Bath Life – Issue 510

This issue, we’re looking at one of my favourite things –weddings. The first wedding I went to as a nearly grown-up guest was my friend’s sister’s wedding. They had cigarettes bunched in short vases next to crystal bowls holding books of matches, with doves on, for guests to help themselves. I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Looking at our expert-led wedding feature over on page 24, I’d say that particular table arrangement probably wouldn’t be a thing now. It’s all about thinking green and loving the planet, from recycled jewellery to biodegradable confetti, from locally sourced buffets to English wines – and there’s not a fag bouquet in sight.

Elsewhere we learn about the metamorphosis of a weaver’s cottage in Bradford on Avon to a beautifully luxe and stylish four bedroom home (as seen on our cover, and over on page 96). On page 68 we hear how Bruton went from being ‘just’ another pretty little Somerset town to a powerhouse of creativity, and we give thanks to the holier than thou At The Chapel, based in Bruton (page 66).

Also, in honour of St George’s Day, we’re celebrating the rose as home décor (page 53); our resident ‘in season’ columnist Verity Genco bigs up rocket salad (page 62); there’s a run down of just some of the impressive talent coming to the Bath Festival (page 48); and, over on page 39, we more learn about Mr Doodle (seen left), who has been doodling his way round the world and is soon headed to Bath to graffiti-scribble the walls of the Holburne Museum.

Enjoy!

SARAH MOOLLA

© LOUIS SMITH; WWW.STUDIOWHISK.CO.UK

Bridgerton HOLD ONTO YOUR BONNETS

…because the Ton is back!

Dearest gentle readers, the time has come for Bridgerton’s season three to descend upon us and we are compelled to share secrets of this next instalment of the recordbrea ing et i drama.

This time Lady Whistledown herself, aka Lady Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), is in the s otlight. The eight- art series, which utilises many parts of Bath as its backdrop, explores the thwarted love story (is there any other kind in Bridgerton?) between Penelope and Colin Bridgerton u e ewton . fter hearing him be little bit dastardly about her behind her back at the end of series two, enelo e is ignoring her crush. Keen to win back her friendship olin offers to hel her find a suitor.

Expect swoon-worthy candycoloured costumes, slow-burning steamy romance, and the hashtag #Polin to take over social media – plus, of course, glim ses of our beautiful city as an added e tra. The show will be split intotwo batches of four episodes, with part one premièring 16 May and art two arri ing a month later, on une. For more: www.netflix.com

Hugh Sachs, Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh

Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Simone Ashley, Will Tilston, Ruth Gemmell, Jonathan Bailey and Florence Hunt

Nicola Coughlan

ALL PHOTOS © NETFLIX

James Phoon, Bessie Carter, Harriet Cains, Lorn Macdonald and Nicola Coughlan

Ruth Gemmell, Hannah Dodd and Florence Hunt

Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey

James Bryan, Martins Imhangbe, Ariella Warburton, Emma Naomi and Elias Amos

SPOTLIGHT

WET, WET, WET

Despite brollies and April showers, Bath still shines

@mraffka

@pretty little bath

@adam_a_wilxpix

@dunkablebath

@damlynes

@urban_m0nk

@sksnaps_

@chloemoore_photography

@asmasamsam

SCENE

THE LATEST ADVENTURES IN PARTY-GOING ACROSS BATH

THE RIGHT NOTE

When Flute held its eagerly anticipated opening launch night, more than 120 people attended; all were eager to check out the new Edgar Buildings seafood café and bar. Hosted by owner Roger Payne, the assembled guests sampled a whole range of delicious canapés, including mini salmon wa es, curried marinated cauli ower, oysters and edgeree arancini, washed down with signature Flute cocktails such as the Smirk & Bubble, made with Briottet melon cassis,

apricot and prosecco.

Photos by Jon Craig Instagram: joncraig_photos

The restaurant’s gorgeous Edgar Buildings home Eloise Templar and Tracey Templar

Just some of the Flute team

Gaby Paxton, Matt Waving and Jack Scarterfield

Sarah Stokes-Hasell and Lesley Astley

Angela Grey, Gary Pollock, Paul Carr and Karen Jupe

Allan Lloyd, Sophie Hipwood and Jack King

Tim Stacey, Emma Stacey, Colin Jupe, Les Redwood, Jo Lord and Steve Parkhouse

Otis Turner, Dave Phillips, Richard Knighting, John White and Roger Payne

Leon Ma and Julianna Ma

COSTUME DRAMA

Queen Bee, Polly Nator and the Rococo Loco crew were in SouthGate over Mother’s Day weekend to surprise sho ers with bunches of owers in return for a suggested donation to the Nest Project. The charity provides free clothing, equipment and toiletries to children under the age of fi e in Bath and North East Somerset.

The event was a part of a programme of spring activities the city centre shopping area has lined up for the spring season.

www.southgatebath.com

ANIMAL MAGIC

Around 40 people attended the opening event to celebrate the launch of Bath Cats and Dogs Home’s fifth charity shop and e-commerce hub on George Street. Drinks and canapés were served while guests mingled and browsed the shop’s high-quality pre-loved items. Speeches were also delivered by Nathan Fuller, the charity’s head of fundraising and trading, CEO Rachel Jones, and Deborah Gogarty, chair of trustees.

LAUGHTER LINES

Bath Comedy Festival hosted the launch of its 2024 festival programme at the Francis Hotel on 7 March. More than 70 people attended to enjoy canapés and drinks with speeches from director Nick Steel, and associate directors Adrian Feeney and Ralph Oswick. The event, now in its 16th year, brings over 100 shows, over 250 performers including Helen Lederer, Emmanuel Sonubi, and Robin Ince, to 15 venues across the city, and finishes 21 April.

Nick Steel Allison Herbert and Alex Peters

Speech by Adrian Feeney

Richard Sheppard and Ralph Oswick

Photos by Kerrianne Gauld www.bathcomedy.com

Photos by Freia Turland; www.ftphotography.co.uk | www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk

Vicki Smith and Debbie Dellar Sophie Thurlow and Nathan Fuller

Deborah Gogarty, Nathan Fuller, Daniel Staniforth, Sophie Thurlow, Dominic Kerridge, Harry Coleman, Rachel Jones and Jasmine Dyer

Vanessa LeMaire and Rachel Jones

Phillippa Walker, Benice Hampton, and Dave Dixon

Mark Escott, Alice Escott and Kathryn Houldcroft

PHOTO BY LES REDWOOD

Being able to prepare your MTD returns, accounts and tax returns is a given for a professional rm.

But can your accountant help you make more money?

Does your accountant have experience working in your specialist eld?

Does your accountant give you answers or just more questions?

We are more than just your accountants; we are your complete business partners. Seven

DAVID FLATMAN

All over the place

It’s a quarterly update from the life of Flats

Afew potentially irrelevant u dates this wee , the first of which relates to that most cringey of contemporary phenomena: the motivational or supposedly perspectiveproviding Instagram quote. Who posts these wretched things? Well, I’m glad somebody posted one particular quote that I was served just before Christmas. It told me in a very deep, high-quality voice (think Morgan Freeman) that all the mess, all the household carnage caused by our children and their mates that frustrates us now will be among the things we miss most profoundly when said kids have disappeared to make their own lives. Much as I am loathe to admit it, this one actually made me think, and it has indeed adjusted my thinking on such matters. Yes, I still dislike carnage and yes, I still notice my

“If you’re one of the (very many) people who think it’s all a load of tosh, read a book or two on it”

I cannot risk it. Then again – like most people – I know almost nothing about modern medication and what it will or will not do for me. So an interesting call coming up. Also, if you’re one of the (very many) people who think it’s all a load of tosh, read a book or two on it. I was that guy, and now I am not. Get educated! Or don’t…

mood being improved by tidiness and calm and a modicum of order, but just this morning I was able to smile as I walked downstairs with our toddler at 7am to see piles of trainers and a uffer ac et and four bags and some chocolate bar wrappers all dumped out over the hall oor by a arliament of carefree teens. A messy old sight but, to be honest, I’m just glad they’re all here.

Next up, ADHD. In precisely 34 minutes ha e my final sychiatric assessment for ADHD. The truth is that I’m not terribly fussed about the diagnosis either way, I’m just interested and have convinced myself that I have it. I am told that medication will be suggested to me, but this is an option I may choose to avoid. The fear of dulling my speed of recall (and, dare I say it without sounding awful, wit – it’s all relative) at work when on television or stage is real, and I think

I would also like to use my position on this page to turn Bath Life into a posh version of FreeAds for a second. I need a garage for a car. It needs to be in central Bath and it needs to have a plug. No, I am not intending to charge an electric car on somebody else’s bill, I’m just getting a little tired of distracted school run mums and dads driving their vehicles into mine. It’s city living, I know, but it’s costing me a small fortune in repairs and paint jobs. Anyone got one I can rent? I’m an excellent tenant and will hardly let my dog Badger do a single wee in there.

Lastly, we’re going on holiday. If you do not have four children and have therefore not ‘had to’ book holidays for six peoplene er mind the ights, we need at least two rooms when we get there, with some places saying three! – please take a moment to count yourselves very lucky indeed. We will have a lovely time, I’m certain, but we might have to wait another year to have our sodden, mouldy vaults damp-proofed. Unless we have to go on holiday again, obviously.

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on witter i fl tm n n n t fl tm n

NICE DAY FOR A GREEN WEDDING

How to make your eco-celebration a sustainable happy ever after!

By John Mather

Since the beginning of time the essence of love has probably remained the same. Hand in hand with that, the core template for a wonderful wedding – a happy couple, sincere vows, funny speeches, delicious food, devil-maycare dancing – is pretty much resistant to change. But these days love is also about loving the planet and being kind to the earth, and maybe especially so on our wedding day. We’ve already ended our relationship with toxic accessories, such as ha ardous confetti and one-off fa ours, and we re mindful of im orted chea owers and carbon foot rint food. Our big day is about creating memories and trying not to generate waste. No-one is expecting an eco-friendly wedding to be zero-carbon, zero-waste, zero-fun – but there are lots of small, simple things you can do to reduce environmental impact and still have a happy ever after day, as our local wedding experts advise.

NO SINGLES, PLEASE

We know to minimise single-use plastics and disposables, and even the invites are getting the green makeover. E-vites work, of course, but are a little soulless, so recycled paper with the RSVP via text or email is the perfect compromise. Ellie Thorne, who has seen a lot of weddings in her time as registration officer with Bath and North East Somerset Registration Service, says she sees many more couples realising that small changes can make a big impact. “These have included decorating the ceremony room with bunting made of fabric offcuts, or lacing owers in u cycled am ars that guests brought as decorations to the ceremony. These can then be taken on to the reception afterwards.”

MAINIMAGE: Photographer Betty Bhandari suggests having the whole day under one roof to help minimise carbon footprints; ABOVE: Utilise old gold, is the advice of Wylde Jewellers

PHOTO BY BETTY BHANDARI PHOTOGRAPHY

THINK SMALL

Resist the pressure to go all out, advises Jo Lloyd, property associate of Rengen House, who specialise in events including weddings, while reminding us that a big day can actually be small. “There is an ongoing trend for pared-back, simple weddings. No longer is it assumed that couples must have a big, excessive event with hundreds of guests. Couples are now increasingly looking for a more personalised and intimate way to share the day with their loved ones. In addition to creating a more bespoke, less expensive wedding, the carbon footprint of smaller, multi-purpose venues will be much less than that of larger country properties, allowing newly weds to celebrate their nuptials in a more sustainable way.”

Photographer Betty Bhandari, who has shot over 200 weddings, suggests looking at a wedding venue that has it all in one place, to avoid the pressure, costs and carbon emissions of travelling. “Bailbrook House, The Pig near Bath and Folly Farm are all great examples of having everything under one beautiful roof. Rooms for the guests to stay and for the bride to get ready in, a licence to marry you, as well as space to celebrate.”

SHARE ALIKE

“The old wedding adage ‘something borrowed’ is a wonderful opportunity to include family heirlooms,” says Ellie Thorne. “Wearing a grandmother’s jewellery can really bring a lovely personal touch to the day, and all the better if it’s blue!”

Not so much ‘borrow’ as ‘share the cost’ is the suggestion of Ella Sparks, owner and founder of Flowers of Bath: “ If you are holding your event at a venue that may have a wedding the day before or after yours, chat to the venue and get in touch with the couple

ABOVE: Rose petals make a beautiful biodegradable confetti; OPPOSITE: Ella Sparks sources local flowers; INSET: Honey Willow works with recycled metals

“ Flowers could be clocking up more air miles than the honeymoon”

and see if you can figure out a way to re-use the owers, and split the cost. That way they can be enjoyed across both weddings, rather than going to waste.”

The pre-loved route is also worth considering, says Gina and Jack, the team behind Ivy & Pine Photography. “We’ve noticed our clients doing quite a few more sustainable things, including using minimal or secondhand decorations. People are getting married all the time, so hunt online marketplaces to buy their items secondhand – chances are they’ve been used once, so the quality is going to be near-perfect. You’ve then saved both your money and the environment.”

HOME BIRDS

Choosing to mark the day locally is a great carbonfriendly option, especially when there are so many wal able enues near us in Bath, as registration officer Ellie Thorne explains. “From the Guildhall registration suite to our 30+ licensed venues that include luxury hotels, art galleries, quirky cinemas, and the magical Roman Baths, there is something for everyone on our doorstep. When you factor in Bath being easily accessible by public transport, you’re also eliminating the need for that reluctant nominated driver!”

GROWN NOT FLOWN

If you don’t think seasonal and local – the buttonholes, the bouquet, the church and table arrangements – then the wedding could actually be clocking up more air miles than the honeymoon. “If you’re planning a wedding between April – October, the chances are that most, or ossibly e en all, of your owers can be British, says orist lla ar s. e are so luc y to be based near a number of wonderful ower farms and small growers in omerset and iltshire. dditionally, the growers that

“Work with chosenyour caterer to craft a menu with a conscience”

we use, their owers are grown free of chemicals and esticides, with no air miles needed. They also offer a greater de th of fragrance and natural mo ement than the commercially grown arieties.

Country estate Hartham Park, which currently uses the lorista, a Bath-based ower styling su lier dedicated to eco-friendly ractices, is loo ing to be able to su ly some of its own owers in the future, as Tereza Junkova, wedding and events coordinator, e lains e are lanning and lanting our grounds so that cou les will be able to ic their own ower bou uet from our bloom garden, and then design their own ecofriendly bou uet of owers.

ABOVE: The Godminster cheese cake is locally made; BELOW: Ivy & Pine embed sustainability into their photography practice; INSET: S.P. Green’s rings are made with conflict free diamonds

Sa and erit owners and teachers at he Bath Flower School, ha e a great suggestion that really tic s the eco-bo ma ing your own bou uet. e hold many courses that can ins ire, teach and inform anyone getting married about how to choose owers, or ut owers together themsel es. e use local owers that ha e less en ironmental im act and also celebrate the beauty of naturally-styled British owers.

e ha e a range of wedding ower courses, including a one day course on how to ma e two styles of wedding bou uet, and a four day e tensi e course e loring wedding owers from beginning to end, for those with oristry e erience already.

DO US A FAVOUR

s well as decoration, owers can double u for other tas s, or be sa ed to be lanted in your own garden after the wedding, as lla ar s e lains. otted lants and herbs used as table decoration can then be gi en as fa ours or later lanted by the cou le as a memory of the day, to be en oyed for years to come. or e am le, in the summer months, source locally grown hydrangea lants and line your aisle with them, and transfer to your own garden or share as than you gifts.

RING THE CHANGES

ou ob iously aid heed to Beyonc s ad ice and ut a ring on it , but do ma e sure it isn t a blood diamond. ow that we all now about mining in war ones and how the sales are used to fund war efforts and terrorism, it really wouldn t bode well to see them used as a symbol of e erlasting lo e. s Charlie Dalton-Ball, sales executive at S.P. Green, says, edding bands and engagement rings can be as ethical as they are beautiful. ll our diamonds are sourced in line with the imberley rocess, a directi e aimed at re enting trade in con ict diamonds. ne trend that s gaining o ularity is lab-grown diamonds. These are eco-friendly, and our articular su lier has aired with ne Tree lanted , which lants one tree for e ery stone roduced.

But it is im ortant to note that not all lab-grown diamonds are created e ual. hile some are roduced using sustainable ractices, others may still ha e negati e en ironmental im acts, so do chec the certification.

ABOVE: Farleigh House partners with local caterers; INSET: As well as 30+ venues, Bath and North East Somerset Registration Service can also help with local services, including cake makers

“Wedding bands and engagement rings can be as ethical as they are beautiful”

s well as the stone, ethical ro enance of recious metals is a ital consideration, e lains Jody Cory Goldsmiths, who hand ma e wedding rings in the heart of Bath at their in-house wor sho . t is im ortant all recious metals are res onsibly sourced, using er cent recycled gold, or ingle ined rigin , also nown as airmined gold. gold is mined in accordance to the world gold council res onsible mining rinci les. This confirms that your gold is deri ed from a legitimate mining o eration, and that your gold holds no ties to con ict and has been roduced at a mine where trade relationshi s are u held with unwa ering res onsibility. By urchasing gold, in estors and commercial buyers are su orting miners who are being aid a ust wage under secure and safe em loyment. This, in turn, has a ositi e effect on the li es of the miners families and local communities, who can benefit from the sustainability initiati es in lace at the mine site and from residing in a region where legal business thri es. This includes e tensi e community de elo ment rogrammes, such as sanitation, education, health, en ironmental and alternati e li elihood ro ects.

Honey Willow, based on Pulteney Bridge, is owned by Rhiannon Hamilton, who says her customers a reciate that we are a small business handcrafting our ewellery here in Bath, using recycled recious metal and con ict-free diamonds. e also em loy local eo le, most of whom wal to wor . e buy local as much as ossible, and our ewellery is made to order, rather than in big batches.

Go for old gold, is the advice of Carly Cooke, brand manager for Wylde Jewellers: “As a precious metal, gold does not degrade when it is melted down and reformed; this means it can be recycled over and over again without losing its integrity or its value, making it the ultimate sustainable metal.

“An even more sustainable and beautifully sentimental choice for a wedding band is to have it created from an existing piece of jewellery. Perhaps you have an inherited ring, necklace or brooch that means a lot to you, but is not your style and so has sat in a drawer, unworn. It can be reused and redesigned to form your wedding ring, turning that unused heirloom item into a gorgeous piece of jewellery that you can enjoy seeing on your hand every day.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Nobody panic – we’re not going to suggest mung beans, tempeh, and tap water at the wedding feast just yet – but there are a few tricks to look out for to help cut down the carbon footprint. “All three of our catering partners are based locally to our venue. This immediately reduces the travel time for them and their staff, says Farleigh House’s head of experiences, Jojo Bowles. “They all work to source produce ethically and sustainably, buying local, seasonal produce where possible with seasonal menus provided. Food waste is recycled on and off site. or ing with a local wine merchant, offering nglish s ar ling wines, gi es cou les the o tion of British and local.”

Jasmine Ebdon-Taylor, marketing, wedding and event manager with Wild Fork West, advises that if “your chosen wedding caterer shares your planetpreserving values, they’re likely to only commit to shorter ourneys. hat does this mean ell, robably that they’ll only travel a short distance from their kitchen, or that they ll s ecifically refer to themsel es as a local catering company. “Another way to decrease food miles is by choosing a caterer that opts for local, seasonal produce. You can work with them to craft a menu with a conscience, and discover ways to introduce the season into your dishes to minimise the environmental impact. For example, opting for wild food, using ingredients such as venison, pheasant and foraged fruits, can further reduce your impact.”

Sarah Norris, head of marketing at Godminster Cheese, suggests a cheese wedding cake, which can make a great eco-friendly alternative to a traditional cake. “You know the exact provenance of the cheese if you buy local and organic. They make a great accompaniment to the end of the meal, and unused rounds can be kept for a later date, which means minimum waste.” They eliminate the need for an additional cheese course, too.

ABOVE: Hartham Park aims to plant flowers in the grounds for bridal use; OPPOSITE: make up artist Leanna Biggs only uses cruelty free products; INSET: An SMO ring, like these made by Jody Cory, goes towards ensuring the mining community is supported and not exploited

“We’ve ended our relationship with toxic accessories”

KISS AND MAKE UP

Sometimes it is not just a case of asking what you can do for your planet, but what others are doing for it too, as award-winning makeup artist and hair stylist Leanna Biggs explains.“Make sure to check that your makeup artist/hair stylist employs practices that align with your eco values. I only use only cruelty-free, and many vegan, products. Not only does that mean no animals are harmed unnecessarily, it also means there is an immediate reduction in the production process of the products.

“I try not to use too many disposables – for example, mascara and lip wands – and often opt to apply mascara with a brush that can be washed and reused. When I do use disposables, I only ever buy bamboo and not plastic, and I’m a stickler for responsibly recycling my packaging waste. Out-of-date products are sent away to reputable companies who specialise in this area, rather than get thrown in the bin, and, of course, I always buy refillable roducts where ossible.

IN THE FRAME

Even photographers are upping their eco-game, as Gina and Jack of Ivy & Pine Photography explain. “We deliver our photos via an online gallery, avoiding USBs so you don’t have a bit of plastic hanging around your house that you’ll probably use once.

“We also won’t send a stack of prints you haven’t chosen to print yourself. We’re not against printing photos, of course, but we prefer to give you the choice of which photos you want to get printed or made into an album.

“As a business we are basically paperless; everything is done online via portals. We try and reduce our travel where possible, and hang out with clients via video calls. We have rigorously selected our supplier of photobooks and prints to make sure they align with our values and that the quality is both enduring and beautiful.

“We buy second-hand wherever possible, from our camera bodies to lenses, and use rechargeable e ui ment and batteries. re ina and ac in favour of the old tradition of having disposable cameras on the table? “We will never use dis osable film cameras nstead we ha e a ser ice where clients can rent point-and-shoot cameras, giving you the same fun of guests taking photos without all that dis osable lastic.

ABOVE: Create your own locally sourced flower bouquet at the Bath Flower School; BELOW: Look for seasonal menus, like those supplied by Wild Fork West

Wedding and event catering in the South West: crafting food and drinks you and your guests will love to remember.

Situated in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Bath

The romantic orangery and gardens of award-winning Hamswell House make the ultimate setting for your wedding.

You will be surrounded by 50 acres of gardens and private land with breath-taking panoramic views over the Hamswell valley. Yours will be the only marquee wedding held that weekend, so it is truly, exclusively yours. And you will have access to the marquee the day before for set-up and styling. No corkage charge.

Hamswell House, Hamswell, Bath BA1 9DG | www.hamswellhouse.co.uk | info@hamswellhouse.co.uk | 07710727773

Unwind in complete luxury and enjoy beautifully landscaped gardens, a fabulous spa and outstanding food. It's the ultimate destination for relaxation in a peaceful corner of Bath city centre.

© Leah Marie Photography

© Christophe Bourgeois Photography

© Christophe Bourgeois Photography

When it comes to capturing not only your image but also the true you and the characteristics that many seek ... she’s as good as it gets.

beatacosgrovephotography

BeataCosgrovePhotographer

beatacosgroveweddings@BeataCosgrove

beatacosgrovephotography@gmail.com

www.beatacosgrovephotography.com

Venue: Euridge Manor

THE ARTS

SNAPSHOTS OF BATH’S CULTURAL LIFE

OODLES OF DOODLES

Mr Doodle, who studied illustration at the University of West England in Bristol, is not only an Instagram sensation with a cartoon eye-boggling 3 million followers, but is the star of The Trouble With Mr Doodle, directed by Jaimie D’Cruz and Ed Perkins, which recently premièred at the festi al in ustin, Te as. The film follows the true life story of a boy the young r oodle, real name am o who has had a com ulsion to doodle since he first held a en. And, fortunately for us, this obsession has lead him to Bath, where he’ll be scribbling, s uiggling, and graffiti s aghetti-ing his way across the city. The doodler starts on ril on Milsom Street, moving on to Kingsmead Square, SouthGate and Walcot Street before making his doodley way to the Holburne Museum for a four month exhibition.

A cascading stream of co-joined cute creatures and anthropomorphic objects will be appearing in the entrance hall, on the stairs and along the walls of the museum, while his painted canvasses and 3D objects can be found in and amongst the permanent collections.

Mr Doodle! Museum Mayhem, 3 May until 1 September at the Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

There’s a new exhibition of miniature Henry Moore sculptures headed to the Holburne

WHAT’S ON

6 April –4 May

EXHIBITIONS

Until 30 April

THE DIVERSITY OF LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

The beauty of landscape photography, and its ability to help soothe the practitioner and heal the viewer, is demonstrated in this RUH Art at the Heart exhibition. Includes work by the artists Susan Brown, Valda Bailey, Joe Cornish, Andy Farrer, Paul Mitchell and Vanda Ralevska. www.artatruh.org

Until 22 June

DRAGONS, DRAGONS, DRAGONS

A fun, informative, and visuallyinspiring family-focused exhibition, with trails and activities that incorporate over 50 dragon-themed objects from the Museum of East Asian Art’s extensive collection. www.meaa.org.uk

Until 29 September

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND THE MASTERS OF MONTMARTRE

The latest Victoria Art Gallery

exhibition celebrates the bohemian side of Paris with more than 100 artworks including ToulouseLautrec poster work for the Moulin Rouge. www.victoriagal.org.uk

14 April

BATH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS FAIR

Since its creation in 2020, BCAF has showcased more than 600 artists across 13 fairs, bringing the best of contemporary art to Green Park Station. www.bcaf.co.uk

15 – 28 April

KIRI KIRI 2.0

Swedish artist Kiri Kiri returns to 44AD with more than 70 new, previously unseen artworks to be unveiled. www.44ad.net

22 – 27 April

BATH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

The annual exhibition at St. Michael’s Without Church of local amateur photographers will feature everything from landscapes to abstracts and portraits to reportage. Facebook: BathPhotographicSociety

25 April – 4 May

MODERN ARTBUYER POP UP

Pencil Tree Gallery hosts Modern ArtBuyer’s latest pop up with unique monoprints by the ever popular Paul Minott, small abstract studies by well-established painter Juliette Paull, and vibrant abstract landscapes by the master of colour, Caroline Hall. www.modernartbuyer.com

3 May – 1 September

MR DOODLE!

MUSEUM MAYHEM

The olburne resents the first ever UK museum exhibition of internationally renowned artist and internet sensation, Mr Doodle. Turn to page 39 for more about the charming scribbler heading our way. www.holburne.org

3 May – 8 September

HENRY MOORE IN MINIATURE

This new exhibition features more than 60 of Henry Moore’s wor s that can fit in the hand. The collection will have pieces from every decade of his career, and

includes stone and wood carving, Plasticine models, clay and plaster, lead and bronze. www.holburne.org

THEATRE / CINEMA

14/15/19/20 April

SLAPSTICK

At the Rondo Theatre, Jon Monie (of Theatre Royal Bath panto fame) plays Joseph Grimaldi, the famous clown, as he re ares for his final performance and, in doing so, tells the story of his extraordinary career. www.josephgrimaldi.com

Until 20 April

THE LOVER / THE COLLECTION

David Morrissey leads the cast in this compelling double bill of two works at the Ustinov from Harold Pinter. The Lover is a quirky, tense and intriguing glimpse at the private intricacies of modern marriage; The Collection, a comic play of suspense and sexual jealousy between two couples, sparked by an anonymous phone call in the dead of night. www.theatreroyal.org.uk

BY PERMISSION OF THE HENRY MOORE FOUNDATION

CLOCKWISEFROMABOVE:

CLOCKWISE

Face of a Red Rebel by Lance Allen can be seen at St. Michael’s Without Church as part of the Bath Photographic Society exhibition; rising star on the comedy circuit Emmanuel Sonubi comes to Bath on 19 April; The Diversity of Landscape Photography continues at RUH Art at the Heart; the story of Grimaldi, played by Jon Monie, comes to the Rondo Theatre

22 – 27 April

BOUNCERS

Join doormen Les, Ralph, Judd and Lucky Eric as they relive a night in a Yorkshire disco in the ’80s. From the fish and chi an to a um ing soundtrack, this is a brilliant and acclaimed comedy with extra muscle. www.t e trero .or .

MUSIC

12 April

BOWIE LIVE

With accurate live performances of the legendary David Bowie’s greatest records, from Space Oddity to Lazarus, this much-praised show is for both long-term fans and the Bowie-curious. www.bathforum.co.uk

2 May DISCO INFERNO –IN CONCERT

It’s glitter balls and good times when West End performers join forces with some of the UK’s most talented musicians to deliver over two hours of ’70s classics from icons such as Sister Sledge, Rose Royce, The Jacksons, Gloria Gaynor, Billy Ocean, The Weather Girls and Candi Staton. www.bathforum.co.uk

2 May

ANNIE DRESSNER

On her o t t o e ier album tour, Annie demonstrates rich storytelling, mesmerising melodies and lyrics that cut straight to the heart. www.c e rt .or

COMEDY

Until 21 April

BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL

A whole plethora of funny people gather at venues all over the city to make us laugh, including Chris McCausland at Bath Forum, Rosie Holt and Henning Wehn in the new venue Upstairs @Bath Pizza Co, and Alison Spittle at the Rondo. Look out for rising talent nights and a new creative kids’ programme. www.bathcomedy.com

19 April

EMMANUEL SONUBI

A rising star on the comedy circuit, Emmanuel comes to the Rondo to share stories about his pre-stand up life from working in IT, despite not knowing much actual IT, to working the doors of London clubs. www.rondotheatre.co.uk

CHILDREN

Until February 2025

THE GRUFFALO PARTY TRAIL

The deep dark woods of Westonbirt are hosting a year-long celebratory trail to mark the 25th anniversary of the award-winning picture book The r o www. ore tr en n .uk

12 – 13 April

THE MONSTRUM

A Gothic melodrama about adolescence and control. Performed by the Theatre Royal’s Theatre School members. Suitable ages 10+. e www.t e trero .or .

WHAT’S ON

OTHER

Reopened

MUSEUM OF BATH ARCHITECTURE

The museum, based in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel on The Paragon, closed in December 2019, but is now back and telling the story of the rich architectural history of Bath with maps, models, drawings, videos and paintings. www.museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk

Until 14 April

SPRING HOLIDAYS AT THE NEWT IN SOMERSET

A host of gorgeous Newt holiday activities include trails, a children’s garden tour, tractor tours, a creative

crafts workshop, and barbecues. Plus, the usual joys to explore, discover and revisit, including the Roman Villa, the café, farm shop, al fresco seated dining, and the beezantium. Unlimited membership for the year starts at £65. www.thenewtinsomerset.com

19 – 21 April

THE PERSEPHONE FESTIVAL

Persephone Books is celebrating its 25th anniversary, as well as the publication of its 150th book, with three packed days of talks, boo grou s, wal s, film showings and concerts, with events taking place in the Persephone Bookshop and other venues. www.persephonebooks.co.uk

CULTURE CLUB with Sean Jones

Willy Russell’s legendary, long running, multi award winning musical Blood Brothers returns to the Theatre Royal Bath 9 – 13 April, with Sean Jones in the role of Mickey Johnstone. It’s a part Sam first played in the West End in 1999. Previous credits include the world première production of Jacqueline Wilson’s Wave Me

Goodbye, Emmerdale, The Royal Today and Hollyoaks

The last great film I saw Burt Reynolds’ movie Hooper Classic ’70s cinema. Burt Reynolds is every inch a movie star. They don’t make them like that anymore.

A film I could watch over and over again

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a personal favourite of mine. Jack Nicholson in this film is still inspiring to me as an actor.

A painting that means something to me

Salem by Sydney Vosper. On first glance it’s a painting of a Welsh lady leaving chapel, but the mythology around the painting has grown over the years with many believing that Vosper had hidden an image of the devil in the shawl of the lady.

Best TV show ever… Doctor Who. I grew up obsessed with it in the ’70s so it’s definitely

infused with nostalgia for me, but what’s unprecedented is it’s wonderful to see a show still going and constantly reinventing itself.

Favourite TV guilty pleasure

I’m pretty eclectic. I can watch a few episodes of On The Buses in one sitting, Love Island in another, and I’m currently playing catch up on Stranger Things with my daughter, as I’m taking her to see the West End production.

The book I’ll happily re-read Eric Morecambe’s biography, Life’s Not Hollywood, It’s Cricklewood, written by his son. He’s my comedy idol.

Last live music gig

Depeche Mode in Manchester a few weeks ago. First band I saw live too, nearly 40 years ago. None of us have aged... ahem.

First single I bought

I’d love to go for a cool pop answer, but sadly I think my actual first purchase was Terry Wogan’s The Floral Dance

My karaoke go-to

If forced I’ll bash out a Beatles song so that everyone else sings along and I don’t have to. I hate singing. How on earth did I end up in a musical…? For more: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Sean Jones (centre front) as Mickey, with the cast of Blood Brothers

PHOTO BY JACK MERRIMAN

Steinlein’s Tournée du Chat Noir can be seen at Victoria Art Gallery as part of the Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre collection

Disco Inferno in Concert

Richard Marx

Andalucia –Flamenco

Thompson Twins’ Tom

Photo courtesy of Coal Poet Media

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

It’s a ‘heat of the moment’ book choice from Nic

“The novel is told through a i w o i erent perspectives”

It s fi e months since felt actual warmth from the sun and, whilst a life s ent largely in ngland means this is nothing unusual, this year m struggling. o when was as ed to tal at a boo selling conference in isbon not the toughest decision sna ed u the chance and added a few days in the stunning cor tree-dotted countryside to the east of the city. n my eagerness to feel that first s ring sunshine, may howe er ha e forgotten to dis atch on time my latest column. t is not the first time your esteemed editor has encountered this situation, and dare say it might not be her last, so it deser es an immediate fi .

o here am, ta ing the eys to the tune of glorious berian morning birdsong, only slightly marred by a whis ery hotel lounge laylist of lift-music co ers of s classics, and finding myself trans orted bac to some of the sunniest boo s e read.

emorable sunshine, in the conte t of a no el, is often a source of e cessi e heat, drama and discomfort for the characters. n The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane odder, . a young boy, enny, goes missing amidst a dust storm that obscures the desert and mountains around the small outbac town of airly.

The tight- nit and remote community rallies around, but the disa earance, and the search it triggers, comes at a articularly incon enient moment for many. The wedding day of town constable obert and his young bride inna is interru ted, all hands should be on dec for the ital shee -shearing season, and the iercing sun is threatening another de astated wheat cro .

The no el is told through a igsaw of different ers ecti es, from enny s own iew oint e hausted beneath the hallucinogenic sun to those of the searchers and their e tended families. s the urgency of the search builds, tensions and ri alries are e osed between family members, townsfol

and indigenous trac ers. Throughout it all, c arlane aints a i id and atmos heric icture of this ancient burnt landsca e, wo en in with references to the s irit gods of the nati e o ulation.

The home-base of all my reading is ohn teinbec , and his most celebrated no els itted characters against des erate heat, drought and dust. n Tortilla Flat enguin, . , though, the long, hot central alifornia days are ust the bac dro to the antics of anny and his wine-soused aisano friends. n beaches, in ine forests and sun-drenched hills the friends imbibe ast uantities of wine and ha e all manner of dysfunctional ad entures as they esca e wor and res onsibility in the aftermath of orld ar ne.

There are some rain-storms ital to the lot of these lin ed stories as well, but it s the long sunny days that stic in the reader s memory. f you associate teinbec only with tough tales of the reat e ression, then try this short, chaotic and often oyful boo . astly, a few words about erha s the ultimate s ringtime sun-see ing classic. li abeth on rnim s The Enchanted April , . features four nglish women who head from the rains of home to rent an talian castle for a month. The o ortunity arises from a news a er ad, and the grou is full of mismatched ersonalities which gi e the boo its gentle comedy.

ose rbuthnot, li ing a comfortable and ious life funded by her husband s authorshi of sinful no els, the beautiful socialite young widow ady cra ester, the frenetic and unha ily married otty il ins, and the older and terribly ro er rs isher, combine in a stunning setting to form unli ely friendshi s and e erience une ected moments of self-disco ery.

ro ing the ower and ositi ity that can s ring from some timely rays of sun.

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

JULY 4-7

DREAM OF LE SUMMER

Thrusting le fun into fundraising poppy.smith@mediaclash.co.uk

Teams? Now on sale - quick!

Sponsor? Talk avec La Poppy!

Charity fundraiser? Ah oui oui OUI!!

IN AID OF LOCAL CHARITIES

Nouveau!

Friends et family tix en Sunday!

STAR LIT

It’s a cultural celebration of words, books and music as the Bath Festival returns to the city

The poet and author Salena Godden is at the Guildhall on 18 May

Michael Ball is at the Guildhall on 26 May to highlight his new memoir

ARTS

That’s great timing – just as Bath blooms into springtime new life, so does our cultural scene with the return of the Bath Festival and its unique celebration of literature and music. From 17 May to 26 May, the city, across 39 venues including Bath Central Library, the Guildhall, and Waterstones, will be a hub of creativity, intellect and musical brilliance, with a line-up that promises to captivate, entertain and inform. And, as is tradition, it’s being kickstarted by Party in the City, a night of free music and entertainment on two outdoor stages as well as inside assorted venues, churches, and museums.

BB orld ffairs correspondent Clive Myrie will be in conversation with author Kit de Waal about his memoir Everything is Everything Known for his reputation for fearless, objective reporting on some of the biggest stories of our time, most recently from the front lines in Ukraine, Clive will be talking about his career, his family history and how being Black has affected his ers ecti e on the issues he’s encountered during his 30 years covering major global events.

Journalist Rebecca Thomson, who broke the ost ffice accounting scandal, will oin a discussion panel, including Nick Wallis,

On 18 May, hear Clive Myrie talk about his Sunday Times bestseller Everything is Everything

On 24 May, Maggie Aderin-Pocock shares her star gazing insights

It’s all things climate with Tori Tsui on 26 May

See comedian Shaparak Khorsandi on 19 May

© PHOTO BY SOPHIA SPRING

ARTS

author of The re t o t ce c n , and ost ffice manager Nicholas Arch, to talk about this huge miscarriage of ustice and to u date Bath esti al audiences on the ery latest de elo ments. ome and e lore the night s y with award-winning su erstar s ace scientist, and BB e t i t resenter, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, as she shares her e ertise and uni ue insights into the mar ellous world of stars. lso tal ing is legendary en ironmentalist and r i n columnist George Monbiot on fighting for a better future for our lanet. Tori Tsui, a Bristol-based climate acti ist, s ea er and consultant from ong ong, and Mikaela Loach, best-selling author of t ot t ic : im te ction to r n orm r or , offer fresh ers ecti es on the climate crisis. omedian Shaparak Khorsandi brings us a delicious mi of stand-u and e cer ts from her new boo c tter r in, as she loo s bac on her life through the lens of and finally ma es sense of the chaos. Then, e ect an electrifying erformance from one of the owerhouses of British oetry, trailbla ing oet and award-winning no elist Salena Godden, who ll be celebrating the launch of her audacious new collection, it o e rie n F r

ther names to loo out for include broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby on the ery ublication day of his book n me , about the end of the econd orld ar comedian Ruby Wax, offering ad ice on staying sane in a chaotic world author David Mitchell mar ing the th anni ersary of his classic wor , o t and Cathy Rentzenbrink tal ing to Max Porter about her new no el r in r ime, a story of lo e, forgi eness and marriage. usic aficionados will re oice at the di erse offerings of the Bath esti al s musical rogram. rom the ethereal harmonies of Stile Antico to the irtuosic erformances of Fabian Müller and Sean Shibe, the festi al showcases the talents of both established and emerging artists. ol singer Cara Dillon will be treating audiences to music and chat around her boo , omin ome, while Bath orum celebrates its th birthday in ay with a concert of bloc buster mo ie soundtrac s erformed by Bath Philharmonia and the musicians of The Royal Marines School of Music lsewhere, singer, resenter and est nd legend Michael Ball shares his magical memoir, i erent ect , ta ing us bac stage and sharing insightful anecdotes from his glittering career. For more: www. t e ti .or .

Author Max Porter is interviewing Cathy Renzenbrink (inset) at Waterstones on 23 May about her new novel, Ordinary Time Climate activist Mikaela Loach is at the Guildhall on 26 May

Ruby Wax talks about her mental health struggles at the Guildhall on 21 May

George Monbiot returns to Bath Festival on 22 May

PHOTO BY BETTY BHANDARI

PHOTO BY GUY REECE

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

PAPER ROSES

Part cottagecore, part yesteryear, this utterly charming nostalgia trip of a wallpaper by Divine Savages will add retro-infused romance to any room. The soothing off-white tactile fabric base, graced with the delicate ol a dot silhouette of illustrated roses, is from the Rozalia design, which is part of the Nana Nostalgia collection. Described as a love letter to grandmothers everywhere, the aim’s to “create a collection that gives a warm, comforting hug when you need it most.”

Rozalia ‘Vintage Blanche’ linen wallpaper costs £110 per roll, from Divine Savages, 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.divinesavages.com

ROSES BIRCH WOOD ROUND TRAY, £38

The Roses Collection is a veritable bouquet of explosive colour, beautiful nature and charming countryside wildlife design brilliance, created in collaboration with artist and graphic designer, Nathalie Lété.

From Avenida Home; www.avenidahome.com

ENGLISH ROSE

In honour of St George’s Day on 24 April, we’re celebrating this most quintessentially English

MINILITE ROSE CHAIN UMBRELLA BY FULTON, £25

Despite its dinky handbag size (just 25cm long when closed), when this strong, lightweight frame blooms into life, the canopy spans at a rain-shielding 96cm.

From Spirit Fashion, 3 High Street, Devizes; www.spiritfashion.co.uk

VINTAGE ROSE AND ROSEMARY BOUQUET, PRICES START AT £60 FOR A DOZEN

GIN & ROSEWATER NO.12 SHEA BUTTER HANDCREME BY TOKYOMILK, £28

Unexpected essences are crushed and distilled then blended with extracts of Japanese green tea, mimosa bark and dandelion, and enveloped in moisture-rich shea butter.

From Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk

A soft pastel alternative to the classic red rose, with sprigs of rosemary to add texture and a subtle scent and classic vintage roses taking centre stage amongst the silvery eucalyptus leaves.

From Pulteney Bridge Flowers, 14 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; www. tene ri eflower .co.

GARDEN NOTEBOOKS TRIO, £24.75

A set of three luxury pocket-sized notebooks with watermark print roses throughout the pages, and each featuring a garden rose portrait by Alexandra Simms on the cover.

From Julia Davey, 20 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath; www.juliadavey.com

ENGLISH ROSE STEM, £18

This lifeli e stem features one ower in full blousy bloom as well as two smaller buds, com lete with erdant green lea es and a thorny stem.

From Neptune, One Tram Yard, Walcot Street, Bath; www.neptune.com

ROSE MINI CARD, £2.75

beautiful intage rose illustrated mini card with gold foil scallo ed edges aired with a ale grey en elo e by designers anderlust. From Honey on The Hill, 30 Catherine Hill, Frome; www.honeyonthehill.co.uk

RHS THE ROSE: THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE

FLOWER IN 40 ROSES, £25 rranged chronologically, The Rose brings to life the arri al of each ower in uro ean gardens, detailing the history of the layout of rose gardens and the role that roses lay in the language of owers.

From e e r oo o 43 Moorland Road, Bath; www.t eo e r oo o .co.

PEACHY PATIO ROSE, £13.99 FOR 3L eachy is a beautiful atio rose roducing clusters of small, double owers of each graduating to in toward the edges, with a light fragrance. erfect for ots, containers and the front of borders.

From Whitehall Garden Centre, Corsham Road, Lacock; www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk

ELISABETHAN ROSE PERFUME, £175

Behold the famous Tudor rose – the ower of ngland. ns ired by the coming together of houses or and ancaster, this airy eau de arfum is a harmonious union of rose, ha elnut leaf and eti er.

From Penhaligon’s, 14 New Bond Street, Bath; www.penhaligons.com

PURPLE REIGN

We’re all over the colour purple this season

By Morgan Howells and Sarah Moolla

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple. With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me,” wrote the poet Jenny Hughes back in 1961 when she was just 29. But why wait, we say. Purple is a collaboration (as we say in sartorial circles) between the passion of red and the serenity of blue, creating an intoxicating blend of power, ambition, grandeur and luxury. Why do you think royals favour purple so much – it reeks of money, confidence and originality.

140 SHADES OF PURPLE

Then there’s was that ultimate prince amongst men, Prince, who loved purple and managed to ma e a tight el et ur le suit with a ru ed white blouse loo off-the-scale se y. nother mega star who champions purple in all its shades (there are more than 140 named purples in the world) is Oprah Winfrey. nd yes, that is because of the connection to her role in the seminal movie The Color Purple, which launched her career back in 1985. She’s also the producer of the new version out just last year.

CADBURY’S CHOCOLATE

SHOPPING LIST

1. Vitow Jumper by American Vintage, £165, from Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk

2. Roberto Collina woven rever plisse skirt, £230 from Square, 12 New Bond Street, Bath; www.squarebath.uk

3. Clove Velvet Jacket by Alice Temperley, £700; www.temperleylondon.com

4. Fifi hair clip by Kanel, £9, from Found, 17 Argyle Street, Bath; www.foundbath.co.uk

dmittedly, there are ery few of us who could actually carry off a whole head-to-toe ur le ensemble without loo ing li e a high nglican bishop or a bar of Cadbury’s, so a softer option is to keep our regal and holy leanings more subtle with the pastels of lavender, violet and lilac. These romantic mood-boosting shades can work beautifully as a backdrop to bolder designs. To get you through those tricky wardrobe decisions in ril and ay, go for a eriwin le long silk skirt with a little bit of swish, topped with an una ologetically orange uffy mohair um er and wear it with blac boots. nd, when the weather lifts, partner the skirt with chunky white trainers and a ourishing oral t-shirt topped with a cropped black cardie.

SCOOBY DOO’S DAPHNE

If ever there was a colour born to be the hue of accessories, it’s purple. This is a way to punch your purple any way you like – a burgundy belt, magenta sunglasses, mauve socks, an amethyst ring. But maybe not a purple hat – in any variation of the hue it can throw a bruising, creepy shadow across the face.

If you’re feeling brave and bold and above mere muted mortals, go for the full spectrum clash – think Skittles and team your purple with orange, yellow and, of course, the aforementioned red. n out of this world erson to get your purple clash inspo from is fashion icon Daphne, from Scooby Doo. Her Pantone’s Very Peri (2022) dress (with lilac trim) plus matching headband and loafer shoes is offset to coobie snack perfection by a large lime scarf. Want to rock the Daisy Duck look? Then add pink accessories to heather trousers. But if you want to be more realistic, then think like a king, queen, or Roman emperor and wear your purple with gold and silver accents. This is particularly pleasing for those with sil er-grey hair when we are old, we’re going to look great!

or n owe i in er n e r o Fashion Marketing and Management (BA) at Bath Spa University; www.bathspa.ac.uk

Model Chelsy James; www.gingersnap.co.uk

Makeup Chantelle Moody; www.instagram.com/muachantelle

Styling Instagram: @marianne_katy & @jennyferlovell assisted by @jessnorman123 and @creakesc

Photo by Egle Vasi; www.eglevasi.com

Clothes curated from the pre-loved donations at Dorothy House Shop; www.dorothyhouse.shop

RICHARD KAY

MEET THE AUCTIONEER

From rare Chinese antiques to full sized Daleks, our local auction experts share their under the hammer experiences

LAWRENCES FINE ART AUCTIONEERS LTD, CREWKERNE 01460 73041; www.lawrences.co.uk

How do you become an auctioneer and antiques specialist?

I did a History of Art degree and the timing was perfect as auction houses were booming and many were recruiting eagerly in the mid-1980s. Nearly every new employee in the auction world starts at the bottom: all that is required is an appetite to learn a lot; a good visual memory; and a sincere curiosity about the myriad marvels that pass through our doors every day.

What area does Lawrences Auctioneers focus on?

Antiques and fine art with a vast variety on offer every single day: anything from antiquities to zoology. We offer tens of thousand of lots per year and there’s something new online every day.

What advice would you give to an item owner who is looking to auction?

Many consignors received unexpected good news; inevitably, some are disappointed to discover the modest value of family heirlooms. Don’t base your assumptions on what you may find online as a specialist’s trained and experienced eye should be able to assess the subtle differences that will ensure an accurate evaluation. We are always ready to be pleasantly surprised by unexpected discoveries so do not hesitate to ask us for help.

Tell us about your most memorable sale?

A particular highlight for me was when we sold an oil painting by John William Godward in 2012. It had been bought by the owner’s mother from Harrods in 1957 for £100 but, on the day, it realised £380,000, double our expectations. The whole transaction was a joy for all concerned from start to finish. Auctioneers live for such moments.

EVAN MCPHERSON ASFAV

DIRECTOR, AUCTIONEUM OF BATH & BRISTOL 01225 251303; www.auctioneum.co.uk

How long have you worked as auctioneers?

Since 2012 with the inception of our auction house and when we started trading in Bristol but we’ve been in the industry overall for 25 years began. We are now welcoming clients to our purpose-built specialist auction rooms in Bath!

How did you become involved in this line of work?

Surrounding ourselves in fine art and antiques is an ingrained passion so it was something we were drawn to. It has also been a journey through time, study and effort covering 25 years of learning and developing the knowledge and skills to be able to deliver, in 2012, a professional modern auction house with internet trading as a specialism.

Evan McPherson ASFAV

Do you think the auction world has changed in recent years?

Hugely! As auctioneers who placed online bidding at the heart of its business when opening in Bristol 2012 and Bath 2023, we were well placed and expecting these changes that are now commonplace. Harnessing the power of these changes early and knowing the strength of our customer and product service offer allows us to maximise the potential price of our clients’ possessions.

What areas do you specialise in?

As an external valuer and probate practitioner, it’s often the professional care and attention to detail that ourselves and our team in the valuations department specialise in. Being members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers and working nationwide, for many private clients, banks and solicitors, we pride ourselves in giving the best service and application of professional knowledge as a minimum standard.

Richard Kay

LEON MA

MA SAN AUCTION

01225 318587 www.masanauction.com

What area does Ma San focus on?

Our area and expertise are in Asian art leaning more to Chinese antiques which is our main passion. We deal with ceramics, bronzes, jades, furniture, stone, textiles... there is quite a list but it’s such a fascinating culture spanning thousands of years

How long have you worked as an auctioneer?

We’ve been auctioneering in Bath since 2016 and on George Street since 2019. Before this my father had been dealing privately with his own clients, since the eighties. Using his experience and knowledge of the market is when we decided to open a San Auction.

What would be your dream item to bid on?  I do occasionally bid at auctions but if money was no object, then a piece of blue and white Imperial Chinese porcelain made for an emperor of China would certainly be exciting for me. There were many emperors through the Ming and Qing dynasties but during the reign of emperor Yongzheng (1722-35) was when some of the most exquisite pieces were made. However, I’d need a few million pounds in the poc et for a vase of this cali re.

What can you tell us about your next auction? ur ne t auction sale is in ay and will include a lovely collection of Chinese porcelain from a local Bath home.

TOBY PINN MRICS

CHARTERED ARTS & ANTIQUES SURVEYOR 01172 517251

www.tobypinn.co.uk

What qualifications should one look for when seeking advice on valuations of art and antiques?

Gaining a Fine Arts Valuation degree before becoming a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Arts & Antiques Surveyor was my chosen route into this career. oday with more than years’ e perience specialise in providing independent certified valuations to RICS standards assisted by a variety of consultants, for works of art, antiques, jewellery, and entire collections. his can e for pro ate insurance or sale by auction.

What is your favourite part of being a fine arts valuer?

Most of my valuation work comes via solicitors and e ecutors requiring a certified current mar et valuation by an RICS valuer of the contents of a home to calculate inheritance ta . amilies are often daunted by the seemingly insurmountable task of dealing with the entire contents of a home at a time of loss. My greatest satisfaction is the gratitude of clients who feared the valuation would be an intrusion, but frequently find themselves on an insightful ourney through the life of a loved one, gleaned through a lifetimes’ accumulation of objects and artifacts. I am always pleased to discuss your requirements, from a single item to an entire estate.

CHARLIE DOEL

AUCTIONEER AND DIRECTOR, STRAKERS

01249 765200; www.strakers.co.uk

How long have you worked as a land and property auctioneer?

I joined Strakers Auctions in 2004 as a trainee, with my first appearance on the rostrum in . can’t believe it has now been 20 years, but I have loved every minute of it!

Do you think the land and property auction world has changed in recent years?

Auctions have changed immensely over the past few years. Firstly, programmes such as Homes under the Hammer have made auctions more appealing to the general public. Secondly, Covid changed the way we all do business, and the rise of online auctions has modernised the auction process. I have no doubt the onset of AI will change this further.

What are your top tips for a nervous first-time property bidder and seller?

It may sound boring, but ‘do your homework’ before bidding or going to auction. I see too many people put themselves under pressure by waiting until after the auction to ask questions, or speak with solicitors and financial advisors. A good auction house will always be happy to give advice about the auction process and free valuations on your property as a matter of course.

JOHN ROLFE

JOHN ROLFE AUCTIONS

01666 848398; www.johnrolfeauctions.com

What area does the John Rolfe auction house focus on?

I know it is a massive cliché, but we focus on quality, that and the weird and wonderful. Our last sale we sold two full size Daleks and had great fun climbing in them and riding ourselves around the saleroom, but in the same sale we sold an important collection of eissen porcelain.

Is the ‘accidental bid’ a myth?

John Rolfe

Yes, absolutely, it’s myths like this that puts people off attending auctions, the fear of sneezing and the auctioneer taking that as a bid. It’s not like that at all. Our saleroom has more of a Butlins holiday camp feel than a stuffy old boys club! As a self proclaimed massive show off I want nothing more than a room full of people to entertain!

What would be your dream item to bid on for yourself?

Well, I would quite fancy a vintage Porsche 911, babysteps John, climb the ladder...

What can you tell us about your next auction?

Our next auction is simply named Quite Remarkable, having started John Rolfe Auctions with the £9k I had in savings less than two years ago to be putting on a sale of this quality truly is quite remarkable! We have some incredible items including the Eurovision Song Contest winners medal for Puppet on a String; the original D-Day weather maps; a letter written by Reggie Kray about a young Mike Tyson... amongst 2,000 other fascinating lots that people should hopefully want to buy!

Leon Ma

Charlie Doel

Toby Pinn MRICS

FOOD & DRINK

SNAPSHOTS OF BATH’S FOOD SCENE

IN SEASON WITH VERITY

Add rocket fuel to your good health

It’s rocket, man

EAT YOUR GREENS, they’re good for you! You’ve heard it all your life, and that’s because it’s true. Here we’re looking at that humble leaf, rocket – a peppery green and popular salad ingredient that’s easy to cultivate, easy to use and packed with goodness.

A quintessentially English leaf, rocket has been a staple of salads since Elizabethan times. Its name derives from the French roquette, itself a borrowing from Italian ruchetta. This slightly bitter and wire-like leaf can be easily grown from seed and harvested within a few weeks. Although rocket is available yearround, optimal growing conditions in spring and autumn promise the very best yields and

that distinctive peppery taste throughout the upcoming months.

For those interested in a springtime gardening project, April presents an ideal opportunity to sow rocket seeds directly into fertile soil, filling any garden ga s seamlessly. Harvesting the younger leaves results in a milder and tender taste. Conversely, the older lea es offer a more intense, nutty a our. otably, the edible owers of the roc et lant also carry the same peppery undertones. Rich in itamins and , as well as beneficial nitrates and oly henols, roc et lea es offer a nutritious addition to your meals.

When selecting the leaves, opt for ones that

are vibrant and dark-green, avoiding any that appear slimy, yellowed or browning, as they are past their prime. Consider adding the lea es as a garnish to ele ate the a ours of pizza, pasta or risotto dishes – our favourite pasta dish is a creamy spinach tomato and rocket strozzapreti.Alternatively, transform the rocket into a delectable spicy pesto, and enjoy pesto crostinis for lunch. For a simple nutritious salad, mix peas, asparagus and chopped mint into rocket leaves, drizzle with lemon and olive oil dressing, and serve with baked warm goat cheese. For more recipe ideas and cooking demos, head to erit n t r m e ort efl o r

WITH A FLOURISH

Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen, the café and farm shop based at Glenavon Farm, Saltford, is holding its inaugural food festival 22 – 23 June. The two-day celebration will offer li e music, a craft mar et, family-friendly activities, and, of course, the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of quality food and drink, including Cotswold Fayre ine oods, arshfield ce ream and Belvoir drinks.

Flourish managing director Paul Castle says, “This is the next step for us, as its nearly three years since Flourish opened. Each year we have

Marshfield Ice Cream is just one of the foodie offerings

continued to grow, and we look forward to bringing people together through great food and drink.”

For more: www.flo ri t en on.co.

© VERITY GENCO

Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen hosts a food festival, 22 – 23 June

ALL ABOARD

t s long been said we don t utilise our glorious river enough as a source of recreation, but slowly the ventures are owing in. olly al in has ust launched her new business, The ater y sy, a ro ing o -u licensed boat caf .

Cruising the Kennet and Avon between Devizes and Bath, Polly will be serving up tapas-style grazing, locally made cakes, s eciality coffees, freshly made snac s and brea fast buns on her the ft narrowboat, which is also a ailable for ri ate hire and can seat u to eight eo le.

BELLY LAUGHS

Prepare to party like the Romans did with a night of feasting and entertainment when the Roman Baths becomes the picturesque setting for comedy and fine dining on uly.

The night starts with canapés and bubbles in the heart of the natural thermal springs, amidst the colonnades

atmos herically lit by fire lanterns, followed by a three course meal served and re ared by caterers earcy s. Then comedy becomes the focus, with yet-to-be-announced stand-up comics taking to the mic, with the evening ending with carriages at . m. For more: www.sojourns.co.uk

The ater y sy isn t ust a new business, it s a whole new journey for Polly, who decided to sell her house in for a life on the water. he says, d re iously con erted a anel an into an offgrid camper van, using YouTube tutorials as my guide, so decided, naively, renovating a boat couldn’t be much harder and sold my home. The aim was to ursue my lo e of coo ing, li e a more offgrid, outdoor lifestyle and pursue a oating cafe business with a difference. e ne er loo ed bac For more: www.thewatergypsyboat.com

ALL SHOOK UP!

The Hideout in Liliput Court, Bath, has made it through to the finals of the orld lass oc tail esti al, than s to bartender aniel Tanner s cham ion concoctions. ne of the winning drinks was ‘Gert Lush’, which is made up of clear apple juice, champagne syrup, cardamom bitters, and ingleton whis y.

Daniel says, “The name ‘Gert Lush’ holds an importance, as it captures both the essence of the cocktail and my connection to omerset. t s a collo uial e ression used to describe something nice, leasing and e cellent, and felt this was a sentiment wanted to con ey whilst adding a little omerset charm to my drin .

Each venue will be visited by competition judges throughout the festival, which runs throughout March and April, to determine who ma es it into the To . The chosen ones will then ha e the chance to com ete in the orld lass lobal inals in hanghai, hina, later this year. For more: www.hideoutbath.co.uk | www.thebar.com

Enjoy some belly laughs

Polly did a lot of the boat renovation work herself

Daniel Tanner, bartender at The Hideout; INSET: His winning Gert Lush cocktails

Polly Halpin goes off grid

On The Water Gypsy’s menu is tapas grazing

RECIPES

TThe perfect, easy-bake cake for any occasion

This celebration cake with raspberry and almond flavours and a delicious hint of lavender is an ideal bake for a wedding. Whimsical and layered, the slightly rustic look adds to its charm, and makes it a doddle to decorate.

Serves 15 – 20 as party portions

Ingredients

6 Braddock White duck eggs (500g total weight)

500g caster sugar

500g very soft unsalted butter (plus extra for greasing)

g self raising our, sifted

4 teaspoons baking powder

100g ground almonds

1 teaspoon almond essence

teas oon edible dried la ender, remo ed from stems and crushed tables oons elder ower cordial

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons good quality raspberry jam or reser e higher fruit content, lower sugar, if ossible

1 lemon

300g very soft unsalted butter

g icing sugar, sifted

2 tablespoons custard powder

½ teaspoon vanilla paste

4 tablespoons milk resh owers and fruit to decorate

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160c/320f/gas mark 3.

2. Start by making the sponges. You need to ma e s onges in total, so unless you ha e a big freestanding mi er, cm loose bottom sandwich tins and a double o en, s lit all the quantities for the cake mix in half and bake 2 sponges at a time.

3. Grease and line 2 x 20cm loose bottom sandwich tins and line the base with a circle of greaseproof paper.

4. n a large bowl or mi er, add g eggs, g caster sugar, g ery soft butter, g self raising our, teas oons ba ing owder, g ground almonds and 1 teaspoon crushed dried lavender. Beat until the mixture just comes together, then stir in the almond essence. on t over beat the mixture.

5. i ide the mi ture e ually between the tins and level with a spatula. Place the tins in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.

6. hen the ca es are ready, remo e from the oven and place on a cooling rack. After minutes, remo e the ca es from the tin and allow to cool fully. nce the tins are cool, re-grease and line with fresh greaseproof paper and repeat the sponge-making process again. lace the elder ower cordial in a small sauce an on a low heat until a little thic ened, then leave to one side. Mix the raspberry jam in a bowl until spreadable.

7. Then make the buttercream icing. Place the butter in a free standing mixer and beat until light and uffy around minutes. dd half the icing sugar and continue to beat for minutes, then add the remaining icing sugar and custard powder and beat for a further 2 minutes. Mix the vanilla paste with the milk and add 2 tablespoons vanilla milk to the icing. Continue to mi into a light and uffy icing. o er the icing bowl with cling film and lace to one side.

8. hen the s onges are cool, carefully trim off the slightly risen to s to gi e le el s onges. se a astry brush to brush o er the elder ower syrup. Allow the syrup to soak into the sponges for a few minutes. Spoon the jam over 3 of the sponges and spread it out evenly.

9. The last one will be turned upside down to ma e the to layer. lace the first layer onto a serving plate or board using a blob of buttercream to help keep the cake in place. read a thin, e en layer of buttercream on to of the am, then sandwich the second s onge on top.

10. e eat more times and finish with the to layer turned upside down to make a perfectly level top. At this point it might be worth placing the ca e in the fridge to firm u the buttercream for 20 minutes or so.

11. To ice the whole ca e, s oon a good blob of buttercream on top of the cake and use a palette knife to spread a fairly thin layer of icing to co er. To thinly ice the sides of the ca e, use a palette knife to carefully spread a few blobs of buttercream really closely against the sponges. ce and sha e off e cess icing in confident mo ements to achie e a semi na ed ca e loo . 12. lace the ca e in the fridge, if not using straight away, to set o ernight. bout hours before ser ing, ta e the ca e from the fridge to come to room temperature. Arrange your fresh owers and fruit on to to decorate.

For more: www.clarencecourt.co.uk

AT THE CHAPEL

It’s a heavenly experience dining at the Bruton restaurant and bar

By Sarah Moolla

“I’m not going to pretend I found God lurking in the sourdough crust of my pizza, but it’s close”

Iarri e in a rush. m definitely in a rush. t s a ying isit to call in at the Bo ee and or man gallery to ha e a uic loo around for a feature m wor ing on. t s got to be uic because there s a mountain of wor deadlines threatening to a alanche, there s the ignored household chores not-souietly haunting me, and m a busy, stressed erson. i e lice s white rabbit, m ermanently rushing, always late, with both eyes on the fore er tic ing cloc .

Then something ha ens in Bo ee and or man, a di ine arts s ace located on a uiet corner of hute ane in Bruton. aybe it s the original ews on the me anine le el, or the stained glass windows, or the way the sunlight is refracting and dancing amidst the e hibition ieces but whate er it is, find myself destressing, uns ooling and unwinding li e a slow motion ideo, time is becoming elastic. later realise this is the effect most of Bruton has on you.

y morning brea fast of coffee and tension has only sustained me so far and need to eat. rica, the gallery assistant, oints me in the direction of t The ha el. t s not hard to find on the igh treet, ust ast the su er cute tri y uc Boo ho and the erb-side house with the fabulous swan door noc er, with me eering into windows of the uber-stylish indie sho s along the way. This rushing rabbit feels li e she s fallen down the rabbit hole into a slightly magical, needs to be a reciated, wonderland. f you don t ha e a slightly re erential air when entering through the hefty arched anti ue doors of the former ongregational cha el that houses this lace, followed by a holy moley moment when you catch a sweet whiff of the freshly made bread well, then, may the ba ers of t The ha el ha e mercy on your soul.

nside the restaurant is a stri ing mi of restored eriod features and contem orary minimalism, with inno ati e art at e ery turn. ight oods through the building s double-height lancet windows, which stretch from the bar u to

a gallery le el abo e. n the centre of this ast slee s ace is a cascading glass bauble chandelier, and inned where the altar once was is a orcelain-white nude scul ture called Faith. t the o osite end is the gleaming stainless steel o en itchen which also houses the legendary wood-fired o ens.

DINING DETAILS

At the Chapel, 28 High Street, Bruton, BA10 OAE tel: 01749 814070; www.atthechapel.co.uk

Established 2008

Owned by Stay Original Company since 2022, who also own The Swan in Wedmore, Somerset; The White Hart in Somerton, Somerset; The Grosvenor Arms in Shaftesbury, Dorset; The King’s Arms in Dorchester, Dorset; and Timbrell’s Yard in Bradford on Avon

Executive chef Tom Blake

Opening hours 8am – 10.30pm with an all day service

Type of food served Relaxed mains and small plates of Modern British with a Mediterranean and West Country twist

Recommendations Pizzas made with a sourdough base are legendary here, with the burgers and the Sunday all-day roasts coming in a close joint second

Drinks At The Chapel has its own wine store with more than 50 individual wines

Prices Starters cost between £8 – £10, mains £18 – £32 and desserts £7.50 – £8.50

Covers 60 inside and another 40 on the south facing terrace

Disability access The restaurant and bakery are on the ground floor with doors and corridors wide enough for a wheelchair. There is step free access from the foyer to the restaurant. There is a toilet suitable for wheelchair users on the ground floor

Added extra At the Chapel has its own in-house artisan bakery, headed up by baker

Tom Hitchmough

In a nutshell The food, the service and the space are all divine

s ha en t lanned a restaurant re iew did mention how busy am , consider as ing to be seated at the gallery abo e, accessed by a s iral staircase, so can be tuc ed away on a uiet table for one but the staff here are as welcoming as the lace is beautiful. The congregation are an eclectic bunch there are the families, the cou les, the solo diners, the grou s of colleagues seated at the refectory-style tables in the middle.

To start ha e the onion sou a heady garlic y, winter-warming and utterly hea enly onion sou . The dish is awash with sweet strands of slow coo ed, firm to bite white onion in a rich, almost gra y-li e beefy stoc . The generous scattering of sni ed chi es and the o of yellow mustard seeds adds a freshness to sto the sou from tasting too stew-li e. ccom anied by toasted baguette slices to ed with a honeyed and tangy lewood cheese, this is a meal unto itself. But ha e also been co eting my neighbour s i a, and my greed is rewarded.

The crust of my funghi sourdough i a is slightly oily, lightly air uffed, with ust the right amount of chew. There s a hefty layer of creamy aerated ricotto cheese for the base, to ed with a more than acce table amount of meaty, roasted garlic mushrooms and fresh, e ery roc et. m not going to retend found od lur ing in the sourdough crust of my i a, but it s close. t s been such a calming, and s iritually ositi e, e erience eating here that m reluctant to lea e. o, instead, head to the ba ery, ta e ages to decide, and end u buying a rosemary and sea salt focaccia loaf and a fi e-seed sourdough and a carrot ca e for the dri e home . s soon as get home, m ma ing the time to brea bread with the family, deny the e istence of any ca e , and ic a date for unday worshi t The ha el.

Exclusive, quirky, desirable and picture perfect –we go exploring a fairytale region

By John Mather

There’s something very special about Bruton. And we don’t mean just your usual vibe of Somerset loveliness – undulating green vistas, charming architecture, unique friendly indies – which this region, despite its relatively diminutive size, has embarrassing riches of. No, this is an exclusive, quirky, desirable kind of specialness. Think Kate Moss meets Kate Middleton meets Kate Bush and you’re halfway there.

The High Street is whippet thin and lined with the kind of magical indies that wouldn’t look out of place in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, from specialist homeware stores, exclusive boutiques and uber cool galleries to Michelin starred food. No commuter-belt soullessness here. It would seem, if you’re living in Bruton, you’re committed to Bruton. Here we ask a few of the more prominent enthusiasts for the place to share their story of the beauty of Bruton.

Ed Workman, CEO of The Newt in Somerset; www.thenewtinsomerset.com

“I live in Bruton and wouldn’t swap it. We have a great and caring community, brilliant schools, thriving businesses and a bunch of creatives. I am not sure it has an aesthetic, as such; it is an old market town with a long history, which you feel in the architecture and narrow streets and bartons.

“Bruton is full of interesting people from all walks of life; it’s a city-meets-town-meets-country place that attracts lots of visitors, and is building a reputation as a foodie and cultural destination. We are happy to be part of that. In recent times it has become more eclectic and boho, with the arrival of mega galleries and starry restaurants.

“My favourite restaurant, apart from the Botanical Rooms at The Newt, is the Old Pharmacy, and, despite my obvious bias [Ed’s wife, Alice Workman, is a co-director of the art space located in a former Methodist church], the Bo Lee and Workman gallery is a must visit.

“One of my favourite aspects of Bruton is the view from the Dovecote, and my secret spot here is the energy lines, where we scattered our much loved lurchers’ ashes.”

Francesca Leighton-Scott, estate agent with Knight Frank; www.knightfrank.co.uk

“Bruton is a traditional, perfectly formed Somerset market town, but bijou with a very cool edge. It is steeped in history, but also the town has a vibrant community with a creative core. It’s great to visit but equally, thanks to the area’s fantastic schools, it’s the perfect place to put down roots.

“Personally, I love visiting Hauser & Wirth, Roth Bar & the Farm Shop, and the countryside walks in the area are just wonderful.”

Celia Willis, sales advisor at Longcroft, Cubis Bruton; www.acornpropertygroup.org

“Apart from its rural charm, Bruton has a thriving and warm community that welcomes you. The friendly people, coupled with a unique high street with boutique shops, as well as excellent schools for families, provides a really high quality of life; the perfect location to escape to the countryside and make your home.”

MAINIMAGE: The Newt in Somerset is set amidst the rolling countryside; INSETTOP: the 18th century country gaff Manor House, currently on the market with Knight Frank, is indicative of the picture perfect properties in Bruton; INSETBOTTOM: the Bruton Dovecote was built between the 15th and 17th centuries

RESTAURANT ROOMS BAKERY WINE STORE

“At the edge of the town sits Hauser & Wirth, the renowned art gallery, which opened in Bruton in 2014. It has a rolling program of events, residencies, exhibitions and, coupled with the delightful Piet Odulf garden, fosters a strong connection with local communities and the surrounding landscape.

“You can’t beat climbing up to the 16th century Bruton Dovecote to enjoy the amazing views of the town below. Just up the road is Alfred’s Tower, measuring 49m high, at the site where King Alfred rallied his troops in 878 AD. The tower commemorates the accession of George III in 1760 and the end of the Seven Years’ War.”

Jemma Hickman, co-director of the contemporary art gallery

Bo Lee and Workman; www.boleeworkman.com

“We live in a little hamlet called Redlynch, just on the outskirts of town, and the wal into Bruton, across the fields, is the most wonderful commute to work. After moving here from London just over two years ago, Bruton quickly felt like home.

“It has an amazing spirit and a quiet beauty. It is small, but the people who have gravitated here over the last two decades have contributed to making Bruton a hive of activity. You can be walking through the countryside one minute, and be looking at blue chip art the ne t. Bruton has so much to offer, including good cheese

“Bruton has an amazing spirit and a quiet beauty”

“We are surrounded by talented designers, makers and creative industries, so there is so much potential for collaboration. This includes the architects we worked with, Bindloss Dawes, to convert a former Methodist church into a wonderful space for artists to exhibit in. Through the support of both our local community and visitors from further afield, we ha e created a destination gallery that eo le want to experience.

“When we aren’t welcoming visitors to the gallery, we are getting in ol ed in the many e ents that the town has to offer, from tal s programmes at The Chapel to networking and guest chefs at Osip and The Three Horseshoes. The Old Pharmacy is my go-to for lunch, and I love to pop into New Romantics and see what little gems they have sourced.”

Abbie Long and Francesca Watson, founders of Otters Home Search; www.ottershomesearch.com

“What Bruton does really well is position itself as appealing to both those who want a down-to-earth lifestyle and a release of the pressure valve and those looking for a lively vibe. Instagram-worthy destination venues include The Newt’s modern take on the country estate, complete with traditional ‘cyder’ tasting, and cultural hub Hauser & Wirth, home to the Roth Bar.

“It is part of a tapestry of Somerset market towns, such as lastonbury, rome and omerton, with defined yet ada table identities and an artisan atmosphere that attract innovative and pioneering local businesses. The choice of local schools, including Ofsted outstanding-rated Sexey’s, the holistic learning approach of King’s Bruton, and further options such as Downside School and

MAINIMAGE: The world-class art centre Hauser & Wirth arrived on the edge of Bruton in 2014; INSET: The 160ft high Alfred’s Tower folly was built in 1722 on a site where it’s believed that King Alfred the Great once gathered his troops

illfield nearby, ma e for a healthy and dynamic demogra hic rofile for the town. The ariety of local acti ities re ects the broad interests of Bruton residents and the sense that regional by no means needs to be parochial. The unique lifestyle stores are worth a visit – you’re spoilt for choice with botanical paradise Lunaria, must-visit pre-loved boutique wan intage, and e hibitions at aro.

“Just a short, easy walk from town, the 16th century Bruton Dovecote on Lusty Hill is an ideal vantage point for views over the Saxon town and a worthy rival for Glastonbury Tor.”

Jessica Kimber-Holloway, commercial and operations director of the award-winning organic cheese makers Godminster; www.godminster.com

“We’re proud to say that our heart belongs in Bruton and this is where it all began, and as guardians of our patch of the Somerset countryside, we know that organic farming brings so much to the local environs.

“I may be biased, but the Godminster Shop is a treasure trove of foodie treats and goodies, from chocolate to cheese, including the world famous Bruton Beauty. There’s also Kimber’s Farm Shop, which is just on the outskirts of Bruton – it does the best breakfast around.

The foot ath that goes from the ford at Tolbury towards reech ill is a fa ourite in our office for when staff need to stretch their legs. One moment you’re in the heart of town, the next moment you’re out in the beautiful countryside.”

Chloe Hallam, general manager of At the Chapel; www.atthechapel.co.uk (turn to page 66 for a review of our visit to the all-day restaurant)

“Bruton is a fantastic and beautiful place. Tucked away in the Somerset

hills, it has an outpost of an international art gallery, award-winning restaurants aplenty, luxury hotels, a reputation for contemporary art and outstanding food. But, best of all, it’s still very much a working market town with tractors rumbling up the high street, and it’s surrounded by lush countryside.

“It’s a hub for contemporary art, beautiful gardens and delicious food. The Newt’s award-winning gardens are just a few miles out of town, and there’s fantastic local produce, all year round. Try hyperseasonal farm-to-table dining at Merlin Labron-Johnson’s Michelinstarred gem, Osip, or go celebrity spotting with rabbit pie at Margot Henderson’s The Three Horseshoes in nearby Batcombe.

“Rose & Lyons fantastic lifestyle boutique is directly opposite us. It’s a treasure trove for fabulous clothes and gifts. There’s also a thriving art scene with the Hauser & Wirth and Bo Lee and Workman galleries. You can also see much of their artists’ work on our walls. There’s also Smouk interiors for beautiful Moroccan rugs, textiles and furniture.

“One of my favourite places to embrace the great outdoors is in the woodland surrounding Alfred’s Tower on the Stourhead estate. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 205 steps for the breath-taking views from the to . nd then there s intage coffee cara an l ine offee, the perfect pit stop when you’re back on the ground with its excellent brews and delicious cakes.”

“Best of all, it’s still very much a working market town with tractors rumbling up the high street”

MAINIMAGE: These Godminster cows have ‘herd’ how great Bruton is; INSET: Bruton’s countryside lends itself to the most spectacular walks and resting spots

PERSONAL GROWTH

VOICES FOR LIFE launches new singing and wellbeing project with local primary schools

Bath based charity Voices for Life is excited to announce the launch of its latest initiative aimed at promoting singing and wellbeing among children in local primary schools.

Over the next ten weeks, children from Combe Down Primary School, St Michael’s Junior School, St Andrew’s Church School, St Stephen’s Primary Church School, and Roundhill Primary School will participate in weekly workshops as part of Voices for Life’s new project.

These workshops will focus on learning Voices for Life’s new commission, The Elements Cantata, a children’s song cycle by Russell Hepplewhite with lyrics by Jamila Gavin.

Musicians from Voices for Life will be visiting the schools delivering these workshops, aiming to enhance the children’s understanding of their own unique journey and the importance of the connection between nature and personal

growth through music and the arts.

The project, which aligns with Voices for Life’s ongoing commitment to promoting singing and wellbeing, draws inspiration from the theme of personal growth, paralleling the journey of an athlete preparing for a race.

The project will conclude with celebratory performances of The Elements Cantata at Bath Abbey on 27 & 28 June. The children will be joined by Voices for Life’s Bath Children’s Choir and students from the Paragon School for the world premiere of the piece.

Jamila Gavin, children’s author and lyricist of The Elements Cantata, expressed the key message of the new work, stating, "Children are extraordinary – especially their questions. All the How and Why questions. Children will feel even more extraordinary when they realise that they all really do come from stars.”

Voices for Life, now in its fourth year, envisions a world where all children can use

music to find their voice, share the joy of music and the community it creates. This project continues its year of singing and wellbeing projects and workshops in celebration of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

To buy tickets for the children’s performances visit: www.bathboxof ce.org.uk/whats-on/thestarting-line/about For more information about Voices for Life and its projects, visit: www.voicesforlife.org.uk tessa@voicesforlife.org.uk

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THRINGS MEETS… BATH DIGITAL FESTIVAL

THRINGS commercial partner Kate Westbrook meets Lucy Paine, from BATH DIGITAL FESTIVAL

Kate Westbrook: Tell us about the evolution of Bath Digital Festival – what is it all about and how did it start?

Lucy Paine: Bath Digital Festival is an annual celebration of the thriving digital scene in Bath and aims to bring people together to foster connections, ideas and collaborations around all things tech. Spread over three days, this year from 14 –16 May, the festival puts on a range of events, activities and interactions for anyone interested in the digital landscape.

The festival originated from what was known as Bath Spark (now rebranded as TechSpark.) The founders, including David Maher Roberts, Tom Lewis and others, wanted Bath to be recognised for being a digital, creative and innovative city and so started the festival to bring people to the city to experience the wealth of tech industry here.

KW: What are the key themes being explored at this year’s Bath Digital Festival?

LP: Last year marked the inaugural year under Tech Spark’s stewardship, inheriting a 12-year legacy. We approached it cautiously, focusing on the 6 Cs (Creativity, Curiosity, Collaboration, Creative Thinking, Celebration and Climate) to gauge its reception within our tech community audience, resulting in 2,100 attendees.

This year, however, we wanted to highlight Bath’s uniqueness and broaden our appeal nationally and internationally. Therefore, we chose three diverse themes: sport, cities and space. Sport showcases Bath’s athletic prowess with Olympians, our rugby team, and our city’s passion for sports. Under the theme of cities, we explore

the challenges of preserving heritage and engaging with history using technology, aiming to transform Bath’s narrative from ‘preserved’ to ‘innovative’. Finally, space, and within this theme we celebrate Caroline Herschel, a mathematician and astronomer from 1782, shedding light on her contributions and celebrating women in STEM. By focusing on these themes, we aim to engage in a global audience and foster meaningful conversations.

KW: What’s on the agenda for this year’s festival, and how can people join in?

LP: This year’s festival is packed with engaging conversations and activities. Each day kicks off with a breakfast followed by a showcase where attendees can interact with equipment, meet founders, and explore technology. Throughout the day there are workshops, discussions on topics like innovation and space exploration, and curated sessions on various

subjects. We encourage attendees to not only participate in these events but also to organise their own fringe events to add their unique touch to the festival. It’s open to anyone interested in tech and completely free to attend. We are excited to welcome students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike to join us in the celebration of technology and innovation.

KW: How do you see the festival contributing to the recognition and growth of the digital and tech scene in Bath?

LP: Bath Digital Festival plays a crucial role in showcasing the vibrant digital and tech ecosystem in Bath. While Bath has significant developments in this space, its visibility in the wider South West region might not be fully realised. By hosting the festival, we aim to highlight the innovative work happening here and attract businesses to the area, encouraging them

to establish, grow and thrive. Additionally, we seek to retain local talent, including students from our universities, by providing opportunities to explore entrepreneurship and start businesses within the community. The festival serves as a platform to amplify the creative energy and entrepreneurial energy in Bath, thereby contributing to the longterm economic and social growth of the region.

To find out more about Bath Digital Festival, visit www.techspark.co/bdf/ or follow on Instagram: @techsparkuk

© BETTY BHANDARI

Neurological Physiotherapy at Home BATH

We are a team of specialist physios providing treatment to clients from the comfort of their own home. We have expertise in the treatment of: Stroke

ULTRA PROCESSED

Artificial Intelligence: is it poised to make our lives better or worse?

There’s nobody better equipped to break it down than NIGEL TOON, CEO of Graphcore, author of the new book How AI Thinks, and the guest speaker at our recent EntreConf dinner at Avon Gorge Hotel

Photos by Jon Craig

There were always going to be big questions at this talk, and host Greg Ingham kicked it off with one of the biggest: so, Nigel: how does AI think?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is very complicated.

“Even with the word ‘think’ we would all come u with different definitions, said igel. doesn t ‘think’ in the way that we think; our thinking is more complex – it’s beyond what we would even describe as thin ing.

ne of the e am les igel cites in his book is the complexity involved in playing tennis, which demands intelligence: say, the need to predict ball trajectory and assess spin in order to choose optimal shots. Interestingly, research indicates that amateurs and rofessionals ha e similar reaction

times but rofessionals are better at understanding that ow, the ight of the ball, the effects of the s in, what the balance is; they have better algorithms loaded to be able to return the shots to be more accurate. And the big thing is, is they do that all completely subconsciously.

lot of what your brain is doing isn’t actual conscious thought; conscious thought is a tiny iece of it. ost of the decisions we ma e are subconscious, and most of what we do is guessing. You know, we’re thinking, but we don’t have all the information and that s the difference from a deterministic computer programme, where you’re learning from information.

And it’s in this subconscious realm that AI excels, leveraging vast data to make predictions akin to guessing. Current AI models such as ChatGPT predict sequences by analysing extensive linguistic and semantic data.

However, despite these capabilities, AI is still in a phase where it primarily regurgitates information rather than truly comprehending it.

Nigel compared the limited efficiency of current methods to the human brain. “Your brain probably has about 100 trillion parameters; the best AI remains at about 1.7 trillion, so we’re still quite a bit better.

ddressing fears of s future dominance, Nigel stresses its potential to augment human abilities rather than replace them. He advocates for understanding s limitations and leveraging it to enhance human skills, ultimately emphasising the im ortance of wides read literacy to ma imise its benefits for individuals and society.

In essence, AI’s role is not to su lant but em ower us, fostering skill development and increasing human value through augmentation.

ts otential lies in facilitating better probabilistic judgments by enriching human understanding. This nuanced perspective underscores the need to harness s ca abilities for the collecti e benefit while na igating its transformati e im act on humanity.

“When you think about how AI gets applied to problems that we can understand, we can keep it within the bounds of doing the things that

“MOST OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE ARE SUBCONSCIOUS, AND MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS GUESSING”

Greg Ingham in conversation with Nigel Toon

NIGEL TOON

we want it to do, he says, and that we can actually then erify, because otherwise it will be e tra olating, and it will robably come u with the wrong answers. o this is all to do with how we might be able to control and ee it under our control. But it s not the machine that s at fault. t s the humans.

o, why are we so fearful There s a stri ing difference, after all, between the hysteria o er for e am le, the recent case of the a arently hotosho ed image of the rincess of ales with the o timism felt in the s, during the s ace race, when new technology felt e citing.

This has been ha ening fore er, says igel. ertainly, since the ndustrial e olution the era of the uddites, when eo le were worried about machines re lacing them. is artificial. e control it, we e made it. t s not outside of our control. But it also goes bac , years, to

Nigel is the CEO and chairman of Graphcore, a technology business leader, entrepreneur and engineer. He sits as a non-executive director on the board of UK Research and Innovation council and has sat on the UK Prime Minister’s Business Council. He has been recognised with numerous industry awards, being ranked #1 on Business Insider’s UK Tech 100 and named as one of the ‘Top 100 entrepreneurs in the UK’ by the Financial Times

How AI Thinks is his first book. For more: www.graphcore.ai

the first erson who came bac to the ca e with a wolf, and said, m going to teach this wolf to hel me hunt.

nd somebody said, no, it s going to ta e my ob. nd somebody else said, it s going to eat me. They were scared of the idea of this, but that s where domesticated dogs came from.

But if isn t here to re lace us, but here to hel us, the uestion is, how do we get our head around it and thin about how we can use it for good

ften, automation will ill obs, or artially re lace them, but in some cases it ma es our obs easier and better. eo le are being retrained.

friend of mine ended u running T T, one of the big telecom com anies. They em loyed , eo le all across merica, and they realised that a lot of those obs were going to go as they automated and changed the way the networ s were run. But rather than thin ing, , we re going to get rid of all those eo le, and hire new eo le with new s ills, they said, we re going to retrain these eo le. They created their ne t talent force from the eo le that they already had.

igel re eals that this year about new, intelligent machines will be finding their way to com anies. They ll end u in go ernments, these intelligent machines, and e entually they will run go ernment and become as intelligent as you more intelligent than you. er the ne t few years these intelligent machines will be in control, so you better ho e that they will loo after you.

e call them children. These children are intelligent machines. e re now learning how to build com uters to be more li e what we understand as intelligence, but they re here to ma e us more intelligent.

For more about future EntreConf events and EntreConf Awards, see www.entreconf.com

Guests also heard from Dylan Samuel of private wealth managers Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA Pre-dinner mingling (followed by postmingling dining)

Australia

ON TOUR

The ocal isitor conomy artnershi for the isit est region recently hosted educational isits to the Bath and Bristol areas with trade buyers and media from ustralia, ew ealand and the ulf o-o eration ouncil .

By demonstrating the wealth of brilliant things to do, laces to stay, restaurants, retail and connecti ity in our region to international buyers, we increase the case for them to sell the Bath and Bristol area as more than a day tri , says on hamberlain, head of mar eting for isit est. nternational isitors stay longer, s end more and this is a huge boost to the local

isitor economy, su orting nearly , obs, and worth more than bn in .

For more: www.visitwest.co.uk

FARM LAND

The Bath Shed project, which helps older people to socialise and learn new skills, has finally found a new home after fi e years of o erating out of tem orary residences. t will now be based at Bath ity arm and will be wor ing out of con erted shi ing containers. The ro ect ro ides a s ace for eo le o er the age of to engage in ractical craft, and building ro ects in ol ing

car entry. artin harratt, secretary of the Bath hed, says, e re so e cited by the thought of ha ing our own lace at last. e also ho e that, by being based at Bath ity arm, our members can actually be of hel to the arm, erha s mending things or building things on the site.

For more: www.bathcityfarm.org.uk | bathshed@outloom.com

ON THE UP

AQUA SANA SPA, located in Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, has been named ‘Employer of the Year’ at the Professional Beauty Awards. The winners were announced at The Brewery in London on 3 March, where more than 600 leading beauty industry figures gathered to celebrate the finalists. www.aquasana.co.uk

DANIELA NICKOLS, a partner in the family and mediation team at Bath law firm Stone King, has been appointed as a deputy district judge on the western circuit. The part-time appointment will see Daniela continuing her work specialising in the representation of children, both directly and through children’s guardians. www.stoneking.co.uk

THOMAS

SHEPPARD, former Thrings managing partner, has been installed as a Lay Canon of Wells Cathedral in recognition of his continuing service to the Church and its community. www.thrings.com

WALK THIS WAY

ifty years after its inception in Bath, uoBoots is returning to home soil and o ening a o -u fitting room in ilsom lace from ril. ow owned by ary lice alone, the pioneering boots come in eight calf si es and are still made using the same family-run wor sho s in ortugal. www.duoboots.com

A group from

and New Zealand visit the House of Frankenstein

Daniela Nickols

The Aqua Sana Spa team

Thomas Sheppard

Visit West has been showcasing Bath’s attractions

Bath City Farm is hosting The Bath Shed project

DuoBoots is back

BUSINESS DIARY

8 APRIL EntreConf Awards nominations open; www.entreconf.com

16 APRIL Property Symposium; www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk

17 APRIL Bath Life Network Lunch; www.mediaclash.co.uk

19 APRIL Creative Bath Awards nominations close; www.creativebath.org

ONE PATH

ne amily aw, an inno ati e family law ractice in Bath, has officially launched introducing a rogressi e a roach to di orce one cou le, one solicitor.

e recognise that traditional di orce roceedings can e acerbate tensions and lead to costly legal battles, say ictoria Barnett and Tina arshall- elliher, founders of ne amily aw. ith the one solicitor a roach, we aim to minimise con ict and e ense, streamline the rocess, and rioritise the well-being of our clients and their families.

For more: www.onefamilylawsolicitors.com

22 MAY

19 – 20 JUNE EntreConf; www.entreconf.com

27 JUNE

Bath Property Awards nominations open; www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk

4 – 7 JULY Bath Boules; www.bathboules.com

26

8

TEAM WORK

Team Bath and Rengen have announced a three-year extension to their successful artnershi su orting s ort and fitness acti ities at the ni ersity of Bath. Bath-based ro erty com any engen whose is ni ersity of Bath alumnus estyn ewis has been an official artner of Team Bath since . Rengen provides additional support through their partnership with Team Bath s etball u er eague s uad and the ni ersity s B u er ugby erformance rogramme. The latter has articular significance for ewis, who layed for the ni ersity men s st as a structural engineering student and sporting scholar before going on to coach them for several years.

estyn says, e are roud, as a com any, to be laying our art in facilitating an en ironment at the Team Bath orts Training illage which su orts everyone – from children developing a love for sport to students pursuing their athletic and academic goals, and from members of the local community en oying a fit and acti e lifestyle to lym ic and aralym ic cham ions. For more: www.rengendevelopments.com | www.teambath.com

Kate Hall, Jasmine Barker and Sarah Baker attend the recent Bath Boules launch at the Francis Hotel

Victoria Barnett and Tina Marshall-Kelliher, founders of new law firm One Family Law

Rengen CEO Iestyn Lewis (left) and University of Bath Director of Sport Stephen Baddeley at the Team Bath Sports Training Village

© PHOTO BY ANNA BARCLAY

GDPR POST BREXITDOES IT STILL APPLY TO ME AND MY BUSINESS?

By Victoria Darvall of Mogers Drewett

Why the need for regulation? In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, where data has become the cornerstone of business operations, safeguarding the privacy and rights of individuals has gained paramount importance. The General Data Protection Regulations (EU GDPR), implemented in May 2018, represents a significant milestone in the global effort to protect personal data. The regulations not only empower individuals, with greater control over their data, but also places considerable obligations on businesses to ensure compliance.

UK GDPR refers to the adaptation and continuation of GDPR in the UK post-Brexit. After the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020, the UK maintained its own version of data protection laws closely aligned with GDPR, in the form of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Do I need to appoint a DPO?

If you are a business that processes personal data and has more than 250 employees, then you are required to appoint a formal Data Protection fficer and register this person with the Information Commissioners ffice . f you have less than employees, you are still required to appoint someone internally who will be responsible for all data protection if your business processes personal data. his must e a person with sufficient knowledge, seniority, and autonomy within the business.

Which data protection regulations apply to me?

If you have a UK business and process personal data relating to individuals in the UK, then UK GDPR will apply. If you process data relating to individuals in the or process personal data in the UK relating to individuals who are ased within the European Economic Area, then both EU GDPR and UK GDPR will apply.

• Decluttering your home?

• Business paperwork?

• Sentimental items in the way?

• Expanding your business?

What do I need to think about?

All organisations that collect personal data should ensure that data subjects can review their privacy policy, which needs to set out a number of measures including;

• The categories of data the business collects,

• The lawful basis for processing

• Data subject rights, All businesses should also have an internal privacy policy relating to the collection of employee data. If personal data is passed to any third-parties in the operation of the business then a data processing agreement may be required.

Do I need to appoint a DPO?

If you run a business with more than 250 people, then you are required to appoint a formal Data Protection fficer and register this person with the Information Commissioners ffice . f your usiness does not reach this threshold, you are still required to appoint someone internally who will be responsible for data protection. This must be a person with sufficient nowledge seniority and autonomy within the business.

What happens if I don’t comply?

The ICO regulates data protection and monitors compliance in the UK and has the authority to conduct audits and inspections. Non-compliance with can result in significant fines and penalties ma ing it crucial for businesses to understand and adhere to the requirements of the applicable regulations to ensure the protection of individuals’ privacy and avoid legal consequences.

If you have any concerns over current procedures and policies in your organisation it would be wise to seek professional advice.

Victoria Darvall, Associate Solicitor, Corporate Commercial,

01225

750021

victoria.darvall@mogersdrewett.com

• Moving House?

• Student?

• Going Travelling?

• Renovating your home?

01225

THE BATH SAFE BUS BY THE BATH BID BATH LIFE AWARDS 2024

Civic Award Sponsored by: Truespeed. The Safe Bus also won the overall Platinum Award

CIVIC AWARD WINNER

SPONSORED BY the city marshals de loyed on the afe Bus, and the olunteer teams we wor with, to understand how much we as an organisation alue the ro ect.

PLATINUM AWARD WINNER

At the recent Bath Life Awards, the Bath Safe Bus, a project from Bath B , finished the night with not one but two Awards. It won the i ic ward and was the o erall winner of the night, scoo ing the co eted latinum ri e.

The Bath afe Bus s aim is to ro ide a safe s ace for ulnerable eo le late at night during wee ends. t is staffed by medical, security and olunteer teams, and can ro ide first res onse hel to the community, including isitors, students, and residents. ere llison erbert, of Bath B , tells us a little more about the initiati e and what winning the wards means to the ser ice.

Why did you enter the project for an Award?

The Bath Life wards are a great o ortunity to showcase an idea for a local audience. e wanted to raise awareness of the Bath afe Bus, as it is a new ro ect and we felt that the wor and the results deser ed recognition. e were articularly een for

How did you find the process of applying? The form is not onerous, and the communication was well organised. There is always a benefit to loo ing at your wor through someone else s eyes. The rocess hel ed us to analyse more dee ly the im act of the ro ect and what might resonate with a ublic audience.

Who did you meet on the night? The networ ing was an en oyable as ect of the night, meeting new and old friends. n our table was accountancy firm harlton Ba er, who ha e since become members of the Business m ro ement istrict, as they were so im ressed with what we are doing. e e also been in ited to oin a new directors grou by uice ecruitment.

You gave a very moving speech on the night about how the Safe Bus has directly helped people who have felt desperate in that late night moment. What was that like for you? was com letely o erwhelmed by the ositi e reaction to our latinum award win. s we wal ed through the room to collect the award, our eers stood u to a laud, which was ery mo ing and gratifying. fter the resentation, ersonally had

“A STAND-OUT, SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE, STILL IN ITS INFANCY. REDUCING NIGHT-TIME VIOLENCE AND IMPROVING WOMEN’S SAFETY”

eo le come u to me with s ecific ersonal stories which they wanted to share relating to our wor on the afe Bus and, in articular, the wor we are doing to coordinate suicide re ention in the city late at night. ots of eo le said how roud they were of our organisation and the ro ect. i en that we ha e business members in the city, it has been great to hear how they all feel.

Any advice for someone else thinking of entering in 2025?

efinitely do it. en if we hadn t won, we were aware that the udges are in uential eo le in the city and we were satisfied that those indi iduals would be informed about the Bath afe Bus, which would hel its rofile.

For more: www.bathbid.co.uk | www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

PHOTO

THE BATH LIFE AWARDS JUDGES

Allison, left, with Nick Bishop, who runs Bath’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership for the BID and is the Bath Safe Bus project manager

JAMES LOWTHER CAREER PATH

Truespeed’s CEO on BT, slow broadband, and creating brand new networks

Truespeed, which has just turned ten years old, was started by people living in the Chew Valley who were tired of being overlooked for the roll out of fibre broadband whilst the big cities were getting upgraded. Since then, Truespeed has made ultrafast broadband available to more than 100,000 homes in the region, and power over 20,000 customers in the region. Here, James Lowther, the CEO, tells us more

How would you personally sum up Truespeed?

Without sounding too hyperbolic, we’ve taken these households from having some of the slowest internet speeds in Europe to some of the fastest speeds available anywhere in the world. We also take pride in upgrading people’s customer experience, as well as the speed of their internet, offering local customer service where we treat customers like real human beings – no sneaky mid-contract price hikes. We’re also supporting local community hubs and schools with free internet for life.

What’s your background?

I studied Economics at the University

of Kent and, since graduating, I’ve worked in the telecoms industry my whole career, starting at British Telecom. The most impactful role I have had was running the consumer division for Com Hem (now Tele2), who are a major broadband provider in Sweden. Not only did I learn a lot about my leadership style working in a different country and wor culture, but it also showed me how far the UK needs to go to catch up in terms of broadband infrastructure.

Did you always know this was the area you’d be working in?

It was more by luck than by design, but ever since I’ve found working in the sector fascinating, as it is constantly evolving and is critical to people’s everyday lives. As a sign of how quickly it moves, one of my first ro ects was hel ing to launch up to 20MB broadband – one of the antiquated technologies we’re helping to upgrade people from today.

When did you first become CEO of Truespeed?

At the end of 2021, and time has own by since y mission since joining the company has been to scale Truespeed so we can provide full fibre broadband to as many homes and businesses across the South West as possible.

What are the highs you’ve experienced in that time?

The high has definitely been the rate at which we have scaled the business. In the last two years we have trebled the number of homes and business who can access our ultrafast broadband, and more than doubled the size of our customer base. What pleased me the most was how we achieved it – our team has managed to hold onto the heart and soul of the business despite scaling rapidly, with a singular focus on delivering the best possible experience for our customers.

…and the lows?

The low came last year when we had to scale back the growth of the business due to a tightening of the financial mar ets. t was incredibly tough for everyone involved, and we had to make a number of redundancies. But the company came through that period successfully, thanks to everyone in the team pulling together and ensuring we came out the other side even stronger than before.

Are there negative perceptions about the work you do?

The biggest challenge is explaining to customers why we have to sometimes dig up the road, or why it can take a long time to reach their town. The

“I’VE WORKED IN THE TELECOMS INDUSTRY MY WHOLE CAREER”

fact of the matter is, Truespeed is building a brand new network from scratch, which means we don’t use any of the antiquated copper lines that exist today. We re-use existing ducts or poles wherever possible, but in a lot of cases this infrastructure is of poor quality and so we have to build our own. This is a major infrastructure project that costs hundreds of millions of pounds and takes many years to complete.

How does a Bath head office help your business?

Bath has access to such a great pool of talented people across all types of roles, but particularly in the tech space. This means that we have been able to assemble an incredibly strong team who are experts in what they do.

You work with, and support, a lot of local businesses –including the Bath Life Awards. Tell us a little more about that… We’re proud sponsors of the Bath Life Awards, and sponsored the Civic category this year – which was won by Bath Bid’s Bath Safe Bus [turn to page 85 for our chat with Bath Bid’s Allison Herbert]. We have also worked with Valley Fest, Keynsham Music Festival and the Frome Cheese Festival – we thrive on getting involved with the communities that we operate in, and it is a privilege to contribute to them.

Any moment you have been particularly proud of?

The one that sticks out the most is visiting a school in Glastonbury last year to celebrate them becoming the 150th school provided with a free Truespeed internet connection for life. Hearing not just the head teacher, but all the kids there talking about how their lessons have been enhanced since we provided their new connection was actually incredibly moving.

For more: www.truespeed.com

Nigel Dando

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

Nigel Dando

11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk BathLife Team 01225 475800

Luxury & local

The most sophisticated audience is just a call away

Sponsorships available

liam.jones@mediaclash.co.uk

creativebathawards.org

#CreativeBathAwards

Category Sponsors Nominations now open

PUTTING THE CARE INTO HOME CARE

ABNEY & BAKER believe in making life better not just for those they care for, but for the entire community.

At Abney & Baker, we’ve always believed that great care begins with caring for our carers. We’re incredibly proud to have earned the prestigious new Employer Award at the Bath Life Awards this year, especially as this followed our recent accreditation as a Great Place to Work™.

WHY OUR APPROACH MATTERS

Our approach to home care is rooted in knowing that a well-supported carer is the cornerstone of high-quality service. Our commitment to offering competitive pay, flexible hours, and comprehensive training and development opportunities reflects this belief.

Our team members, the heart of our operation, have consistently rated us highly for employee satisfaction, confirming that we’re on the right track.

“Management actually cares, not just about clients but their employees. The level of support is amazing; no one makes you feel bad if you aren’t sure of something or don’t pick up that extra shift. You are always treated with kindness and respect.”

– Care & Support Team Member

CHANGING LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Our services, spanning Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire, are about

more than maintaining independence. They’re about enhancing the quality of life. From personal care to companionship, every aspect of our service is tailored to each client’s and their families’ unique needs.

Our carefully chosen and thoroughly vetted carers ensure a personal and responsive approach. This commitment to excellence has been recognised repeatedly, with us receiving a Top 20 UK Care Group award three times in the last four years.

“The fact Abney & Baker were recommended by more than one person, and people who had actual experience of the service provided, really made my mind up. I knew Mum wouldn’t be treated just as a number. I feel that for each carer, Mum is the most important person in the world at that moment when they’re visiting her, which is priceless.” – Daughter of a client.

OUR FOUR-STEP CONFIDENCE AT HOME PLAN

Understanding that each journey is different, we’ve developed a four-step Confidence at Home plan. This process ensures a seamless transition to home care, providing peace of mind and clarity for our clients and their families.

Whether it’s a short-term recovery or long-term support, we adapt our services to match the evolving needs of

our clients, reaffirming our commitment to flexibility and personalised care.

THE ABNEY & BAKER DIFFERENCE

If you’re looking for compassionate, professional home care that values both its clients and its care team, we invite you to experience the Abney & Baker difference.

“Professional team to care for an elderly loved one, then these guys are simply the best. All the staff provided first-class care for our 97-year-old mother.” – Daughter of client.

Together, we’re putting the care into home care, making life better not just for those we care for, but for the entire community.

enquiries@abneyandbaker.com

tel: 0333 043 4880; www.abneyandbaker.com

PROPERTY

PLACES TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

11 Great Pulteney Street is on the market with Savills for £4.895million

Market growth

BY GEORGE!

New research shows Bath homes attract the fifth biggest price premium nationally, and we have the Georgians to thank for that

omes in Bath attract the fifth biggest rice remium nationally, with alues er cent higher than the omerset a erage, according to new research com iled by ro erty e erts a ills. The analysis also highlights the substantial remium buyers are willing to ay to li e at Bath s most rominent and emblematic addresses.

d usted to today s rices, the oyal rescent, for e am le, has achie ed an a erage of er s uare foot since , com ared to the city a erage of er s uare foot re resenting a remium of . er cent. eanwhile, The ircus has an a erage alue of er s uare foot

ad usted to today s rices, re resenting an incredible remium of er cent o er the Bath a erage.

Bath is one of only two cities in the whose entire central area is rotected. t is also arguably the most iconic eorgian location in the country, and has an incredible global re utation, says listair eather, head of a ills Bath. This su orts a resilient local ro erty mar et that is rotected from a lot of the ebb and ow the wider country has e erienced in the last cou le of years.

The uality of ro erty on offer across the city now is articularly strong, and includes

some of Bath s most historically significant addresses. These include, for e am le, an immaculate townhouse on the historic reat ulteney treet, the iconic le eland ouse, which famously straddles the ennett and on canal, and the magnificent a artment at ydney lace that was once home to ueen harlotte.

rices in and around Bath dro ed bac modestly last year, and we e ect some rice sensiti ity to continue in the months ahead, but as interest rates come down, growth will return to the mar et later this year.

For more: www.savills.co.uk

Development RETIREMENT PLANS

A new ‘centre of retirement’ has recently been opened in Bath. The £23million residential, dementia and nursing home Hallmark Midford Manor on Frome Road has 80 beds and features a cinema room, cocktail bar and gym. There are also 14 luxurious suites, which form part of a uni ue retirement li ing offering called The esidences. remium facilities include a terrace, fine dining and concierge ser ices. There is also a summer house, gardening club area with raised planters, and a little one’s play area to be used by visiting grandchildren and St Martin’s Garden Primary School next door.

“Much thought and consideration has gone into Midford Manor to hel residents li e acti e, inde endent and fulfilled li es, says idford Manor’s commissioning manager, Jenny Mann. “We have lots of spaces ensuring residents and their loved ones can enjoy quality time together and make new memories.” For more: www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

Renewable energy COMMUNITY GROWTH

Community owned Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE), which develops renewable energy projects, has awarded £40,500 in grants to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty via its independent fund programme, BWCE Fund.

Sophie Hooper Lea, chair of trustees for the Bath & West Community Energy Fund, says, “Since 2015, the BWCE Fund grant programme administered by Quartet Community Foundation has awarded 101 grants, worth over £310,000. Those grants have all gone to local organisations doing ital wor to benefit our local communities, as well as the environment.”

The ten local charitable and community organisations include Bath Share & Repair; Bath Community Kitchen; Genesis Trust; and More Trees for Bath & North East Somerset Funding. For more: www.bwce.coop

The £23million luxury development includes a cinema

There are plenty of dining areas

The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Dine Romero, recently officially opened Hallmark Midford Manor with managing director Aneurin Brown, commissioning manager Jenny Mann and chair Avnish Goyal

More Trees for Bath & North East Somerset is just one of the recipients of the Bath & West Community Energy Fund

ST MARGARETS STEPS

A weaver’s cottage that seamlessly combines old-world charm with contemporary flair

By Elsie Chadwick

This handsome 18th century limestone home, sitting high above the River Avon in Bradford on Avon, is a perfect example of unearthing and preserving the history of a property and infusing it with 21st century style. Once a building where weavers lived and worked, using the to oor for their looms in front of large windows to make better use of the light, it is now a four bedroomed home, with its 2,244 sq ft spread out over three storeys and light still an integral part of the space.

The restoration of this historic gem has placed strong emphasis on preserving its rich heritage. The result is a harmonious blend of tactile natural materials, including honey-coloured Bath stone, marble slabbed oors, sal aged elm and natural timber oorboards, painted softwood panelling, and traditional painted sash windows together with Crittall-type glazing.

The one-storey back extension’s steel windows allow daylight to ood through to the timber-framed bes o e kitchen. This heart of the home is a masterpiece of

“Weavers worked in t e to floor for their looms”

craftsmanship, boasting hand-crafted joinery in rich anthracite, an exquisite marble sink, and a practical yet still pretty pantry.

The drawing room, located on the ground oor, is a study in elegance, with original details such as panelled walls, sash fenestration, a window seat, and a deep open fire lace ta ing centre stage.

scend the original staircase to the first oor, where two beautifully appointed bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom await. Decorated in soothing neutral tones, these rooms offer a eaceful retreat. The second oor is dedicated entirely to the principal bedroom suite, a true sanctuary of tranquillity, with its double-height gabled ceiling adorned with grand and impressive oak beams. Skylights bathe the bedroom in natural light, while shuttered sash windows frame views of the surrounding town. There is also a generous en suite bathroom that takes in even more of those panoramic views. Adding to the allure of this property is a selfcontained studio, nestled amidst the verdant greenery of the garden, that sits independently adjoining the house.

HOUSE NUMBERS

Square feet 2,244

This gem of an addition is perfect for at home working, creative pursuits, guest accommodation, or as an Airbnb venture.

A key winning factor in the design of 4 St Margarets Steps is its inside/outside connections. The kitchen is separated from a small leafy courtyard by a screen of glazed double doors. The main garden facing the town wraps around the house and is laid out as a series of staggered terraces for you to sit, eat, and admire the iews. t s also ust a short wal down to the ourishing pubs, restaurants and indie shops of this small but perfectly formed market town.

The surrounding countryside is less than fi e minutes away, with woods but a few hundred yards from the house. Bradford on Avon train station is nearby, and to get to Bath the green way, and in under an hour, you can cycle along the canal towpath which follows a picturesque valley route.

For more: Savills Bath, 21 Milsom Street, Bath; www.savills.co.uk

So, if you’re ready for a move to a home where timeless elegance and modern luxury are woven into the very fabric of the build – welcome home.

“Skylights bathe the room in natural light”

SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

Which are the exemplar new projects in the region?

What specific challenges will arise?

How will the property sector step up?

16 APRIL 2024. M SHED, BRISTOL

• Top level keynotes

• Stimulating panels

• Networking with region’s leading property companies

FOR THE HOME

Our local businesses are poised and ready to help with all your home needs for Spring

BONITI Situated on the outskirts of Bath, Boniti presents an extensive array of top-notch interior and exterior prod cts. erings incl de nat ral stone and tim er ooring Everhot Range Cookers, as well as porcelain and decorative tiles. Providing exceptional installation and restoration services, Boniti pride themselves on delivering a friendly and personalised experience, with customer satisfaction at the heart of it all. Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA; Tel: 01225 892 200; www.boniti.com

TILE & FLOOR or o er years ile loor has been synonymous with the supply of a range of top-tier design-led materials and professional installation services. Our commitment to quality has forged enduring relationships with discerning homeowners overseeing their personal projects, as well as with design and construction professionals serving the property industry. Exciting news! We are now also conveniently located at Chippenham M4. Tel: 01225 310561; www.tileandfloor.co.uk

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

Clair Strong Interior Design is a boutique, creative company based in Bath, providing a wide range of services for oth residential and commercial clients. Her portfolio of projects includes the design, project coordination and sourcing for some of Bath’s most beautiful residences, as ell as hotels sports cl s o ces and other commercial venues. Contact Clair on 07855 797311 or 01225 426905; www.clairstrong.co.uk

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

Based in the heart of Bath and specialising in bespoke, handmade kitchens, Bath Kitchen Company become personally invested in every kitchen they design and build. It’s about attention to detail at every stage – creating a beautiful space that enhances the way you live. 7-9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS; Tel: 01225 312003 www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

WOOLF INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

create unique, client-focused contemporary and traditional interiors, valued for their individual, ea tif lly tailored characterf l design. ith 2 years of expertise delivering space planning, detailed design, procurement, art curation and project management. An a ard inning practice ith st dios in ath ondon are accredited designers of historic period listed houses and hotels. Tel 01225 445670; woolfinterior.com

NEXUS OF BATH is a Bath based family business specialising in painting and decorating, plastering, tiling, sash window restoration and other property restoration. Nexus have built a reputation for the highest standards of workmanship with experience across a range of projects from listed buildings through to new builds, with a complete commitment to customer service and health and safety Tel: 01225 300414; www.nexusofbath.co.uk

MENDIP FIREPLACES BATH

ath’s leading fireplace ood rner gas fire chimney and e specialist. rom classic to contemporary concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesney’s, ar as elfires H am t and etmaster. et in to ch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD; info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

BROADLEAF

Broadleaf are the UK’s leading manufacturer and retailer of ea tif l ood ooring ith a ni e and unrivalled range of solid and engineered plank and par et. pen since 2 22 their e tensi e ath showroom showcases the complete collection. Visit their e pert friendly team to find inspiration disc ss your project and pick up samples. 134 – 136 Walcot St; 01225 463464; www.broadleaftimber.com

PERFECT ROOMS

Originally from Perth in Scotland, Perfect Rooms owner, Sue, is a creative interior designer by heart with an enviable eye for detail. Passionate about creating new schemes that are designed to impress, she has a portfolio of clients up and down the country that cannot speak highly enough of her incredi le or . o arrange a cons ltation for interior design services, do not hesitate to get in touch. Tel: 01249 716445; www.perfectrooms.co.uk

PHILIPPE BLONDEL

The French-born senior University of Bath lecturer on chatty whales, exploring the oceans and his love of Bath

Originally from France, Philippe is a senior lecturer at the University of Bath in the physics department. He has previously worked at the Southampton Oceanography Centre, as well as the Institute of Ocean Sciences, Deacon Laboratory (IOSDL, in the middle of Surrey), the School of Oceanography in Seattle and the University of Paris-South for his PhD. He now lives in Upper Weston in Bath, and is married with one child.

I was born near Paris and spent my formative years in Normandy, before studying in Paris again and then moving to Seattle for a few years. I moved to Bath after living in a few places in Surrey, Hampshire and Somerset, and I immediately loved it.

My upbringing was a typical French education, in a small town and close to forests and rivers. Ideal for hiking, cycling, and even skiing during some cold winters.

I liked school and, even more, I loved university. This is where I could choose what I wanted to learn and how I wanted to learn it. I was better at languages and history than the sciences, though – but physics was to prove to be my real vocation.

One of my biggest influences professionally was Jacques Cousteau. He was an inspiration for many ids when was small, filming documentaries about exciting parts of the world and exotic animals across the oceans.

I work in physics, but science is wider than just one field. My specialty is remote sensing, especially sonars and the use of sound to explore and monitor the oceans around us. So I work with lots of interesting people: oceanographers, engineers, mathematicians, biologists, chemists, sailors, fishermen.

Sonars explore the oceans, but we also use sounds to protect ecosystems and understand the impacts of climate change.

Three quarters of the earth is made of oceans. Right now I am working towards a full soundsca e of different arts of the oceans: how they sound, but also what the sounds tell us about what’s changed, and whether it is good or bad. For example, how can we reduce the noise from shipping? And are whales more chatty when there are earthquakes?

I love the discovery of learning new things, and also exploring new areas of the earth and other planets, being one of the first to see them. Understanding what we discover, but also protecting it.

Some of the best moments in my work is seeing students suddenly understanding something complex: that ‘lightbulb moment’ when they understand it and they do not need us any longer, because they can do it on their own.

“I volunteer as a Red Cross emergency responder”

Worst parts of the job are filling out tedious forms for administrative purposes, and persuading spreadsheet warriors that there are lots of urgent issues to address in the world.

In my spare time I enjoy trail running, slowly, in the hills around Bath. I ran the Bath Half with students for the University’s 50th birthday and so got hooked on running. I also volunteer as a Red Cross emergency responder – it’s a great organisation that directly helps people.

After nearly a quarter century in Bath, I feel really at home here. Bath has its own cultural and historical identity, a nice mixture of old and new, and the people here are lovely. My home is not too far from the Cotswold Way, and not too far from the city centre. There’s a real community feel here.

My secret Bath is the Bath find running around the hills – in all the small streets where strangers say hello, and the people smile from their gardens.

For more: www.bath.ac.uk