Bath Life - Issue 449 by MediaClash

TAKE ME

ISSUE 449 / 30 JULY – 12 AUGUST 2021/ £3

ALL ABOARD

MEET THE GREEN PARK STATION TRADERS

FORWARDING ADDRESS ISSUE 449 / 30 JULY – 12 AUGUST 2021 / POOL TOGETHER

THE BEAUTY OF A NEW BUILD

THE CHARMS OF BOA

EXPLORING THE TOWN OF BRADFORD ON AVON

THE BEACH BUYS

HOT ACCESSORIES FOR SEASIDE FUN

TAKE THE BAIT

TALKING FISH WITH NET & LINE’S PAUL STALLAN

ALL GOING SWIMMINGLY

THE NEW CLEVELAND POOLS EXHIBITION MAKING WAVES

Excellent - 4.9* out of 5

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H O M E A P P L I A N C E S AT A F F O R D A B L E P R I C E S W I T H E XC E L L E N T S E RV I C E Our doors are open and we welcome customers back in to the store. If you’re looking for advice or have any queries, you can of course also reach us by phone, email or via the website. 01225 311811 | enquiries@coopers-stores.com | coopers-stores.com Coopers Stores, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BN

EDITOR’S LETTER

above: Meandering around the beautiful

town of Bradford on Avon (page 16) below: A new exhibition at The Holburne celebrates the history of swimming at Cleveland Pools (page 10)

have refused to moan about the heat. Even as the sweat pooled on my stiff upper lip, my inner core reached molten lava temperatures, and my hair sizzled like rashers on griddle, my outlook has remained positively sunny. Forget so-called Freedom Day, I’m wearing my sash and swimsuit for the Fire in the Sky Days. It is of course no coincidence I was drawn to putting the aerial shot of Cleveland Pools on the cover in the midst of the heatwave – it’s thrilling to know this extraordinary project, which has an exhibition coming to The Holburne Museum on 24 August, is on target to being completed by next summer (page 10). In fact, flicking through this issue it’s obvious we were attracted to all things cooling and summery – on page 16 we take a lazy wander through the nearby and gorgeous Bradford on Avon, a town centred around water; we dine at the al fresco, and always chilled, Green Park Brasserie (page 42); over on page 44 we chat to a few of the outdoor / indoor market traders who make Green Park Station such a first-class destination for shopping and dining; and we’re all about the beach on page 51 with our coastto-coast beautiful, locally sourced seaside accessories. It’s all hot stuff! Enjoy, and see you in two weeks.

SARAH MOOLLA

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

Issue 449 / 30 July – 12 August 2021 COVER Aerial shot of Cleveland Polols, photo by Casey Ryder (page 8)

OUT OF TOWN

16 BRADFORD ON AVON Meandering around the

picturesque town and finding out what makes it just so special

THE ARTS

29 ARTS INTRO Iford Arts Festival of indie opera 30 WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, family stuff – and a lot of

comedy

37 BOOKS Contemporary travels uncover Europe’s lesser

known history

FOOD&DRINK

39 FOOD & DRINK NEWS The line up for The Great Bath

Feast has been announced

40 TAKE 5 Steph Wilder’s year of baking boldly 42 RESTAURANT A jazz night at Green Park Brasserie 44 GREEN PARK STATION Meet the people behind the

shops, markets and events that make GPS first class

SHOPPING

51 INTRO The only bathing suit you need this summer 52 EDITOR’S CHOICE Beach ready

LIFESTYLE

54 GARDENS The painter with a garden like a work of art

BUSINESS

59 BATHWORKS News, views, and interviews from our

successful local businesses

PROPERTY

71 PROPERTY The Bath architecture firm building the

world’s tallest garden

72 PROPERTY NEWS Updates from the market 74 SHOWCASE A design-led, bright beauty from Inigo 80 NEW BUILDS Why new builds will never go out

of fashion

DEPARTMENTS

7 SPOTLIGHT A new exhibition discovers the rich history of Cleveland Pools 13 FLATLINE Family holidays aren’t for the faint of heart 64 GREG INGHAM Reflections on an entrepreneurial life 90 LIVES Record producer Cameron Jenkins on meeting

Mick Jagger

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 Amy Bennett, Nic Bottomley, David Flatman, 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

This image from the exhibition shows the floods of 1937

Arts

REIMAGINING HISTORY A new online exhibition of creative writing inspired by the collection of historic documents and photographs held by Bath Record Office is now live. The stories, poems and essays created by local people were written during a series of creative writing workshops with the St John’s Foundation, and are presented alongside the documents and images that inspired them. “This project shows what amazing results can arise from creative engagement with historic materials,” says Michael Loveday, the author and editor who led the creative writing workshops. “We all learned things about Somerset and about the Bath Record Office that we hadn’t known before.” Works range from a monologue about a policeman trapped in floodwater, to a poem about the mythical ‘man of Mendip’. For more: www.batharchives.co.uk

On 7 August, Westonbirt Arboretum will host an immersive new magical outdoor theatrical production from Scratchworks Theatre Company. The Grimm Sisters tells the tale of Brunhilda and Mitzi, the ‘real’ brains behind the stories they claim were stolen from them. “We’ve long thought Westonbirt the perfect setting for open-air theatre,

and we’re thrilled to get started with this fun and mischievous production of The Grimm Sisters,” says Hannah Ward, events manager at Westonbirt. “We are developing our events oﬀer to cater for a range of interests and we hope our visitors will enjoy something a bit diﬀerent in amongst the trees. Let’s hope for clear skies!” The production promises to be joyful and escapist with an inventively told tale using a marvellous mix of comedy and live music. For more: www.forestryengland.com

TELLING TALES

The Grimm Sisters is on at Westonbirt Arboretum on 7 August

Books

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Westonbirt Arboretum

CLOCKWISE: How to Train Your Dragon’s Cressida Cowell; everybody’s favourite keep fit guru Joe Wicks; Radio 1 DJs and co-authors Greg James and Chris Smith

The Bath Children’s Literature Festival will return this September. Europe’s largest stand-alone children’s book festival sees top authors flock to the city, and some of this year’s big stars include Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon, Wizards of Once); Chris Smith and Greg James, returning to the festival to share their latest Kid Normal adventure, The Great Dream Robbery; and everybody’s lockdown fitness saviour, Joe Wicks. In a Kids’ Lit Fest first, stars from Bath Rugby will appear. They’ll be entertaining audiences with faced-paced athletic fun to celebrate the publication of Rampaging Rugby by Robin Bennett. It’s the first book in the new Stupendous Sports series, which aims to be a sporty answer to Horrible Histories. “Our programmers have read hundreds of books to select the most exciting and stimulating events for this year’s festival,” says Ian Stockley, CEO of Bath Festivals. “Our aim, as always, is to entertain and enrich curious young minds. I for one can’t wait to hear the joyful sound of children’s laughter filling some of Bath’s biggest venues. It will also be interesting to be part of stimulating conversations around issues important to young adults.” For more: www.bathfestivals.orf.uk

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

SPOTLIGHT

Cleveland Pools

MAKING A SPLASH! The exhibition celebrating 200 years of the Cleveland Pools, swimming history and costume design

Aerial view of Cleveland Pools, Britain’s oldest lido

The Holburne Museum are hosting a new exhibition from 24 August until 5 September, curated by the Cleveland Pools Trust. It will provide a visual account of the history of swimming within the wider context of Bath’s rich social history, and explore themes of health, fashion, gender, and ever-changing attitudes towards swimming. Exhibits will include a collection of swimsuits ranging from the itchy knitted one-pieces of yesteryear to the latest in Olympic swim technology, plus there will be children’s competitions with a prize provided by John Moore Sports. There is also information on the architecture of the pools and the 17-year long campaign to save them, as well as details of fundraising efforts as volunteers strive to raise the final £400,000 required to open the facility ahead of summer 2022. For more: www.clevelandpools.org.uk

Photo of Ron Gray, 1960 Museum of Bath at Work

above inset: Diving Lady poster

by Catherine Phelps; above: One from the Cleveland Pools archives; right: The lido hopes to be open by summer next year

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

SPOTLIGHT

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

Every summer, there is no more welcome sight than the return of Bath’s flower-filled city centre. Almost every year Bath competes for a prize in the Britain in Bloom competition – and every visitor to town reaps the benefits. Nothing lifts your heart quite so quickly as a beautiful bunch of flowers.

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@bathmums

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

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FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN

99 problems and the beach is one of them

Between moving house, and coping with the heat, Flats is getting ready for the seaside

“Everything needs preparing every morning by around 08.30 in order to beat the parking hordes”

e’ve moved house and while that might not be terribly interesting for any of you, I expect that most of you can, if you close your eyes and hum like a hippy at a festival summoning your great grandmother, feel for a few hellish seconds the forces a big house move can collect and drop squarely onto your shoulders. It is relentless. ‘Wonderful,’ I keep lying, but relentless. It might well be raining as you read this, but I type it in my underpants, in the very eye of the savage heatwave that came suddenly one morning and made us all feel like ants on the desert floor. The old, rattly Georgian windows are gaping open and, while the soft white linen curtains appear to be moving about at least a little, whatever breath is being offered by the sky is not one strong enough to register on human skin. Through said window I can just about hear the joyous yelps of a playground full of children – a sound I love – yet all I wonder is how is it even safe to let them out in this most merciless heat? It might well be an odd thing that we all tend to pile away on sun-seeking holidays when the UK is at its hottest, but it seems to be the way we do it. This weather doesn’t ignite in me a lust for more severity, less relief. The house moving chaos has, though, led me for once to feel very keen indeed to take a holiday somewhere calm and do nothing whatsoever for a whole week. Of course this is never possible, but it’s a dream so it can be whatever it wants. Anyway, this isn’t happening; we are off to Devon instead. Devon is my favourite place on Earth (outside Bath). A lovely friend recently said that Devon makes him feel more ‘him’ than anywhere else, and that rang sufficiently true to me that I have, since he said it, said it myself a good number of times and claimed the introspective observation as my own. It is not a relaxing holiday, mind you. In fact I feel the need to rev up for it. Even

now the prep is building. Two weeks before the holiday I am driving with a friend to Salcombe and back in a day to conduct some ‘boat admin,’ which roughly means re-learning how to drive it and getting it cleaned up, full of fuel and on the water. This all sounds incredibly lux, until I tell you that said boat is 3.1 meters long and has a 9.9 horsepower engine. So yes, high-end. But it needs sorting, as do the inflatable paddleboards with their rusted paddles, the blow-up, boat-towed donuts and the presumably mouldy cool bags. Enormous online shops need doing now, with arrival times secured, as there will never be room in the car for all of that, and all the frozen goods that the dog didn’t reach would melt. This, in turn, means that our departure time on the day is non-negotiable, which appears to be adding pressure in this house already. Once we’re there and ready to decompress, the packed lunch for five, dry coats, flip flops, sun cream, snacks, water, rosé, ice packs, barbecues, charcoal, lighters, more water, spare clothes, sun hats, folding chairs, beach mats, waterproof valuables bags, wetsuits and wetsuit booties for the kids need preparing every morning by around 08.30 in order to beat the parking hordes, and washing down, cleaning out and drying that evening, ready to go again. Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it? Oh, and all of that has to get onto a boat with a couple of dogs and over to a beach. And back again. On reflection, then, for the first time in my adult life, what I’d really like is a week at an all inclusive resort that feeds the children limitless food whenever they want it and where all I have to do is sit and turn white fat into brown fat. I don’t have time to lament my choices now, though, as I have 27 boxes to unpack before making and washing up another meal. David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-omic. You can find more Flats on Twitter @ davidflatman and Instagram @ dflatman

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 13

The summer season will see new arrivals join Milsom Place – Spanish cafe and deli, Vero's and modern pizzeria, Bosco – as well as exclusive pop-ups, alfresco dining and stylish summer fashion in-store... Milsom Place, Milsom Street & Broad Street, Bath BA1 1BZ 01225 789040 milsomplace.co.uk

This is a town with a lot of heart, says Leanne Olivier of Cru Wines

B.O.A IS F.A.B Bradford on Avon – quaint, charming, and a hive of gorgeous indie businesses – but don’t take our word for it… Words by Sarah Moolla Photos by Chris Daw

“Timbrell’s is here because of how lovely Bradford on Avon is. It’s a great location for tourists wanting to stay and explore our lovely town and surrounding area, and a great stop off for those travelling onto Cornwall. We’ve seen lots of people relocating here from the Cotswolds and surrounding areas. It’s great to see Bradford on Avon nearly back to its normal quirky self with nearly all shops back up and running. The restaurants and pubs are always busy and Timbrell’s is at full capacity.”

OUT OF TOWN

Amy Grafton-Mitchell, general manager of Timbrell’s Yard

Community spirit is strong in Bradford on Avon says Caroline Mackay of Woolley Grange Hotel

e could wax lyrical about the beauty of Bradford on Avon – with the elegance of Bath on a smaller scale, the winsome appeal of a ye olde idyllic country village, gold postboxes, and a tourist information centre with Corinthian-style columns flanking its entrance. But it’s easy to praise and flatter when you’re wandering about in holiday mode, enjoying the sunshine, and heading off to dine in Timbrell’s Yard. It’s the locals who are really in the know about living and working in this picture-perfect town so we asked them for their BOA thoughts.

“I worked in London for 10 years as an actuary before moving to Bradford on Avon with my family. I was fed up with my corporate job and wanted more autonomy, and so decided to set up Wiltshire Wealth in 2019. I’ve recently opened an office on Silver Street – it’s a great location, right in the heart of the town and I’m really starting to feel like part of the business community here.” Daniel Wiltshire, actuary and financial planner with Wiltshire Wealth

“Bradford on Avon is like a ‘mini-me’ of Bath…and fiercely independent! Beautiful Cotswold cottages adorn the hillsides, the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon canal glitter like jewels through the town and renovated medieval buildings like the huge 15thC tithe barn and one of the earliest Saxon churches provide a real wow factor. The community spirit is strong here and many independent shops, restaurants and cafés add real colour and character to this little town.” Caroline Mackay, marketing manager for Woolley Grange Hotel

“We have been amazed by the number of creative professionals living and working in the town who have shown an interest in joining our community. Bradford on Avon has an incredible wealth of talent with intelligent people from very interesting backgrounds daring to ‘give it a go’. As someone who has just started a co-work space, we’re mostly just excited about the conversations we’re having with our members, learning about them and their businesses, and it’s exciting how many of us there really are.” Ruth & Klas Hyllén, co-directors of Studio Bacchus

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“Bradford on Avon is full of hidden lanes and houses, on the high street you might notice a door or an entrance that in itself is unremarkable, however, once opened, you glimpse a cobbled street, with a cluster of cottages with beautiful hanging baskets or steps leading to a mysterious cellar that has yet to be investigated. Regardless if you are a local resident or a regular visitor to the town there are always new things to notice that take you by surprise.”

BOA is the perfect place to wander and enjoy shopping says Fiona Leach, who owns four shops in the town

Wellie O’Driscoll, owner and director of Made in Bradford on Avon

“Bradford on Avon is full of hidden lanes and houses”

Even though I work here, I still think Bradford on Avon is a perfect day out: Beautiful scenery and walks, great eateries and a super array of independent stores. We have a great community here in Bradford and, having been here for nearly 20 years, our clients feel more like old friends rather than just customers. I consider myself very fortunate to be right next door to the Cheese Shop, which happens to have the best baguettes.” Lee Orton, Director of Orton Jewellery

OUT OF TOWN

“I set up my cheese shop nearly seven years ago because I love Bradford on Avon – it is a small and beautiful little town full of quirkiness and history – and my shop fits in nicely with the other independents. During lockdown I worked with Cru Wines to participate in their monthly online wine tasting which became successful virtual cheese and wine nights.” Christophe Bonneau, owner and manager of The Cheese Shop

“It’s the perfect place to live our values – getting out in this environment allows you to have your eyes wide open and discovering so many new things and having the space around you to be creative – getting outside, sharing ideas, it’s a joyful place to spend time. And with The Times voting it ‘one of the best places to live in 2021’, we feel privileged to be based here.” The team at Digital Wonderlab

“I started selling preloved items in Bath with the stores Roundabout The House and Second Hand Rose but moved to Bradford on Avon after a few years. Here business has boomed, and thanks to the growing awareness of sustainability and recycling, continues to do so. So much so myself and my sister Katie now also have Alfred’s and Heather’s. Bradford on Avon is perfect for shoppers – it is little children, and dog-friendly with lots of places to stop and eat or to just admire the view.” Fiona Leach, owner of four pre-loved items shops

The Times voted Bradford on Avon one of the best places to live in 2021

“The town and surrounding countryside are outrageously beautiful! The amenities and transport links are excellent and Bath is just a very pretty train trip away. Having been born here and my parents running a business here for decades gives me a real connection with the town and of course we know a lot of people.” Jeremy Jenkins, estate agent

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 19

OUT OF TOWN

LOOKING BACK AT BRADFORD ON AVON

The earliest evidence of habitation is fragments of Roman settlements above the town. In particular, archaeological digs have revealed the remains of a large Roman villa with a well-preserved mosaic on the playing fields of St Laurence School.

The Town Bridge crosses the ‘broad ford’ on the River Avon which is the origin of the name Bradford on Avon, and it was around the river the community grew. The bridge itself still retains two of its original 13th century arches.

The town developed as a centre for textiles, mostly wool, and many of the large mill buildings along the river are former woollen mills, and most of the houses up on the hill are former spinners’ and weavers’ cottages.

Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe visited Bradford on Avon in the early 18th century and said, “They told me at Bradford on Avon that it was no extra-ordinary thing to have clothiers in that county worth £10,000 to £40,000 per man” (equivalent to £1.3M to £5.3M these days).

On the hill overlooking the town is St Mary’s Chapel. Originally this tiny church, built in the 15th century, was where weary pilgrims would rest on their way to Glastonbury.

The town grew around the river and was once a centre for textiles

“This is a town with a lot of heart. The support for ‘shop local’ campaign has been phenomenal and I am very grateful for our loyal customers who go above and beyond. I was so touched at Christmas when I received a few Christmas presents and home made gifts from some of my customers. I loved it! It was a real sign of how connected local businesses in BOA are to the community.” Leanne Olivier, owner of Cru Wines

“Our gallery is located in what used to be the old Town Hall, and once housed the original police station with magistrate courts and holding cells. The carved stone signs are still above the doorways today. There are many festivals during the summer and Miles Cantelou Gallery is part of the Peacock Art trail in September. This year the town council and the local community are creating a living green wall in the heart of BOA. This will be the first Green Wall in the South West and we expect great interest from locals and visitors alike.” Miles Cantelou, gallery director

“Bradford on Avon is a wonderful part of the world. I moved away a few years ago and although I hadn’t forgotten how great it is when I returned to work for Iford Arts earlier this year I was struck by the fantastic community spirit in the town. People really do care about what happens, and when I walk through the town there’s nearly always someone that I can stop and chat to. The countryside is literally on your doorstep with stunning river walks, the English Heritage’s Tithe Barn, and the Kennet & Avon Canal.” Julie Butterworth, marketing manager of Iford Arts

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 21

OUT OF TOWN

clockwise from top left: Izzy Kearns and Jamie Brereton of Timbrell’s Yard; Nicola Davis, Valerie Jukes, and Wellie O’Driscoll at Made in Bradford on Avon;

The team at Bridge Tea Rooms; Natasha Drane who works at Jeremy Jenkins estate agency; Owner and manager of The Cheese Shop Christophe Bonneau; John Hetherington who works at Cru Wines; Daniel Wiltshire left London to set up Wiltshire Wealth

THE BOA DIRECTORY ALFRED’S – preloved and designer men’s clothing – 37 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon; www. secondhandroseroundabout. co.uk/alfreds

www.secondhandrose roundabout.co.uk/heathers

furniture – 3 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.milescantelou.com

IFORD ARTS – opera company who stage events in extraordinary spaces (for more turn to page 29) – 15 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.ifordarts.org.uk

ORTON JEWELLERY – master goldsmith with more than 40 years’ experience – 6-7 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.ortonjewellery.co.uk

JEREMY JENKINS ESTATE AGENTS – a family owned and independent estate agency – 27 Market Street, Bradford On Avon; www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk

ROUNDABOUT HOUSE – new and preloved interior goods – Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.secondhandrose roundabout.co.uk

DIGITAL WONDERLAB – a digital agency that craft digital experiences using creative technologies – 10 Kingston Road, Bradford on Avon; www.digitalwonderlab.com

MADE IN BRADFORD ON AVON – an ever-changing community gallery that houses over 60 local artists and artisans – 1 Lamb Yard/Kingston Road, Silver Street, Bradford on Avon; www.madeinbradford onavon.co.uk

SECOND HAND ROSE – new and preloved women and children’s clothing – Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.secondhandrose roundabout.co.uk

HEATHER’S – ladies’ fashion and accessories boutique – Coppice Hill, Bradford on Avon;

MILES CANTELOU CREATIVE ARTS & DESIGN – artwork, Asian antiques and vintage

THE BRIDGE TEA ROOMS – housed in a former blacksmith’s cottage dating from 1502 – 24a Bridge St, Bradford on Avon; www.thebridgetearooms.co.uk CRU WINES – independent wine shop – 4 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon; www.cruwines.co.uk

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STUDIO BACCHUS – a creative co-work space based in a Grade II listed building – No. 24 The Vaults, Silver Street, Bradford on Avon; www.studiobacchus.co.uk

THE CHEESE SHOP – cheese and deli produce specialists – 5 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.cheese-shop.co.uk TIMBRELL’S YARD – renovated riverside coaching inn with restaurant and outside dining – 49 St. Margaret’s Street, Bradford on Avon; www.timbrellsyard.com WILTSHIRE WEALTH – independent financial advice for individuals, families and small businesses – 9 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon; www.wiltshirewealth.com WOOLLEY GRANGE HOTEL – part of the Luxury Family Hotel collection located in 14 acres of grounds – Woolley Green, Bradford on Avon; www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk

I N D E P E N D E N T R E TA I L E R S I N B R A D F O R D - O N - A V O N www.secondhandroseroundabout.co.uk | F ind us on

Roundabout the House A fantastic variety of new and pre-loved interior pieces. Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1LN | Tel: 01225 867707 Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sunday 11am - 4pm

Second Hand Rose Nearly new high-end ladies and children's clothing and accessories. Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, BA LN | Tel: 01225 867707 Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm,

Heather's Independent retail boutique selling quality ladies clothes, accessories and gifts. Coppice Hill, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1JT | Tel: 01225 863478 Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm

Pre-loved men's clothing, including top designer brands. 37 Silver St, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1JX | Tel: 01225 684688 Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm

SPONSORED CONTENT

CLARKS VILLAGE: A SHOPPING DESTINATION WITH A DIFFERENCE If you’re looking for a fantastic shopping destination this summer, head to CLARKS VILLAGE

ess than an hour from Bath, the outdoor Somerset shopping outlet is the ideal visitor destination, whether you’re holidaying in the area, passing through and need a place to stop on your journey or simply looking for a day trip with a difference. Located in Street, Clarks Village is an outlet like no other where the flair of modern shopping meets the effortless calm of the countryside. You’ll be wowed with the mix of coveted brands, each offering discounts of up to 60 per cent off RRP within the relaxed, outdoor environment of the centre. With award-winning landscaped gardens and wide-paved walkways, Clarks Village offers a truly unique, relaxing and refreshing shopping experience. One of Somerset’s top visitor destinations, Clarks Village opened in 1993 and was the first outlet centre in the UK. Over the years, the premium outlet has continued to evolve to bring new and exciting brands, always giving guests yet another reason to return. At Clarks Village today, you’ll find the likes of Levis, Vans, The North Face, Hotel Chocolat, Le Creuset, Haribo, Bedeck, Barbour and Molton Brown – among many more. Whether you’re looking for high fashion, homeware, beauty, footwear, sports and outdoorwear or the latest gear for your summer holiday, Clarks Village is the place for you – all at outlet prices. Families can ensure children will be entertained by the outlet’s large forest-themed adventure play park with bridges, tunnels, climbing walls

and swings. Until the end of August, guests can hunt for their favourite superheroes with an augmented reality trail and over four weekends, life-size superhero statues will make a visit even more memorable. And while you’re here, you can pick up a pair of school shoes from the largest Clarks shoe store in the world and be ready for next term. While at Clarks Village, guests can relax and refuel in a range of cafes, late-opening restaurants and ‘grab and go’ kiosks. Want to slow the pace? Take some time out and enjoy the newly redeveloped stunning Central Square Gardens – are a green, vibrant and relaxing haven in the heart of the centre. Winners of the Green Apple award for environment and waste management, installation of solar panels, coffee waste recycling, water fountain and refill points along with EV charging bays, Clarks Village is also one of the greenest shopping centres in the UK. n

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Don’t miss out this summer, visit Clarks Village. Find us in Street, under 25 minutes from either the A303 or the M5 or straight down the A39 from Bath. For more information visit www.clarksvillage.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 25

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

ARTS DISTRICT

Iford Arts, the small, independent opera company based in Bradford on Avon, is now in its 27th year, with the 2021 season promising to be an enchanting triumph, not least because the host venue is in nearby Belcombe Court. Originally built in 1700, Belcombe was altered considerably in 1734 by architect John Wood the Elder, and today is owned by ﬁlm director Paul Weiland and his wife Caroline. This will be the second year they have welcomed the Iford Arts festival, and as the grounds are rarely opened to the public, the festival also oﬀers a wonderful opportunity to explore the 60 acres of parkland, grotto, art, Doric rotunda and ruined temple, and the lakes. Iford Arts starts its programme of events on 21 August, which includes actor David Threfall narrating Peter and the Wolf, along with performances of MezzoCav & Pagliacci by Opera Ensemble. For more: www.ifordarts.org.uk

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Comedian Jessica Fostekew explores strength at the Ustinov on 9 August

WHAT’S ON 31 July – 26 August

EXHIBITIONS Until 7 August

THE ART COHORT SUMMER OPEN SHOW Featuring ﬁne art, sculpture and ceramics from 32 local artists including David Ringsell. www.theartcohort.co.uk

Until 28 August

BETH CARTER Beth Carter’s ambiguous ﬁctional compositions, with bird-heads and catheads appearing as her less predatory take on the Minotaur legend, beautifully conﬂates both classical and contemporary masculinity myths. Beaux Arts; www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

Until 31 August

FOREST OF IMAGINATION The interactive installations around the gardens include listening ﬂowers, the foam forest, fog ﬂowers, a seed hut, and two water play features from natural springs in the ground. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org

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Until 4 September

MONUMENTS, EMPIRE AND SLAVERY The exhibition focusses on a number of the Abbey’s memorials that reveal the not always fair and just relationships between those commemorated in the Abbey, the city of Bath, the British Empire, and the slave trade in the 1700 and 1800s. Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org

Until 5 September

CANALETTO: PAINTING VENICE This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition enables visitors to enjoy and study up-close 23 beautiful detailed paintings that present, not only cultural and historical themes of 18th-century Venice and the Grand Tour, but also explore the artist’s life and beliefs through his work. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 8 September

THOMAS LAWRENCE: COMING OF AGE

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

The Holburne Museum’s ﬁrst ever online exhibition will give insight into the early life of the great portrait painter, who honed his talents as a child, sketching in his father’s inn in Devizes, before then coming to capture Bath society. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 19 September

FREUD, MINTON, RYAN: AN UNHOLY TRINITY This unique exhibition will celebrate the life of Adrian Ryan (1920-1998), and his friends John Minton (1917-1957) and Lucian Freud (1922-2011). In the tight community of the art world of pre-war London, the three artists were colleagues and friends. As ambitious ﬁgurative painters with – at ﬁrst – hopeful and promising career trajectories, all three explored a relaxed intimacy behind closed doors, especially during the war years. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 7 October

FLIGHTS OF FANCY An exhibition by six local printmakers, Kate Bernstein, Dominique Coiffait, Charlotte Farmer, Polly Gough, Liz Saunders and Sarah Targett, who all make original limited edition prints using a variety of techniques. Many of them met whilst printing at Marshfield Screen Print, a local screen print studio owned by Dominique. All work in the exhibition is available to buy at affordable prices with a commission paid to the RUH. www.artatruh.org

Until 10 October

MY KID COULD’VE DONE THAT! The Holburne Museum is staging an exhibition at The Edge arts centre at the University of Bath of brand-new work by 15 contemporary artists and their children, which then invites art lovers to determine just who created the work on display? Creative participants include Harriet Bowman and her son Len, Dickon Drury and

WHAT’S ON son Cosmo, and Kate Owens with daughter Trudy. www.edgearts.org/ www.holburne.org

Until 31 October

OUCH! This online exhibition draws on the themes of pain as explored by the University’s Bath Centre for Pain Research. It is made up of an interdisciplinary team who examine how pain affects people’s lives. The ‘in person’ exhibition of Ouch! is now rescheduled to take place at 44AD’s gallery in September. www.44ad.net

Until 31 October © SACHAB

SHOOTING STARS: CARINTHIA WEST, BRITAIN AND AMERICA IN THE 1970S Features a collection of 63 intimate natural portraits, including Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood, and lifestyle shots taken in America and the UK by 1970s model and actor, turned journalist and photographer Carinthia West. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org above: Hollie Cook is performing her distinctive ‘tropical pop’ sounds at Bath’s first reggae festival middle: See every type of shoe at the Fashion Museum’s Shoephoria! exhibition from mid 18th century buckled leather shoes to patent red 20th century block heeled slingbacks by Marni below: Canaletto’s Painting Venice exhibition remains at The Holburne until 5 September

Until 2022

SHOEPHORIA! Discover the fascinating evolution of shoe style over the last 300 years, from the actual footwear worn by Queen Mary and Queen Victoria through to the recent contemporary designers, such as Vivienne Westwood and Jimmy Choo. Fashion Museum; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Until 26 September

DAVID A. PARFITT A new exhibition of paintings and prints by Somerset landscape artist David A. Parfitt at Black Swan Arts in Frome reflects on our connections with nature, place and home. Most of the work in 20 Miles – a mixture of dramatic, sometimes almost abstract, watercolours and striking monochromatic monoprints – has been created in David’s studio during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. www.blackswanarts.org.uk

6 – 8 August

FRESH ART FAIR Bath-based galleries Modern ArtBuyer and Rostra Gallery have joined creative forces to bring the best of their artist portfolios to Cheltenham Racecourse. Included in the exhibition is Ben Wild, Paul Minott, and Hannah Kenway. www.rostramabcollab.co.uk

MUSIC 10 August

JANE MCDONALD The BAFTA award-winning singer and presenter who found long term fame through her appearance on BBC 1 docusoap The Cruise and is now celebrating more than 23 years in the business is back with her ‘Let the Light In’ tour. The Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

13 August

FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL Bare Jams, The Maitree Express, Plume and more are playing a free (but ticketed) musical event at Komedia as part of the Bath Fringe. Bare James has grown and evolved from the modest duo busking in 2011, into a six strong collective, blending a tight fusion of reggae, dub, soul, pop and ska into a unique, collaborative sound. Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

21 August

THE DRIFTERS The Drifters, who have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame, performed for the President of the United States, and are listed among the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, are back on the road and performing their classic hits from the last incredible six decades. These include the classic Saturday Night at the Movies, Under the Boardwalk and Kissin In The Back Row. The Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

COMEDY

7 August & 14 August

KRATER COMEDY CLUB Kick-off your weekend with some proper good laughs and discover the best in live comedy, featuring three top stand-ups and one of the best compères in the business. The cabaret style seating comes with several dining options as well as table service. Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

9 August

JESSICA FOSTEKEW: HENCH Absolute powershed and regular host of The Guilty Feminist, writer, actor and comedian Jessica Fostekew explores attitudes to her strength. Ustinov; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON

3 – 7 August

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does. As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their ﬁnal curtain call, hilarious and haphazard results ensue. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

10 August

ROMEO & JULIET Prepare for a carnival of passion and imagination, as The Three Inch Fools, the masters of inventive, musically-driven Shakespeareinspired theatre in the great outdoors, present the world’s best-known love story. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

12 – 21 August

GROAN UPS Following their smash hit success with The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, the multi award-winning Mischief Theatre present a brand-new comedy about growing up. Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, we follow an unruly classroom of six year-olds on their journey through anarchic high school teenagers to the challenges of adulthood. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

10 August

FREE GUY In a video game Free City, Guy, played by Ryan Reynolds is a non-player character working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed within the game by programmers Milly (Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer) he becomes aware of his world being a video game, and takes steps to make himself the hero before the developers can shut the game down. The Little Theatre; www.picturehouses.com

22 August

PETER & THE WOLF Shameless star David Threlfall is narrating this year’s Iford Arts production of Prokoﬁev’s Peter & the Wolf taking place in the stunning grounds of Grade 1 listed Belcombe Court. For more on this turn to page 29. www.ifordarts.org.uk

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FESTIVALS

7 – 8 August

THE BATH FESTIVAL FINALE WEEKEND Join McFly, Scouting For Girls, Gabrielle, UB40 ft Ali Campbell & Astro, Billy Ocean, and Fun Lovin’ Criminals, at Bath Recreation Ground for live performances alongside a Kids’ Zone with extra entertainment, festival style stalls selling delicious artisan food, and well-stocked cider and beer bars. www.bathfestivals.org.uk

14 & 15 August

THE WILTSHIRE GAME & COUNTRY FAIR Bowood House, Calne is the picturesque back drop to the countryside activity and event extravaganza. There’s the World of Dogs, an airgun and clay shooting tuition, a huge crafts village with demonstrations including glass blowing, blacksmiths and chainsaw carving, children’s amusements, plus a delectable range of national and local food producers and specialist street foods and drinks. www.livingheritagecountryshows.com

21 August

BATH REGGAE FESTIVAL 2021 From Kingston, Jamaica to Kensington Meadows, this is Bath’s very ﬁrst annual reggae festival. Enjoy a taste of Caribbean culture, soundtracked by the music of island life with performances from a whole array of legendary and contemporary artists including Maxi Priest, Aswad, Big Mountain, Dawn Penn, Laid Blak, Hollie Cook, Wayne Wonder, Aleighcia Scott and Sister Nancy. Plus, there’s plenty of culinary delights from rum and cocktail bars to jerk chicken vans. www.bathreggaefestival.co.uk

27– 29 August

BATH & WEST COUNTRY FESTIVAL Over three days at the Shepton Mallet, The Showground, there is a haven for all enthusiasts of rural life. There’s live music, food and drink, roaming performers, a vintage fairground, canine corner, an art show, and main ring events which will include show jumping, heavy horses, and stunts. www.bathandwest.com

27 – 30 August

CRAFT BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL The Trowbridge Craft Beer and Cider Festival will be held at Innox

THEATRE / CINEMA

ABOVE: Groan Ups, the new comedy play about getting older comes to Theatre Royal Bath MIDDLE: Large embellished butterfly by Dominique Coiffait is part of the RUH’s latest exhibition Flights of Fancy BELOW: Jodie Comer and Ryan Reynolds star in Free Guy screening at The Little Theatre

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WHAT’S ON Mills featuring up to 60 regional beers and ciders, plus street food and live music with evening DJ sets. www.trowbridgebeerfest.co.uk

4 September

7 HILLS The 7 Hills is a new music festival inspired by the sounds and culture of Americana taking place in Lyncombe Court. The brainchild of singer-songwriter and musician, Matt Owens, (formerly of Noah and The Whale) the stellar line-up includes Somerset local Beth Rowley, Louis Brennan, Lady Nade, Michele Stodart, and Blue Violet. www.the7hills.com

10 – 12 September

VINTAGE NOSTALGIA FESTIVAL A fun and fabulously charming family festival in Stockton Park celebrating a rose-tinted past with jazz, swing, classic cars, vintage fashion, and dance. www.vintagenostalgiafestival.co.uk

above: Let your imagination run free amongst the outdoor interactive installations at the American Museum left: The play that’s so wrong it’s right crashes into Bath on 3 August

OTHER

Until 1 August

BATH ON THE BEACH There’s table tennis, pétanque, and adventure golf to play and to indulge in, summer-inspired cocktails, woodfired pizza, loaded nachos and fries at the Bath Caribbean-inspired beach bar, located at the Royal Pavilion in Victoria Park. www.bathonthebeach.co.uk JULIAN HOUSE’S BIG SUMMER SCAVENGER HUNT The new event has two trails to choose from in return for a donation. ‘Super Spies’ is a real-life family adventure, a two-mile route suitable for children of all ages, pushchairs and wheelchair users. And the special ‘Code Breaker’ Trail, a six-mile GPS hunt perfect for adults and older teenagers. It’s a win win as challengers explore the local countryside whilst hunting down the riddles to crack the code. www.julianhouse.org.uk

Until 25 August

FAMILY ACTIVITIES The Victoria Art Gallery and the Fashion Museum are hosting a whole range of arts and crafts children’s activities over the school summer holidays linked to their respective, An Unholy Trinity and Shoephoria! exhibitions. www.victoriagal.org.uk / www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

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Until 7 August

Until 29 August

SUMMER SUNDAYS Every Sunday around the city centre, there’s going to be a range of pop-up, free performances including Jane Austen dancers, samba bands, and street theatre. Plus look out for free face painting, craft workshops and arts activities. www.welcometobath.co.uk

Until 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, 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

4 August / 22 August / 7 September / 26 September

SECRETS OF BATH WALKS Explore history on our doorstep with expertly guided walks that, not only reveal the background of some of the finest Palladian architecture

in the world, but also introduce the routines, leisure and entertainment of the aristocracy. www.bathpreservation-trust.org.uk

14 August

CHARITY ZUMBATHON For just £10, dance away for two hours, from 2pm - 4pm, with the high-energy and always positive Dance Fit Bath team at Bath Pavilion. Turn up, pay on the door, and get a free t-shirt. Plus you’re helping raise money for the charity Children’s Hospice South West. www.facebook.com/dancefit n

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BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Distance learning The Baltic states, Italy and desert hikes are all covered in Nic’s recommended travelogues

“Chance encounters with strangers in distant lands remain such a relative impossibility”

feel there is no travel writer out there more inventive than Nick Hunt when it comes to conjuring up fascinating frameworks for a journey. Last time around in Where the Wild Winds Are (John Murray, £9.99) he tracked down four of the most aggressive European winds – the ones that are so irritating they warrant having their own name – and hiked right into them, often to the point of utter distraction. This time in Outlandish (John Murray, £16.99) he has sought out four geographical anomalies and strapped on his hiking boots to explore and better understand them. His aim is to discover topographies that make little sense being where they are – outlier landscapes that more properly belong in other parts of the world. Closest to home, he heads in January to the Cairngorms in Northern Scotland where he tracks down a slice of Arctic tundra. For much needed, if excessive, warmth, he switches track to Spain in the high summer where he wanders ‘Tabernas’, the continent’s only true desert. Add in long hikes through a last fragment of jungle-esque primeval forest still residing in Poland, and across the vast expanse of the Hungarian steppe, and you have four very surprising and enlightening trips that when read together, make Europe seem even more distant and exotic than it already feels these days. As in all three of his books, Hunt perfectly marries up droplets of historical, geographical or geological context with his descriptions of the journey and his own impressions of the environment he’s walking through. And this time more than in previous books, the wider environmental question is never far away – by deﬁnition these are anomalous habitats and so the question of how they’ve come to survive and whether they’ll be in place much longer is never far away. In fact Outlandish is just one of three recent books I’ve encountered which bring out Europe’s history through contemporary travels. By comparison to Hunt, travel-writer Tim Parks tends to be resolute in the focus area of his journeying. For decades now he has recounted his experiences living and exploring in Italy – whether describing a year of joining the obsessive fans of Verona’s football team in A Season with Verona (Vintage, £10.99), riding the nation’s railway system in Italian Ways (Vintage, £9.99) or through many other lenses across many other books. In The Hero’s Way (Vintage, £20) his mission

is dictated by events that took place more than 170 years ago. Setting out from Rome, Parks walks over 250 miles to Ravenna, through Tuscany, Umbria and the mountainous terrain of the Appenines, all in the footsteps of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his followers. Whilst the walk is arduous enough for Parks, it’s nothing compared to the trials of Garibaldi and his crew, which Parks reveals in all its drama as he makes his own journey. For the revolutionary Garibaldi in 1849, leading the drive for Italian independence, the journey began with urgent escape from Rome alongside 4,000 voluntary compatriots. A month or so later the dangers of the trip and multiple attacks by French and Austrian troops had whittled Garibaldi’s squad down to a mere 250. A brutal experience that would serve as a precursor to Garibaldi’s later revolutionary activities, and that would seem a world away from the exquisite calm landscapes Parks takes us through in the modern day – were it not for his skill at weaving together his account of the present experience and tales of the dramatic past. A similar blending of present and past can be found in Max Egremont’s new book, The Glass Wall (Macmillan, £25). Subtitled Lives on the Baltic Frontier, this ambitious book relies heavily on oral testimony, in combination with narrative historical writing and a smidgen of travelogue for good measure, to tell the often overlooked stories of the small nations bordering the Baltic Sea. Reading Egremont’s account makes you appreciate that over the centuries there seems to have been a more or less constant ebb and ﬂow of marauding forces through modern-day Latvia and Estonia – whose strategically important location between Germany and Russia has often left them caught up in conﬂicts that were not truly their own. All of this tumult has left its mark on the culture, architecture and psyche of these tiny nations, and it’s this that Egremont ekes out through his travels in those territories and conversations with an extraordinary range of people he encounters along the way. Conversations that are so enjoyable to be privy too in these times when chance encounters with strangers in distant lands remain such a relative impossibility. 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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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

PEDAL POWERED

Ping Coombes

Foodstuff has now launched in Bath. The indie answer to home delivery where rider welfare is paramount (and living wages paid including holidays and perks) and fees to restaurants are fair, was born in Cambridge in the first lockdown, when founders Toby Savill and James Perry hopped on their bikes to support local restaurants. New to Bath, the service only works with indie restaurants and cafés, and its partners include Dough, Jars Meze, and Sugarcane Studios. “We believe one model can’t work for all and we’re proud to craft our product to serve solely the smaller guys in the industry,” say founders Toby and James. For more: www.wearefoodstuff.co.uk

Chris Cleghorn

Pravin Nayar

Noya Pawlyn Foodstuff is a delivery service for independents

Ulrika Jonsson

SUPER CHILL Neston-based ice cream makers Luscious has won the Best

of Chilled and Frozen in the Sweet category at the BOOM (Best of the Organic Market) Awards 2021 for their mint choc chip flavour. The BOOM Awards, run Mint choc chip: a winning by organic certifier Soil combination Association Certification in partnership with Ocado, recognises the excellence, innovation and hard work of brands in the organic sector. “Winning the Best of Chilled and Frozen at the BOOM Awards 2021 means a huge amount to us,” says Kate Clark, co-founder of Luscious. “The judges’ impartial recognition that our product was the best tasting is a great reward for our hard work and commitment to using highest quality organic ingredients. Customers have become increasingly interested in organic food and the environment over the past 12 months and we are proud to run a business that helps support nature and the environment.” For more: www.lusciousorganics.co.uk

Richard Bertinet

FEAST YOUR EYES

The line-up for The Great Bath Feast has been announced. Curated by the festival’s headline sponsor, bread maestro Richard Bertinet, it features many of our favourite local culinary heroes including Ping Coombes, Masterchef winner 2014 and owner of Ping’s Makan Supper Club and Ping’s Masak Cookery School; Chris Cleghorn of The Olive Tree, Bath’s only Michelin Star restaurant; Noya Pawlyn of Noya’s Kitchen; Pravin Nayar from Castle Farm, Midford and many more. TV personality and Celebrity Masterchef winner in 2018, Ulrika Jonsson will also appear. From 24 – 26 September, The Great Bath Feast will take over Milsom Street, filling it with an array of market stalls offering the best local and international food and drink in addition to the big names holding court on the demo stage. The festival organisers will showcase signature dishes from cafés, pubs and restaurants across Bath via the Bath Bites Trail. The joint initiative with Bath BID will see a map distributed at the festival weekend filled with exciting dining opportunities to explore. It doesn’t end there – after the event, The Great Bath Feast will also host a series of fringe events throughout October, including supper clubs, masterclasses and food tastings. For more: www.greatbathfeast.co.uk

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TAKE 5 LEFT: Steph Wilder, owner of Good Day Café has recently taken on more space to accommodate demand

The chocolate browniefilled scotchies are a Good Day favourite

Honestly, I just think about what I would like to snack on. The key from there is going for nostalgic and indulgent ﬂavours – and that bigger is better. We do lots of testing, and new products often have to pass friends and family tests. Why did you decide to expand into the unit next door?

STEPH WILDER, GOOD DAY CAFÉ In hard times, we turned to cake, and thankfully, Good Day Café was there to provide it Good Day Café is quite the Bath cult phenomenon. It is not unusual to see a queue for owner Steph Wilder’s creative and mouth-watering treats stretching around the corner. Demand has continually grown over time, and with the start of their postal service – once a lockdown thing, now a permanent fixture – Steph recently decided it was time to expand. Good Day now has its own dedicated production space in the unit next to the café, where she is already planning her next lot of delicious creations. Good Day Café has had quite a year! Tell us what you’ve been up to during the pandemic.

Well since the ﬁrst lockdown

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we have been shipping boxes of brownies and lots of other treats all over the UK. Our brownie boxes have helped us raise thousands of pounds for charity too! During the second and third lockdowns we kept our shop open for takeaway, and were really able to focus on upping our cake game. What’s new on the counter?

I don’t like to keep things the same for too long! It’s super fun creating a product that people like and then messing around with the ﬂavours. Since the most recent lockdown we have released products like the bestselling scotchie (a brownie scotch egg) and our super deep ﬁll cookie pies. What’s the creative process for a new product?

The ﬁrst thing we will be doing is increasing our production so everyone can get a slice of what they fancy. We hate to see people coming later in the day to ﬁnd that what they fancied has sold out. After we hit those levels, we will be releasing lots of new bakes to buy in our shop and online. You started selling online when the pandemic first hit – what was that like?

The pivot to postal was really a shot in the dark and I still can’t believe that it took oﬀ the way it did. Selling brownies online has saved our business and helped out loads of local charities. It’s still a big part of our business. Good Day’s postal service now has a permanent home in the new bakery and will only be getting better. Good Day brookies: brownie-stuffed cookies

Most weekends there are queues down the street for your bakes. What does that feel like?

Seeing the queues and a full busy café really gives me the heebie jeebies if I’m honest, you just hope that the goods and the experience live up to the hype. I’m always totally blown away by everyone’s lovely comments in person and on social media. What’s your favourite thing about your job? I think what I love most about my job is seeing people happy; happy to see their friends, happy to get out and about, happy to have a treat after a long day. This might be the hardest question: What’s your favourite thing on the menu?

Straight away – cookies and cream brookie. Brookies are my die-hard favourites – I have them warmed up in the microwave and with a cup of tea! For more: Good Day Café, 12 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.gooddaycoﬀee.co.uk

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GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

Rachel Ifans dines at the former railway station and enjoys a summer evening of great food, and all that jazz

’ve always thought there’s a romantic feel to Green Park Station. It still feels like a train station, with its glass barrel roof and the period ticket hall and, although it was 1966 when the last train puffed along its tracks, there’s an older feel to the place that whispers Victorian glamour, dirt roads, horses and carts and even the odd ne’er-do-well lurking in its corners. Okay, I’m getting carried away, but it is special; it’s like something you’d find abroad (who remembers that?). And, contrary to trends, it’s been doing very well in the past couple of years; food carts line what would have been the platform, wonderful outside dining spaces (only the front is open at the moment due to repairs on the aforementioned roof) bustle and fizz in the sunshine like a Aperol Spritz, a handful of interesting shops vie for the regulars’ attention, fitness classes boom, gospel choir concerts sing out and last autumn it was also the venue

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for the annual Bath Film Festival. I had dinner there recently at the Green Park Brasserie, owned since the early ’90s by father and son combo Andrew and Alex Peters, and surely Bath’s only Steakhouse and Jazz Bar. We plumped for a sunny Thursday night and the heady mix of happy customers, evening sun, live music and top-notch food and drink made it feel like we were on holiday. The jazz music was provided by the Kevin Brown Trio and the volume of their teetering scales and melodic low notes was a delightful, and at times, all-absorbing soundscape to our night out. A quick glance at the menus showed well-thought-out and upmarket food, with local meats from Newton Farm and a catch of the day sourced from Newlyn Fish Market. The double-sided wine list came with excellent tasting notes and there was a good selection of cocktails too. Our table-a-deux had a good vantage point so it was time to sit

RESTAURANT

back with our Aperol Spritz and admire the high ceilings, large windows and ornate sweep of the bar. After deciding on our food and with a bit of help from our friendly waitress, we plumped for a bottle of Chateau Haut-Myles, which, as the notes rightly said, really was a good example of a claret at its peak (£32). The menu suited us well, with plenty of crowdpleasers like calamari, burger, fishcakes and ribs, and we noticed a couple of vegan options too. For me, trying to choose between smoked salmon and calamari is an ongoing life struggle (they’re both so good!) but in the end I chose salmon for my starter which had been cured in Bath Gin and orange. The citric aftertaste contrasted with the dabs of crème fraiche and it went well with the rye bread. I stole a couple of calamari from my companion’s plate (I checked first, honest) and they were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and really tasty. For my main course, I went for a 30-day-aged rib-eye steak, which arrived cooked to perfection (there’s a theme developing here) and beautifully red inside. The garlic butter was delicious, the chips were of medium fatness (my favourite) and the salad looked fresh, although to be honest, it didn’t get much of a look in as I had 225g of red meat to conquer. I got 95 per cent through the rib-eye before I realised I’d eaten too much; my dining partner was kind enough to say it must have been due to the tastiness of the cut rather than the greediness of, well, me. He – the charmer – chose a pan-fried Cornish cod for his main, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The accompanying crab and mussel linguine was big on flavour and the right amount of creamy for his fussy taste buds. The odd pea shoot delivered a zing of something green to cut through the richness of the rest. It, like my steak, was cooked faultlessly so props to head chef Steve Derry on a job really well done. We reclined a bit to make more room in our bellies and tuned back in to Kevin Brown and friends, too full for much chatter now anyway. Although we lingered, hoping we’d find room, we had to admit defeat and leave without dessert (despite having had our eye on the boozy tiramisu) but a glass of bright, syrupy dessert wine took its place nicely. Dining at Green Park Brasserie that night felt like we’d gone out without the guidebook in a town we didn’t know and stumbled on a gem of a place that we’d talk about for years afterwards. And, let’s face it, there’s no better feeling that that. Two returns to Green Park Station, please. ■

“Heady mix of happy customers, evening sun, live music and topnotch food and drink made it feel like we were on holiday” DINING DETAILS Green Park Brasserie, Green Park Station, Bath BA1 1JB, tel: 01225 388565; www.greenparkbrasserie.com Opening hours Green Park Brasserie menu 12-late, Weds-Sat; Bar and Bath Pizza Co 12-late, 7 days a week Owners Andrew Peters and Alex Peters Chef Steve Derry Established Green Park Brasserie: Feb 1992 (Bath Pizza Co: April 2016) Type of food Steakhouse & Jazz Bar, West country produce (chicken, fish, steak, burgers) Covers 80 (main restaurant) 150 (alfresco terraces) Specialities / recommendations Local steak from Newton Farm (3 miles away), catch of the day from Newlyn Fish Market and the very popular Brasserie Burger Prices starters £7-£10; mains £14-£29; desserts £6-£9 Disability access Yes. Accessed from the rear of the building in the station Atmosphere vibrant, informal brasserie with live music four nights a week

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ACTION

STATIONS Lydia Tewkesbury delves into the delights of Green Park Station, Bath’s creative and foodie haven

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“As long as it’s interesting, made with love and tastes good we’re all over it”

STREET LIFE

reen Park Station is a special place. It’s hard to believe the thriving beacon for unique, independent businesses and markets was ever a derelict railway station. The entire enterprise is testament to the power of creative thinking, and innovation. It’s home to local institutions like the farmer’s market – one of the UK’s first when it launched, 23 years ago, and the monthly Bath Flea Market (every first Sunday). From the businesses who have made it their home to the market regulars, we’ve chatted to just a few of the people who make Green Park Station special.

ALEX PETERS, marketing manager for Green Park Brasserie and Bath Pizza Co; Every day; www.greenparkbrasserie.com; www.bathpizzaco.com

CLAIRE SHAKESPEARE, centre manager with The Ethical Property Company, property manager of Green Park Station; Every day; www.ethicalproperty.co.uk

Tell us about Resolution Records

What is Ethical Property all about?

The Ethical Property Company has buildings all over the UK, some in Europe and Australia. Our tenants are charities, social change organisations and independent businesses who are all making a real change to society and the community. We use the triple bottom line of people, planet, profit in our day-to-day decision making. What attracted you to Green Park Station?

I have always loved steam trains and I used to play in GPS with my brothers when the building was derelict. When I got the opportunity to work here, I jumped at it. It’s such a beautiful building and has been wonderfully re-purposed. It’s a real asset to the community.

Why is Green Park Station such a great location for you?

It’s a totally unique space where we’ve been able to evolve what we do. The history and ambience in the main Brasserie restaurant space (the old booking hall) and front and back terrace is really special. Especially on live music evenings in a packed-out restaurant, candlelight, and a buzzing bar with cocktail shakers mixing in the background! (turn to page 42 for our restaurant visit to the Brasserie.) MARK O’SHAUGHNESSY, Resolution Records; Every day; www.resolutionrecords.co.uk The shop has been running for more than four years now. We previously had a ‘presence’ at Green Park Market, but only in one of the smaller shacks down there. We were given the opportunity by Ethical Property to open a retail unit there and we were very glad of the chance to do so. How are you managing in the age of streaming?

We’ve had to adapt hugely over the years. We cannot compete with the online monoliths so we simply just try and find our own niche. We try to stay abreast of new music and stock as many of the current genres as we can, despite being a fairly small shop. I also believe that the close and personal customer service that we provide is extremely important to our continued success. SAMUEL JAMES SHAW, director of Wolf Wine; Monday – Saturday; www.wolfwine.co.uk What’s Wolf Wine all about?

At Wolf Wine we sell a constant rotation of small production wines and beers. We sell a lot of natural and biodynamic wines, but really as long as it’s interesting, made with love and tastes good we’re all over it.

opposite page: A serving suggestion by Wolf Wine’s Angus Perkins and Sam Shaw; above: The Green Park Station is an atmospheric spot to while away an evening

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What’s the community like?

Green Park Station is a truly unique space with an array of small, independent businesses and charities all working alongside each other. It’s its own little community and we all look out for each other. If a stall holder nips off, you can often find us selling a bag of carrots or a bunch of flowers for them. Who is one of your Green Park Station favourites?

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to everyone here that it’s Becky from the Painted Flower. She’s been here for ever and when I started Wolf Wine five years ago, we instantly hit it off and have been causing mischief ever since! MALACHI BOGDANOV, founder of Bath Contemporary Artists Fair; monthly; www.bcaf.co.uk What can people expect when they visit the BCAF?

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) hosts a cross section of artistic mediums including painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, textiles and glass. One of our main objectives is to create an accessible artistic environment where people feel comfortable around art. Art galleries can be intimidating places for some but the open-plan nature of BCAF means that people can stumble across art by accident in a space that is airy, relaxed and vibrant, thus encouraging a wider audience. JAMES MACFARLANE, founder of Moist; Weekly at the Bath Farmers’ Market; Instagram @moistbristol What inspired you to start Moist?

We started Moist as a response to the bland and mundane boringness that is mass-produced supermarket hummus. Our ethos is simple: quality ingredients sourced from small, local suppliers (including some varieties made with indigenous British pulses in place of imported chickpeas), big bold flavours and innovative flavour combinations all served up with passion and enthusiasm.

above: Hunt through the stacks at Resolution Records; below: Always a bustling shed / bar at Wolf Wine

“It’s a real asset to the community”

STREET LIFE Market for a similar time. I joined the Market during the first lockdown and I’m very glad I did. It’s so inspirational to be trading with such talented artisan producers and growers. I’m surrounded by the best ingredients the local area can provide, and from it all I create a weekly menu of fresh plant-based dishes, which change as often as the seasonal vegetables change on the local market garden stalls of Phil Collins and Chris Rich. What’s the community like?

Most artisan producers work alone or as a family unit, so market day becomes a chance to socialise a well as sell your wares. However, it’s usually a busy morning, so it is a case of many a stolen conversation, snippets of life shared between regular customers and traders which over the weeks, months and years develop into warm friendships. It’s a taste of life before giant supermarkets made food shopping an anonymous experience based on convenience. JAKE WATSON, co-owner of Oh Crepe!; Daily; Facebook @pancrepesevents Who are you?

We are two identical twin crepe chefs from the South West, serving a deliciously modern take on the French classic. We’ve spent eight years in the industry perfecting our craft and Green Park Station has given us the opportunity to set up our first permanent creperie. Our exciting menu and quality ingredients enable us to serve delicious food to suit a huge range dietary requirements. EMILY DENHAM and BEN PEAKE, founder partners of Omaggi; Weekly, Bath Farmers’ Market www.omaggi.co.uk Who are you?

Jake and Tom Watson, are the twin team behind Oh Crepe!

What do you love about the Bath Farmers’ Market customers?

The countryside surrounding Bath is bursting at the seams with incredible produce and having lived in various parts of the UK, I can safely say the residents of the South West value local independent produce more than most.

Frustrated by its often poor representation here in the UK, we sell fresh artisan cannoli – completely hand-made, freshly filled to order, and using traditional techniques and the best ingredients we can source (always local where possible). The result is an authentic cannoli experience that celebrates both the Sicilian pastry itself and the incredible produce we have on our doorstep here in Somerset. Emily Denham, one half of Team Omaggi, makers of authentic artisan cannoli

NICK SHEARN, owner of Seven Hills Chocolate; Weekly, Bath Farmers’ Market www.sevenhillschocolate.co.uk What do you do?

We sell high quality, handmade artisan chocolates, chocolate bars, and confectionery. We are also one of the few companies in the UK to make chocolate from scratch starting with 65kg sacks of cocoa beans from places like Madagascar, Colombia and Tanzania. Everything is made in small batches using only natural ingredients in a little workshop in the village of Newton St Loe. What makes the Bath Farmers’ Market so special?

It’s always had a cosy, community feel to it with regular customers coming week in, week out. New customers might want to learn about the provenance of the food they’re buying while old customers might just want to chat about their week and catch up with ours. Over the last year that aspect of community and togetherness has come to mean so much more. Often we’ve been the only outlet for people who otherwise would see no one all week, so the people we see become friends as well as customers. JANIFA BERRIDGE, chef for Janifa’s Kitchen; Weekly, Bath Farmers’ Market; Instagram @janifaskitchen How did the Farmers’ Market help launch Janifa’s Kitchen?

I’ve been a plant-based chef and cookery teacher, specialising in world flavours for over 20 years and a devoted customer of Bath Farmers’

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STREET LIFE

above: Tim and Noot Fowler serve up delicious authentic Thai food fresh every single week; inset: A beautiful bunch of blooms from The Painted Flower

TIM FOWLER and NOOT FOWLER, owners of Thai Hut; Wednesday – Saturday; Instagram @thaihutbath

How did you come to start the Thai Hut?

MIKE FLANDERS, owner of Glastonbury Ferments; Weekly, Bath Farmers’ Market; www.glastonburyferments.co.uk What is Glastonbury Ferments?

Glastonbury Ferments personally make and sell healthy fermented food and drinks. Live, raw, unpasteurised, vegan – sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and fresh spouted seeds. What has it been like at the Farmers’ Market since the pandemic hit?

The dedication of the management team at the market to ensure trading continued throughout Covid-19 restrictions and the problems with the roof, ensuring small business traders could continue to work and more importantly to earn, is invaluable and very much appreciated. It’d been a very anxious time for many of us when we were not able to receive any help from the government support schemes. We were only able to survive as a business (and individuals) due to the commitment of the team, and most importantly the continued total loyalty of fantastic customers returning to us week after week. PAT LIM, owner of Goulash; Daily; www.goulashbath.co.uk

What do you do?

We sell goulash, made daily with fresh ingredients like organic beef, free-range chicken or a vegetarian option. We cook our goulash over five-to-six hours for the flavours to naturally come out. We serve our goulash with mash or rice but we also do wraps, pittas, Hirata buns, baps and paninis, with sides of grilled corn, halloumi cheese, herb salads and bone broth.

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We spent a lot of time living and travelling in Asia where we enjoyed all kinds of amazing street food. We opened the Thai Hut in 2013 with a shared vision to bring quick, delicious, affordable food to the people of Bath. What are your favourite dishes?

Our top selling dishes are chicken pad Thai noodles and duck panang curry, and of course our chicken skewers. Many of our customers have their own particular favourites... honey sesame chicken is always popular. KAROLINE ZUBALIKOVA and MICHAL KUBIK, owners of The Honey Hut; Daily; Instagram @thehoneyhutbath How did The Honey Hut come to be?

In first lockdown we were thinking what to do with our future. We both love our cakes and working with people. We have hospitality background and we came with the idea of Honey Hut. We’re a small family café/bakery focusing on a mixture of traditional and new traybakes and cakes inspired by every corner of the world. MARK BRINKWORTH and VANDA BRINKWORTH; Tuesday – Saturday; www.tunleyfarmbutchers.co.uk Tell us about yourselves

We’re an independent, family-run business based at Tunley Farm on south west fringe of Bath with a shop in Green Park Station that opened in August. We specialise in locally-reared meat and poultry, which we source as locally as possible, for example our free-range poultry is reared for us at Terry Hill Farm, Radstock, whilst our grass-fed lamb is reared in Timsbury. We also stock locally produced delicacies such as honey, rapeseed oils, apple juice, eggs, cheeses, cooked meats and an interesting range of gifts. REBECCA SAGE, owner of The Painted Flower; Wednesday – Saturday, and most Sundays; www.thepaintedflowerbath.com Who are you?

I have been at Green Park Station for 16 years. As well as being a florist I studied Fine Art, which I use by when I’m creating dried flower installations and work with re-used objects. I also specialise in wedding flowers. n

Producing only the finest architectural joinery, furniture and kitchens. T: 01225 459247 | M: 07896 809349 clayton@claytondavidson.co.uk | www.claytondavidson.co.uk

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

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

SWIM CLASS

For 40 years the Maryan Mehlhorn brand has been setting the aesthetic design standards for swimwear with its signature sharp-cut looks, invisible sculpturing and asymmetrical shape. But never at the cost of comfort as each piece is created with a ‘technical soul’. The Copernica range is a fresh white, while the lurex thread in warm, metallic copper gives it that certain sparkle that radiates far into the atmosphere. We’re using ours in garden paddling pools for now, with its out of home debut due when the Cleveland Pools (as seen on our cover) open next year. Maryan Mehlhorn Copernica swimsuit, £205, available from The Dressing Room, 7 Quiet Street, Bath; www.dressingroombath.com

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COMPILED BY ELEANOR DUKE

KITE BY REX LONDON, £9.50 A traditional kite features yellow, red, green and blue colours, with decorative bow trail and makes for easy blue-sky ﬂying on those summer breezes. From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

IT’S A SHORE THING

ILSE JACOBSEN CHEERFUL GLITTER FLIP FLOPS, £25 Gorgeous ﬂip ﬂops decorated in glitter with a comfortable embossed sole with signature logo detail, and rounded toe posts. Come in a range of zesty and funky shades including pink, blue, lime, orange, grey, and green. From Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk

Maybe we cannot go to Cannes but we can be summertime beach ready on our home turf

1388 LIMITED EDITION SQUARE SUNGLASSES IN GRACE WHITE, £395 A modern take on one of Tony’s Gross’s favourite frames, the 0864 which was inspired by the streetwear styles he encountered on his frequent trips to New York in the late 70’s and early 80s. The limited edition means only 250 units are available, and each pair will be uniquely numbered. From Cutler and Gross, 9 Bridge street, Bath; www.cutlerandgross.com

KIEHL’S ACTIVATED SUN PROTECTOR SUNSCREEN SPF50, £30 With a water-resistant formula, with UV-ﬁlter technology and vitamin E, that absorbs quickly and easily into skin, leaving it feeling soft, comfortable, and protected. From Kiehl’s 1 Milsom Street, Bath; www.kiehls.com

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AFRO ART ELSA BASKET BAG IN NATURAL, £35 The Elsa Basket Bag from Afro Art has been crafted from the Hogla plant that mainly grows along the banks of rivers and canals in the forest Sundarbans in Bangladesh. From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE CHOCOLATE ICE LOLLIES, £15 Four retro ice lollies – Fab, rocket lolly, twister and strawberry Mivvi – all handmade by the Rode chocolatiers using milk and white Belgian chocolate. From Choc on Choc; www.choconchoc.co.uk

SOMA GLASS WATER BOTTLE, £25 Made from sustainable sources, including the natural bamboo leak-proof cap, the Soma water features an easygrip, protective silicone sleeve, a stable base and a wider mouth to ﬁt ice cubes. From Vinegar Hill, 16 Milsom Street, Bath; www.vinegarhill.co.uk

OUT TO SEA BEACH TOWEL, £42 Crafted from luxuriously soft cotton velour, this towel is a must-have essential for beach trips and pool days. From Anthropologie, 1-4 New Bond Street, Bath; www.anthropologie.com

MUEHLBAUER JOLANTHE HAT, £170 A lightweight, robust, and cloche-like shape, inspired by a classic wide-brimmed straw hat, that can be easily rolled and folded into bags for packing and days out. From TOAST Bath, 7 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.toa.st

BEACH READ BY EMILY HENRY, £7.99 A New York Times Bestseller of 2020 – January is a hopeless romantic who narrates her life like she’s the lead in a blockbuster movie. Gus is a serious literary type who thinks true love is a fairy-tale. And they both need to write bestsellers before summer ends. From Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath, The Paragon, Bath; www.toppingbooks.co.uk

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COLOUR PALETTES

Nick Woodhouse chats to painter Bella Hoare about her cottage garden in Gasper Stourton

hen painter Bella Hoare moved from Moscow to Gasper Cottage with husband and author Johnnie Gallop in 2000, there was plenty to keep them occupied. The house hadn’t been touched for forty years, and there was no discernible garden. Bella was back home however, in the Wiltshire hamlet of Gasper and nearby Stourton, home to her family for generations. Two decades on from their move, Bella is preparing for this year’s opening of the garden to the public on 15 August as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS). I catch her in her studio for our interview, the bookshelf groaning under the weight of gardening books, the paint on Bella’s canvases waiting to dry before the next layer is applied.

years have involved converting large swathes of rough grass, driveway, and lawn to thematic planting. This has been enormously satisfying. For you and visitors alike! Tell us a bit about what we might see on your open day.

Well, the garden at front of the house is classic cottage garden romance, lots of soft pinks, mauves and whites, spring-flowering honesty and Hesperis matronalis giving way to fluffy delphiniums whose space, once cut back, is then taken over by a sea of cosmos, dahlias, and range of classic annuals. The gardens to the east of the house offer a completely different environment, where a small copse of silver birch (a nod to our Russian experience) creates a shady area filled with treats like Digitalis lutea and other shade lovers. There is then a choice of heading out into the wildflower-filled orchard and a small wildlife pond, or following a mown grass path between large areas of purple-themed planting. Behind our old brick barn is the ‘secret garden’ – the planting here is a contemporary mix of classic perennials such as peonies, daylilies and dahlias, with grasses and shrubs like Euphorbia mellifera for form and foliage colour. My studio stands in the corner of the garden meaning that, as I work, I am surrounded by the buzzing of bees and the sights and scents of the garden.

“The front garden is classic cottage garden romance, lots of soft pinks, mauves and whites” Have you always been greenfingered Bella?

My mum had always been a keen and talented gardener – however until I had a garden of my own (and Gasper Cottage is my first garden) I had not been that interested. Her advice when I first started was invaluable as I hardly knew which way up to plant a bare root rose! Was it difficult to know where to start on the gardens at Gasper Cottage then?

The garden has evolved over the years, as I have progressed from zero knowledge and little time, to having more time, a great gardener in Jack Clutterbuck, and a growing amount of knowledge from voracious reading and advice from family and friends. In about 2005 I introduced several bits of yew hedging – to break up the garden slightly without creating separate garden rooms. Changes in the last few

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Plenty to explore on the open days then! Have you taken inspiration for these spaces from any particular sources?

Every time I explore another garden I tend to come away with new ideas. Hidcote’s streamside planting and the amazing ways of training roses seen at Kiftsgate are just the two most recent inspirations. I have also created my ‘Oudolferrie’; the design ethos of Piet Oudolf is fascinating, in his use of perennials in matrices with a focus on the form of a plant above and beyond its flower colour. The challenge I had was that all his designs are laid out on dead flat surfaces, while I was dealing with

a steep slope. I have ended up with rivers of perennials filling the bank between the secret garden and the model railway. The latter tends to be a favourite with husbands that have been dragged along by plant-mad wives! My husband runs steam trains all day when we are open, and fields technical questions on gauges, types of fuel, and the history of steam trains. Sounds like there is something for everyone. Are you excited about opening to the public again?

It is pretty nerve-racking, opening the garden to a discerning audience, particularly when some parts of the garden are still immature. However, the feedback has been universally positive and the NGS generates wonderful donations for excellent nursing charities. The whole NGS process gives a huge amount of pleasure to many people. I certainly know how much I like visiting other people’s gardens. And when you are in the garden, and the visitors have left for the day, where might you be found?

My favourite bit is wherever I can sit and drink a mug of tea! As the sunlight moves around over the course of a day I may, in winter, be looking for a sheltered spot in out of the biting east wind, or, in the summer, some cool shade. At any time of year, the view from my garden across towards the back of the famous Stourhead Gardens is fabulous and anchors my garden in the wider landscape. The gardens of Gasper Cottage, Gasper Stourton BA12 6PY will be open to the public on 15 August between 11am – 5pm, as part of the National Garden Scheme For more: www.ngs.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

GARDENS

ALL IMAGES BY BELL A HOARE

clockwise, from above: Painter Bella Hoare moved from Moscow to Gasper Cottage in 2000; the garden will be open to the public on 15 August as part of the National Garden Scheme; The garden has evolved over the years; changes have included converting large swathes of rough grass, driveway, and lawn to thematic planting

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BATHWORKS

Grab those coveted finalists’ tickets for the big night

Catch them while you can

Tickets to this year’s Bath Life Awards are now live

The Steers McGillan Eves Design team celebrated their win in style

The Bath Life Awards celebrates the best of Bath’s businesses, from professional services to cafés, retail to charity

TESTIMONIAL

“We were absolutely delighted and drank far too much Prosecco – and then far too many cocktails at the afterparty!” Chloe Steers, director of Steers McGillan Eves, Creative Winner 2020

ickets to Bath’s ultimate night out are on sale now. Due to exceptional demand, they’re available only to finalists. That means one thing: it’s time to start planning your outfit, your acceptance speech, your perfect, Taylor Swift-style ‘surprised’ pout for the cameras when you hear your name announced. For a lot of us, it’ll be the first big night out in well over a year, so plan to make the most of the experience. The Assembly Rooms will be kitted out to the nines (including red carpet), Prosecco will flow and mischief

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact annie.kelly@ mediaclash.co.uk or pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk TICKETS See social media for updates. Limited number of silver

will occur – though hopefully no unfortunate chandelier incidents (if you know, you know). Finalists received a unique booking link to claim tickets, so please check your email for those. If you fear the link has gone astray, let annie.miekus@mediaclash.co.uk know. The Awards sell out every year without fail, so tickets are initially capped at two per finalist to give everyone the opportunity to represent their business, but there’s a waiting list for any rare leftovers you can add yourself to, à la Steers McGillan Eves (pictured on the left having way too much fun). We can’t wait to see you there. For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

sponsorships, which include a table at the Awards. Please note: we sell out every year with many on the waiting list. AWARDS The uberglam Bath Life Awards will be held in the Bath Assembly Rooms on

9 September 2021. Nothing beats being there… SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on @bathlifeawards Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates.

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#BATH TOGETHER GREG INGHAM

You get the idea

Finding inspiration through entrepreneurialism

he reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man,” said George Bernard Shaw. Entrepreneurs see the world differently. There’s always something out there to be created that’s smarter, faster, more useful, cooler, slicker, cheaper, easier, more integrated, which anticipates needs or builds on trends, something which is somehow, in some way better… Entrepreneurs are driven souls, obsessives even; always testing themselves, pushing, leading, evangelising, giving it a go, iterating and determinedly traversing the divide between theory and practice. And entrepreneurs also tend

to be narrow-but-deep. Often great at their specialism, but perhaps in need of help with the managerial, legal and financial aspects of building a team and business while being open to collaboration and partnerships. As one wise speaker said, “every entrepreneur should engage early with advisers on the technicalities of business structure.” Those were some of the tenets behind EntreConf. There is a rich, endless stream of ideas and much to explore in entrepreneurialism, from mindset onwards. There’s also a clear need to bring companies together. At the heart of EntreConf were two phrases. “What if..?” and “The future is unwritten”. As well as the zeal and vision, curiosity and resilience, creativity and passion, it’s the sheer unalloyed optimism of entrepreneurs that attracts. They create. Ideas gushed forth from these imagineers over a marathon

“We’ve all had to adapt and act like entrepreneurs” 64 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

brain spa thoughtfest of seven and a half hours. (Don’t worry: each 10–30-minute Keynote, Insights piece, Panel Session or EntreNous can be watched separately on YouTube. Search for EntreConf Channel and you’ll see.) Stimulations and provocations abounded; partnerships were triggered; people were inspired; disparate sectors were brought together; business was done; apparent dualities of academia and commerce were unified; and the extraordinary entrepreneurialism of this region was celebrated. What had also emerged between the planning for EntreConf in the spring and the practice of the summer is that this pandemic has made entrepreneurs of pretty much all businesses. Consider: old rules gone, pulled from under us. How we work, why we work, how and where teams work, routes to market, even whole sectors, products and services: all changed, changed utterly as the terrible beauty of the new world unfolded. It was blank sheet of paper time for many; and still is. So even in the most established of businesses with the greyest of leaders, we’ve all had to adapt and act like entrepreneurs. We’ve all been stress-tested as

never before – personally and professionally, in all forms of relationships. Like a Rorschach test of personality, that blank sheet of paper reveals much. For some, that is terrifying, frankly. For others, this has been a proving time of: unwished for perhaps, and markedly complicated to do live in real time with an existing team and business – but potentially so beneficial, so stimulating. This has been our 18 months of prompted entrepreneurialism. And we all have much to learn from entrepreneurs. EntreConf will be returning next summer. There’ll be a dinner for entrepreneurs and advisers this autumn. Meantime the site is building as a repository of inspirational talks and useful presentations. For more: www.entreconf.com

Greg Ingham was a journalist back in the day and runs MediaClash jointly with Jane Ingham. He chairs Creative Bath, and can be found @gregingh

mba.bath.ac.uk

BATHWORKS

WISE WORDS FROM ENTRECONF “A key part of the entrepreneurial mindset is to persuade people to come along on the journey. There has to be fun, excitement, intrigue, communication of the dream, and just how amazing the world would be should this idea be brought to life.” Chris Anderson, TED Conferences “The fact we need to tackle the climate crisis has been brought about in the mainstream recently, and the pandemic has alerted us to a sense that we need to up and focus on it in much the same way; there won’t be any social distancing measures for Climate Change for one!” Dale Vince, green entrepreneur “There are 7bn people in the world. If there’s a one in a million chance something might happen, that’s 7k people with a chance, so why not you?” Ann Hiatt, former Google chief of staff “As entrepreneurs, you need to sell the positive What Ifs... and always try to negate the negative ones. There are so many technologies and new ideas that are making big concepts possible; it’s vital to think big and constantly challenge.” Richard Godfrey, Rocketmakers “Dream.” Chris Anderson.

‘‘

clockwise from top left: Ann Hiatt, former chief of staff at Google, now consultant and strategist;

Dale Vince, green entrepreneur, owner of Ecotricity; a still from the live EntreConf event; Chris Anderson, owner and curator of the TED Conferences

Creative by nature Get inspired with EntreConf, a major new conference for local entrepreneurs held in July

nvent, disrupt, collaborate: such was the mood at July’s EntreConf, the new conference for entreprenuers and business thinkers organised by MediaClash. The aim of the new conference, which drew in listeners from Bath and beyond, was to inspire new businesses, start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs with powerful new thinking from everyone – whether from scrappy start-ups or longtime experts in the financial, legal and management fields. Bath has always been a creative, entrepreneurial city, and both traits were accelerated by the pandemic, which saw new businesses popping up all over town. EntreConf, hosted by Greg Ingham (CEO, MediaClash) and Kalpna Woolf (former head of Factual TV Production at the BBC) featured a remarkable trio of keynote speakers: Ann Hiatt, the former chief of staff at Google, who told the story of the seemingly gloomy beginnings of her career – she graduated into the dotcom

crash in 2001 when based in Seattle – which soon turned into a life-changing opportunity at Amazon, where she worked with Jeff Bezos. Her inspirational talk was about seizing opportunities. Chris Anderson, the owner of the TED Conferences, spoke about his career, from founding the media company Future in the UK, to selling it, and using the proceeds to start what became Future US. He also shared the story behind the most innovative step of his career: taking TED talks – previously heard only at an exclusive event with a hefty price tag – and posting videos of them online for free, a move that earned the company the place in thought leadership it has today. Dale Vince, owner of Ecotricity and vegan-friendly Forest Green Rovers and executive producer of Netflix doc Seaspiracy also offered a keynote in his inimitable style. Dale provided an example of how to create a successful career with a non-conventional approach – a former traveller, he shunned the traditional roadmap to success and instead followed his passion for saving the planet. It turned out to be a good strategy, and he

went from radical outsider to Climate Champion for the UN, not to mention one of the leading green entrepreneurs in the country. Drive was the uniting theme of the day, from discussions about funding (with a few impromptu pitches thrown in), wellbeing and legal and financial concerns, to innovative smart thinking – including one pitch for an entirely new model of thought, Kinetic Thinking, from University of Bath professor of entrepreneurship and innovation Dimo Dimov (catch up on the EntreConf YouTube channel to learn what that’s all about.) It was an inspiring day, with innovation at its core, not to mention a whole host of actionable, helpful information for businesses big and small. All videos from the day are on the EntreConf YouTube channel, with all the presentations on the website. There’ll be an EntreConf dinner for entrepreneurs in the autumn, head of EntreConf ’s return next summer. For more: www.entreconf.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 67

FINALIST

THE RANCH HOUSE & COTTAGE

£2 million

Matthew Leonard Director

Lucy McIlroy Director

Denise Latham Lettings Manager

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

Architecture above: STH BNK

By Beulah will create the world’s tallest vertical garden right: The green skyscraper will help produce oxygen and filter dust and pollutants from the air; below: Keith French, director at Grant Associates, the Bath landscape architects working on Melbourne project

Xxxxx

ON THE RISE DOWN UNDER

Bath-based landscape architects to help design a groundbreaking new Melbourne project The architecture practice Grant Associates, who have offices in Bath and Singapore, are the landscape architects for a groundbreaking new Melbourne project. The unprecedented vertical garden city by Beulah Developments’, South Bank By Beulah (STH BNK), will be centred on the planted vertical facades and outdoor spaces that will create the world’s tallest vertical garden, stretching from the street level to the top of both towers. The towers, via a series of outdoor spaces and green devices, will pay homage to Victoria, known as the Garden State, symbolically bridging the Royal Botanic Gardens with Melbourne’s Arts Precinct. The STH BNK By Beulah project will include five distinct collections of private residences, public and green spaces, a rooftop sky garden, town hall, commercial offices, a six-star urban resort, childcare centre, a health and wellness precinct, arts and culture spaces and programs, as well as world-class experiential retail, all within two twisting terraced forms. It will also include the Future Sky Garden, an expansive and usable conservatory space at the top of the tallest tower, while extended planted terraces will characterise the facing facades of the two towers as they twist towards each other, connecting people to nature and encouraging healthy city living. Keith French, director at Grant Associates, says, “STH BNK by Beulah is a pioneering project and delivering such a complex piece of integrated greening and place making in Melbourne, it is only possible through a collaborative approach and the collective efforts of many disciplines and specialists. We are really pleased to be working in close partnership with international design practice ASPECT Studios on this incredible project that brings nature and biophilic design to the forefront.” For more: www.grant-associates.uk.com

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PROPERTY NEWS

Conservation

Urgent repair work is due to start on Beckford’s Tower

TOWER OF STRENGTH Bath Preservation Trust has appointed architects Thomas Ford & Partners and Bath-based quantity surveyors Stenning & Co to lead the design work for the £3.3 million Beckford’s Tower project, which is named ‘Our Tower’ . The Our Tower plan, that is funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will address the urgent repair and conservation works required to the almost 200-year-old Grade I listed structure and is scheduled to complete in winter 2023. Beckford’s Tower stands in an exposed location and, like many historic buildings, almost two centuries of exposure to weather, pollution, and the challenges of climate change, now threaten the fabric of the building. There is a particular need to address water ingress at high level within the belvedere and lantern. Beckford’s Tower was added to the Historic England ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register in October 2019. Adrian Stenning of Stenning & Co says, “I am very pleased to continue my relationship with the Bath Preservation Trust and in particular Beckford’s Tower with which I have been involved for over 20 years. I look forward to this opportunity to not just repair the Tower, but to also open up and show its story for a wider audience.” For more: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk

Hospitality

The former Garfunkels restaurant on Grand Parade, which overlooks Pulteney Weir, and has been closed for more than two years, is set to reopen in 2022 as a pub. It will be run by The Restaurant Group who own more than 650 restaurants and pub restaurants, including Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito, and Brunning & Price. The Grade II-listed, six storey high building, was built in 1901 from Bath stone, and was originally the Empire Hotel. During World War II it was used by the Admiralty as a postal sorting office and remained in their possession until the 1990s. It was then refurbished and became apartments and a restaurant. For more: www.trgplc.com

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The Grade II-listed, six storey high building was built in 1901

A NEW WATERING HOLE

ST JAMES SQUARE A carefully curated home where colour is king By Matilda Walton Photos by Inigo

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

PROPERTY

s a result of the Instagramfuelled modern aesthetic, you see a lot of houses with crisp, white interiors. The neutral palate dominates, and while there is nothing wrong with a Scandistyle interior, its ubiquitous appearance does mean that when a house doing things a little differently appears on the market – you sit up and take notice. The Grade-I listed, five-bedroom townhouse currently for sale on St James Square is just such a property. The vibrant pops of colour set within classic Georgian proportions just holler character. Back in 1840, Charles Dickens made St James Square his home for a time – and though this was not his property, one can’t help but imagine him creating his next great work

in such stylish and eclectic surrounds. The well curated colour scheme and thoughtful finish hum with creativity – it’s an exciting space for a new owner to take on and make their own. The entire house has been converted with exceptional attention to detail, perhaps most notably on the lower-ground floor: dedicated almost entirely to the preparation for and action of eating. The kitchen is utterly gorgeous all on its own. Lit by the soft rays of sunlight that glow through a pair of timber-framed sash windows, it is the epitome of the house’s mission statement of contemporary chic meets Georgian excellence. Flagstone floors stretch into fabulous green hand-crafted cabinetry, accented by elegant gold handles. It all frames a large Aga, which serves as heart and soul of the room. If the space itself wasn’t enough to make you turn chef, then the expansive pantries (spacious cupboard and walk-in) will. This floor also houses the breakfast room and dining room, which is decorated with opulent teal panels exquisitely paired with exposed stone walls and parquet floor. With this dining room and the five bedrooms and two reception rooms on the subsequent floors, this is a home made for hosting.

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PROPERTY

Location-wise, St James Square is an utter dream. The 45-strong square built by John Palmer (other notable projects include Lansdown Crescent and Shockerwick House in Bathford) sits a stone’s throw from the iconic Circus and Royal Crescent, but its relatively tucked-away location offers privacy and quiet not available in the tourist hotspots. There is no sacrifice for convenience however – the city centre is a 10-minute walk and close by the square you’ll find a delicatessen, newsagent, green grocer and florist. It doesn’t lack for outdoor space, either. As well as the exclusive shared communal gardens at the centre of St James Square – a central meeting point for the little community where residents host events from time to time – it has its own private walled garden at the rear. Thoughtfully designed, it is framed by herbaceous beds that offer a satisfying splash of colour in every season, and a raised stone terrace for enjoying the sunshine over a glass of something sparkling. It’s an impressive property, exquisitely realised and ready for a new creative soul to call home.

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

HOUSE NUMBERS Price £2.75m Square foot Bedrooms

4,230 5

Bathrooms 5 For more: INIGO; www.inigo.com

NEW BUILDS

ON THE MOVE Lydia Tewkesbury discovers the unique appeal of a new build

he demand for new builds is evergreen. Following a dip in the number of new homes registered during the first year of the pandemic, in 2021 the sector has bounced back, with the National House Building Council (NHBC) recording a 10 per cent increase in homes registered by builders in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same time last year. Much like the rest of the market: sales are booming. Here, Bath’s experts get into why new build homes hold such universal appeal.

THE BLANK CANVAS

The reasons to opt for a new build property are many, but convenience is top of the list. “A new home is a blank canvas with fresh tiling, paintwork, kitchens and bathrooms,” says Darren Dancey, managing director for Partnerships South West at Countryside. “This means there should be very little, if anything, you need to do to it apart from furnishing and personalising it. You can simply unpack your belongings and start enjoying your new home.” There’s a financial benefit to this too, of course. Following the move, there’s no further budget required for updating a dodgy bathroom, or surprise structural problems that only become apparent a few months in. “One of the best things about new build homes is that they are tailor-made for the way we live now, so you can move in and start living without making any alterations,” agrees Vicky Dudbridge, director of Savills residential development sales.

THE COST FACTOR

Buying a new build property will save you money in the long run, freeing up your budget for savings – or perhaps some of the holidays we’ve missed out on the last 18 months. “The technology behind the insulation, sound proofing and heating are bang up to date, so your home is more efficient, less expensive to run and with lower maintenance requirements,” says Jon Morgan, director of Juniper Homes. “As a new homeowner you will have the peace of mind of a 10-year insurance backed structural warranty as well as any minor snagging problems dealt with over the first year, and you will not need to spend any money on your property for several years, unless you want to.”

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Holburne Park is a new development of Georgian-style terraced houses, villas and apartments, for sale with Savills

“They are tailor-made for the way we live now ”

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NEW BUILDS

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

Buying a new build home also gives the opportunity to buy ‘off plan’ – this means, simply, purchasing the place before it’s been built. While there are certainly risks that come with this approach, there are benefits too. “Buying off-plan is an increasingly popular way to purchase a new build home and there are certain advantages to doing so,” says Vicky at Savills. “If you buy early enough in the build programme you can choose your ideal plot and the house type that best suits your lifestyle – plus you may even get the opportunity to personalise some of the interiors.” Buying early in the process means you get the pick of the prime locations too – the perfect spot for your lifestyle.

PREPARATION IS KEY

It’s easy enough to avoid the pitfalls of buying off plan by being prepared and doing your research first. “At Countryside, we create places people love and this is at the heart of our business, so we believe buyers should look at the location, the environment and facilities around the development they are considering in the round,” says Darren. “Thinking about some of the practical implications is very important. Is the development well connected via road and public transport? Are there schools or shops nearby? Then look at the options available at the properties themselves.” Robin Squire, regional MD of Acorn Property Group’s Bristol Region, agrees it’s vital to consider the way your day-to-day functions for a successful off-plan purchase. He says, “Buyers should look for a home that suits the way they like to live – I would always want a south-facing garden for example. An open plan design really suits some lifestyles, but maybe not others. Obviously finding the perfect home is difficult, some may say impossible, but be clear what is important to you as a buyer.” It’s also important to get to know the track record of the developer, and the feel and quality of their previous work. Understand their processes, so you can feel sure that any issues that might arise will be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

“They are well connected and thoughtfully designed communities” 82 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

top: Sulis Down is Countryside’s first South West development; above: The Old Printworks, Frome from Acorn Property Group

“It is important to ensure there is a suitable 10-year warranty that has been approved by the council of mortgage lenders. This will protect you once the property is complete should any remedial work be required,” Vicky advises.

IN DEMAND

Building, like many sectors, took a hit during the pandemic. But the sector quickly bounced back, and, according to Darren Dancey at Countryside, there’s always demand. “Home ownership is a high priority for many and the flexibility in design, interior design and range of incentives makes new builds both attractive and accessible for first time buyers, second steppers and families. “Buyers are also recognising that new build homes are no longer being created in isolation; they are well connected and thoughtfully designed communities featuring high-quality design in keeping with the local area, mature landscaping and amenities – the key ingredients behind a sustainable community.” Lucy McIlroy, owner of Winkworth Bath puts the continued demand down to the buyer: these days, people simply know what they want. “Buyers are very aware of their personal responsibility in keeping a low carbon footprint, so having a house that uses less energy is extremely attractive,” she says. “The layouts are designed for how we live today, with features such as family open-plan kitchen/ living space and study spaces with plenty of power points and internet cabling. New builds are low maintenance and offer a great housework/ life balance. “As well as saving money on bills, there are often government schemes such as help to buy or discounted units for first time buyers.”

NEW BUILDS

above: The Old Printworks is a collection of 2,3 and 4 bedroom homes on the former Butler, Tanner and Dennis site in Frome; right: Juniper Homes’ stylish Belvedere House

SUSTAINABILITY STARTS AT HOME

“There has been more consumer interest the green credentials of homes in recent years, with just under 50 per cent of buyers surveyed by Savills last year saying it had become more important to them,” says Vicky. “There is also real momentum in the industry to build homes that are more sustainable, using modern building methods and rigorous testing.” Sustainability isn’t a trend so much as a necessity, so it’s important to ask during the process: what are the developer’s sustainability goals? At Countryside, for example, they work to 25 key targets encompassing three areas: operations and the homes they build, communities and people. These goals include everything from affordable housing, to construction, to amenities and community initiatives. Materials are a vital consideration too. Acorn Property Group takes what it calls a ‘fabric first’ approach. Regional MD Robin explains, “Our bespoke design process allows us to look at each build individually, to consider the position of the building, taking into account the amount and type of glazing and insulation needed.” But also as, Juniper’s Jon Morgan points out, sustainability doesn’t stop at insulation and energy efficiency. “Buyer wellbeing is something we have considered for a while for all our schemes, choosing the locations with care for transport links, maximising the efficiency of space, light, and access to outdoor space – the importance of which has been highlighted since the pandemic.” “The health benefits of spending more time outside are becoming more apparent, both from a physical and mental health perspective, and the pandemic has put a spotlight on this,” Robin agrees. “We design our homes with as much outdoor space as possible – be it communal or private – and will continue to put this at the forefront of our designs.” n

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Darren Dancey, managing director for Partnerships South West, Countryside; First Floor, H2 Harlequin, Emerson Green, Bristol, BS16 7FN; www.countrysideproperties.com Jon Morgan, director of Juniper Homes; www.juniperhomes.co.uk Lucy McIlroy, owner of Winkworth Bath; 14 Argyle Street, Bath; www.winkworth.co.uk Vicky Dudbridge, director, Savills residential development sales; Savills Bath, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath; www.savills.co.uk Robin Squire, regional MD of Acorn Property Group’s Bristol Region; 50 Clifton Down Road, Clifton, Bristol; www.acornpropertygroup.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 83

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“I was 21 years old and living the dream”

CAMERON JENKINS The record producer, record label owner, and audio consultant on Mick Jagger, loving Bath, and the time he came home with a pint of milk and a grand piano Cameron’s production, engineering, song writing and musician credits include albums by The Verve, The Charlatans, Everything But The Girl, Lemon Jelly, Badly Drawn Boy, Denys Baptiste, Anita Lipnicka and Amaral. He has been nominated for two Mercury Prizes, a Latin Grammy, a BRIT award and a MOBO. I grew up in Swansea, one of five boys, all of whom were into

music. I was surrounded by Roxy Music, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, The Beatles, Miles Davis. I started playing the piano at five, then the flute at nine, and later the saxophone. I was very much classically trained and a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. All I wanted to do

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

was music and I was often getting into trouble for missing school lessons to go and practice. On one report the religious studies teacher wrote, “Who is this boy?”. I had managed to miss an entire year of his lessons. My first job was with Sade’s producer Robin Millar who

owned Powerplant Studios as an assistant engineer. I was essentially the tea boy but I totally fell in love with the recording studio and learnt to engineer by watching and experimenting. I ended up working with The Rolling Stones, Terence Trent D’Arby, Randy Crawford and

Erasure and also played keyboards and sax on albums by Aztec Camera, Sam Brown, The Fine Young Cannibals and Black. It was an absolutely fantastic time

and huge fun – I was 21 years old and living the dream, with a lot of lessons learnt. One was about fame. There were artists at the beginning of their careers, who’d had a little bit of success, but for whom it had completely gone to their heads. They were always a nightmare. Working with Mick Jagger was great. He walked into the room,

looked around, clocked that I was the tape-op, the lowliest person in the room, immediately came over to me, shook my hand and said “Hi, I’m Mick”. He wanted to put everyone at ease as quickly as possible. Later that evening we got sent a final mix from another studio for Mick’s approval. He stood behind the engineer listening to it really loud on the big main speakers and after 20 seconds he just ..well.. became Mick Jagger, dancing, pouting, doing the whole thing. Totally into the music. I’ve been very lucky to meet many inspirational people during my career. One who stands

out is John Cale of The Velvet Underground. I worked with him in 2003. He came into the studio like a whirlwind, turning on all the TVs, opening his laptop, four newspapers, three books, bombarding himself with information the entire time. Totally extreme in everything. I always hesitate to use the word ‘genius’, but he is a bona fide one.

I’ve been married to Carrie for over 30 years and have three

children – Holly 28, Tallulah 25 and Louis 20.

I produced an album at Real World Studios in Box 18 years ago, and fell in love with the area,

so we moved here from Cornwall. There’s a fantastic community of musicians, artists and producers round here.

Next to the main supermarket was a piano shop. We had run out of milk so I popped out to buy a pint. I thought I’ll just have a quick look in the piano shop and see what they had. Right at the front was a gorgeous Bechstein grand piano. I sat down, played a few notes and fell in love. There was no way I could afford it and I told the shop owner that when he came over to talk to me... However, he insisted on ‘loaning’ it to me for a fortnight

because he could see how much I liked it. I drove home with the pint of milk followed by a van with the Bechstein in it. It took a bit of explaining to Carrie. It was of course a brilliant sales ploy because I couldn’t part with it. We had to remortgage the house to buy it, but it’s still my favourite thing. My record label, Stranger Records, was the first home of

Lana Del Rey, Pixie Geldof and Charlotte OC, and released the debut album of Bath composer Charlie Jones.

I also have a company called Stranger High Fidelity that is a

bespoke hifi retail service where I bridge the gap between the recording of music in professional studios and its playback at home. It’s all about how to communicate music in the best possible way. Having spent a lifetime in control rooms of the great recording studios of the world I wanted to share that experience at home.

There is a new music format which some people are calling the biggest development in audio in 50 years, since

Louis, and regularly go to Twerton Park to watch Bath City

the advent of stereo. It is called Dolby Atmos, or ‘Spatial Audio’. Essentially you get the sensation of surround sound in your headphones. I have set up a studio with my old friend Steve Evans to remix and remaster in this new format. It’s very exciting. n

When we lived in Cornwall the nearest town was Camborne.

For more: www.strangerrecords.com

I’m a big football fan, as is my son