polished finish will give a more contemporary, paired back look. Marble, with its distinct patterning and veining, is among the most sought-after stone in the world. “In Bath and Somerset homes, limestone is ever popular for ground floors, giving a clean flow to open-plan spaces or adjoining rooms. Clients with Georgian homes often favour marbles for impact and opulence. For a more country-feel, terracotta is having its moment in the sun for bootrooms and outside spaces. Sandstone or slate are also an ideal choice for outdoor use as they are durable in all weathers.”

LOCALLY-SOURCED

arah Turner, head of communication and marketing for Stonewood S Builders, the specialist quality contractor and housing developer, says, “It is important for the stone to look as local as possible, particularly if you are trying to match other local stone building features. There are several quarries in this part of the country and a visit is highly recommended. Each quarry produces stone that varies in colour, size and finish. The type of project will define which quarries you should speak to and your building contractor or designer should be able to point you in the right direction.”

“Stone comes in a huge range of types, colours, textures and finishes including tumbled, antique, brushed, honed and polished”

Cassoria Natural Stone with Bullnose edging installed by Pietra Wood & Stone

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PAINTING & DECORATING CONTRACTOR IN BATH We happily take on domestic, commercial and industrial contracts; from a simple home redecoration through to a large scale business renovation. It is our company policy to ensure that every project is dealt with in a high quality professional manner and we are happy to make recommendations regarding materials to suit your needs and budget. We use all varieties of paint and wallpaper from all of the major brands, including; Nicholas Curtis is a master stonemason and has been working with stone and making ﬁre surrounds for 25 years.

Farrow & Ball | Dulux Trade Crown Trade | Neptune | Little Greene

Each surround is hand carved by Nicholas using traditional skills. You can have any style made in your own size specifications and they're suitable for solid fuel, wood burners, gas and electric fires. ♦ Nicholas also carves bespoke Bath Stone Porticos ♦ ALL FIREPLACES ARE DELIVERED NATIONWIDE. Unit Q1/Q2 Fiveways Industrial Estate, Westwells Road, Corsham SN13 9RG Tel: 07974076170 or 01225 819600 nicholasbathstonefireplaces@hotmail.co.uk | www.curtisfireplaces.co.uk

T: 01761 431354 E: enquiries@ashleycollinspainting.co.uk

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INTERIORS from the Mediterranean and Europe to North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. This means we can source anything a client needs, and sustainably. The benefit of this is also that there will be something for every budget. From as little as £20 per square metre for Brazilian slate to thousands of pounds per square metre for semi precious materials, there is a plethora of choice across a wide range of materials and finish.”

KITCHEN MATTERS

above: Throughout history natural stone has created beautiful spaces, notes Charlotte Wright of Hobson’s Choice; right: Kitchen design by Hobson’s Choice

It’s also a heavy weight and timeless option, as Charlotte Wright, a senior design consultant for the luxe home improvement company Hobson’s Choice, explains, “Throughout history, natural stone has been used to create beautiful spaces; it is viewed as luxurious and sought after, something to desire. This aspirational view fits with Hobson’s Choice and the luxury kitchen and bathrooms we create. “The use of natural stone in the kitchen has to be carefully considered due to the material’s porous nature. The surfaces require sealing to prevent water and other substances from entering the stone and causing damage or stains. “Certain types of stone are more hardwearing than others and lend themselves to the kitchen environment more readily. Granite has historically been a popular choice for worktops, being harder and more practical than marble or limestone. Marble and limestone can be used for worktop surfaces but do require a greater level of care to prevent damage through everyday use such as

HEARTH OF THE MATTER

Jake Hancock, owner of Ignis Stoves that supply and install a range of stoves, flues, and fireplaces, says, “Stone is the most popular choice for hearths and fireplace surrounds. For hearths, we mainly use granite and slate as it is less porous than a lighter stone like limestone, so it’s easier to keep clean. Split faced slate tiles are an extremely popular choice to line the inside of a fireplace chamber around a wood-burning stove.”

BATH STONE

“Bath stone is a great material to use for fireplace surrounds,” continues Ignis Stoves’ Jake. “It has a warm feel and works great in contrast with a darker wood-burning stove. Either carved into a design or left plain, Bath stone looks and feels great. If damaged, it is also relatively simple to repair too. “Aegean limestone is a great choice if someone wants a lighter stone. It’s harder than Bath stone so has sharper, cleaner lines. A new addition to our range is Corinthian stone. Corinthian stone is a honed limestone which has a rich sandy colour that provides a delicate warm feel. Its background composition is magnified with unique small fossils and random sedimentary veining.” Nicholas Curtis, a master stonemason for Bath Stone Fireplaces, explains how all the stone they use for their bespoke fireplaces, porches and porticos, is sourced is sourced from local quarry five minutes from his workshop. “Each surround is made from their own block of stone, which is a natural product and not concrete or inferior stone, and is not mass produced.”

WORLD WIDE

“Stone can be sourced through many channels – direct from a manufacturer or through a high street retailer, but knowing you’re getting a quality product is key,” advises Tile & Floor’s Mark Hawkins. “We have spent more than 20 years travelling the world to meet, meticulously assess, and carefully handpick our suppliers. We now have long-standing relationships of real trust with quarries across the world,

“Clients with Georgian homes often favour marbles for impact and opulence” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 75

INTERIORS

“Stone flooring in slabs or tiles can be thought of as cold and hard but work very well with underfloor heating” Bianco Mistral stone is seen here in this Tile & Floor design

chopping ingredients, hot pans, spillages etc. Used as a flooring tile, natural stone such as marble or limestone can provide a swathe of eye-catching organic patterns or warm, earthy tones across a room. Marble has been viewed as a luxurious and decorative surface for thousands of years, available in a range of tones and levels of ‘veining’ detail. “Limestone is more subtle in appearance, with gentle changes in colour and pattern across the tile surfaces. The stone is a natural heat conductor and lends itself to suitable flooring for spaces with underfloor heating. Consideration needs to be given because the materials are naturally porous, and, even with sealing, a patina will develop over time due to normal usage.”

VERSATILE TILES

Mark Hawkins of Tile & Floor praises the versatility of stone: “It can be used almost anywhere, from floor and wall coverings to surfaces, staircases and seating. It can be shaped into just about anything given the imagination and budget – from counter tops, basins, baths and pools, to columns, pillars and benches.” This sentiment is echoed by Stonewood Builders’ Sarah Turner. “Natural materials are hugely versatile and long lasting. Stone and marble fireplaces are very traditional along with tiled surrounds. If you are having a new stone fireplace installed or repairing an existing one and want it to fit into a more period setting quickly, a covering of natural yoghurt will speed the ageing process up. “Stone flooring in slabs or tiles can be thought of as cold and hard but work very well with underfloor heating. Some can also be used externally, and following an internal flooring solution through to outside areas, gives a feeling of continuity with indoor and outdoor spaces. Larger stone and marble tiles are very accurately cut, which can mean minimal grout joints for a sense of clean lines. “Natural materials are hugely popular for kitchen worktops and bathroom areas, with an ever growing choice of marble and granite patterns and colours. A specialist supplier will be able to measure and cut large pieces to fit your project and include sinks, draining areas and other bespoke elements.”

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Corinthian surround with matching hearth and chamber as supplied by Ignis Stoves

STONE AGE

“Providing your stone floor or wall tiles have been installed correctly, and then the correct cleaning process is followed, the stone will last for as long as you want it to,” says Stuart Faint of Pietra Wood & Stone. “Your stone will need to be sealed to protect it from staining. There are various sealers on the market, all priced differently and all with different life spans. Our recommended sealer has a lifespan of up to 15 years. If you then use the correct cleaner, your floor will remain as good as new, forever. Sarah Turner of Stonewood Builders agrees: “While it might be true for the more porous stones, a common misconception is that every natural stone floor needs resealing every few years. You can normally tell if a stone does need resealing by wetting the stone and leaving for around five minutes before wiping off. If the water leaves a mark by darkening the stone this will mean the stone is becoming more porous. If you do decide to reseal your stone, you should first give it an intensive clean with a product that penetrates the surface. You may, however, decide your floor doesn’t need resealing but could do with being refreshed. Applying a surface refreshing product every four to six weeks will help with this.” n For more: www.curtisfireplaces.co.uk; www.hobsonschoice.uk.com; www.ignisstoves.co.uk; pietrawoodandstone.com; www.tileandfloor.co.uk; www.stonewoodbuilders.co.uk

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GARDENS

URBAN LEGENDS Nick Woodhouse explores the new city centre garden centre with sustainability, the Bath community, and wellbeing at its heart

t was a hive of excitement at The Urban Garden when I popped into the garden centre shortly after its opening last month. A large delivery of house and garden plants had just arrived and the team were busily unloading and placing the new arrivals both inside and out of the historic glasshouses that sit to the lower edge of Royal Victoria Park. There was a buzz in the air; the garden centre was finally open after three failed attempts to do so last year. The opening had originally been planned for March 2020, but lockdown hit. When restrictions were eased, the critical spring season had been missed,

to help young unemployed people in the Bath area return to work. Its director, Matt Smail, previously managed Bath City Farm, and it was here that he secured funding from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme and piloted a scheme allowing disadvantaged and disabled people to develop new skills and gain confidence. It was on this project that Matt realised the importance of gardens in boosting emotional and physical wellbeing for those struggling with poor mental health and also hoping to enter the job market. All profits from The Urban Garden are therefore re-invested into horticultural training, with improved mental health and wellbeing at its core. A therapeutic horticulture programme is on offer to those suffering from anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Delivered by the project’s charity partner, Grow for Life, three-hour group sessions are run by industry experts with an aim to develop horticulture skills, improve confidence, and make new friends. Supported work placements of three to six months are also available to those looking to get back into work or further education. Whilst lockdown may have prevented The Urban Garden from opening its doors to the public, fortunately Grow Yourself was able to continue with their training programme, with six trainees receiving their City and Guilds Level One Award in Horticulture. Sustainability is at the heart of the garden centre’s ethos, and they are committed to minimising their environmental footprint wherever possible. It’s the first garden centre in the South West to use POSIpots for

“60 per cent of the plants are grown by the council nursery team in the neighbouring glasshouses” so a summer opening was planned. Then, as now, plants were found to be in high demand and short supply, so again the opening was postponed. Months of planning came to fruition when the doors were at last opened to the public last month, over the Easter weekend. For some time, the council nursery had used the site on which The Urban Garden sits to sell excess plant stock. They were keen to expand this offering but to do so in partnership with a social enterprise. So, in 2019, the council partnered with Grow Yourself, a community interest company launched four years earlier

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example; at the till plants are taken out of their plastic pots and placed instead into these compostable, recycled cardboard alternatives to take home. The compost on sale is also peatfree and provided in reusable bags which can be re-filled again onsite. Many of the plants on sale have also only travelled a few metres to the centre, with 60 per cent grown by the council nursery team in the neighbouring glasshouses. Today, the centre is open four days a week and has a three staff, a team of ten volunteers, and four horticultural trainees on supported work placements. As with many business ventures in these uncertain times, it’s difficult for the team to make those plans that one might otherwise make with more confidence. They do however hope to introduce a small horsebox café in June, and their volunteer programme has proved hugely popular, with a waiting list ever growing in numbers. This comes as no surprise; this city centre hub feels not only vibrant and welcoming but also inspiring, with annuals, perennials and houseplants interspersed with unusual gifts, accessories, and tools. Despite those early setbacks, it looks likely The Urban Garden is set to continue to play an important role in the city’s urban regeneration. For more: The Urban Garden, Marlborough Buildings, Bath; www.theurbangarden.org.uk

Nick Woodhouse is the co-director of interior and garden design company Woodhouse & Law on 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

clockwise from above: Many of the plants on sale have only travelled a few metres to the centre; all profits from The Urban Garden are re-invested into horticultural training; unusual gifts are also for sale; three-hour group sessions are run by industry experts

BATH LIVES

“I wouldn’t have written a book if it wasn’t for cafés” school and my son even made friends with an octopus that lived under a rock in the sea near to our house. On holiday in Reims, we visited the Veuve Clicquot cellars. I was

HELEN FRIPP The historical novelist on how a comet inspired her writing, and being sacked from McDonalds Helen, who is West Country born and bred, aside from a stint living in France and London, has just signed a two-book deal with Hachette/ Bookouture for her current historical novel The French House, based on the life of the Champagne widow Veuve Clicquot. Her second book is about the Impressionists in Belle Epoque Paris. The novels will be published across the Englishspeaking world, and so far the translation rights for The French House have been sold in Russia, Romania and Greece. By day Helen also works as an associate director at Clearly PR in Bath. The first thing I remember writing was in primary school – a poem about Christopher Columbus. I remember

imagining him standing on the docks and wondering how it must have felt to look out to sea and

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long to get out there – even then, historical figures fascinated me. I worked in McDonalds when I was a student, but I was sacked after three weeks.

I was incredibly clumsy, always dropping things, and getting the orders wrong. I used to help a friend who ran the BAFTAs and would escort celebrities down the red carpet. One year I was looking

after Anna Friel, I got flustered and stood frozen like a rabbit in the headlights in front of the paparazzi as the cameras flashed and they screamed at me to get out of the effing way.

We lived in a little fishing village called Collioure at the foot of the Pyrenees. It was

the dream. A house with French windows that spilled out onto the Mediterranean, the market every week, sea, sunshine and village life. The children went to the local

struck by Barbe-Nicole Clicquot’s story and wondered what motivated a rich young widow to build a Champagne empire in the way she did. It was totally against the conventions of the time and she could have faded into an easy, gilded life. I started to research her a bit more, and when I found out about the ‘Year of the Comet Champagne,’ I was hooked.

The story goes that in 1811, a comet passed over the sky, clearly visible for the

whole summer, heralding the best Champagne harvest in a generation. The rush was on to get the vintage comet Champagne to the big markets in Russia, but they were thwarted by the Napoleonic wars and the trade blockades. Barbe-Nicole led the race and got through to St Petersburg with her comet Champagne, helped by a renegade band of fallen aristocrats, desperadoes and her ever-faithful salesman, Louis. It was a story just waiting to be told. I wouldn’t have written a book if it wasn’t for cafés and that’s

where you’ll find me every day before work, scribbling away for as much time as I can steal. I also work with another writer who lives in France and we speak every week for encouragement and to feed back on each other’s writing. I’m a really sociable person, so even though writing is essentially a solitary pursuit, I find ways of making it as sociable as possible.

There’s always a reason not to write. Wrong chair, wrong desk.

Or you’re just not feeling it. You can’t, you won’t, you need some air

around it. As someone with a day job and a family, I could go on… Ultimately, whatever the barriers, if you don’t just sit down and write, you’ll never have a book. My husband is a writer too, he runs a magazine about documentary film production.

My daughter’s studying music in London and my son’s off to university in September, and loving his job at Homewood Park at the moment – apparently the food’s amazing, which will always make him happy! We live on Kensington Gardens near London Road. I’m up the

hill a bit, so I love having a view to the hills and across the rooftops. I also love London Road now the Clean Air Zone’s kicked in. It makes an incredible difference and has transformed it from being a miserable, polluted cut-through for massive lorries into a lovely wide boulevard shared by cars, cyclists and walkers alike.

I love my day job. At Clearly PR we work for a real variety of clients, and in a different kind of

way it’s still all about telling stories – even the driest of companies has an interesting tale to tell if you ask the right questions. My top tourist tip would be the Lady Lena. It’s a wooden

motor launch that you can hire for a trip along the canal. You can take your own food and drink and they’ll lay it out on a on a long table with a white tablecloth for you while you drift along sipping from crystal, gossiping, eating and watching the ducks skim the water. Bliss. n

For more: www. helenfrippauthor.co.uk