The Bath Magazine July by MC Publishing Limited

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ISSUE 142 • JULY 2014

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CITY OF BATH £3.00 where sold

P LU S M U C H M O R E I N T H E C I T Y ’ S F I N E S T M O N T H L Y G U I D E T O L I F E A N D L I V I N G I N B A T H

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THE | CONTENTS

JULY2014

@ thebathmagazine

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50 6

THE ‘MUST-DO’ LIST

From Wimbledon to Edinburgh comedy: five things to enjoy in Bath this month

THE CITYIST Musical sisters The Carrivicks’ favourite things to do when they’re not on tour

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Corsham Bookshop recommends some books to enjoy this summer

Masterchef winner Wan Ping Coombes talks to Melissa Blease

WOMEN IN HISTORY A new exhibition lifts the petticoats on the myth of the genteel Georgians

Six of the best places with outdoor tables

BETTER BY DESIGN 52

On in July: theatre, opera, jazz, folk, festivals, pageants, exhibitions and more

30 IN HARMONY Rising stars of Bath’s music scene: a profile of the Noctis choir

36 INSPIRED BY CITY ART IN THE CITY The exhibitions and galleries to go and see this month WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

THE WINE COLUMN Angela Mount picks a red, a white, a rosé and some fizz for high summer

FAMILY FUN Entertainment for the school holidays

THE WALK Andrew Swift explores the ancient woodlands of Somerset

HOLIDAY CHECKLIST Stylish bathers and beach wear

THE LIGHT STUFF The coolest lighting in town

HOME STYLE A little touch of luxury

HOT PROPERTY Find your next home in the city or country

Even more online at www.thebathmag.co.uk

MOVERS AND SHAKERS A round-up of city news and views

BATH IN BLOOM Stand by your beds: the Britain in Bloom judges are on their way

Award-winning artist Penny Seume

FOOD HEROES Find out why foodies from London beat a path to Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen

A profile of Bath architects DKA

26 WHAT’S ON

ALFRESCO DINING

WEEKEND BREAK 10 reasons to cross the Severn

FOOD & DRINK An exclusive dine and demo event at Seasons Fish Kitchen for readers of The Bath Magazine

FACE THE MUSIC

BATH AT WORK Neill Menneer’s portrait of Dr Amy Frost, guardian of Beckford’s Tower

MRS STOKES On the people who make us happy

A GOOD READ

Cover: Celebrating 50 years of Bath – and Britain – in Bloom

SCHOOL REPORT News from the classroom JULY 2014

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hose of us who like to enjoy time in Parade Gardens have been watching the gardeners busily preparing the flower beds for high summer and for the annual Britain in Bloom competition, which this year marks its 50th anniversary. Bath won the title in the very first year of the competition, back in 1964, and it’s hoping to reclaim the title again this summer. I have been rude about the brightly coloured public displays in our parks in the past but have come round to appreciating the cheerful effect this mass planting has on passers-by. The flowers are a tangible sign of civic pride and one of the things that make the city special. Let’s hope all the hard work pays off and Bath wins the national title again this year. Our beautiful floral displays are just one of many reasons to spend time in the city this summer, as can be seen on our busy What’s On pages. You might want to wander up to No 1 Royal Crescent and have a look at the new exhibition about 18th century women. I found it a real eye-opener as it makes you think again about how tough it was living in Georgian times. Enjoy a preview on Page 20. Melissa Blease talks to Masterchef winner Ping about how and when she learned to cook, and about how she seemed so calm under pressue during the televised competition. You can see what the Bath-based chef chose as her favourite pieces of music in our regular Face the Music feature, on Page 14. There’s much more inside, so I won’t keep you. Turn the pages, find out for yourself, and make the most of summer in the city!

Georgette McCready Editor

THEBATHMAGAZINE Editor Email: Tel: Deputy editor Email:

Georgette McCready georgette@thebathmagazine.co.uk 01225 424499 Samantha Coleman sam@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Web content editor Email:

Dulcie Carey dulcie@thebathmag.co.uk

Production manager Email:

Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Commercial production Lorna Harrington Email: lorna@thebathmagazine.co.uk Publisher Email:

Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact the advertising sales team, tel: 01225 424499 Advertising sales Liz Grey Email: liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk Advertising sales Email:

Kathy Williams kathy@thebathmagazine.co.uk

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED, and are independent of all other local publications.

All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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ZEITGEIST Be ready

All eyes will be on the state of Bath’s parks, public spaces, private gardens and streets as the city prepares for inspection by the Britain in Bloom judges on Tuesday 8 July as part of the 50th anniversary of this hotly contested competition. Bath won first prize in the first ever contest in 1964 and civic pride is at stake this year as the city would like to be able to mark the anniversary in style. The judges be in Bath for just three and a half hours that day and everyone is being asked to do their bit, by making sure gardens are looking at their blooming best, lawns are mowed, beds weeded, and streets kept clear of mess. Read more about Bath’s bid to win the crown in our Britain in Bloom special on Page 58.

Support Tennis fans will be drawing their curtains against the sunlight and settling down on their sofas for the traditional nailbiting rollercoaster ride of the annual screening of the Wimbledon tennis championships. The contest runs from 23 June to Sunday 6 July and all eyes will be on British player Andy Murray who lifted the trophy in a historic final a year ago. But can he do it again?

Could former Bath schoolgirl Rosie Holt be the next big comedy star? Local audiences will get the chance to judge for themselves when Rosie, pictured, takes to the stage as part of a pre-Edinburgh Festival mini-season here in Bath. Rosie is one of a chuckle (which may be the collective noun for comedians) of stand-ups appearing in the cafe at Komedia between 1 and 22 July, and at the Rondo Theatre in Larkhall between 23 and 26 July. Other local faces testing their festival routines on the Bath crowd are Graham Avent and Jon Monie, who’ll be at the Rondo on 26 July. All the tickets for the Komedia gigs are just £5. This will be a treat for us to catch more than a dozen acts before they perform before the make-or-break Edinburgh crowds. Rosie’s debut show Fall Girl stems from her winning the Sitcom Trials writing competition, which won her a slot at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, where Miranda Hart’s career took off. Other names to look out for in this south of the border pre-festival season include some people who’ve already established themselves, including Tiff Stevenson, Tom Craine, Pippa Evans and Angela Barnes.

Book Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown, writer Benjamin Zephaniah and DJ turned author Simon Mayo, launching his third book about Itch, are among the big names coming to Bath for the children’s literature festival, which runs from Friday 26 September to Sunday 5 October. The annual event is now the largest dedicated children’s book festival in Europe and will be overseen by award-winning author David Almond. Authors writing for young adults including David Almond, Robert Muchamore, Sophie McKenzie, Mal Peet, and Melvyn Burgess will be at the festival, as will Chris Riddell, this year’s front cover illustrator

With a programme that offers historic walks, art trails, comedy, music, food and drink and some free events aimed at children, the annual Frome Festival (4 –13 July) goes from strength to strength. Some big names, including Paul Merton, comedian Seann Walsh, poet Sir Andrew Motion, the Levellers, Martin Simpson and Inspiral Carpets will all be heading for the Somerset town. There’s a World Feast Day on Saturday 5 July and the monthly spectacle of the Frome Independent market which takes over the whole of the town centre on Sunday 6 July. To find out more about the walks, talks, workshops and concerts pick up a Frome Festival programme, visit: www.fromefestival.co.uk or call the box office to book tickets: 01373 455420.

JULY 2014

July

Laugh

Out of town

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things to do in

Simon Mayo to talk about his new book Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death, which is the Kids Big Bath Read. To find out more go to: www.bathfestivals.org.uk. Tickets can be bought from Monday 14 July. To book go online or call 01225 463362.

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NOW OPEN 9 Bridge Street Bath BA2 4AS Tel: 01225 428427 www.cutlerandgross.com

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ist

THE CITY The buzz Winner The Bath Novel Award 2014 has been won by Surrey writer Joanna Barnard with Different, an unpublished debut novel about sexuality and the lies we tell ourselves. Joanna said: “Different began life almost 20 years ago as a short story about an affair between a schoolgirl and her English teacher, but evolved into a novel when I realised Fiona, my main character, had a lot more to say.” Judge Juliet Mushens, literary agent at The Agency Group, said: “Different is both page-turning and thought-provoking. An incredibly compelling read.” There were 649 novels entered for the competition by writers from 33 countries. Founder and organiser of the award, Caroline Ambrose said: “Running an award like this is a huge team effort, but finding novels like Different – and the other four shortlisted books – makes it all worthwhile.” Joanna wins a cheque for £1,000, and a trophy created by Bath artist Jessica Palmer based on the sculpture of Minerva in the Roman Baths. Read the opening of Different and all five shortlisted novels at www.bathnovelaward.com.

Make a note

The annual free screening of a film in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park, with a collection for the Forever Friends appeal for a new cancer unit for the Royal United Hospital, takes place on Sunday 31 August from 8.30pm, with the musical Grease. Bring a picnic, dress up as your favourite characters and get carried away all over again as Sandy and Danny find the one that they want.

Our BATH We ask musical duo the Carrivicks, Laura and Charlotte what they’ll be doing in July What brought you to Bath? C: My boyfriend is from Bath and it’s a beautiful city with a great local music scene. It’s also a lot better than South Devon for getting to gigs all around the country. L: I came with Charlotte. It’s a beautiful place to live and full of great people and music. What are you reading? C: I just finished reading Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James. I started learning trumpet last Christmas and he’s my hero: I’m completely obsessed. L: I’ve been half heartedly working my way through Charles Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle but I haven’t touched it in a while. What is on your MP3 player? C: Mostly Harry James, Count Basie, and a lot of bluegrass and jazz guitarists. L: I’m a bit old fashioned and only listen to CDs, but the most recent two are Unleashed by the Nashville Bluegrass Band and The Lions Roar by First Aid Kit. Which café or restaurant takes your fancy? C: My favourite is the Haldi Tandoori in Fairfield Park. It’s not fancy or anything but they do great curry. L: I love Roscoff Deli in Northumberland Passage. It has a really friendly atmosphere and the food and drinks are delicious. Which museum or gallery will you be visiting? C: I haven’t got any specific plans to visit any really. We’ve both been to the Holburne Museum a couple of times and when there’s a good looking exhibition at the Octagon on

The Anglo-Saxon Avon Valley Frontier: A River of Two Halves by Hannah Whittock and Martyn Whittock Published by Fonthill Media, paperback £16.99 A father and daughter pair of historians have teamed up to produce the story of what was happening both sides of the River Avon during the Iron Age and into the Anglo Saxon period. It is fascinating to learn about this era and how events that happened in places such as Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham and Bath over 1,500 years ago have influenced today’s civic and church boundaries. Such famous characters as kings Offa, Alfred, Athelstan and Cnut feature and even

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Milsom Street I look in: mostly when Joanne Cope is exhibiting . . . I love cows. L: I don’t have any plans to go to anything in particular, but I love going to the Holburne museum occasionally. Your passions? What hobbies or interests will you be pursuing? C: I’m lucky in that I get to do my main hobby for a living (playing guitar), but aside from that there’s my obsession with the trumpet and we’ve just taken on an allotment which is looking a little daunting at the moment. L: Music is my main hobby as well as my job, but I also love to knit. Wool on Old Orchard Street near the station is one of my favourite shops in Bath. What local outdoor activity or event will you be doing or visiting? C: Unfortunately, being musicians, we tend to end up away for most local events and festivals. I like to walk up Little Solsbury Hill when I have a free couple of hours. L: I plan to get out on my bike a lot now the weather is good. The Two Tunnels are great fun (and the pub at Midford is lovely, with good cider) and I love having the canal towpaths to cycle on. Both: We’re incredibly excited about our new band that we’re playing with in addition to our duo shows. The band is a four-piece called Cardboard Fox which aims to push the boundaries of bluegrass and folk. We’re playing as both acts at Chapel Arts Centre, Bath on Friday 4 July. Tickets, tel: 01225 461700, visit: www.cardboardfox.co.uk. ■

the legendary Arthur has a walk-on part. Bath was, for a short time, the centre of its own mini-kingdom. Its king died at the hands of the Anglo-Saxons, in 577. For two centuries Bath was contested between Mercia and Wessex. If it had not been for this competition – which eventually saw Wessex win – Bath would have been a Gloucestershire town. You don’t need to be an academic to find much of interest to learn about an often neglected period. The authors write clearly and with authority, after meticulous research. Bath once had its own pennies minted by Edward the Elder (the British Museum has one). It also shows how many of our place names originated.

We’re following @VisitBath with 12,000 followers, which offers official tourism information that’s just as handy for locals. How else would we know, for instance, that Pulteney Bridge is only one of four bridges in the world lined with shops?

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Mrs Stokes

It’s people who make our city happier

©www.robbiddulph.com

takes a sideways look at life in Bath

iving into a vat of luxury chocolate ice cream, soothing the soles of my feet in cool summer-lawn grass, – these thing make me glad. It’s a feeling we all chase, probably because it’s comforting to think happiness is far more valuable than money (except when you pop into Anthropologie). It’s also presumably why The Independent on Sunday champions its Happy List – resolutely described as ‘NOT the Rich List’ – that feature that contributes to the popularity of its much more commercially successful rival, The Sunday Times. The Indie’s incarnation, is a group of ‘100 people who help others’ – this year, two Bath women were honoured: Eirlys Penn, a needlewoman who runs social sewing enterprise The Big Mend, and Harriet Pocock, who runs the care-home entertainment business the Cat’s Whiskers Tea Dance Company. Inspired by their mentions, I decided to compile my own list based on local people who personally bring me joy. Here’s who made the Top 5: 1 The man from Cancel Bath Bus Gate Fines – for helping me buy shoes I don’t know Tim Conroy. But if I met him I’d give him a nice fat kiss because he’s responsible for influencing the council to reverse hundreds of people’s traffic fines in Bath – including my own £30 penalty, which I subsequently spent on ballet pumps (boosting the local economy in a winwin situation). When Mr T read that B&NES had suddenly decreed Dorchester Street a bus lane, put up a tiny sign and imposed fines for transgressors, he launched a Facebook campaign that within five days had amassed enough signatures to force the council to change their policy. And he hadn’t even received a fine himself. Now that’s what I call altruism. 2 The Tweet Up Bath twosome – for swapping business cards over cocktails Paul Kellers owns an estate agency, Sara Fairchild runs a coffee shop but together they’ve reinvented Bath business socials by organising popular Tweet Ups in trendy bars. You still get a name badge, but you don’t have to stand up and describe your business to a group of suited and booted types over a full English at 7am. Instead you start at 7pm and come prepared to party with over 270 other businesses (staggering home with a rather special goodie bag). Follow @TweetUpBath for the next one (29 July at Sub 13). 3 The fashion student who won Graduate Fashion Week – for scoring me style points with my London mates Grace Weller has won me style points with my London friends by helping me prove that the provinces aren’t a cultural and/or commercial wasteland. Weller, who studied at Bath Spa Uni won the Womenswear Award at London Graduate Fashion Week, (Stella McCartney is a former winner). Other hip highs include Bath postgrad Jack Wolf who just won a first novel award and radio-played folk band Bare Knuckle Parade – Bath’s answer to Mumford and Sons. 4 The Bikes In Bloom brigade – for making cycling chic Ever noticed those abandoned bikes around the city wrapped with flowers? They’re left there by the two-wheel tooth fairies, Bikes in Bloom, who weave their floral magic under cover of night. Who knows why they do it and who cares? They add art to the environment a bit like those customised pigs few years ago, only they’re much prettier. 5 Jamie Matthews, landlord of The Bell – for putting principles before profits This isn’t a political column – but I’m proud that the manager of the independently owned Bell Inn (saved from extinction by its regulars) was true to himself when he politely asked Nigel Farage to leave his pub. Jamie wrote on Facebook: “I told [Farage] that he was welcome as a citizen to have a pint – we are, after all, a public house – but it was inappropriate for him to be using our premises for his hustings.” Buy that man a beer. Or rather, go buy one from him, while you sit and work out who gets your happy vote. ■ @mrsstokeschina 12 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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The Bath Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd. We are proud to be an independent Bath business

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2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Telephone: 01225 424499. Fax: 01225 426677 www.thebathmagazine.co.uk © MC Publishing Ltd 2014 Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

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Not just a flash in the pan Melissa Blease talks to Bath’s BBC Masterchef winner Wan Ping Coombes about what winning the trophy means to her, as Ping picks her favourite pieces of music and talks about where her love of cooking will take her next

onton soup followed by fragrant rice and perhaps something coconut infused to finish: it’s a menu that, at first glance, you might expect to eat at a wobbly roadside table outside a street food shack in Malaysia. One wouldn’t, perhaps, expect such dishes to be part of the three course meal that won a Bath-based amateur cook the auspicious title of winner of the BBC’s hotly contested MasterChef 2014. But there was a lot more to that winning menu – and the woman behind it – than such a straightforward description could ever convey. For this year’s MasterChef competition, 33-year-old Ipoh-born Wan Ping Coombes took viewers on a journey through her personal history, her inimitable style and indisputable skills, eventually winning the hearts of all who travelled with her on this year’s voyage of TV discovery. Those notoriously tough cookie judges seemed to be Team Ping supporters right from the very start too; from the moment Ping first presented John Torode and Greg Wallace 14 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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with a seemingly straightforward bowl of noodles in her very first challenge, it was clear to many that she wasn't going to be a flash in the pan contestant. By the time she presented those same judges with that final menu (in reality, a not-so-simple feast offering a very personal teapot take on wonton soup, nasi lemak in a coconut and pandan sauce with sambal prawns and chicken coated with Spanish crisps, and a coconut and vanilla pannacotta with charred pineapple, freeze-dried mango, and pineapple and lime air), a brand new culinary superstar had been launched regardless of whether she would be the one to raise the coveted first prize or not. But raise the trophy she did, beating 60 other contestants and her equally gifted fellow finalists Luke ‘Yummie Brummie’ Owen and Jack ‘Professor Gyoza’ Lucas to the ultimate title, which Ping celebrated by downing a glass of fizz in one as millions of viewers punched the air and, no doubt, shed a fair few tears of relief that the tension was finally over for another year.

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FACE | THE MUSIC

HAPPY MEMORIES: left to right, It Gets Cold by Eliza and the Bear, the Phantom of the Opera, and Taylor Swift, Everything Has Changed Ping, however, remains refreshingly down-to-earth about all the ensuing acclaim, exuding none of that ego-fuelled ‘I deserved this’ nonchalance that blights winners of the reality TV show format, few of which test the real talent of any given contestant to anywhere near such a stringent degree as MasterChef. “I still can’t really believe I won,” says Ping. “I still feel as though I'm caught in a whirlwind and been propelled to a whole new world where people actually want to try my cooking – it’s the most fantastic feeling ever. I’m now in a position to do what I love most as a career – I’m juggling work with my family, but I’m loving every minute of it.” Now the competition is over, Ping is back home in Bath with husband Andrew and 18-month-old daughter Alexa. Prior to applying for MasterChef (Ping’s friend Nicola sent her the application form on the same day Ping received a redundancy notice from her previous job in hotel management), she had toyed with the idea of cooking professionally, but hadn’t really taken her ideas much further than a handful of at-home suppers and a bit of teaching. But as is often the case with people for whom certain skills and inspirations seem to come so naturally, Ping may have overlooked exactly how powerful the innate gift her mother – the woman she cites as her main inspiration and driving force – had bestowed her with; Ping only really started to cook while she was at university because she so desperately craved a taste of home. “When it came to entering MasterChef, I reminded myself that I had one chance to do what I loved best and I couldn’t waste that opportunity,” she recalls. “Throughout the whole process, I stayed focused on the job in hand and not the results after each test because it was important to me that I enjoyed every moment. People ask me how I apparently stayed so calm under pressure: I wasn’t aware that was how I was coming across, but if I could define how that happened, my top tip would be to live in the moment and just get on with doing the job in hand. “It turned out that I learn quickly when put under pressure and time constraints, and the skills and techniques I learned helped me be more creative, and more confident. The highlight of the whole experience, though, was when my name was announced as champion – that was just an incredible moment.” Ping has kept in touch with many of her co-competitors (including fellow Somerset resident Angela Langford, with whom she was forced to enter a very emotional cook-off towards the end of the series), and co-finalists Jack and Luke. And it’s likely that they'll all work together again in the not-too-distant future: MasterChef pop-up restaurants are scheduled to take place in London this autumn. Ping is also keen to take on Bath-based projects including supper clubs, a cookery school and perhaps a Malaysian cafe, all of which are under consideration; in her own words, “I definitely want to become a fixture in the culinary world and not just a passing fad.” But right now, she’s taking a bit of time out to think about her future and enjoy being kitchen queen of her own domestic empire, cooking dishes such as Char Siu (Chinese roast barbecue pork) with garlicky egg noodles and a steaming wonton broth for Andrew and Alexa when at home, popping into Mai Thai, Same, Same but Different or Yen Sushi for food on-the-move, or visiting Lucknam Park or The Porter for special celebratory occasions (where it’s to be hoped that Champagne supplies are kept topped up for the foreseeable future).

So what advice would the woman who John Torode called “pretty amazing” and Greg Wallace cited as “inspiring and exciting” give to people who want to follow in her footsteps? In what we’ve learned is typical Ping fashion, her advice is simple: “Trust your palette, love what you cook, love the people you cook for and cook from the heart.” For Ping, home and food really is where the heart is – and we’re lucky that her heart most definitely belongs to Bath.

Ping’s top ten: ❶ Eliza and the Bear – It Gets Cold They played this on MasterChef just before I lifted my trophy so it will always stay with me – the melody perfectly suited exactly how I was feeling at that moment. I can’t say the same for I’m Every Woman though! ➋ Survivor – Eye of the Tiger This was the song that I walked down the aisle to nine years ago – don’t ask me why, it just popped into my head when I was asked what song I wanted. I wanted some fun at my wedding so I dressed in burnt orange – I think my outfit sort of suited the music. ➌ Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing When I first met Andrew, we were very young and had to be temporarily separated as he was finishing his gap year in Malaysia and was returning to England. We spent our last night together at that time listening to this song while trying to keep awake. Every time I hear this song today it reminds me of that bittersweet night. ➍ Snow Patrol, featuring Martha Wainwright – Set the Fire to the Third Bar There’s no particular reason for this choice or story behind why I chose it - I just love the tune, and that’s that. ➎ Scott Matthews – Elusive Such a haunting, beautiful melody. ➏ Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now I love the film Mannequin as I’ve always really liked the idea of being locked in a department store after everybody has gone home. This song is the film’s theme tune and I particularly love blaring it out in the car to embarrass Andrew. ➐ Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran – Everything Has Changed I downloaded this song when I was in the middle of the MasterChef competition. I listened to it a lot after a long hard day – it became my chillout song. ➑ Santana – The Game of Love I was working in London many years ago and, although I loved the hustle and bustle of the city, I also loved listening to this tune on my headphones while fighting my way through the crowds – it’s a lively, happy tune that somehow lifts you out of yourself. ➒ Bedouin Soundclash – Brutal Hearts Andrew played this once in the car and I was immediately drawn to it. I repeated it over and over again until Andrew was bored listening to it. ➓ Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart – Phantom of the Opera. I used to listen intently to the stories that my English teacher told me about her visit to England and how amazing Phantom of the Opera was. About six years later, Andrew finally took me to see it for my birthday and I loved it. I love singing the big ballads at the top of my voice. You won’t find me entering X Factor anytime soon though. ■ www.pingspantry.co.uk

Listen to the Face the Music tunes visit : www.thebathmag.co.uk WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

JULY 2014

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JULY 2014

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Lifting the Georgian petticoats historian and TV presenter hallie Rubenhold says Bath has become the victim of austenisation – giving the false impression that 18th century life centred around tea parties and romantic happy endings. The truth about georgian women’s lives is much darker. Georgette McCready visited award-winning no1 Royal Crescent museum to find out more

daptations of Jane Austen’s novels may have given us the impression that those Georgians were a prim and proper bunch given to drinking tea, wearing bonnets and fainting at the merest whiff of a social faux pas, so says historian and 18th century expert Hallie Rubenhold. In fact, as a new exhibition in Bath, curated by Hallie, reveals, 18th century society at all levels was rife with sex and scandal. Portrait of a Lady: Ruin and Reputation in the Georgian Era lifts the petticoats of the time and displays its nakedness as we’ve never viewed it before. Hallie, who says she lives and breathes the 18th century and who lectures on the period, said: “This exhibition reveals the reality of women’s lives in the Georgian era. I fear that the city of Bath has been Austenised. The reality for women in the 18th century was nothing like its genteel portrayal in Austen’s books. “When, in Pride and Prejudice you look at Elizabeth Bennett going off into the sunset with her Mr Darcy, in fact if something goes wrong she’s not going to have access to her children or to any property. The dowry that was handed over on her marriage isn’t hers, she can’t even touch it. Her husband can legally rape and beat her if he chooses. I’d like to know what’s romantic about that?” The exhibition takes up just two rooms at No1 Royal Crescent museum, but there’s a lot packed in to the space, showing and telling the stories of women of the 18th century. If you’re interested in parallels of how life was lived then and now, these displays make for fascinating reading and make the viewer pause for thought. We might think that Twitter, Hello magazine and the tabloids have fuelled our obsession with celebrity, but the Georgians were the first to create the cult of the famous and the infamous. The statistics are shocking to modern eyes. Women could not vote and even their children did not belong to them but their husbands. In Georgian Britain it was estimated that one in five women was a prostitute at some

point in their lives. It becomes immediately clear that most women had no power back then, there was no career ladder to climb. If they were poor they might find that taking in laundry or working in service didn’t bring in enough to make a living, so they had to resort to selling their bodies. Women from better off families might find a bit of social climbing went hand in hand with becoming mistresses of wealthy and influential men. Then there were the women who came from poor backgrounds who went on to make their names, and their fortunes, by having a series of relationships with powerful men. These women included Miss Spencer, daughter of a Newcastle coal merchant, who honed her skills between the sheets to make a reputed £50 a night as a prostitute and went on to become the mistress of the Duke of Devonshire. Hallie is the author of The Covent Garden Ladies, a book about the 18th century directory of the same name which acted as a guide to the prostitutes in London. This handy little volume told gentlemen where they’d find the sort of woman they were seeking and it packed no punches in telling its readers in salacious tones all about their bodies and their specialities. This early form of soft porn was written under the pseudonym of Harris by Irishman Samuel Derrick, a seedy but apparently charming character who wanted to make his fortune as a poet but instead found himself sampling the wares of whores before reviewing and rating them for this most unusual of guidebooks. Derrick was to move on from exploring the back streets of Covent Garden to the ballrooms of Bath where he was appointed Master of Ceremonies for the princely salary of £800 a year. While we might imagine all that coy fan fluttering in the ballrooms of Bath concealed nothing more than innocent blushes and flirting, the truth is rather more seedy. An advert circulating the city at that time was written by Mrs Malone of 9 Gay Street. She claimed to have dropped a merkin at a ball

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IN GEORGIAN BRITAIN IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FIVE WOMEN WAS A PROSTITUTE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES

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CITY | EXHIBITION

RUIN AND REPUTATION: opposite, historian and exhibition curator Hallie Rubenhold Above, top, Keira Knightley played the scandal-hit Duchess of Devonshire Above, Hogarth’s Harlot, a warts and all glimpse of life on the streets in the 18th century Right, Miss Montague, one of the subjects depicted in mezzotint

and was offering a five guinea reward for its safe return. This advert was in fact coded. Mrs M was offering up her very personal services to any man who called at Gay Street for five guineas a time. Mrs Malone was just one of many making their living in the seedy underbelly of Bath society. The top brothels of London would send girls down to Bath during the season so the holidaying men could enjoy regular contact with their favourites. One of the innovations which rendered women as objects to be bought and sold was the mezzotint – a method of reproducing pictures in black and white so that many copies could be made. This led to women like Kitty Fisher, one of the most successful and celebrated courtesans of her day, having their portraits copied and circulated for all to enjoy. Kitty sat for portraits by Reynolds, which were then copied by mezzotint artists who then shared her beauty with anyone who wanted to buy her image. One wall of the exhibition shows the mezzotint portraits of women (lent from a private collection of Edward Bayntun-Coward, Chairman of Bath Preservation Trust) from all walks of life, challenging us to work out who was ‘respectable’ by their dress and demeanour. Lovely Kitty Fisher, whose portrait by Reynolds shows her as Cleopatra, tragically died in Bath aged around 28. She had been so successful as a courtesan legend had it that she once ate a £50 note between two slices of bread to show how wealthy she’d become. Kitty was on her way to Bristol when she checked in to the Three Tuns pub in Stall Street. She was dead by the next morning, killed by smallpox, consumption or possibly by lead poisoning from the heavy white make-up all the fashionable ladies wore. Side effects included hair loss and the skin eventually being eaten away by the lead – the equivalent, some might say, of the artificial beauty aids used today. Kitty’s death in Bath was as big a news as that of Marilyn

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Monroe’s centuries later. Her husband, John Norris, the MP for Rye, complied with her wishes for her to be laid out in her favourite ballgown and he decided that such was her fame that her fans would want to pay their respects, so her body lay in state in Bath, inspiring a popular ballad about her. She’s also the Kitty Fisher of the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket, although when one looks at the original ribald meaning of the verse it’s hardly an appropriate song for children to learn. The Georgian equivalent of the tabloid press had a grand old time poking into and speculating about other people’s private affairs. The Right Honorable Mary Bayntum, a married woman, found herself publicly humiliated as her alleged adultery was tried in a public court and details printed for all to see. Town and Country magazine even had a regular feature it called Tete a Tete which saw portraits of men and women linked together if it was perceived they were having an affair. If Mr X was seen visiting Mrs Y’s home once too often, this would be made public in print for all to draw their own scandalous conclusions. Some of the women featured who won infamy in their lifetime are still famous today. Georgiana Spencer, who went on to become the Duchess of Devonshire, had an affair and an illegitimate son with Lord Grey. A version of her life story was told in The Duchess film starring Keira Knightley. Francis Villiers also achieved fame as the mistress of the Prince of Wales (later George IV). This is an eye-opener of an exhibition and worth a visit, partly as a reminder of how much most women’s lives in Britain have changed since the 1700s, and partly as a cautionary tale of how women can still be used as commodities and objectified. ■ Portrait of a Lady: Ruin and Reputation in the Georgian Era runs at the Bath Preservation Trust’s No1 Royal Crescent museum until 14 December. Entrance to just the exhibition is £4. JULY 2014

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PUBLIC WORK: the Wiltshire Council headquarters in Chippenham, Monkton Park, a major design and refurbishment project carried out by Bath architects DKA in partnership with the council, has been shortlisted for an LABC Award. The awards celebrate the best in innovation, technical excellence, sustainability and design team performance. Monkton Park has been shortlisted in the Best Public Service Building category

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CITY | PROFILE

Designing our future Georgette McCready meets the team of architects and designers at DKA in Bath, celebrating 21 years of success, while ensuring that people are always at the heart of their work

f you were to design and build yourself a business in Bath you could do worse than to model yourself along the lines of city architect practice DKA which is this year celebrating its 21st birthday. You might start, as David Kent and two colleagues did, by learning from a larger practice and then launching a management buyout when the Bath office of that practice became the victim of one of the UK’s cyclic property recessions. David and his then partners in the new venture stayed in the historic and beautifully modernised open plan offices in Sydney Buildings, overlooking the Kennet and Avon Canal and with some of the finest views over Bath’s cityscape. Moving on 21 years David and his co-director Simon Lawrence have picked a team to work with who combine experience and expertise with a continual influx of young talents, as architectural students join the practice for invaluable work experience. Staff retention is excellent, with the average length of service being eight years, some as long as 17, 19 and 21 years. The pair also retain a personal involvement in every project that the in-house teams are working on, so, as David says: “If a client rings with a query and the architect they’ve been dealing with isn’t here, we are able to help.” The 22-strong practice is expanding but David doesn’t envisage it going beyond 30 personnel. He and Simon value client relationships and while the team is this small size, personal contact with each other and with clients can be kept at the forefront of what they do. Associate architect Alex Bell, who is currently working on plans for Bridgwater College, echoes this: “Because we’re working in an open plan office we all know what’s going on and because we mix the teams around for different projects we all feel involved.” Communication in the office is maintained by people working in teams of two, three or four on projects, closely sharing ideas. As Adrian Abbs points out: “We have to think of everything when we’re planning a building, from the landscape and the natural light, right down to where the sockets, the door WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

handles and the light switches will go.” The practitioners also have to consider heating and lighting costs, health and safety regulations and – perhaps most importantly – how the people who are going to use and inhabit the building will react to it. DKA has the ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ philosophy when it comes to the types of projects it takes on. This is another policy which other businesses could learn from, as is the belief by DKA that bank funding is a fairweather umbrella, liable to be whipped away if conditions get stormy. DKA’s three main areas of speciality are education, health and precision engineering. Recent project completions have included a new state-of-theart community hospital in Bridgwater and the fit-out of a specially designed showroom for Mercedes Benz in Exeter. The UK is a world leader in the area of precision engineering for motor manufacturers. As technology improves car designers need to have a safe, controlled environment in which to test vehicle performance and emissions. This is a growing field which began in Formula One and one which DKA is excited to be working on. Lead architect James Bastable has worked on the company’s flagship precision engineering projects and is currently working with Horiba and Ricardo to design a building which meets the highly technical requirements of this specialised area. Over in another part of the office architects Fabien Coupat and Adrian Abbs are working on the design for Melksham’s new leisure centre and community hub. This will be based around the town’s historic Melksham House and will provide facilities including a swimming pool, gym, library and doctors’ surgery, with the support of Sport England. The drawing boards of old were dispensed with years ago, instead the architects use 3D computer design programmes, but models are still made of buildings for clients and planners to see how the finished article will look. DKA puts people at its core, both inside the office and out in the community. Alex Bell and marketing manager Sarah Sempala-Ntege explain JULY 2014

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CITY | PROFILE

TEAM WORK: main picture, the DKA staff. Inset, director Simon Lawrence Above, in the open plan office director David Kent and associate Alex Bell Top right, architect Adrian Abbs at work. He was on the team who designed this centre for the development, manufacture and testing of Formula 1 Grand Prix engines for Mercedes Benz in Northampton Below right, closer to home DKA designed a sixth form boarding house for girls at Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire Office photos by Anna Barclay

how DKA begins its design process by talking to the building’s future occupants. If a school is being built, for instance, an architect will go and talk to the pupils about what they’d like to see in a new school. Sarah says: “We are currently working on an extension for Easton Primary School in Bristol. We heard the pupils were a little disappointed to learn that the large hole that had been dug was not going to be a swimming pool but a soak-away.” The modern practice also makes use of new developments in the wider society. Rebecca Furse is a designer and an environmental psychologist whose area of expertise is how people react to their surroundings. She worked closely with architect Adrian Abbs on Bridgwater Hospital to ensure it was a place where dementia sufferers, and their carers, would feel calm and be able to find their way around. As Rebecca says about the field of dementia care: “This is a growing problem for the country as a whole. The dementia challenge, as it has been called, is something that governments of all parties are going to have to deal with.” David and Simon bring their staff together for a pizza lunch once a fortnight, when a member of staff will have been asked to prepare a talk for colleagues about any aspect of design, from the work of a named architect to design in fashion or typography. As David points out: “We’re not all natural presenters and it’s a skill we need to develop for pitching to clients.” It’s not surprising to hear company secretary David Munday say that DKA have held Investors in People accreditation for nine years. They’re a multi-talented bunch of people too with all sorts of outside interests, from running and cycling to restoring an old sailing boat (Ray Tyner), writing apps for astronomers (Alex Bell) and harvesting olives in Andalucia (David Kent). I talked to David about which buildings or parts of Bath he’d like to get his hands on. “I always think that some of the approaches to Bath could be improved on,” he says. “I think the Fuller’s Earth site could be developed as something more attractive than a recycling centre. I’d also like to work on the old Bath Press building on the Lower Bristol Road, or create something on that island site near Sainsbury’s that’s occupied by offices.” As for work he admires in the city he singled out the extension at the Holburne Museum as a beautiful union of old and new. Listening to these architects in conversation makes one think that this profession requires a broad vision and creativity, along with the technical skills to follow that dream through, down to the last brick and tile of the finished project. This is a profession that has a profound and lasting effect on people’s everyday lives, and with it comes great responsibility – as architect Norman Foster once said: ““As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” At DKA one definitely gets the feeling that everyone there is all too conscious of that responsibility. ■

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Nurturing young talent DKA takes its responsibility to students very seriously. It regularly hosts teenagers on work experience placements from State and private schools. These youngsters are given various challenges through their week, from picking their favourite buildings to designing and modelling a building especially for the little island in the canal behind The Malthouse offices. As students move on to study architecture at university they need to gain experience in practice and DKA offers this opportunity, forging close and ongoing bonds with its adopted students. As one of the architects at the practice says: “We all had to find placements when we were students and this is our way of giving something back.”

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Matthew Kelly

Tim Pigott- Smith

WHAT’S ON in July Events are listed in chronological order To promote your event visit: www.thebathmag.co.uk

Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Until Saturday 5 July Theatre Royal, Bath Adrian Noble directs as part of the Theatre Royal summer season. Tim Pigott-Smith and Clare Higgins play the warring married couple immortalised on film by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Tel: 01225 448844.

Also at the Theatre Royal this month Kafka’s Dick by Alan Bennett Wednesday 9 – Saturday 26 July Sydney and Linda are a perfectly ordinary couple leading ordinary lives in 1980s Leeds when the surreal author Franz Kafka and his friend Max Brod turn up. The fact that they’re both dead doesn’t stop this developing into a classic Alan Bennett piece – fast-moving, fantastic and funny.

Emile Zola’s Thérèse Raquin Wednesday 30 – Saturday 16 August Alison Steadman plays the domineering aunt of the unhappy Therese, trapped in a loveless marriage. But the young heroine’s life is going to get much more unhappy after she comes under the influence of her lover Laurent.

★Editor’s pick Oh What a Lovely War Monday 7 – Saturday 12 July, 7.30pm

The Fantasy Orchestra in full fancy dress

The Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Director Ann Garner with a team of more than 20 actors from Next Stage and Next Stage Youth will bring this fast-paced, colourful piece to life. Filled with jaunty songs and dance, it’s also a sobering reminder of the pity of war on the eve of the 100th anniversary since the start of the First World War. Tickets £12 (£10 concessions) from 01225 428600.

Deathtrap Wednesday 2 – Saturday 5 July, 8pm The Rondo Theatre, St Saviour’s Road, Larkhall, Bath Core Theatre Productions celebrate its 10th anniversary bringing Ira Levin’s drama of twists and turns to the Rondo. The story of two men locked in deadly rivalry was made famous in a film of the same name starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Tickets: £10/£8, tel: 01225 463362.

Also at The Rondo this month The Fantasy Orchestra: We All Cycled Here Thursday 10 July, 8pm Lisbee Stainton at Chapel Arts

The Rondo Theatre, St Saviour’s Road, Larkhall, Bath A mass tour by bike pedals in from Bristol bringing more than 40 musicians from a variety of backgrounds who will bring a programme of everything from 1950s and 60s film soundtracks to Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. We heard them at Christmas at the Spiegeltent in Bristol when they were all in elaborate costumes – a surreal, absorbing experience. Tickets: £12/£10.

The Carrivick Sisters and Cardboard Fox Friday, July 4, 7.30pm Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1QR Laura and Charlotte, are identical twins who sing and play in perfect harmony. They perform their original songs on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and claw hammer banjo. Tickets: £10, tel: 01225 461700.

Also at Chapel Arts this month Lisbee Stainton Duo Friday, July 11, 7.30pm Bath Pageant of Motoring

Visit our website for more great events and things to do. To promote your event: log-on and get it listed

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When multi-instrumentalist Lisbee isn’t writing and recording her own work she tours with Seth Lakeman’s band. She has also toured with Joan Armatrading, Paul Carrack and Gretchen Peters and has just released Word Games, her fourth album. She will be joined by guitarist/singer Simon Johnson. Tickets: £15.

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La Fille du Regiment Saturday 5 July – 19 July Iford Arts Festival, Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon World class opera is performed in the exquisite miniature Italianate cloister at Iford Manor. Opera della Luna’s new version of Donizetti’s opera comique. Don’t expect comic opera soldiers – the regiment turns out to be one of California’s most notorious biker gangs. Picnics from 6pm. Conductor: Toby Purser. Visit: www.ifordarts.org.uk or tel: 01225 448844

Bath Pageant of Motoring Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 July, from 10am Walcot Rugby Club ground, Lansdown The Rotary Club of Bath is hosting this annual car fest in aid of the Wizzybugs charity which provides lightweight mobile wheelchairs for disabled children. Last year more than 300 vehicles took part, giving people the chance to get close to some classic and vintage cars. Tickets are £10 for adults, £6 children aged 5 to 16 and £20 for a family ticket. Follow the event’s development on Twitter @BathMotoPageant or visit: www.bathpageantofmotoring.com.

A Night at the Opera: City of Bath Bach Choir Saturday 5 July, 6.30pm The Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School, Upper Oldfield Park, Bath A sparkling evening of opera highlights, joined by three soloists setting out on their professional careers; soprano Verity Wingate, tenor Kieran White and baritone Rob Clark. Featuring arias and choruses from Carmen, Eugene Onegin, Don Giovanni, The Pearl Fishers and Verdi, including Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves and excerpts from Phantom of the Opera. The evening begins with a glass of Champagne, and concert goers are invited to dress up for the occasion and bring a picnic for after the concert. Tickets: £14/£10 under 18s. Bath Box office, tel: 01225 463362.

Jazz Factory Monday 7 July, 8pm Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon The centre’s long running, most successful regular workshops, weaving an impressive blend of young jazz talent, veterans and guest performers into a showcase of fabulous jazz. Free but book on tel: 01225 860100.

Shakespeare Live: Macbeth Monday 7 – Saturday 12 July, gates open 6.30pm Lackham House, Lacock A covered stand offers seats sheltered from rain and wind in a lovely outdoor setting. Enjoy a picnic, or buy a drink or refreshments. There is also a 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets, £15, except Saturday Gala Night, £20. Under 18s and students get a £5 discount and there are a limited number of groundling places. Visit: www.shakespearelive.com or tel: 07780 938107.

The Bradfordians present Jane Eyre Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 July, 7.30pm The Tithe Barn, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LF This is a new, true-to-book adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic Gothic masterpiece. Enjoy a picnic in this historic setting before settling down to enjoy this wonderful story with a cast of 40 of the best of local talent. Tickets: £12 & £10 concessions. Visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk or tel: 01225 860100.

Being Caroline, A Second Self Until 18 December The Herschel Museum, New King Street, Bath An exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of Caroline Herschel. An astronomer, professional musician and help-meet for her brother William, Caroline overcame the disadvantages of coming to Bath as an immigrant to forge a successful life. Her brother taught her English, gave her singing lessons and involved her in his own passion for star gazing. A family trail is available. Continued on page 28

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Seabright Productions presents: The Only Way is Downton Wednesday 9 July, 8pm The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham, Wiltshire Direct from a West End season comes this first national tour of Luke Kempner’s tour de force impressions comedy. As celebrities start appearing at the Abbey, cultures clash and eras collide in this new parody, which takes in many other popular TV shows and familiar modern voices to help the cast of Downton save the estate from financial ruin – again! £14 (£13 concessions), tel: 01249 701628.

Jason Manford Thursday 10 July, 7pm Komedia, Westgate Street, Bath Northern comic Jason Manford is bringing his national tour, First World Problems to Bath. Tickets: £25.65 from www.komedia.co.uk/bath. Luke Kempner’s national tour The Only Way is Downton

Dorothy House Summer Fete Saturday 12 July, 1pm – 4pm Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley near Bradford-on-Avon The annual Marquee Week (12-20 July) of fundraising events kicks off with the popular summer fete. There’ll be stalls and games, along with ice creams, a hog roast, cakes, a Pimms tent and a competition to find the dog with the waggiest tail. Entry, £1 (children under 16 free). Find out more about events in Marquee Week, visit: www.dorothyhouse.co.uk/events.

★ Editor’s pick The Great War in Costume: Family & Fashion on the Home Front Saturday 19 July – 31 August Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath The First World War changed women’s lives forever; in terms of status, class, position and what was acceptable for a woman to wear. The exhibition traces women’s lives and roles during the war, their work on the home front and how that influenced the way they dressed. There are examples of uniforms and civilian dress, memorabilia and propaganda, and costumes from Downton Abbey. For ticket prices and opening times visit: www.fashionmuseum.co.uk.

Posters lent from the Imperial War Museum

Zenith Youth Theatre Charity Concerts Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 July, 7.30pm (2.30pm, Saturday) The Mission Theatre, Corn Street, Bath Zenith Youth Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary year with a joyful romp through many iconic musical anthems as the 50-strong company sing their way through half a decade of musical theatre including Phantom of the Opera, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables. Visit: www.zenithytc.co.uk for details. Tickets: £10, tel: 01225 835301 email: tickets@zenithytc.co.uk.

The Colourful World of Kaffe Fassett Until 2 November. The museum is closed on Mondays

Richard Thompson

Kaffe Fassett at the American Museum

The American Museum in Bath, Claverton, near Bath This uplifting, inspiring, vividly hued exhibition demonstrates how American designer Kaffe Fassett lives by his maxim to “find colour in a grey world.” It’s been designed by theatrical designer Johan Engels with over 100 works of textile art – a kaleidoscope of knitwear, needlepoint, beading, and quilts. Put a bit of colour in your life and head up to Claverton to see for yourself.

Wellbeing Summer Festival Friday 18 July, 11am – 3.30pm Green Park Station, Bath This is a free event organised by Bath and North Somerset Council to promote positive mental health in the modern world. There will be workshops, food, music and stalls. To find out more call: 07825 115 775 or visit the Facebook page: Bath Wellbeing Festival 2014.

Charles Hazlewood presents: Orchestival Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 July The Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet A weekend of music, workshops, food and fun. Performers include Will Gregory from Goldfrapp, Squarepusher, The Unthanks and The British Paraorchestra, the world’s first orchestra of virtuoso musicians with 28 TheBATHMagazine

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disability. There’ll be a production of Noye’s Fludde, with theatre company Kneehigh and a cast of more than 800, with proceeds to the Somerset Levels Flood Relief fund. The Philharmonia will perform music by Mozart, Haydn, Wagner and Richard Strauss, while on the Sunday they will perform soundtracks from gaming classics. Tickets from £25, visit: www.orchestival.com.

The Ralph Allen CornerStone: home of Bath’s Stone Opens from Saturday 19 July, 10am – 2pm The new centre is on the site of former stone quarries in Combe Down village. It provides a unique educational resource for schools, teachers and visitors with digital displays, touch screens and items for visitors to handle, all depicting the origins, uses, and popularity of Bath stone for building and design, plus the histories of local residents including Ralph Allen, William Smith and Harry Patch. All are welcome. For opening times visit: www.ralphallencornerstone.org.uk.

The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War and Madness in 17th Century England – a talk by Adrian Tinniswood Wednesday 23 July, 7-8.30pm The Orangery, Dyrham Park, off the A46 north of Bath To know the Verneys is to know the 17th century. And Adrian Tinniswood knows the Verneys very well indeed. This is about the ordinary lives of some extraordinary people. It is about Aunt Eleanor ordering Van Dyck to trim a few inches off her waist when he paints her portrait, and Lady Anne airing the beds by having her maid sleep in them one by one. There are many more tales to tell. Canapés and perry on arrival. Tickets £7.50, tel: 0844 249 1895 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/events. Proceeds to the Dyrham Park Roof Appeal.

Richard Thompson Wednesday 23 July,7.30pm The Forum, St James’ Parade, Bath One of the UK’s greatest living guitarists with decades of fabulous music behind him. Rolling Stone magazine hail him as ‘a perennial dark-horse contender for the title of greatest living rock guitarist.’ For tickets visit: www.bathforum.co.uk.

Also at The Forum this month Sandi Toksvig Wednesday 30 July, 8pm The Forum, Southgate, Bath, hosted by Topping & Co How do you get rid of unwanted guests? What do you do if there’s a racket in the quiet carriage? How should you eat peas, and behave in queues? The award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and writer brings her wit and wisdom to exploring the social pitfalls of every phase of life, from christenings to condolence letters – and has uncovered fascinating details about how our manners have changed across time, from the earliest étiquettes to the changing nature of spoons. Tickets £5, tel: 01225 428111.

Free performance from the Wren Consortium Friday 25 July, 11am – 12.30pm No 1 Royal Crescent museum, Bath Named after one of the most highly celebrated English architects, the newly formed Wren Consortium explores chamber music in various national styles. It performs repertoire from the virtuoso violin by Locatelli to the genteel and gallant sonato by Handel. Members study at the Royal Academy of Music on the Masters programme. Free with normal admission to the museum.

Somerset Chamber Choir Saturday 26 July, 7pm Wells Cathedral, BA5 2PA Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius and music by Parry (I was Glad, Blest Pair of Sirens and Jerusalem) will be performed by Somerset Chamber Choir at this 30th anniversary concert, joined by the German choir Berliner Kantorei, professional orchestra Southern Sinfonia and three young soloists, all conducted by Graham Caldbeck. Tickets from £10. Tel: 01823 336344 or visit: www.somersetchamberchoir.org.uk. Continued on page 32 WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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CHOIR | PROFILE

Harmony: the key to success of choir One of Bath’s youngest adult choirs talks about why being in a chorus extends beyond the music

ath’s choral scene is very much alive and thriving, as you’ve only got to look at the what’s on schedules to see that almost every weekend there are concerts in the city’s churches, theatres and halls. The sublime sound of the human voice can be heard singing all kinds of music, from early madigrals and church music through the songs from musicals and film and cutting edge modern composition. The eight-strong Noctis chamber choir caught our attention when it recently teamed up with the Corsham Choral Society and Organum choir to perform a programme in Bath Abbey to commemorate the start of the First World War. The concert in May, which included Karl Jenkins’ acclaimed The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, was a sell-out success. One audience member told Noctis soprano Claire Miller afterwards: “That was simply the most moving concert I’ve ever been to.” Claire Miller If you missed that roof-raising event there’s a chance to catch it at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol on 4 August. It has been scheduled to be filmed by BBC2 for an across Britain documentary showing how the country is marking the 1914 centennary. Noctis is unusual as its members are comparitively young for an adult choir, its age range being between 23 and 35, with new graduate from Bath Spa University Michael Longden its youngest member, providing bass notes to the ensemble. Claire explained how Noctis came about: “Some of us had sung together when we were students at Bath Spa and after graduating we somehow couldn’t bring ourselves to leave the city and settled here. It’s a great musical hub with lots going on.” Michael Longden The choir’s conductor and founder is Francis Faux, who has a lifelong love of music and a career in it that stems back to his boyhood as a chorister. He brought the people together: “I don’t audition. I have to know that the people are going to get on well together and work well together.” It seems that harmony is important in the chemistry of the choir as well as in its performance. The name, which is Latin for night, was coined by Francis who wanted to avoid a long or complicated title and was inspired by the London choir Tenebrae (shadow). But far from remaining in the dark Noctis finds itself regularly in the spotlight, singing regularly at concerts, weddings and one-off occasions. The choir once spent a week in ruffs and tights singing madrigals at Longleat. Noctis is presenting a Summer Showcase in the Orangery at Dyrham House on Saturday 26 July from 7.30pm, in aid of the roof fund at the National Trust Francis Faux property. Concert goers will be welcomed with canapes and perry before enjoying a varied programme in the historic Orangery. Noctis will be supported by the Bath Spa University choir. Tickets can be booked at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park/things-tosee-and-do/events. Follow Noctis on Twitter: @NoctisChCh. ■

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Planning ahead WW1 Remembered Friday 1 – Monday 11 August, during library opening hours Bath Central Library, the Podium, Bath To mark 100 years since the start of the First World War, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s new exhibition will feature memorabilia from local people and stories from the conflict. With no living survivors to share their stories, the exhibition will consist of materials donated by residents, archives, collections and will include photographs, letters from the front, newspaper cuttings and much more. There will be a digital portrait of Harry Patch, who was one of the longest surviving First World War veterans and resident of Combe Down. Exhibits include a Victory medal found in a field near Paulton by Mr and Mrs Boswell in the 1950s. The medal has Private W. Wareham 5117 etched on it and they believe he was a member of the Somerset Light Infantry. The Boswells would like the medal to be returned to Pte Wareham’s family and it is hoped the exhibition will help this to happen.

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters Saturday 9 August Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters will perform alfresco in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey on Saturday 9 August, as part of the Abbey Extravaganza founded by Michael Eavis, with what promises to be a

Enjoy the trees at Westonbirt

has joined forces with Love Food Festival to off stalls from 30 local producers. Adult tickets, £15, concessions, £12, under 18s go free. Members of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum receive a 50 per cent discount. Visit: www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-treefest.

Will Self Wednesday 10 September, 7.30pm

barnstormer of a set, topped off with a firework display to finish. The band will be mixing African trance, psychedelia, and 21st century warped dance beats into a web of re-envisioned Led Zeppelin classics. Tickets: £35, £20 children aged six to 16. Gate prices are £40, £25 for a child aged six to 16. Visit www.glastonburyabbey.com/Extravaganza. There is a £3.50 delivery charge per order.

Treefest Saturday 23 – Monday 25 August Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury A weekend of forest based family fun activities, exhibitors and live music. Watch falconry displays, have a go at archery or enjoy watching the big carving. Children’s activities include Treefrog climbing, zip wires and den building. The food hall will be offering tasty delights and

Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath hosted by Topping & Co bookshop As columnist for the New Statesman and The Observer, and with regular appearances on Have I Got News for You and Radio 4, Will Self has gained a cult following for his scathing yet humorous wit. His shrewd observations are reign supreme in his new novel Shark, centred around the real-life story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the shark attacks that plagued the stricken survivors. Tickets: £6 in advance (redeemable against book price) from Topping & Co, tel: 01225 428111.

Chef’s Table with Michelin Star Executive Chef Hywel Jones Wednesday 24 September, 6.30pm Lucknam Park Cookery School, Lucknam Park Hotel, near Colerne Hywel will work at one of the cookery school islands to prepare a five course menu, talking guests through each dish and the skills and techniques he uses. Tickets: £150 per person, includes Champagne and canape reception, five course menu with wines matched to each course. Tel: 01225 742777. ■

Visit our website for more events and things to do. To promote your event log on and get listed. www.thebathmag.co.uk

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Pattern Cutting Summer School Introduction to pattern cutting designed for the serious home dressmaker, or fashion student wishing to design and make their own patterns. Five day Class covering in-depth pattern cutting techniques through step-by-step demonstration.

The venue will be in the lovely village of Chew Magna from 21 July. Standard blocks will be used and you will learn to change alter and adapt the bodice, sleeve and skirt to your personal requirements. I will cover how to interpret a design to garment pattern. ÂŁ350.00 covers class & materials, tea & coffee. Students will need to bring their own sewing machine and lunch. Please email Lee for more info on this class and others: Lhollahan@mac.com

07971 423793 â&#x20AC;˘ 01275 332242

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ARTIST | PROFILE

Patterns in the landscape Georgette McCready meets textile artist Penny Seume whose images of Bath won universal approval from customers at the newly opened Anthropologie store in the city

t was a serendipitous meeting at the opening of the new Anthropologie store, as we were all admiring the first floor room set featuring sumptuous velvet chairs and images of Bath hung over a faux mantelpiece which echoed the city’s Georgian architecture. A woman just in front of me was beaming with joy. As I met her smile, she said: “They’re my chairs.” “You’ve bought them?” “No, I designed them.” Penny Seume, who studied for her MA at Bath Spa University and who takes inspiration from the city landscape and architecture, was invited by prestigious American brand Anthropologie to submit some of her work to adorn the new Bath shop. She was one of a handful of creatives from across the south west to have their work displayed in this shrine to colour and design. A few days later, after that encounter, Penny and I meet to talk about her remarkable career, her work and her inspiration. A Londoner by birth Penny loves the skylines of cities; the falling grey misty dusk over the Thames, cranes peeking over the shoulders of buildings, skyscrapers juxtaposed across the New York skyline and the view down from Bath Spa’s art department at Sion Hill through the trees as the lights are twinkling in dozens of rooms below. She takes these images and paints or photographs them before replaying them in different ways. The Sion Hill view is rendered in watercolour, acrylics and collage before Penny takes little pieces of the whole and recreates them as a repeat pattern, or blows up a detail of a scene. From here she can create all manner of designs and reproduce them on silk scarves, lampshades or as 36 TheBATHMAgAzine

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wallpaper. The velvet cushions in midnight blue feature the glowing golden lights of that twilight Bath scene. They simply call out to be stroked and held. Penny was off to the Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey, where she was to show more of her work. Her career as a sought after artist working full-time from her Bristol home and studio is a long way from her job as a project manager at Hewlett Packard, but perhaps not so far from her post as a technician at Bristol University’s pathology labs where she dyed tiny pieces of human tissue, admiring as she did so the patterns and colours in the miniature that occur in the human body. Like many creative people Penny had always enjoyed painting and textiles but it wasn’t until she was bringing up her daughter that she decided to take her talents further and study part time for a foundation course. That led in time to her MA studies in textiles at Bath Spa. “It was then that I was told what I was doing was unusual,” she says. Recognition in the New Design Britain awards gave her the chance to show her work at the Interiors UK show at the NEC where she caught the eye of Evening Standard interiors writer and photographer Barbara Chandler, who in turn suggested she take part in an exhibition at the Oxo Tower in celebration of London. Penny continued to network effectively and to win new fans. She was able to show in New York where she was asked to create a design from her New

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ARTIST | PROFILE

INSPIRED BY CITIES: main picture, Penny Seume’s collage of Bath shows the view from Sion Hill. Top, the roomset in Anthropologie shows her work, which includes, bottom, Penny’s velvet cushions using details from her work Right, the artist with one of the specially commissioned velvet boudoir chairs made for Anthropologie

York skyline for a gold velvet sofa. That sofa, along with lampshades and cushions that reworked the same motifs, was awarded a distinction award by the Society of Designer Craftsmen at its show in the Mall Galleries, Piccadilly in 2013. The sofa was a result of a collaboration between a Dulux interior designer, a British handmade furniture company and Penny. She was then invited to supply pieces for the ABC Store in New York, and was after this that Anthropologie’s London office got in touch to ask her if she had something for the proposed Bath store. She produced designs for two boudoir chairs, some lampshades, cushions and the three original Sion Hill pictures. The icing on the cake came when Anthrpologie’s design team was flown in to come down to the south west to paint the trompe l’oiel mantelpiece and wall. “I have been lucky,” she says, “but the biggest thing for me is seeing people enjoying my pieces in store. It’s a fantastic feeling to watch them getting pleasure from my work.” View Penny’s work for yourself in Anthropologie on the first floor. You can also see her work at the following places: Cornershop, Craft Central, Clerkenwell 1 – 6 September when she’s having a solo exhibition. She’s also exhibiting as part of Made By Hand at City Hall, Cardiff, from 31 October – 2 November. A selection of handmade linen lampshades will be exhibited in the Ropewalk Gallery (www.the-ropewalk.co.uk) Switched On Exhibition at Barton Upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, throughout November. Local stockists for Penny Seume: Anthropologie Bath, SEED, Black Swan Arts, Frome, Makers, Colston Street, Bristol visit: www.makersbristol.co.uk. n

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CITYgardens

ART | EXHIBITIONS

SUMMER IN THE GALLERIES Frome Open Studios Various addresses, Frome, visit: www.fromeopenstudios.co.uk.

One of the pieces on display for Frome Open Studios

Home of the Unique Saturday 5, Sunday 6 July and Saturday 12, Sunday 13 July, 11am – 5pm

Border Country by Martin Greenland

Beaux Arts 12 – 13 York Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 464850 www.beauxartsbath.co.uk Artists of Fame and Promise Throughout July, 10am – 5pm

Known as the sixth coolest town in Britain Frome is home to many wonderful artists and is fiercely supportive of the town’s ethic to promote independent trading. Visitors will be delighted with the variety and standard of work including painting, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, jewellery, wood and glass work all beautifully handcrafted. Some 68 artists are exhibiting their work in all kinds of venues. Free trail maps can be found in Bath, Frome town centre and in many outlets.

This summer show pits together work by the gallery’s better known artists, such as Paul Mount and Elisabeth Frink, with a selection of the promising and aspiring. These include watercolour drawings by Peter Haslam Fox, innovative gold and silver sculptures on carved wood by Simon Allen, and Sir John Moores prizewinner Martin Greenland.

Quercus Gallery Queen Street, Bath. Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.30pm

Suspension Static (detail) by Sally James

Galliversary Summer Show Until 23 August Celebrating Quercus Gallery one year on! See work by present gallery artists and discover work by some new artists. Expect an eclectic yet harmonious array of paintings, prints, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, jewellery and textiles on display throughout the summer months.

The Holburne Museum Great Pulteney Street, Bath Tessa Farmer: Unwelcome Visitors Until Sunday 7 September Tessa Farmer is the creator of the miniature world of sinister fairies and their insect cohorts. The exhibition can be found on the first floor gallery of the museum, where visitors will be invited to try and spot the tiny creatures and their antics. The artist will be in conversation with zoologist Tim Cockerill and art historian Petra Lange-Berndt on Friday 11 July at 7.30pm, when they’ll be discussing flea circuses, insects and the mythology of Tessa’s created world. Tickets for the talk, £10/£8 concessions, tel: 01225 388569.

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Last year’s sculpture garden show

The Sculpture Garden Lynchetts, on the corner of Woolley Street and Silver Street, Bradford-on-Avon 11am – 6.30pm daily, closed on Monday. Entry £3 The sculptures will be dotted about this beautiful garden and will include pieces in bronze, steel, glass, wood, clay and stone, with three sculptures by Alan Thornhill, whose work is in national galleries and public spaces. There will be late-night opening on Friday until 9pm. The opening party, with entertainment and a free glass of wine, is on Saturday 12 July, 6pm – 10pm. Entry to that, £5.

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

Victoria Art Gallery Bridge Street, Bath Tel: 01225 477232

44AD ARTSPACE 7b Lower Borough Walls, Bath Tel: 07753 378325 Monday to Saturday 12 – 6pm, Sunday, 1pm – 5pm. www.44ad.net.

Radev2 Exhibition Until 31 August (closed Sunday mornings and on Mondays) The collection is named after Mattei Radev, an émigré from Bulgaria who became a prominent picture framer. He befriended Eddy Sackville-West and Eardley Knollys, both avid art collectors. Artists featured include Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Chaïm Soutine, Maurice Utrillo and Alfred Wallis. Lunchtime exhibition tours every Thursday, 12.30-13.10. Free to ticket-holders.Admission is £3.50 (£2.50 with a Discovery card), under 21s free.

Laura’s Place: fundraising exhibition Friday 27 June to 6 July, plus auction 7 July, 7.30pm Laura’s Place is an exhibition of fresh new artworks in which artists have been asked to respond to a portrait in the Holburne Museum. The painting is of Henrietta Laura Pulteney, 1777, by Angelica Kauffmann. Curators, Katie O’Brien and Melissa Wraxall, wanted to find a painting which would have a strong connection with the history of Bath, to inspire new 21st century artworks for their fundraising exhibition. All proceeds are in aid of 44AD’s move in August to new premises in Bath’s city centre. The artworks will be photographed and published in book form. 44AD artists are each producing a section of the image – a pixel – in their own style, resulting in 20 “pixels” assembled to create a large artwork. This Laura’s Place piece will be on display and auctioned alongside other artworks. Proceeds from the auction will go towards 44AD’s move fundraiser. Sealed bids are welcome in advance.

Frank Coombs by Glyn Philpot

Balloons Over Bath by Nick Cudworth

Summer Exhibition Until 26 July Featuring a different artist each week, Bath Contemporary plays host to a summer exhibition of diverse new work by a selection of artists including: Mike Bernard, Peter Kettle, Diana Matthews and Ellen Watson.

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Royal United Hospital Combe Park, Bath Bath Artist Printmakers, Reed Contemporary Art & Ros Ford Until 16 July, every day This is an opportunity to visit a public space to enjoy art. It’s also a chance to buy affordable, original art made in Bath. The prints are made by various techniques, ranging from etching, through to woodblock, lino, monotype, silkscreen, and mixed media. Reed Contemporary Art presents an exhibition of contemporary Chinese woodblock prints from two centres of Chinese printmaking, Harbin in the north east and Puerh in the south west. Ros Ford’s etchings are based on hidden industrial landscapes close to her home and studio. She makes drawings and photographs on location that she develops into a series of prints and paintings.

Peonies by Diana Matthews

Bath Contemporary 35 Gay Street, Bath Tel: 01225 461230 www.bathcontemporary.com email: gallery@bathcontemporary.com

Also at the Victoria Art Gallery Lasting Impressions print exhibition Until 31 August From Hiroshige to Hogarth and Goya to Whistler, this exhibition explores the gallery’s diverse print collection. It includes works by some of the best and most influential printmakers from the 16th to the 19th century. This exhibition is free. Enjoy a free gallery tour. To book a place, tel: 01225 477232. Tours take place from noon till 12.45 on Wednesdays, 16 July, 20 August and 17 September.

Nick Cudworth Gallery London St, top of Walcot Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 445221, visit: www.nickcudworth.com Summer in the City Tuesday 1 July – Saturday 30 August An exhibition of paintings and prints by Nick Cudworth that show Bath in the summer, capturing the intense golden light on the city buildings at various times of the day. The show includes a new, large oil painting, The Great Pulteney Triptych which features a panoramic view looking down Great Pulteney Street split into three sections presented as three separate paintings in an imaginary art gallery.

The Fruit (Pheasants in Winter) by Yu Chungyou

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ART | EXHIBITIONS

Gallery Nine 9b Margarets Buildings, Bath Tel 01225 319197 www.gallerynine.co.uk

Printing the Sunday Times by Edward Bawden

Summer Exhibition: A Celebration of British Printmakers Saturday 12 July – Sunday 31 August An array of British printmakers including Edward and Richard Bawden, Bernard and Chloe Cheese and David Gentleman, all outstanding artists. The ceramic presentation will feature James Campbell and David Leach, with a carefully selected collection of ten pieces of David’s work. The aforementioned will be complemented by two new jewellers Grainne Morton who aspires to evoke a feeling of nostalgia in her jewellery and Solange who works in silver and gold incorporating many precious stones. Adam Gallery John Street, Bath, tel: 01225 480406 open Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5.30pm Fred Cuming 12 – 26 July

The Garden by Bruce McLean

Fred Cuming RA is a vital part of the English landscape painting tradition. He has always been fascinated by the changing landscape around us: the skies, fabulous rainbows and wonderful rapid violent storms. This piece is Cuming’s Fowey Harbour: October.

Lane House Arts Nelson Place East, Bath, BA1 5DA Tel: 07767 498403 www.lanehousearts.co.uk One Year On Until the end of July Since graduating in 2013, Kathryn Stevens has returned to her native St Ives and continued her exploration of the materiality of paint, how paint works, the movement of paint, and the physicality of paint on canvas. Her canvases are constructions based on impulsive and improvised processes of colour, form and application of paint, working with the language of abstraction. New gallery artist Sara Moorhouse explores the ways in which spaces in landscape appear altered depending on the everchanging colours of season, weather farming and time. Her hand thrown and turned bowls act as a canvas for paintings that distil specific landscape scenes, perceptibly altering the size, depth and shape of the form by the applied colour.

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Arable Landscape: Spring by Sara Moorhouse

Hilton Fine Art 5 Margarets Buildings, Bath Tel: 01225 311311

After Matisse Until 19 July Matisse is one of the greatest painters of all time and currently wowing the crowds at Tate Modern with his sensational paper cut-outs, which once again shows how far ahead of his time he was. His daring innovations in colour, form and pattern have influenced generations of artists including Richard Diebenkorn, Milton Avery, Mark Rothko, Patrick Heron and Sarah Morris. This exhibition celebrates some modern day painters whose work has been influenced by this master – Derek Balmer, Sandra Blow, Martyn Brewster, Rose Hilton, Bruce McLean, Alice Mumford and Frank Phelan. Broadly the artists can be divided into two groups. Some of the artists in the show are more influenced by the pattern making and motif repetition, while others are perhaps more influenced by Matisse’s daring use of colour. Artists such as Matisse opened the door for many artists and have inspired work that seems relevant and current to today’s art scene.

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BOOKS | REVIEW

Books for holiday reading Helen Simmons of Corsham Bookshop picks some good reads for the long, hot days of summer

1 Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams Vintage £8.99 Stoner by John Williams has been rightly praised as one of 20th century’s great unappreciated novels, but I almost enjoyed his book, Butcher’s Crossing more. It’s the story of Will Andrews, a minister’s son who leaves the civilized confines of Boston, seeking a wildness beyond civilization. He meets Miller, a hunter with a tale of a herd of buffalo lost in a remote Colorado valley and ripe for the taking, but the journey to find them tests the men to their mental and physical limits: the epic landscapes, extremes of endurance and intense relationships change them forever. It’s one of those books that stays with you.

2 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Little Brown, £8.99 Aged 13, Theo Decker survives an explosion in a museum in which his glamorous, extraordinary mother is killed. The incident haunts him as he drifts through life. All he has to remember her by is an exquisite, stolen painting. But through the painting he’s dragged into the criminal underworld, his life in danger. Ranging from New York streets to the Nevada desert and the canals of Amsterdam, this is a gripping, fascinating odyssey, filled with vivid characters and high suspense. Gripping and a perfect holiday read.

3 The Death of Lucy Kyte by Nicola Upson Faber, £7.99 If you’ve not come across them before, Nicola Upson’s books in which the detective is best-selling classic crime writer, Josephine Tey, are well worth seeking out. In The Death of Lucy Kyte, the latest in the series, Josephine inherits a Suffolk cottage from her godmother. But the cottage has its secrets; the notorious Red Barn murder comitted nearby still casts its shadows and Josephine finds herself trying to untangle past history from very real danger in the present. Full of period detail, with complex, convincing characters and plenty of tension, this is an intelligently crafted and highly readable mystery. The Corsham Bookshop’s regular Celebrity Book Club meets on Wednesday 16 July at 7.30pm, when author Nicola Upson will be reading excerpts from the book and answering questions. These events are free but booking is essential. Call the bookshop, tel: 01249 715988.

4 Shepherds’ Huts and Living Vans Amberley, £16.99 A surprise bestseller this year has been Shepherds Huts and Living Vans, a beautifully illustrated history of these small, mobile dwellings, used variously for lambing or storing wood, feed or game – and many other things. In the 1800s they would have been a common sight, but as farming practices changed, they fell out of use. Today the shepherd’s hut is experiencing a revival, fast developing cult status. Lovingly documented in photographs old and new, this book provides an insight into a very pleasing world; our favourite is the hut now serving as a personal reading room. Idyllic. 5 A Change of Appetite: Where Healthy Meets Delicious Octopus, £25 Our new favourite cookbook for the summer is A Change of Appetite: Where Healthy Meets Delicious by Diana Henry. Curious about what healthy eating really means, and craving a diet with less meat and more vegetable, fish and grain-based dishes, Diana has created some gorgeous recipes. I’ve already made the Japanese ginger chicken (which was indeed delicious!) and have in my sights the warm salad of pink grapefruit, prawns and roasted coconut and the smoked paprika sardines with white beans and roast tomatoes – to name but two. Drawing on cuisines from all over the world, with down-to-earth information about what really is healthy, this is an inspiring, exciting cookbook.

Coming up . . . 6 The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters Publisher: Virago Fans of the award-winning author of Tipping the Velvet and The Night Watch will be pleased to hear Sarah Waters’ new novel is due out this autumn. It’s 1922 and London is unrecognisable after the chaos of the Great War. Ex-soldiers are disillusioned and the unemployed and hungry are demanding that it is time for change. In South London a house bereft of brothers, husbands or even male servants is about to be transformed. Penniless widow Mrs Wray and her spinster daughter Frances are struggling and are inclined to take in lodgers. The paying guests, Lillian and Leonard Barber – a young couple of the clerk class – shake up the world around them with their modern ways. The times are changing, and no one can predict how lives will transform. GMc

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Bath@Work Our series of photographic portraits by Neill Menneer shows Bath people at work. View a gallery of our Bath@Work subjects at: www.thebathmag.co.uk

Dr Amy Frost Curator at Beckford’s Tower and Museum

ooking after an 120 foot high tower with a museum collection inside is never boring, one day you can be raising funds to purchase incredible pieces of furniture and the next you are sweeping up dead flies in the roof. I started working at Beckford’s Tower in 2002, it was a part-time job that I thought I would do for about a year until I finished my studies at the University of Bath and moved on. Twelve years, and a PhD later and my fascination with William Beckford and his extraordinary tower increases every year. He was a remarkable man and one of the most important people to have ever lived in Bath. Once the richest man in England, he was involved in scandal, roamed the continent and wrote a gothic novel that has never been out of print. Above all Beckford commissioned amazing buildings in which he housed one of the greatest collections in Europe. Beckford moved to Bath and built the tower in 1826 as an escape away from the city, where he could go to read books from his extensive library or simply enjoy the view. When you look out across the landscape from the top you can really sense why building the tower was so important to him and it is still somewhere you can go to get away from it all. The atmosphere of this retreat is about to face its greatest threat though, with the plans to build a lot of three storey houses on the former MoD site opposite the tower. I have always loved architecture, my dad is a building surveyor and wherever we went we always looked at buildings. And not just in passing but really looked at them, above the shop fronts and round the back, all the parts that many people ignore. When I was 13 my history teacher took us on a trip to Stourhead and I became fascinated by 18th century buildings. I suppose it was inevitable that I would become an architectural historian and end up living in Bath. Alongside the tower I am also the architectural curator at the Building of Bath Collection, another gem and an essential visit for anyone interested in the city’s architecture. My job allows me to share this interest in Beckford and architecture with our visitors, although I couldn’t do that without the support of a brilliant team of volunteers. It’s vital that we encourage those who live and work in Bath to have a connection with the buildings that surround us, and to feel passionate about conserving them, it’s how we ensure they are looked after and continue to fascinate in the future. A young visitor who must have been about six years old once asked me if it was my tower (and was I the princess?) and it sometimes does feel like the tower is as much mine as it was Beckford’s, that’s the amazing thing about standing in a space that someone else 250 years ago also stood in. I’m not so sure about the princess part though. Beckford’s Tower and Museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until 26 October. For more information or to book on to the monthly All Areas Tour visit: ww.beckfordstower.org.uk, tel: 01225 460705. Twitter @beckfordstower. ■ PORTRAIT: Neill Menneer at Spirit Photographic www.capturethespirit.co.uk Tel: 01225 483151. WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

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FOOD | AND DRINK

Tasty bites ■ Students at the City of Bath College had their moment in the spotlight as they were joined by a pair of Michelin starred chefs in the college kitchens to cook and serve lunch for 50 VIP guests. The Field to Fork lunch was hosted by The Chefs Forum Bath chapter, with Sam Moody of The Bath Priory Hotel, pictured in the kitchen working alongside the students, and Richard Davies of the Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, overseeing the kitchens. Sam and Richard head the Bath chapter of the networking group, which always welcomes chefs as new members. The college’s Shrubbery restaurant was suitably decorated with tall table arrangements of flowers, fruit and vegetables arranged by floristry students. The Shrubbery is open to the public, Monday to Friday, for lunch. ■ Villagers in Freshford were hoping for a big name to come and cut the ribbon on the newly extended community-run Galleries shop and café, so they persuaded Prince Harry to come and do the honours. And if his performance seemed a little stiff at the opening ceremony, attended by dozens of locals, it may have been because he was a life-size cardboard cut-out borrowed from Bath Guildhall Market. The café, which is shared between Freshford and Limpley Stoke villages, opened in 2009, won a £50,000 Big Lottery grant and has gone from strength to strength as a profitable community venture run by volunteers, with two paid managers. Profits are put back into village projects. ■ Beaufort Polo Club is to host the charity Hospitality Action’s annual polo day on Sunday, 7 September. Lunch will be prepared by the team from Calcot Kitchens and Michelin-starred chefs Martin Burge of Whatley Manor, Hywel Jones of Lucknam Park and Sam Moody of The Bath Priory. The day, sponsored by Tetbury Audi, will begin with a Champagne and canapé reception. After lunch grandstand seats will be reserved for guests to watch the match before ending the day with a cream tea. Places are £90, or £850 for a table of 10. To book, contact Giuliana Vittiglio on 020 3004 5504 or at fundraising@hospitalityaction.org.uk.

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EXCLUSIVE READER EVENT

hef Alex Venables and his front-of-house partner Alison Ward-Baptiste are creating fresh waves in the Somerset countryside at their new venture, Seasons Fish Kitchen, following on from their years of success running the awardwinning Tollgate in Holt. Fans will be pleased to see Alex deploying his talents in the kitchen using fresh fish brought up from the Dorset coast by suppliers Samways, and delivered to an eager public. Seasons Fish Kitchen is in a modern, stylish unit, at Farrington’s at Farrington Gurney, where the term ‘farm shop’ is barely adequate to describe all that goes on here. From the popular play barn to the newly opened Mini Moos children’s wear, a plant nursery, fishmonger, along with a well stocked deli selling locally grown produce, it’s no wonder customers come from far and wide. Alex and Alison’s latest offering allows busy parents to swoop up ready cooked moules mariniere for supper, or to bring hungry kids in for fresh cooked fish and chips. There’s a fryer dedicated solely to gluten free cooking and for anyone wanting fish served in a less calorific manner, there’s the option of batter-free, served with salad and new potatoes. You can eat in or take away and now that the summer’s here there’s a range of fresh and unusual salads, with fresh crab, prawns, or Alex’s own smoked haddock Scotch egg – ideal for picnics. There’s also a Fish on Wheels service, delivering to your door, or you can book Alex to cater for your own private party at home. Seasons is running a series of dine and demo evenings, which proved so popular during their

time at the Tollgate. Alex and Alison are to host an exclusive event for readers of The Bath Magazine on Wednesday 16 July. You’ll be welcomed at 7pm with a complementary glass of Pimms, and a chance to meet Alex and chat before he begins sharing the skills needed to make a classic bouillabaisse. He’ll take you through filleting fish, preparing mussels and putting the dish together. He will also be running through how to make the perfect garlicky aioli and a classic rouille. Following the demo there’ll be supper with a complementary glass of wine, followed by coffee and homemade chocolates. Places are limited to just 18, so it should be a nice social occasion. Tickets are £25, to include a goody bag to take home. To book call: 01761 452809 or email Alison at: info@seasonskitchen.co.uk.

Raise a glass

Bella’s mixing it up at the bar Expert cocktail maker Bella Newman has taken over as Queen Bee of mixologists at the ArtBar in the Abbey Hotel, where a major makeover is about to take place. Bella originally came to Bath as a drama student and started working behind bars as a way to fund her studies. She earned her stripes at Circo Bath and the Porter, before moving to the ArtBar on Bog Island where locals and hotel residents enjoy sitting on the terrace with a drink watching the world go by. Bella said: “I am really excited to be taking over ArtBar just as it is about to undergo a major makeover and cannot wait to have my new look bar in a few months. For now I am starting with the drinks list, the new menu will feature lots of local products and fresh seasonal ingredients. Having Chris Staines in the kitchen sets the standards high and I really want my cocktail list to compliment his amazing menus and flair for flavour. I know we are going to have one of the best bars in the city, watch this space, but come in and say ‘Hi’ too.”

Great Western Wine of Bath has been shortlisted for best wine merchant in the south west in the International Wine Challenge 2014. A team of leading wine business leaders and writers have shortlisted the wine merchant as one of the three best wine companies in the region, judging them on their wine range, customer service, staff knowledge and involvement in the local community. Great Western Wine retail manager, Richard Lecoche said: “We’re delighted to be nominated once again, as the south west’s Best Wine Merchant by the International Wine Challenge. Fingers crossed we can scoop the main trophy for all of our brilliant customers, winemakers and the GWW team.” The results will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 16 July. On Sunday 3 August, GWW will be hosting a Quintessentially English Summer picnic event at the Queensberry’s Olive Tree restaurant, to showcase and celebrate the award-winning wines from one of the UK’s top producers, Ridgeview Wine Estate. The evening will feature a selection of picnicthemed dishes, created to match a selection of wines from Ridgeview, and hosted by their head winemaker Daniel Ham. For tickets visit: www.greatwesternwine.co.uk/events or tel: 01225 322810.

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THE DINER’S

DIGEST

SIX OF THE BEST for alfresco dining

With the promise of warm sunny evenings in sight, food writer and blogger Melissa Blease picks half a dozen places in Bath where you can eat outside Casanis

Bistro La Barrique

Occupying one of the prettiest buildings on one of Bath’s most picturesque traffic-free streets, Casanis provides one of those lovely dining out experiences that blurs away all those day-to-day stresses the moment you step through the door. Front of house queen Jill Couvreur and her husband/chef Laurent have infused their smart, welcoming modern French bistro with effortless good taste, more Marais than Monaco in ambience and oozing gentle joie de vivre. This much, fans of Casanis already know. But what many still fail to realise is that an utterly charming private garden transports diners from Paris to Nice; there is no better backdrop to Laurent’s classic Provençale soupe de poissons, carré d’agneau or tarte aux pomme than a table here. Every year, Jill and Laurent celebrate Bastille Day in style, offering festive menus, music, a boules tournament and more. It’s all happening on Monday 14 July – Vive la Revolution! Casanis, 4 Saville Row, Bath Tel: 01225 780055; web: www.casanis.co.uk

Tapas menus aren’t exactly a novel concept, and the art of grazing is now a long-established British summertime sport. But Bistro La Barrique is unique in that it exists in a cheerful merrymaking microclimate all of its own, thanks largely to the Franglais flair that infuses nearly every dish – it’s possible to eat like our fellow Europeans (meat/fish, salad/vegetables, bread, wine) for around £15 a head; play the weather forecast cards right, and you’ll be soaking up the sun in one of Bath's prettiest private courtyard gardens while you do so. As well as enjoying a reputation as an exceedingly congenial host, head chef/proprietor Michel Lemoine is also known as the Prince of the Petits Plats, offering menus comprising a comprehensive range of dishes, around the £6.50-£8 mark, all largely inspired by the classic French bistro experience (tatins, cassoulets, terrines, etc). The weekday lunch special offers a choice of two PPs and a side dish for £9.95, and the comprehensive wine list – also overseen by Michel – is the oenophiliac equivalent of a Mediterranean cruise. Bistro La Barrique, 31 Barton Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 463861; web: www.bistrolabarrique.co.uk

Hall and Woodhouse Less than a decade ago, the imposing former warehouse space was home to Bonhams auctioneers. But although the building has been given a contemporary facelift, artful respect has been paid to the heritage of the building’s original purpose. This split-level bar/pub/restaurant features plenty of quirky details, antique photos, reclaimed furniture, vintage candelabras etc, and stylish lounging opportunities. Follow the grand, sweeping central staircase however, and a unique experience rewards your exertions. The rooftop garden offers bird’s-eye views across Bath’s rooftops, resulting in a glorious suntrap from which to embark on a journey through modern British menus. Be warned, though: rooftop opening hours and food service times tend to be subject to weather and available staff, so if you’re after a dining-under-the-stars experience, make your intentions known when you book. Inside dining areas offer a bright’n’breezy vibe come rain or shine. Hall and Woodhouse, 1 Old King Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 469259; web: www.hall-woodhousebath.co.uk

Loch Fyne Known for serving impeccably sourced, sustainable, seasonal fish and seafood in a glamorous, airy dining room of epic Georgian proportions, Bathonians think they know all there is to know about Loch Fyne. But like Casanis and Bistro La Barrique, the restaurant’s best summertime tables are initially hidden from view: fish fans, we're delighted to inform you that there’s a gorgeous private dining courtyard tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of the grand dining room itself. Now if the LF kitchen was headed up by a superstar chef with a PR-driven profile, we'd be into the realms of triple-figure dining at Loch Fyne. As it is, an a la carte fish feast here is likely to come in at under £70 for two, even if you opt for lobster spaghetti or the super-satisfying seafood grill main courses, while regularly-updated offers and set menus make taking a splash even more super-affordable. Take your piscatorial paradise experience outside, and enjoy a super-foodie, wallet-friendly fish supper. Loch Fyne, 24 Milsom Street, Bath, BA1 1DG. Tel: 01225 750120; web: lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk

The Garrick’s Head You can’t miss The Garrick’s Head’s alfresco tables: the large terrace, next to the Theatre Royal, dominates the Sawclose north-side vista, while the tables in the adjacent lane all year round are rarely left empty, and get crowded when the sun comes out. But did you know that the fish and chips, burgers and even the butties here are reckoned by many to be the best in Bath, while chef Tony Casey’s more gastronomic dishes are keeping the Bath food cognoscenti grapevine buzzing with all manner of “up-and-coming chef to watch” acclaim? Get down to the Garrick’s, grab a table and try for yourself some summertime grub. Try your best, however, not to grab a passing theatrical type on their way to the stage door; rumour has it when a Garrick’s regular stopped uber-thesp Simon Callow in his tracks, he scoffed half of her burger and almost all her perfect chips by way of recompense for the photo opportunity. You have been warned. . . The Garrick’s Head, 7&8 St John’s Place, Bath, BA1 1ET. Tel: 01225 318368; web: www.garricksheadpub.com

CARLUCCIO’S The suntrap courtyard at the epicentre of the upmarket Milsom Place shopping complex offers the greatest concentration of alfresco dining opportunities in Bath. At the heart of the whole affair, Carluccio's reigns as a splendid staycation spot from which to people-watch, say ciao to the sunshine and chow down on a vibrant Medi-themed feast. As one would expect from a venture devised by the Godfather of Italian food, authenticity and personality loom large. The vibe is that of lively NY-meets-Milan mash-up combining a buzzing restaurant, thriving deli, chic Aperitivo bar and heated alfresco patio – one half expects to see Robert De Niro sipping caffè ristretto at a table. If, however, you'd prefer to take a taste of Antonio away with you to a more pastoral location, picnic hampers stuffed with generous portions of seasonal, regional Italian classics start at £45 for a moveable three course feast that would satisfy two hungry glampers, while the bambini get their own hamper for £10. Carluccio’s, Milsom Place, Bath BA1 1BZ Tel: 01225 312604; web: www.carluccios.com

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THE THREE GABLES The Three Gables is the ideal venue for all kinds of celebrations, from private parties to corporate entertaining or a romantic dinner for two. When the weather allows there is an amazing terrace on the restaurant level that’s perfect for al fresco dining, on a long, lazy summer evenings. A Serial Award winning Restaurant with International reputation

THURSDAY 10TH JULY - LA RIOJA ALTA WINE DINNER

Recent Awards: November 2013 British Curry Awards November 2013 Asian Curry Awards

Enjoy a fantastic dinner celebrating Spanish wines at The Three Gables. The evening, hosted by Francisco Corpas.

WEDNESDAY 16TH RUINART CHAMPAGNE DINNER Ruinart is the oldest established Champagne house, exclusively producing champagne since 1729.

Special Summer Lunch offer £12.00 Two Courses • £16.00 Three Courses 4 Argyle Steet, Bath BA2 4BA. Tel. 01225 466833 / 464758 www. Rajpoot.com Connoisseurs choice for 33 Years. Open Daily.

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The Three Gables, St Margaret’s Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DA Telephone 01225 781666 www.thethreegables.com info@thethreegables.com

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FOOD HEROES

Pretty delicious dishes Georgette McCready lunched at Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen to find out why foodies from as far away as London are beating a path to the Bath restaurant’s door

sually when you interview a successful chef and you ask him about his background he’ll trot out a CV that includes time served in sweaty kitchens under the great names of British cuisine or even world names. But Richard Buckley, joint owner and chef at Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen in Bath smiles and says: “I didn’t train anywhere, I’m just a massive nerd.” A bright and diligent nerd at that, who is passionate about good food and has honed his skills by hour upon hour of learning and experimenting, of tasting and testing. The other thing which has spurred Richard on to achieve in the notoriously competitive independent restaurant scene is that he loves to eat – and having been brought up as a vegetarian, he is genuinely enthusiastic and excited about preparing delicious dishes from fresh, seasonal produce. Acorn is housed in one of Bath’s oldest buildings, dating back to 1622, but the elegant ground floor dining room has a light and airy Georgian elegance. It is housed in Ralph Allen’s old home tucked away overlooking the rear of the postmaster’s later development, the ornate Ralph Allen’s Townhouse. The other thing that distinguishes it is that it’s one of Bath’s few vegetarian restaurants, with a following that extends as far as London and is prepared to travel to sample its dishes. Richard with business partners Rob Eldon (front of house) and designer Helen Wilshire have been running the restaurant since Rachel Demuth sold it a year ago.

❝ I THINK ALL BUT THE MOST NEANDERTHAL AMONG US HAVE LEARNED TO ACCEPT AND EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF MEAT-FREE COOKING

❞ I think all but the most Neathanderthal among us have learned to accept and embrace the concept of meat-free cooking. It’s the subtle bits of vegetarian cuisine which can still catch us out when we’re entertaining vegetarians, like Parmesan cheese being made with calf rennet and isinglass (fish bladders) used in some wine production. If you are a vegetarian, you can eat at Acorn in the safe and secure knowledge that your food is genuinely animal free. And if, like me and my lunch companion Saber, manager of Topping & Co, you’re an omnivore, then you can eat at Acorn assured that most of what you’re eating is locally sourced, all is freshly prepared and there’s not a microwave to be found in the kitchen. The vegetables are mostly sourced from Castle Farm, an organic farm at Midford, which keeps the food miles low. The first thing you notice about Acorn’s dishes is how pretty they look. As we watch a plate of food going to a neighbouring table we admire the fresh delicate colours. Richard and his team get genuinely excited when the first of the season’s crop arrives in the kitchen, whether that be wild garlic gathered in spring by Richard from the woods, or the first tender tart/sweet pink stems of rhubarb. This would be a brilliant place to come to challenge someone who had declared: “I don’t like broccoli,” or “vegetarian food is all about brown rice and lentils.” The only lentils we encountered were a gentle scatter of soft puy lentils studding some tender spring greens. And 50 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Acorn’s truffled broccoli, which Saber had tried before but ordered again, was such a firm favourite with regular customers that it was kept on the menu longer than intended. I’ll admit to not being a big fan of cauliflower. The only way you’ll get me to eat cauliflower is in a blanket of cheese sauce or curried, but then I tried Acorn’s cauliflower panna cotta. A creamy subtle delight that converted me to cauli. It was the same throughout our meal, as we tasted and challenged each other to ‘spot the ingredients.’ An intriguing little pool of grey-green sauce on the edge of my plate, an accompaniment to a white onion tart turned out to be sage pesto, while a quenelle of savoury mousse was subtly flavoured onion and cider cream. The lunchtime menu is £13.95 for two courses, or £16.95 for three, or you could take the more informal approach and order little plates for sharing. These range from standards such as hummus with bread and olives to chickpea fritters with an orange rosemary emulsion or fresh asparagus in a lemon thyme dressing. These little plates range in price from £2.95 to £3.50 and the menu reckons six to eight of these will satisfy two hungry people. We chatted to Richard about his approach to food and how he came into the business. A philosophy graduate, his epiphany came after eating a meal at Café Maitreya in Bristol, run by chef Mark Evans (who is now running Tierra Kitchen in Lyme Regis). It was, he says, a meal that made him change direction in life. To Richard good food is simply good food. He doesn’t think it’s a matter of meat-free. Instead he spends time and care on creating well balanced dishes, in

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FOOD HEROES

Carrot Paté

GOOD LOOKING PLATES: main picture, the interior of Acorn and the street scene in North Passage Above, a pretty arrangement with fresh beetroot that’s as good to eat as it is to look at

terms of flavour, colour, texture and nutritional balance. It’s while I am tucking into my white onion tart with all its little extra flourishes, that he observes wrily that a dish as complex as this would take me three days to make at home. Everything we ate and enjoyed had clearly been made not only with skill and care but with enthusiasm and passion too. This is food from the heart, to be enjoyed with friends. Acorn also pays attention to offering its customers good quality vegetarian wine too and a range of drinks from Champagne to caffeine-free rooibos tea. Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen, 2 North Passage, Bath BA1 1NX, tel: 01225 446059. Open hours noon to 3pm and 5.30pm – 9.30pm. Acorn will be hosting a tasting supper at Topping & Co bookshop on 30 October as part of the Great Bath Feast to launch its second cookbook, Acorn Volume 2. Tickets are £10 from the bookshop which include the book. Tel: 01225 428111. ■

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One of our most popular dishes in the restaurant, it’s simple to prepare, delicious and great to share. We serve it with a selection of pickles and tamari cashews, but you can lift the flavour with a splash of soy sauce to dip it in. INGREDIENTS • 750g carrots, peeled weight • 250g cashews • 15g ginger, peeled weight • 5 star anise • ½ tsp coriander seed • rapeseed oil • Maldon salt COOKING INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 180C Cut the carrots into 2cm chunks Thinly slice the ginger into large strips Toss the carrots, ginger, star anise and coriander seed with a generous dash of oil and a large pinch of salt. Put in a high-sided baking tin and cover tightly with tin foil. Roast for 30-40 mins until the carrots are very soft. Meanwhile toast the cashews on another baking tray until golden brown. Put in a food processor and blend to a coarse texture with the biggest pieces the size of small peas Allow the carrots to cool a little then remove them from the spices making sure none are left. Put the carrots into the food processor and blend to a coarse paste. Mix the carrots and cashews together and season with salt to taste. Put into the fridge to cool and set a little and then either put into moulds or use as a spread on lightly toasted bread.

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THE WINE COLUMN Angela Mount, wine and food critic chooses a red, a white, a rosé and fizz to suit the summer vibe

ummer is supposedly here, and this month is all about a festival of wines from regional France, which the lovely team at Great Western is featuring, with 12% off all still wines. This isn’t about the classic wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, it’s a voyage of discovery of the wines from the south, and also the lesser known more northern regions. These frequently offer far better value than their better-known neighbours. I’ve picked a lovely bright Sauvignon from the north, and three wines from the south and south west to suit the summer vibe. Sauvignon de Touraine, Domaine de Pierre 2013, (GWW £10.75, down to £9.46 in July) If you prefer the more subtle freshness and flavours of sauvignon blanc from Sancerre, over the more sassy, overt New World styles, but don’t like the price, this is the wine for you. It’s new to the Great Western Wine range, and is a delightfully lively, yet subtle, crisp white, at a cracking price. The team have discovered this little gem, produced on a small family vineyard in the Touraine region of the Loire Valley. With a lovely subtlety and delicacy, it’s full of soft, lime and fresh herb aromas, and refreshing, light citrus flavours. A perfect summer white with salad, herb-dusted white fish, or goats cheese. Chateau Du Donjon Minervois Rose 2013 (GWW £9.95 down to £8.76 in July) I can’t write about French wines for summer without featuring a classic southern French rosé. This is one of my favourites, with a little more body and colour than Provence rosé, and a delightful, fruity freshness. A true Riviera rosé, it has an alluring charm, from the stylish look of the bottle, to the glorious treat within. Bursting with a cornucopia of bright, juicy summer red berries, this delicious pink, from the Languedoc area, close to the Mediterranean is a blend of spicy syrah, and soft, fruity grenache. Fruity, yet bone dry. Sheer joy. Enjoy it with tuna nicoise, chargrilled prawns, Indian-spiced chicken, or on its own. This is a wine to make you smile and relax.

Blanquette de Limoux Brut 2011 (GWW £15.95) Cool, crisply fresh, and utterly delicious, this is a fabulous sparkling wine from Limoux, a region, close to the medieval city of Carcassonne in south west France. It’s produced in the same way as Champagne, but with different grape varieties, in this case the relatively unknown Mauzac. Bright and breezy, it has the bright tang of green apples, and a hint of ripe pear, with a rich, toasty, creamy finish. With more character and depth than prosecco and cava, and better value than cheap Champagne at this price, it’s a safe bet for summer bubbly. Cotes Du Ventoux, Les Boudalles, Cotes du Ventoux 2013 (GWW £9.50) I can’t help but smile each time I write about this wine; it’s an all time favourite of mine, and works well all year round, but never better than now. It’s everything that soft, easy to drink southern Rhone red should be, but with bells and whistles added on; with real depth and style, it’s a lighter style of Rhone, with a super-ripe, juicy spring in its step. Brimming with glorious cherry, raspberry and plum fruit, brushed with scents of wild herbs and licorice, it’s a perfectly balanced, midweight, soft yet textured southern red, oozing velvety style. Perfect for barbecued leg of lamb, herb-scattered steak, or a simple platter of charcuterie. All of the above, plus a mixed case can be ordered through our website. Enjoy a 10% Great Western Wine discount by entering the code on Angela’s wine column. Visit : www.thebathmag.co.uk

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CITYPEOPLE

CITY LAW FIRMS EXPAND

News in brief ■ A new household advice and restyling company offers a fresh perspective on helping Bath homeowners brighten up their home, freeing up space or getting them ready to go on the market. The House Doctoring Agency will help redesign, restyle and re-inspire by helping homeowners identify the items they need to remove, declutter and re-model. German Diaz Pocquet, director, pictured, says: “I am delighted to offer this new service to the residents of Bath.” Tel: 01225 422235 or visit: www.housedoctoringagency.co.uk. ■ Specialist move manager Sara Milward-Oliver, pictured, has changed the name of her business from Tailormade Moves to Tailormade Relocation. She said: “We wanted to stress to our clients that we can help them with any or all aspects of their move from one home to another – and not just the move itself. From finding a property to project managing small works and unpacking everything at the end of the process is all in a day’s work.” The service is used by older clients downsizing or moving into retirement communities, and working clients who don’t have the time to handle their own moves. Contact Sara , tel: 01225 868692, email: sara@tailormaderelocation.co.uk. ■ The 2,000 plus staff at Sirona care and health, a not-for-profit organisation which provides community health and adult social care in Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire have voted to adopt the volunteer blood motorbike couriers, Freewheelers as their charity of the year.

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wo of Bath’s biggest law firms have merged with other businesses, strengthening their position in the south west. Mogers has teamed up with Dorset and Somerset based Dyne Drewett to become Mogers Drewett, while Withy King has announced its merger with Swindon-based Lemon & Co, but will retain its name in Bath Steven Treharne, Mogers Drewett’s managing partner, said: “Both companies can trace their histories back to the 19th century and it is right that the names should live on. We are proud of our heritage yet as with all fast growing businesses, we are focused on the future and our clients are at the heart of what we do. We believe in being at their side when our advice and assistance is needed. “Both Mogers and Dyne Drewett offer significant private client, agricultural, corporate and business services and we have both bucked the downturn with expansion and recruitment. The joining of our two firms will both complement and strengthen our teams who are all looking forward to the opportunities the new company will bring.” The new firm, which also has a new logo, has offices in Bath, Sherborne and Frome. It will also open a new office in Wells relocating its team from Shepton Mallet. Visit: www.md-solicitors.co.uk Withy King, which has its headquarters in Bath and offices in Swindon and Marlborough, and Lemon & Co in Swindon, joined forces on 30 June. Graham Street, managing partner at Withy King, said: “We are very pleased to welcome the team at

MANAGING PARTNERS: Steven Treharne of Mogers Drewett, Graham Street of Withy King and Deirdre Moss of Lemon & Co Lemon & Co to our firm and look forward to working closely together to achieve our ambitions of providing an unbeatable service to our clients and achieving our aims of becoming a UK Top 100 law firm.” Withy King, recently ranked in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to work for, employs 280 people, including a team of 30 in Swindon, and has a turnover of £18.1m. Lemon & Co has a staff of 40, including three full equity partners, and a turnover of £2.4m. Withy King will be moving from its current offices in Old Town, Swindon, to join Lemon & Co’s team in Regent Circus, Swindon. The firm will initially be known in Swindon as Withy King, incorporating Lemon & Co.

Customers join staff for women-only charity race Staff from Bath’s jewellery shop Fabulous were joined by some of their customers for the annual Race for Life in the city in aid of Cancer Research UK. It’s the seventh year that Fabulous, which has shops in Bath, Leamington Spa and Solihull has taken part in the 5k race. The team included store manager Becky Johnson, and five customers from the Bath shop. It’s not the first charity event this summer for the Fabulous team. Owner Jo Stroud, with Becky Johnson and the senior management team tackled a 30 mile (50km) walk in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign, setting out from the Southgate store, and walking along the River Avon Trail all the way to Bristol and back again. Staff from the Leamington and Solihull shops did a similar trek, bringing the

RACE FOR LIFE: the Fabulous team, Lisa Paterson, Becky Johnson, Angela MacAustland, Gaia Keim, Helen Cootes and Robyn Oakes money raised to around £2,000. Jo Stroud said: “Most of our customers and staff are women, and some of us will be at risk of developing breast cancer at some point in our lives. Some of our customers are breast cancer survivors, as we know from

carrying out various fund-raising activities. If we can make even a small difference to on-going research into prevention and cure, then our walk will be very worthwhile.” To sponsor Fabulous visit: www.justgiving.com/fabulous50k

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CITYPEOPLE

SHOP WINDOW OF THE MONTH Bang opposite Bath’s historic Guildhall is a stylish little shopfront whch wouldn’t look out of place in London, Paris or Amsterdam, with its neat font and one of those windows that invites you to peer in. Former hoteliers Adrian and Jane Campbell-Howard, who run The Society Café in Kingsmead Square, have extended their mission to bring speciality coffee to the people of Bath, by opening a second outlet, this time on the High Street. There are a couple of bars and a row of stools in the windows for customers to enjoy the coffee (which beats spots off the national chains in our opinion), loose leaf tea, fresh sandwiches or wickedly tempting cake. Or, if you don’t have time to linger in the café, you can always take away – once you’ve admired its white tiled interior and the lighting, which is by Bathbased Felix Lighting. Make the most of sunny days when you can sit on the bench outside with a coffee and watch the comings and goings at this central spot.

Tourism winners

ICING ON THE CAKE FOR MD

hris Smith, managing director of familyowned Marshfield Bakery, has been named as the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) South West Director of the Year. Chris joined the business in 2011 after working in the retail wholesale and food manufacturing industries. He has since led the management team through a major restructure of the business. Since 2010 the Marshfield based company, which employs 42, has enjoyed three years’ profit growth with the order book projected to grow by some £5m over the next four years, helped by the development of exports. Chris is an advocate of the role small companies can play in supporting young adults into work and is the chair and director of an International Academy Trust and sits on the rural sector group for the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). Richard Ayre, IoD SW regional chair said: “Chris joined the business relatively recently but with his extensive food industry background he has already had a significant and positive impact on it. “The judges were impressed by this strong entry which already shows good turnover growth in a tough and competitive market.” Chris said: “This award is for everyone who has contributed to Marshfield’s success over the past few years as we expand and look at different and wider markets.” Simon Barbato, managing director of integrated creative, brand and digital agency Mr B & Friends was highly commended in the same category, while James Eades, managing director of Bath-based IT support specialists Systemagic was highly

Bath furnishing store TR Hayes is doing its bit for the World Cup by offering football fans the chance to win a Fatboy beanbag by donating their unwanted shirts or football kit. All items will then be donated to Kits 4 Causes, which help charities across the world achieve their goals through the use of football, and the kits they distribute. Pop in to the London Street, Walcot store, before Sunday 13 July, fill in a short form and donate old or unwanted items. For more information on the competition visit the store or call 01225 465757.

AND...

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PEER RECOGNITION: Chris Smith, left, receiving his award from IoD South West regional chairman Richard Ayre commended in the Young Director category. Simon Barbato founded Mr B & Friends eight years ago from a bedroom. It is now the region’s fastest growing integrated agency with 25 staff and a turnover of just under £2m. Clients including Principality Building Society, SSE Telecoms, learndirect and Unite plc. James joined Systemagic in 2002 as a technician, became operations director in 2009 and took over the running of the business in 2010. He has achieved over 75% net profit for the past two years. Systemagic now employs eight people and supports over 100 small businesses. Esther McMorris, CEO of Bath management consultancy Nine Feet Tall was also a finalist. The regional winners now go forward to the national final in London. The IoD is a non-party political organisation with 38,000 members, providing an effective voice to represent members to key opinion-formers.

The winners of the first Bath Events, Hospitality and Tourism Awards (BEHTA), are celebrating being recognised for their services to tourism, following a prize-giving event at the Assembly Rooms. The winners for each category were: Large Hotel of the Year: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa * Small Hotel: Woolley Grange Hotel & Spa * Bed and Breakfast/Guest House: Villa Magdala * Self-Catering property of the Year: Bath Boutique Stays * Small Visitor Attraction: Prior Park Landscape Garden * Large Visitor Attraction: No. 1 Royal Crescent * Event Venue: Center Parcs, Longleat Forest * Public/Visitor Event: Bath Festivals * Celebratory Event of the Year: Searcys * Hospitality Experience of the Year: The Abbey Hotel * Low Cost Event Solution: Bradford on Avon Tourism * Events Services and Logistics Supplier: Table Art * Taste of Bath Award: Hartley Farm Shop and Café * Visitor Welcome Pub Award: Bath Ales* Customer Service Award: Woolley Grange Hotel & Spa * Venue Event Team: Bath Historic Venues Team * Best Contribution to the Community/CR initiative: Bath Artisan Market * Best New Business within the Events, Tourism or Hospitality Industry: Bath Function Rooms * The Judges’ special award: David MeadMale Outstanding Achievement: Clive Bailey.Winners in many categories will be put forward for the National Tourism Awards 2015.

Music lovers appointed to Bath Festivals board Bath Festivals has appointed John Cullum as its new Chair. John, who is father to jazz musician Jamie Cullum and has a lifelong love of music, takes over from Jane Drabble OBE who has stepped down after nearly five years. John is involved with other local charities, has a strong business acumen and an impressive contacts book. He served as High Sheriff of Somerset, is a trustee of the Quartet Social Community Foundation and chair of the Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal. Bath Festivals has also appointed two new Board members: David Bates is one of the most

influential people in A & R in the music industry having engineered the success of artists such as Def Leppard, Tears For Fears, The Teardrop Explodes, Robert Plant, Was Not Was, Wet Wet Wet and Texas. David moved to Bath a few years ago. Stephen Taylor, has more than 30 years experience and was chief executive of the Leadership Centre for Local Government. He has worked with the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office, Philips and Nestle among many others. Stephen lives in Bath and is an advisor to the Bath & NE Somerset Public Services Board.

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CITY | GARDENING

GREEN FINGERED: top left, a Bath in Bloom winner in 2012 Stephen Brook of Coomb Park, Weston. Middle, left to right, pansy bedecked flowerbeds near Brock Street, a 2012 winner LindyWright of Sydney Place and Dave Angell, with his winning allotment. Above, Parade Gardens in 1977 and the George V Remembrance Garden in Henrietta Gardens 58 TheBATHMagazine

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CITY | GARDENING

GOING FOR BLOOMING GOLD This month sees Bath’s gardeners standing by their beds as the judges from the Britain in Bloom competition descend on the city. As the winners of the first contest 50 years ago, the city is puling out all the stops to win the golden prize. Even if your plot is not entered for the competition you can use some creative thinking to make your corner of Bath bloom beautifully, says Jane Moore

t is generally agreed that Envy is a terrible thing, but when it comes to horticulture it can be a catalyst for Good. I remember visiting Nymans in West Sussex early in my gardening career and being totally green with envy at their incredible parallel borders which were zinging with all the colours of the rainbow in July. July! My borders were at that inbetweeny stage, where all the June stuff had finished and the late summer things had yet to do their thing – in other words dull, dull, dull. I looked at Nymans and I learned. Many readers will have bewailed, as indeed have I, that the Bath in Bloom judging invariably happens in mid July just at this lull in the proceedings. I don’t know why, it just does, but it presents something of a challenge to the gardeners of Bath unless you are firmly in the bedding and begonias camp. I am not, although I’m far from averse to a few pelargoniums in the right context. Instead I have looked back to those early days of Envy in Nymans and channelled, dear reader, that deadly sin into a positive spin. So here are my top tips for a high summer, sizzling, Bath in Bloom storming garden to beat them all.

A prizewinner at Chelsea

Pots and containers Where would the patios, decks and terraces of Bath be without a good handful of pots to spice them up in summer? You can go down the utterly gaudy route of a riotous mixture of colours and plants and, in fact, I’ve often found that abandoning any sense of colour scheming is a good way to go on a small scale such as a balcony or a window box. But if you want to be tasteful and restrained then theming is the way forward. My mother has this down to an art with a set of steps bedecked with interesting blue glazed and terracotta pots filled with a colour scheme of blue and yellow in spring and often toning pinks in summer. One blue pot will host a vibrant but perfectly ordinary pink pelargonium while its rustic clay neighbour will house a dainty, cushiony diascia. Mum uses garden centre bedding and pretty little perennials to great effect in this way and, of course, many end up planted out in the garden later on.

Perk up your borders Though I say so myself, my garden is great in early summer, with hardy geraniums, Oriental poppies, irises and the like all making a marvellous show. In late August the dahlias, rudbeckias and asters all make their mark. In between I rely on roses, early Asters such as King George and Monch and penstemons, plus a good handful of assorted, easy-to-grow-or-buy annuals. A firm favourite is cosmos with its delicately ferny foliage and pastel colours belying incredibly sturdy and vigorous plants. Grow it from seed in spring or buy plants in the garden centre and it will keep on flowering until the first frosts. Another is the humble pot marigold or calendula which is easy enough to sow seeds straight into the ground. The flowers are vibrant oranges and lemons which the bees adore and again it will just keep on flowering.

Use your evergreens Make those evergreen shrubs do some work in the summer by using them as a backdrop to some sizzling colour. We all rely on those stalwarts of box, yew and eleagnus to the garden structure in winter but they can make a great foil to all the above ideas. A yew hedge or box topiary in the border will look great with cosmos daintily waving in front of it, or a container of brilliant bedding in the foreground.

Make a statement One good plant in the right spot can make such an impact that everything else simply becomes background. Agapanthus are like that – plonk a massive potful of agapanthus in full flower on your patio and no-one will notice anything else for a good while. Those lovely colourful phormiums have the same effect, as do arum lilies. My stalwarts include lemon trees, brugmansias and the Bird of Paradise plant, strelitzia, all tender and needing the protection of a greenhouse for the winter. If you need something a bit sturdier then think about a big fern for a cool shady spot, or a big leafed fatsia for somewhere warmer that would benefit from its tropical looks. Bamboos and figs also cope well in pots and give an instant boost to a garden . ■ Jane Moore is the award-winning gardener at the Bath Priory Hotel, Weston, Bath, follow her on Twitter @janethegardener. WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

The friendly faces of The Herbs, Parsley the Lion and Dill the Dog, pictured, in a spectacular show created in Bath were part of the South West in Bloom display at Chelsea Flower Show which was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Award for best display in the Great Pavilion. The garden was designed by Jon Wheatley of Stonebarn Nurseries at Chew Magna who has already won 20 gold medals. You may recall seeing The Herbs in Parade Gardens in Bath in 2013.

Bath in Bloom: 50th anniversary

n 1964 Bath was the first winner of the newly fledged Britain in Bloom competition and the Bath in Bloom committee is pulling out all the stops in the hope we might win again 50 years on. The Britain in Bloom judges will be in the city for three and a half hours on Tuesday 8 July and everyone will be hoping that the sun shines and that all the displays in public spaces, outside businesses and in private gardens are looking at their best Although the judges’ tour takes in headline places such as the Parade Gardens and Royal Victoria Park, it’s the overall impression that can sway the judges favourably. Just look at some of the shop frontages, the little guest houses ablaze with baskets and bedding, the school gardens and allotments and it’s plain to see that Bath is full of flowers and greenery and proud of it. Do your bit where you can in your front garden and support the effort by keeping Bath tidy and litter-free. Look out for a new work of art by the City of Bath College students in the Parade Gardens to celebrate 50 years of Britain in Bloom. The Bath Spa Band will be playing in the bandstand at Royal Victoria Park on Sunday 27 July to celebrate Love Parks week and to mark the anniversary of the First World War. Barry Cruse MBE has been involved with Bath in Bloom for many years and is the current Chairman of Bath in Bloom committee as well as being a local judge. He supplied us with some statistics about the city’s imvolvement. ● Bath has been the category winner in the RHS Britain in bloom National finals 13 times and been a finalist 17 times. ● The city has been category winner 22 times in the Britain in Bloom south west competition. ● Bath used to win so often that a rule was brought in to say you couldn't enter the year after you had won, this is not the case now. He said: “Bath won the very first Britain in Bloom competition in 1964 so we are pulling out all the stops to try and win in this the 50 anniversary year. We call it the golden year. and have encouraged gardeners and community groups to plant sunflowers.” The RHS theme for the year is Growing Gold and the display in Parade Gardens will reflect this theme with bees and butterflies.

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A tax break for the goodwill in your business! There are considerable tax benefits to be gained from transferring your sole trade or partnership business into a limited company and we’ve covered the subject in previous months. One that hasn’t been mentioned before is getting your company to pay you for the value you’ve built up in your business over the years – the excess over the simple asset values that a buyer might pay you for acquiring your business - and this is known as Goodwill. The value of this goodwill is subject to Capital Gains Tax but at a special rate of 10% and everyone has an annual exemption from capital gains in each tax year – currently £11,000. So if the goodwill is valued at £50,000 then the company can pay you this amount and you will have a tax liability of only £3,900 – a very good rate! The goodwill value has to be realistic but if your business has been making profits you might be surprised at what can be achieved. In the above example, the £50,000 doesn’t have to be taken at once (very often the funds aren’t available) but can be credited to your director’s loan account for you to draw on, tax free, as and when the cash becomes available.

At OCL we have been looking after SMEs (start ups to turnovers of £3 million) for more than twenty years; we would be pleased to meet you to discuss any tax, financial and accounting matters that would help you, including how we can help you save money. See our website for more – and download our FREE guides

“For us, in our 30 years experience, OCL Accountancy is the best fit we have found.” Call Marie Maggs or Mike Wilcox on 01225 445507 to arrange a no-obligation meeting 141 Englishcombe Lane, Bath BA2 2EL

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Advertisement feature

What is architecture and how does it impact our lives?

Pension options are all change Monahans’ Steve Missen advises on the new pension pot options and just how much you are eligible for tax-free.

F Ray Tyner – Associate at DKA, DipArch Dip Built Resources BA (Hons)

ay Tyner, Associate at Bath Architectural Practice DKA, comments upon how architecture shapes our everyday lives. From the moment you wake, throughout your entire day and regardless of where you are in the world, the architecture that surrounds you plays a significant role in influencing the quality of life you lead. The familiarity of our surroundings can often blur our appreciation of just how important the physical landscape that we inhabit, can influence our health, emotions and life. Consider just how many different types of buildings we experience on a daily basis. Our homes, schools, offices, shops, farms, maybe a number of public buildings such as hospitals, libraries, swimming pool or sports centres, a place of worship or a perhaps a visit to the GP. Regardless of the type of life we lead, we generally lead our lives within or between a series of buildings. So which of these buildings do we actually enjoy? And perhaps more importantly why do we enjoy them? It comes as no surprise to architects that we ought to treasure the quality of these varying spaces and the context in which they sit. The opportunity for architects to improve the world around us is something we are proud to engage with on a daily basis. Here at DKA we start by listening to the client to gain an understanding of what their ideal environment might be. What makes people tick? If you had the chance to live and work in an inspiring space, be that internal or external, why wouldn’t you engage with someone that can bring this aspiration to a reality? Now with the summer holiday season upon us, spare a moment to think about what influenced you in selecting how you spend, what for many, are the most important two weeks of their year? Now consider just how many countries have chosen to promote their national identity through a building. The Eiffel Tower, the London Eye and the Sydney Opera House are all instantly recognisable on a global scale. Immediately they tell you a story about a nation, an aspiration, an adventure. Consider this effect on a more local scale, wandering through historic cities, stopping off in remote locations, or enjoying a cool beer in a beach / pool side bar. Now you are beginning to appreciate just how influential architecture and sometimes the absence of the built environment can be on our everyday lives. As architects we have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to influence how the buildings that we construct will influence our lives and the lives of future generations. In today’s world of construction it is reasonable to assume that most modern buildings will have a significantly shorter life expectancy than those previously constructed. As real estate land is such a valuable commodity, it is essential that we get the absolute maximum amount of value out of this resource. However this does not necessarily translate to building the biggest building possible, but it does mean that we must take the opportunity to deliver the best possible design that we can. We passionately believe that the impact any building has should be as positive as possible, this is when buildings are elevated beyond bricks and mortar and truly become pieces of architecture. Contact Ray.Tyner@dka.co.uk or visit www.dka.co.uk

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

rom April 6, 2015, those over the age of 55 can take their entire pension pot as cash, with 25% tax-free. Alternatively, they will be able to choose to take their tax-free cash amount and purchase an annuity or consider one of the other products available on the market. People will need to consider these choices carefully based on varying personal circumstances, making sure they have enough money to live on throughout a hopefully long retirement. Changes from March 27, 2014:

* If you are age 60 or above and have a pension policy that has a value of £10,000 or less, you can take all of the money in that policy as a lump sum. You can do this for up to three pension policies if they each have a value of less than £10,000. One quarter of the amount will be paid to you tax free, and the rest will be taxed at your marginal rate of income tax. * If you are between age 60 and 75 and have a pension policy larger than £10,000 you can still take it as a lump sum, if the value of all your pension funds added together (including any pensions in payment, but excluding the state pension) is below £30,000. Again, one quarter of the amount will be paid to you tax free, and the rest will be taxed at your marginal rate of income tax. * For capped income drawdown arrangements, the maximum amount of income you can take is increasing from 120% of an equivalent annuity to 150%. And the minimum level of guaranteed income needed to access flexible drawdown has been reduced from £20,000 to £12,000. Whilst these changes bring about a greater degree of flexibility it is important to seek professional advice to explore all of your options and ensure that any decisions you make are suited to your circumstances. * If you would like a no-obligation discussion about how Monahans Financial Services Ltd could help you to achieve more from your pension, call Steve Missen on 01225 785520; www.monahans-fsl.co.uk * The value of investments can go down in value as well as up, so you could get back less than you invest. * Monahans Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Lennox House, 3 Pierrepont Street, Bath BA1 1LB Tel 01225 472800 • www.monahans.co.uk JULY 2014

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EVERY MONTH THE BATH MAGAZINE IS PERFECTLY DELIVERED TO OVER 20,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES AN INSERT IN OUR MAGAZINE WILL REALLY REACH GREAT QUALITY READERS CALL FOR DETAILS 01225 424499 EMAIL: SALES @ THEBATHMAGAZINE.CO.UK WE CAN ALSO HELP WITH GREAT DESIGN AND PRINT SOLUTIONS

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SCHOOL REPORT

Bath Spa University: Oscar winning British film producer David Puttnam, pictured, officially opened a new academic building, Commons, at the Newton St Loe campus. Now president of the Film Distributors’ Association, Lord Puttnam was joined by university staff and students for the opening evening, which including performances by students. Lord Puttnam showed a seven minute film made in collaboration with Duncan Kenworthy 100 Years of British Cinema. Other highlights included a digital installation by visual artist Julian Opie on the building’s 6.85 meter high media wall; and a sculpture by British artist and Bath Spa professor of art and design Gavin Turk in the grounds. Lord Puttnam said: “I left the movie industry when it was still analogue and where you could look through the film, but this is a wonderful digital facility which is going to produce a lot of talented people. This is the sort of facility that any university anywhere in the world would envy.” King Edward’s School: Twelve year old Freya Cumpsty, a member of the Chew Valley Sailing Club, was outright winner at a qualifying race at Paignton Sailing Club (31 May-1 June), in her bid to retain her place in the RYA Topper UK Junior Squad for 2014/15. Despite racing sailors up to 15 years old, Freya, fought off over 180 boats to claim first place in the opening qualifier for national squad places. It leaves Freya in a strong position as she heads to the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds in Derwent and Rutland sailing clubs later on this summer. The University of Bath: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are being offered the chance to sample university life, thanks to a free summer school being held at the University of Bath. Through a residential course on campus, students with autism will be able to experience all aspects of student life, helping to reduce stress and anxiety and build confidence. Over three days in September potential students get a taster of lectures, seminars and extra-curricular activities and life in halls, staying in university accommodation before the main student body returns. It is open to all potential students with ASD, whatever their chosen discipline or university. The summer school has been developed by Dr Mark Brosnan and colleagues Dr Chris Ashwin and Dr Ailsa Russell in the university’s Department of Psychology. This is the second year the course has been offered. To find out more visit: http://www.bath.ac.uk/psychology/autismsummer-school.html. Bath Folk Club: Students from across Bath and Wiltshire are getting involved in playing folk music, with the launch of a new series of workshops. Bath Folk Club in conjunction with King Edward’s School is offering young people the opportunity to get involved in music making in a friendly, informal setting. The first workshop was attended by a mix of students, ranging from junior age pupils, to experienced teenagers who have already reached grade 8 and above. As a result of the workshops the more experienced players will perform at the Bath Folk festival in August as part of the newly formed Bath Youth Folk Band. To find out how youngsters can get involved in the folk music scene contact rachel@bathfolkfestival.org or telephone Marick on 07881 646633.

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WEEKEND | BREAK

A welcome in the hillside Georgette McCready visits some of the free National Museums of Wales as she explores a beautiful area of south Wales – and offers up ten reasons to venture across the Severn Crossing

t’s hard to imagine now what life was like when there was no bridge between the south west and Wales, when people had to queue to take the ferry across. But since the 1960s when the Severn Bridge was opened, we’ve taken it for granted that we can drive across a superbly engineered structure high above the waters of the wide river and be in south Wales in a matter of minutes. I was reflecting on this the other day as we drove home from a weekend break in the Welsh countryside. We’d elected to come back across the old Severn Bridge and looking at the mass of wildflowers and long grass growing in the central reservation we concluded that this stretch of the M48 must be one of the least travelled stretches of motorway for miles around. The M4 is great for getting from A to B, but sometimes it’s nice to take a slower, quieter route and enjoy the chance to look at towns, villages and the verdant countryside that make this part of Wales so attractive. We were staying at Best Western’s Parkway Hotel and Spa at Cwmbran, owned by the de Savary group and a good base for exploring the area. The Severn crossing toll may stand at a hefty £6.40 these days, but the good news is that you’ll recoup that money if you visit any of the Welsh national museums, as entry to them is free. That’s right. Free. We’ve found you ten good reasons to cross the bridge: ❶ St Fagans Natural History Museum, just off the M4 J33 near Cardiff. You could easily spend all day at this open-air museum set in beautiful grounds, and it’s one for all ages from tinies who will like running about and the well equiped playgrounds, to grandparents who will enjoy the nostalgic element of the place. The museum consists of real buildings – houses, shops, a school and others – that have been painstakingly moved from their original spot to be reconstructed and furnished as they used to be. Admission is free and there’s usually the chance to watch the old crafts in action, whether it be a blacksmith, a clogmaker or some aspect of farming. ❷ The National Roman History Museum at Caerleon, near Newport. Here you’ll find the most fully excavated Roman amphitheatre in the country. There are no queues, very little in the way of signs or ‘keep off’ notices and 66 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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the free admission means you can really enjoy taking the children for an experience of hands-on history. I defy anyone not to do a bit of gladiator pretend fighting when standing in the centre of the ring, facing the ranks of the imaginary Roman crowd around you. It’s incredible to think this was built in the 1st century. In the same town there’s Roman museum and a museum which houses part of the old baths. The special effects of people ‘swimming’ beneath you really brings this to life. ❸ The Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenafon. Another free Welsh national museum and a good one for children who will enjoy the underground tours, with the chance to wear a miner’s head lamp and to find out how tough life was for the miners. This was once a working coal mine, so again, history is brought vividly to life by experiencing it on the spot. ❹ Cardiff Castle. Admission to the castle is not free. But during the weekend of Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August there’ll be Grand Medieval Melee with plenty of sword on sword action as the knights get stuck in for some competitive combat. Admission to that weekend event is £6 (children £4). Visit: www.cardiffcastle.com. ❺ Brecon Jazz Festival, 7 – 10 August. One for the adults. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this year’s festival features veteran Burt Bacharach and rising star Gregory Porter, along with many others. Visit: www.breconjazz.com. ❻ Head for the nearby Brecon Beacons National Park for some beautiful walks and fabulous views. If you’re feeling energetic why not tackle Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain, at just under 3,000 feet. There is a well marked trail but if you are taking children take some food and drink with you for the trek and make sure they’re wrapped up well as it can get cold at the top. Look for trails and routes (including the chance to visit waterfalls), visit: www.breaconbeacons.org. ❼ Castles and ancient monuments. There are lots of these to explore, from the picturesque Tintern Abbey to Abergavenny Castle, scene of the Christmas Day massacre of the 12th century and of action during the Civil War of the 17th century.

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WEEKEND | BREAK

CROESO Y CYMRU: main picture, one of the historic Welsh cottages re-built at St Fagans open air museum Inset, historic reenactments at the Roman amphitheatre at Caerleon Above, sunny scenes from the Parkway Hotel and Spa at Cwmbran, a good base from which to explore south east Wales

❽ Cardiff. The capital city offers much to do, from wandering along the Bay enjoying the waterside to myriad opportunities for shopping. Catch a big sporting occasion at the Millennium Stadium or book tickets for a show at the Millennium Centre. The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse is at the centre until 19 July. ❾ Beaches. Head down to Porthcawl for sandy beaches and if you’re lucky, some surf. Or on cooler days enjoy exploring the Glamorgan Heritage Coast path walks. ❿ The Parkway Hotel and Spa, Cwmbran. Hats off to the largely young and local staff at the hotel for making guests feel at ease. Spotlessly clean and nicely presented, the hotel has rooms on the ground floor (ask when booking as there is no lift) and first floor. Afternoon teas in the big lounge or out on the sunny terrace are popular. Dai the hotel gardener has done wonders with the seven acres, which include lawns where rabbits nibble and well planted displays of summer colour. Although convenient for access to other places and lying tucked away off an industrial estate, this is a quiet spot surrounded by trees and greenery. Hotel guests also enjoy the use of The Colonial

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spa with indoor pool, gym and use of the loungers in the conservatory and outdoor suntrap gardens. The four star hotel also has Ravellos restaurant, with a nightly carvery or table d’hote menu and The Beauty Rooms where guests can book treatments from manicures to massage. It’s easy to see why this is a one-stop destination for so many wedding parties. There are thoughtful little touches, like the garden games of giant chess, croquet, badminton and boules, or the Dragon’s Den with its wide screen TV, giving guests a lounge away from the main area for those all-important rugby matches. At weekends there’s gentle live music, with couples taking to the dancefloor for a twirl, or singing along to familar favourites. The Parkway is already taking bookings for its themed Christmas party nights which this year centre around the musical film Grease. Party nights, to include entertainment and dinner, are £38, with B&B at £85 for a double room. To ask about deals and offers on accommodation call 01633 871199 and talk to the reception staff who’ll be happy to help. ■ Parkway Hotel and Spa, Cwmbran Drive, Cwmbran, Newport, Gwent NP44 3UW.

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FAMILY | WHAT’S ON

Let your imagination take flight The school holidays lie ahead and a long summer of fun beckons. We’ve rounded up some events to entertain the children (and hopefully the grown-ups too) in and around Bath this month Saikat Ahamed presents: The Tiger and the Moustache Wednesday 2 July, 1pm and 7pm The egg Theatre, Bath Anyone who has seen Saikat perform (as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan and as Ben Gunn in Treasure Island at the Bristol Old Vic, to name but two) will know that he’s a mesmerising performer. This show, which is suitable for aged 12 plus, traces the story of Hashi, his mother, born in Bangladesh and her journey through urban Britain, with storytelling, music, dance and humour. Tickets £7.50/£6.50 concessions. Tel: 01225 448844 or 01225 823409. Also at the egg this month The Imaginaries Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, various times Egg’s Young People’s Theatre presents this original piece by one of their members, Gemma Gunnell. What happens to our imaginary friends when we forget about them? A charming tale for children aged nine and over. Tickets £7.50/£6.50 concessions. Independence Day family picnic Friday 4 July, 5.30pm – 8.30pm The American Museum, Claverton, Bath Celebrate American Independence Day with the family. Enjoy an outdoor evening of music, food, and fun as Kabinrock play some classic rock ‘n’ roll. Entrance: £2 adults, £1 children, £5 family. BBQ, drinks, ice-cream, and snacks available. Also at the American Museum this month War of Independence Camp and Drill Displays Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, drill displays: 2pm and 3.45pm, kids’ drill: 2.45pm His Majesty’s Crown Forces are back with their special blend of military prowess, scruffy recruits, good humour, and one incredibly loud cannon. Children can join a drill and see if they have what it takes to join the regiment.

Flying in to the air tattoo at RAF Fairford

City to Countryside Walk Tuesday 8 and Tuesday 22 July, 10am Meet at the Tourist Information Centre, Abbey Church Yard, Bath A free 6 mile guided walk of the Bath Skyline, a great way to get fit and active children to learn more about the city and its surrounding hills. Suitable footwear and clothing a must, and the willingness to tackle some hill walking. Take a packed lunch. No booking needed. 68 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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Corston Country Fair Saturday 19 July, 2pm – 5pm Corston, near Bath Lots of family entertainment, including classic cars, a bungy trampoline, Chuffy the train and a dog show as well as stalls, teas and ice cream. Love Food Festival Sunday 20 July, 10am – 4pm Dyrham Park, north of Bath There will be free entry to the festival which takes place in the top car park. Shop for local produce in the market, let the children get creative in the Love Art area, then explore the grounds (where we hear baby owls have been sighted) and house (National Trust entry fees apply). In the Love Art area the talented Oodle Doodle will be running activities. Enjoy lunch from one of the stalls too.

Head for the hills around Bath for a spot of kite flying Royal International Air Tattoo Friday 11 – Sunday 13 July RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire Aviation history will be made when the F-35 Lightning II makes its international display debut. The Red Arrows will be returning to their first home for the UK’s biggest celebration marking the aerobatic display team’s 50th display season. Featuring around 200 aircraft from around the world and a seven-hour flying display, the Air Tattoo is Europe’s largest aviation spectacle. More details from airtattoo.com Wiltshire Young Musicians’ Summer Festival Concert Sunday 13 July, 2pm and 7.30pm Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon Enjoy a spirited and engaging concert by some of the county’s finest emerging orchestra players. Tickets: £6 (£3 concessions) tel: 01225 860100 or visit: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk. Money Mondays 14, 21, 28 July from 6pm to 8pm The Roman Baths Look at coins from the Roman Baths collection from a number of periods. Just drop in. This session is a Beau Street Hoard event. Also at the Roman Bath this month (free to Discovery Card holders) Festival of Archaeology Saturday 26 July, 6pm to 9pm Conservation past, present and future. Handle Roman coins from the Beau Street Hoard. Enjoy coin making activities and explore the torch-lit baths. Standard and deliver Monday 28 July, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Investigate Roman coins to find out about army standards. Make a standard to lead your family this summer.

Baby owls have been spotted at Dyrham: feed your own young at the Love Food Festival

Young @ Art Club: Life on the ocean wave Friday 25 July, 10.30am to noon Victoria Art Gallery Enjoy boat pictures in the gallery and build up a collage using recycled materials. For 6 to 11 years. Places are £4 per child and must be booked. tel: 01225 477233. Also at the Victoria Art Gallery this month Beside the Seaside Wednesday 30 July, 10.30am-11.30am Make seaside scenes using rubbings and textures to get in the summer holiday mood. For 3 to 5 years. Dragonheart Friday 1 August, 10.30am – noon Invent a mythical creature and print your design. For 6 to 11 years. Brick by Brick: LEGO Henge Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July, all day The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham Calling all LEGO-lovers, whatever your age. Join in and help build a giant model of Stonehenge. Everyone welcome to contribute Another Brick in the Wall. Free, drop-in all day. Also at The Pound Arts this month Dad Dancing: Workshop Saturday 26 July, 1.30pm A drawing and movement workshop open to all ages and led by dancers from Dad Dancing. The workshops aim to encourage Dads and their children to move together and have fun. £5 for each dad with their child(ren).Tel: 01249 701628 or visit: www.poundarts.org.uk. ■

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THE | WALK

THE CANAL THAT NEVER WAS Andrew Swift heads to Somerset for a six mile walk which takes in woodland, former coal mining pits and the vestiges of the Dorset and Somerset Canal, which was never completed

ur walk for July affords some shade as it takes in one of the largest ancient woodlands near Bath, along with marshy fields, muddy paths, steep climbs and rough terrain. Although the area is littered with reminders of its industrial past, most of the industry was small scale, with shallow bell pits rather than deep collieries, and mill races and weirs that enhance rather than mar the scenery. There are also, hidden amid the undergrowth, the tantalising remains of the Dorset and Somerset Canal, conceived, when canal mania was at its height, as a grandiose project to link the Bristol and English Channels. Only around eight miles of a branch through Edford was built before the scheme was abandoned, and fragmentary traces are all that are left to remind us of a canal that never was. The Dorset and Somerset Canal was to have connected the two counties of Dorset and Somerset into the national canal network, bringing coal from Somerset down to the coast at Poole. The route was to have been started at Bradford-on-Avon and the contsruction was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1796. But inflation caused by the Napoleonic Wars, and insufficient funds raised meant work on the construction had to be abandoned and legend has it that only one contractor’s boat ever used the waterway. The starting point for our walk is the Duke of Cumberland pub at Edford (ST669487), five miles south of Radstock, on the road from Holcombe to Stoke St Michael. It is also a good place to end, with food served all day at weekends, and muddy dogs – and people – welcome. Car parking is available just across the road from the Duke of Cumberland. ❶ Walk north up the lane from the Duke of Cumberland for 75 metres and go through a kissing gate (KG) on the left. Head across the field to the blocked-up archway of a bridge (ST668488). This was built to carry a packhorse track across the canal, and has recently been filled in to stop it collapsing. ❷ Cross a stile to the left of the bridge, bear right across the bridge and turn left through a KG. Walk straight on through a field, looking out, near the far end, for blocks of masonry marking the course of the canal. Carry on across a bridge and along a rough track (ST665487). Squeeze through metal bars beside a gate and carry on with the fence on your left. After going through a KG and carrying on alongside the fence, you will see evidence of the canal below you on the left. Carry on, dropping down towards a gate, but, before reaching it, turn right through a KG into Harridge Woods Nature Reserve (ST662483). ❸ Follow a rough path through the woods. After crossing a narrow footbridge, the path climbs to a stile with a crosspath on the other side. Turn left alongside a fence, and, when you reach gates to a house, turn left along the drive for a few metres before crossing a stile on the right (ST659483). ❹ Follow a path through woods thick with conifers. Rough ground and black earth here are the legacy of shallow bell pits. Coal has been mined in this area for over 700 years, and possibly since Roman times. Go through a KG at the end and turn left along a lane. After 150 metres (just before a junction) cross a stile on the right (ST657482) and follow a footpath alongside a stream. The path leads through a KG into the nature reserve and across a packhorse bridge (ST654482), before climbing to an open space, where you turn right along a broad track, lined by tall conifers. ❺ After 300 metres, carry straight on as another track joins from the left. Follow the track as it swings left, but, just before it swings back to the right, branch left up another track (not shown on the OS map) (ST648482). ❻ Carry on the track levels out and gradually swings left through woodland. After 500 metres, when it forks, bear right down steps to a bridge over a rocky stream, with the remains of a mill on the right (ST652479). Carry on as the path bears left alongside a mill leat to the ruins of a keeper’s cottage. Turn right to follow a path along the valley, past leats, dams and the ruins of old mills. After 350 metres, the path crosses to the right bank. As you climb past rocky outcrops, the deep valley, cut off from the outside world, grows ever quieter. Eventually, when you come to a crosspath (ST645476), bear right to climb a packhorse trail beside a wall presumably built to stop horses tumbling down the hillside. 70 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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❼ At the top – with a wall ahead – bear right at a T junction. To your left, beyond the wall, stretch the level fields of the Mendip plateau, while to your right the valley shelves steeply away. At several points, the path runs close to the wall, with a steep drop – the legacy of quarrying – on your right. When the fields end, follow the path straight on through woods, and when it forks – by a broken-down wall – bear right to find yourself striding along a narrow ridge, which soon starts to drop steeply downhill (this path is also not on the map). ❽ When you come to a broad path (ST651479), turn right and immediately left past a circle of benches. Carry on along the main path, before turning right at a T junction (ST650482). After 300 metres, when the path forks, bear left downhill to the packhorse bridge you crossed earlier. ❾ Cross it and carry on through a KG along the valley. When you reach the lane, carry straight on along it, following a sign for Holcombe. After 500 metres (having past two footpaths branching left), go through a KG beside a metal gate (ST662483). You could head straight on uphill to return the way

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THE | WALK

FURTHER INFORMATION ■ ■

INTO THE GREEN: main picture, conifers in Harridge Woods and above, vestiges of the unfinished canal

you came, but, for a more challenging route, take the path alongside the fence on the right. After crossing a stile and bearing left to carry on alongside the stream, you will see the old canal bed over to your left. Look out too for the ruins of an old mill beside a weir. ❿ Follow the path as it wends through the woods until, after squeezing between metal bars at the wood’s end, a right turn past the remains of the old canal leads you back to the Duke of Cumberland. ■

■ ■

Length of walk: six miles Map: OS Explorer 142 (not all footpaths shown; a map of Harridge Woods – also not showing all footpaths – can be downloaded at: www.somersetwildlife.org/harridge_woods.html Approximate time: three hours Refreshment stops: the Duke of Cumberland, above, is open all day from 10am. Lunch served till 3pm Monday to Friday, later at weekends. Tel: 01761 233 731 or visit: www.thedukeholcombe.oc.uk

B A T H

Summer Treats SPRAY TAN - £25 MINI MANICURE & PEDICURE - £38 BRAZILIAN WAXING - £25 Available July - August 2014

green street house, 14 green street, bath BA1 2JZ Tel: 01225 426000 Email: info@greenstreethouse.com www.greenstreethouse.com * No two offers can be used together. Quote this ad when booking

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HEALTH | & BEAUTY

FIT & FAB

Get fit, get active One of the most popular fundraising events on the Bath charity calendar, the women-only walk in aid of Dorothy House Hospice Care, will be held on Saturday 13 September, starting on the stroke of midnight from the SouthGate centre. This is a fun occasion, filled with laughter, as women dress up, some with flashing bunny ears, PICTURE: Lloyd Ellington, to take part. This The Bath Chronicle year’s optional dressing up theme is pyjamas. Now in its eighth year, the event is the hospice’s biggest single fundraiser. Last year, nearly 950 women completed the 8km (that’s about five miles) circular walk around the city, raising £126,000 for hospice services. The procession of women taking part leaves SouthGate before making its way round a well marshalled route, before ending back at the shopping centre, where Danish pastries and coffee are served. Most people manage to complete the walk in around an hour and a half. Registration is open now: download an entry form at www.bathmidnightwalk.co.uk, pick up details at any Dorothy House shop, or call fundraising on 01225 721480. It costs £15 to register. This amount covers organisational and admin costs only so people are asked to pledge a minimum £30 in sponsorship – but the walk’s success relies on everyone raising as much as they possibly can. If you’re not sure whether you fancy tackling Bath’s busy streets on two wheels, why not test ride one of the bikes from the city’s new bike hire scheme? This is a second attempt by Bath and North East Somerset Council to provide tourists and locals with the chance to hire on-the-spot bikes, as Londoners do with the so-called Boris Bikes. The Bath scheme is being run by the independent company nextbike, which runs the scheme successfully in other countries. It is hope that the nextbike initiative will help tackle congestion in central Bath by getting more people moving around the city. There are 100 bikes docked across nine rental locations including Bath Spa railway station, various city centre locations, Bath Spa University and the Royal United Hospital. The idea is that users can pick one up at one station and drop it off at another. The bikes are available 24 hours a day and users can register and hire bikes in just a couple of minutes. The scheme is part funded by the council through the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, although it is hoped that it will become fully self-sufficient within a couple of years.The council is also running a campaign to highlight cycling opportunities across B&NES – for more details visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/Love2Cycle.

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Keep your cool this summer whether you’re going away or enjoying a staycation

Holiday checklist

Holiday essentials: 1. the quick beach to bar cover up, short kaftan, £39.50, M&S 2. Day into evening wear, long kaftan, £69, M&S. 3. Fair trade Aspiga sandals, range available at Green Street House, Green Street, Bath. 4. Polo Ralph Lauren swimshorts for the hipster in your life, £89, Jollys. 5. Hugo Boss bright blue stripe shorts, £52, Jollys. 6. Classic striped shorts, £30, Howick at Jollys. 7. Keep the sun off his head with this straw trilby, £22, Howick at Jollys. 8. Throw suncream, book, shades and towel into a beach bag, Joules, £19.99. 9. A classic flattering Biba black Goddess ruched swimsuit, £55, Jollys. And finally, if you’ve got the beach body for it . . . 10. Dickins and Jones bikini top, £18, tie pants, £15, Jollys.

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Specialists in Ellipse IPL Hair Reduction & Skin Rejuvenation Treatments The Orangery Laser & Beauty Clinic, a name you can trust has been established for over 21 years and is situated in the centre of Bath. We offer the latest in IPL technology, the Ellipse Light SPT Plus. Clinically proven by leading doctors to be safe and effective and the best hair removal system in the world. This system also treats;

Sun Damaged Skin • Facial Thread Veins • Acne

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£199 for a course of 6 IPL treatments on either bikini line, underarm, lip or chin. We invite you to come for a FREE no obligation consultation & patch test with one of our friendly therapists during which we will discuss your requirements, talk you through the treatments & answer any questions you may have.

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BEAUTY | REVIEW

Urban spa Green Street House in Bath offers the choice of natural beauty products and treatments. Georgette McCready enjoyed a rejuvenating Ren facial

Natural beauty without the chemical nasties

e might carefully read the labels on the food we buy to check for artifical and unpleasant ingredients, but how many of us look when we’re buying beauty and skin care products to see what chemicals we’re plastering on our skin – particularly our faces? When Antony Buck’s wife was pregnant and developed an allergy to some beauty products the pair of them vowed to find a natural alternative, products which wouldn’t upset the delicate balance of the body’s biggest and porous organ, the skin. And so the British brand Ren was born. It began with a beautiful Moroccan rose body oil, which smells heavenly and glides easily onto the skin, soothing and moisturising. It’s one of those products that you can use all over your body and it’s made solely from natural products. All Ren’s range is free from synthetic ingredients, such as parabens and petrolatum, which makes them ideal for people like me with sensitive skin. Green Street House is a delightful urban spa, offering a calm oasis right in the heart of Bath city centre. It’s spacious and stylish and offers a range of products, including the chemical-free spray tan Beaubronz, Elemis and Dermalogica, as well as the natural beauty Ren range. For over a decade now Betsi Hughes and her team have been welcoming locals and tourists for all kinds of treatments, including pre-beach hot waxing (less painful than a strip wax) for intimate areas and fabulous pedicures and manicures, along with special treats such as gentle massage for pregnant women, and girls’ days in for groups such as hen parties. I was very tempted by the Get Stoned, which promised a two hour blissed out session complete with hot stone massage and facial, but Jemma my therapist advised me that I might be too relaxed to operate an Apple Mac at full speed afterwards, so we decided to test drive as it were the Stay Younger for Longer Ren anti-aging facial. Listen, we’re none of us getting any younger, and if there’s a natural way to look less anxious, cross, baggy and wrinkled, you can sign me up straight away. Jemma is adept at putting you at your ease and settling you into a state of deep relaxation. My face was cocooned in warm scented towels then gently cleansed. Because the Ren range is natural, less is more, and all the products Jemma used had a beautiful texture and fragrance. She employed massage techniques to gently stroke, smooth and apply firm touches to key pressure points in the face. It was lovely too to feel the skin at my neck, decollatage and shoulders gratefully drinking in the intensely moisturising body oil. I love the way the facial is described as aiming to plump, renew and revitalise wise, experienced skin. Wise and experienced sounds nicer than lined and worn doesn’t it? After an hour and a bit of being pampered, rested and having every centimetre of my face massaged I emerged from my cosy cocoon and was eased back into reality. I felt brighter and looking in the mirror I did indeed look like a woman who had been smoothed, soothed and as if she’d enjoyed a decent night’s sleep. The Stay Younger for Longer face was ready to go out and look the world in the eye again. The Ren facials range from £30 for 30 minutes to £75 for 75 minutes. Beaubronz tans are £35 for 45 minutes and are fully organic and good for up to a week. ■ Green Street House, 14 Green Street, Bath BA1 2JZ. Tel: 01225 426000. Visit: www.greenstreethouse.com. 74 THEBATHMAGAZINE

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THEBESTOFBATH PERFECTLYCOVERED TOADVERTISETEL: 01225 424499

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INTERIORS | LIGHTING

LIGHTEN UP – IT’S THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Lights made from parts taken from the de-commissioned warship hMS ark Royal along with iconic new York street signs are finding their way into people’s homes, restaurants and bars – sourced from Bath based designer gary May at Felix Lighting

here’s a current mood for people hankering after a slice of New York loft apartment style, all open plan living space with statement industrial inspired pieces – and who better to deliver a taste of that warehouse vibe than an architectural lighting designer who’s spent a decade honing his skills in New York? Now settled back in Bath, designer Gary May is supplying his private and commercial customers from Felix Lighting his specialist showroom in Bartlett Street. This treasure trove of beautifully designed chunky lighting owes much of its past to engineers and designers all over the world, found in the searchlight taken from an ocean liner, the American air vents turned into table lamps, or the Russian submarine clocks. Among Gary’s stock are the iconic Walk, Don’t Walk signs that used to be displayed on the streets of New York until health and safety decreed them no longer fit for purpose in a city where so many don’t understand English. He is the sole British dealer for the flashing signs and supplies Heals in London as well as the Bath showroom. It’s no wonder that customers come down from London to see for themselves what’s in store. Gary runs all aspects of the business himself, although he also has a workshop in Bristol where three people are busy making lights to his design and restoring old pieces ready for the market. He says: “I think one of our strengths is that we have large amounts of items all the same, which means we’re popular with chains who want to create a uniform look for their different branches.” As a result Felix Lighting can be found in TGI Fridays and Jamie Oliver’s diners across the UK, as well as in independents like Bath’s own Café Society and at Soho House in London. Felix, which is named after Gary’s son, has its own range of lighting which includes bone china and Bath stone shades. Gary has also joined forces with Justin Pocock to create a new range of industrial inspired furniture, Indy. The first pieces in the collection as a series of crank tables, with either glass or wooden tops, which can be hand cranked to adjust their height. Indy also has a specially designed table or bar with attached stools which can be folded out or tucked in. While there are some small pieces in Felix Lighting, which would suit the average semi, much of the stock demands suitably large spaces to make the most of its grand scale. If you were to add a dash of industrial revolution to, say a Georgian townhouse, one of the statuesque lights from the Suez Canal, or perhaps one taken from an aircraft carrier’s runway deck, would be a dramatic talking point. These antiques of the future all come with labels which show their provenance. Not only that, but owning these pieces which have such stories attached, add a certain kudos. ■ Felix Lighting Specialist, Bartlett Street, Bath is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Tel: 01225 315110 or visit: www.felixlightingspecialists.co.uk

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LIGHTING

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House Doctor fp.qxp_Layout 23 20/06/2014 09:57 Page 1

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

SIMPLIFY YOUR HOUSE, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE! E

ver felt that your house is taking control of you rather than the other way around? You don’t know where to start because everywhere you look you see furniture, bric-a-brac or antiques? With the consumerism of modern life combined with the desire to keep what we have from the past, so many houses now have too much everywhere you look, and when time comes to change or move, it becomes impossible. Where do you start? Now a new business has been launched in Bath to help you by German Diaz Pocquet and Clare Willcox. The House Doctoring Agency provides exclusive, personal decluttering advice and solutions to anyone who needs to move, wants to free up some space in the house, is overwhelmed by clutter

and possessions, or wants to downsize and realise some value. The business is already helping solve all of these problems in a kind, objective, professional way, working side by side with clients in their homes with discretion and confidence to help decide what items you don’t need in your home. The firm can help identify items for disposal, which charities to donate to, how to remove things safely, advise on redecoration and suggest ways of improving a house for sale. German says “I am really excited about launching the House Doctoring Agency in Bath. Since coming here, I am amazed by the extent of beautiful old buildings but also by their legacy inside. Since childhood, I have loved to help others, and now I can simplify someone’s life through decluttering and restyling”. Bath local Clare, who has spent her working life caring for others and in business administration, knows that through decluttering, hard though it can be to say goodbye to sometimes precious things, each person can make their life easier. Both German and Clare are looking forward to helping Bath residents make a difference to their lives and their houses!

Please contact German and Clare on 01225 422235 or at www.housedoctoringagency.co.uk

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WISH LIST

Interior

DELIGHTS Little touches for the home

BEDROOM BLISS: Jali Safran duvet cover £269, pillow case, £69. Yves Delorme, Milsom Place, Bath

SEASHORE INSPIRED: True Grace small scented candle, £38. True Grace, 19 Milsom Place, Bath. www.truegrace.co.uk

GLASS ACT: Beautiful Kastehelmi votives from scandinavian glassware designer iittala, £10.50. Shannon, 68 Walcot St, Bath. www.shannon-uk.com FRESH SCENT: Neom Invigorate reed diffuser £35, or with separate

travel candle £45. Grasse, 3 Argyle Street, www.grasse.me.uk

CYCLE CLIPS: Prints by SundayTimes illustrator/cartoonist Simon Spilsbury, Roadies, £30. Bloomsbury, 15 New Bond Street, Bath. www.bloomsburystore.com

PAIRING UP: These resin bookends add dramatic statement to your bookshelf, and are heavy enough to double as beautiful door stops, £49.95. The Pigeon Hole, The Shed, Box Road, Bath.

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the directory

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PRESENTING | PROPERTY

oodlands is situated within a few minutes walk of the centre of Bradford on Avon. It occupies an elevated position in an idyllic setting and has outstanding views over the surrounding Wiltshire countryside. The property is an elegant Victorian detached villa with features typical of the period including attractive fireplaces, picture rails, sash windows etc. The rooms are well proportioned with plenty of light and space for a large and busy family. The accommodation is arranged over three floors and comprises: beautifully tiled entrance hall and rear lobby, large kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, drawing room, five bedrooms with en suite master bedroom, utility room, cloakroom and cellar. The grounds are approaching three acres with plenty of off road parking. The mature landscaped gardens also house a studio and workshop. Woodlands is a lovely home in a town which has much to offer in terms of community and family life and with easy access to Bath or the surrounding Wiltshire towns and villages. For full particulars or to arrange a viewing contact agents Pritchards.

WOODLANDS FROME ROAD BRADFORD ON AVON

Pritchards, 11 Quiet Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 466225

Price: £1,100,000

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• Elegant, detatched Victorian villa • Five bedrooms - master en suite • Idyllic setting with wonderful views • Landscaped gardens, studio and workshop

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Crafting beautiful homes In and around Bath

We deliver to over 20,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family then we are able to offer a mailing service for only £15.00 (6 issues) or £25.00 Euro zone; £30.00 (12 issues) or £50.00 Euro zone World Zone 1 £95.00 World Zone 2 £120.00 To subscribe just send a cheque payable to MC Publishing Ltd 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED or Telephone 01225 424 499 for card payment

Subscription Form Mr/Mrs/Ms ................Forename ..............................................

01225 79115 5

ashford-homes.co.uk 84 TheBATHMagazine

juLY 2014

Surname .............................................................................. Address ............................................................................ ..........................................Postcode ............................ Daytime telephone No ..............................................................

pritchard-partners.co.uk

Midford Lane, Freshford A most impressive 4 bedroom 2 reception room, 2 bathroom, detached period property occupying a plot of approximately 1 acre which enjoys breathtaking views over the Avon Valley. The property benefits from a number of period features, wonderful gardens to all sides, stone built outbuildings, double garage, carport and ample driveway parking. Int area 2253 sq ft/209 sq m.

Guide Price: ÂŁ895,000

Weston A most attractive 3/4 bed Georgian G II Listed house set in a pretty tucked-away terrace. Cottage style front garden & superb landscaped garden to rear. 1730 sq ft/160.8 sq m. 2 reception rooms, shower room & bathroom, 3 bedrooms & bedroom 4/study. Close to Weston High Street & local amenities. Easy access to Bath City Centre. Pleasant aspect to rear.

Price: ÂŁ735,000 11 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2LB

Tel: 01225 466 225

The Apartment Co - JULY.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2014 16:18 Page 1

PROPERTY | THINKING

An image says 1,000 words... Peter Greatorex, managing director of The Apartment Company stresses the importance of great photography when selling or selling your property…

lmost everyone (around 93% of buyers) will start their property search online. Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation are the three main property portals and they all have one thing in common – they are ‘image led’. In other words, their ads really showcase the properties, with large, sometimes clickable images, and galleries of images for searchers to browse for many a happy hour. It’s therefore absolutely vital that your apartment looks absolutely amazing in a photograph. At The Apartment Company we pride ourselves on our beautiful photography of our clients’ properties. Unlike many of our competitors, we always use a professional photographer to really capture the essence – and very importantly – the lifestyle, that the apartment offers. Of course, there are many elements that go into making great property photography: the weather, the skill and experience of the photographer, and the features of the house itself – they all go into making or breaking the shoot. But there are also lots of things you, as the owner, can yourself so that your apartment stands out online for all the right reasons. Here are three steps to ensure your images really pack a punch:

Step 1 – Clean and Clear • Clear surfaces and floor spaces, take up rugs where necessary, and clean everything until it sparkles. Light and reflected shine are the best ways to show off the size of your rooms. The more floor and surface space a buyer can see, the larger they will perceive your apartment to be, and space adds value.

Step 2 – Go Shopping • Take a tip from the magazine stylists and shop for staging accessories to give your home the star treatment: • Kitchen – Champagne, fruit, (stick to one type per bowl; limes or lemons can look great), rustic board of artisan breads and cheeses, flowers. • Living rooms – fill an empty fireplace with church candles and light them for the shoot; elegant bouquets, lifestyle magazines and coffee table books. • Bathrooms - fluffy white towels and luxury spa-style toiletries.

Selling your property? Choose an agency with a great service

Every month The Bath Magazine brings you a selection of properties from Bath's most commercially active estate agents. These agents advertise with us as part of their broad selection of print and online marketing to ensure your property is presented to the highest standard and to reach the greatest audience. If you are currently thinking of selling your property, then consider using one of The Bath Magazine’s featured estate agencies to give you the best possible service.

Step 3 – Become the photographer’s assistant • Plump cushions, move chairs, take away any distracting objects, remove bins and washing. Make sure you can see what he’s photographing so you can anticipate any potential for the room not looking its absolute best. Put lamps on, or turn lights off, to keep the ambient light at the right level. A good photographer will really appreciate your help and will guide you throughout. Get your images wrong and you may well notice by a distinct lack of viewings and interest. Get them right and you should have no problem attracting viewers, buyers and tenants. For advice on how to maximise your apartments sales or letting potential, call Peter on 01225 471144. Follow us on twitter for dates and speakers twitter: @apartmentco

Bath’s biggest monthly magazine Also online at www.thebathmag.co.uk

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Priory Farm Barn, Stanton Prior

£3500 pcm

Brand newly refurbished to the very highest specification, this stunning bedroom home provides exceptional living accommodation with 2 bathrooms and 3 receptions and truly inspiring views across the beautiful countryside around Stanton Prior. Generous garden and off street parking. EPC C.

£1,850 pcm

Penn Lea, Weston

£1850 pcm

A spacious and modern detached 4 bedroom family home located in a highly sought-after residential area on the western outskirts of Bath. Outside is a well maintained garden, integral double garage and driveway parking. Off street parking and garage. EPC D.

Bath Office

Lettings 01225 458546 | Sales. 01225 459817

Coburg Villas, Camden A beautiful four bedroom Victorian terraced house arranged over three floors, combining period features and charm with modern comforts throughout. The property benefits from a peaceful garden to the rear, and enjoys stunning southerly views over Bath. Located in Camden, the property is close to a small cluster of local shops, and is also within walking distance of the city centre.

*An administration fee of ÂŁ350.00 + VAT applies.

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PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

DOWNSIZING IN STYLE

uddenly, the family home which never seemed quite big enough, was always bursting at the seams and full of people, is strangely empty. The children have grown up and moved out to build their own lives and you are left with a house that is actually far bigger than you need. It’s not just too big, it can be an encumbrance, just at the time when you should be free to enjoy a new quality of life. Many people who reach that stage decide that the best solution is to downsize, but that shouldn’t mean that you need to sacrifice any aspects of your standard of living. On the contrary, you should be able to enjoy all the luxuries and comforts you have achieved over the years, but on a manageable scale. This is where Brunel Crescent, a unique private development of 12 apartments and three penthouses at Box, Wiltshire, six miles from Bath, is setting a new trend, extending the concept of quality downsizing to embrace easy living in a secure, fully-serviced environment. Built from traditional ashlar stone and natural slate, the development occupies a landscaped hillside with beautiful rural views overlooking the Bybrook Valley. Large balconies, terraces and gardens bathed in sunshine add an atmosphere that is apparent as soon as you enter through the Florentine iron gate, hand-made by an Italian craftsman. The central piazza, paved with granite setts from a specialist family firm on Lake Como, is dominated by a fountain specially acquired from the South of France. Inside, ceramic tiles are from Monza, and the door furniture is from an Italian artisan maker north of Milan. The quality, quite simply, is astounding. Comfort and convenience are there in equal measure. Arriving by car,

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parking is in a secure underground car park with automated entry, from which there are lifts to all floors. Full CCTV and a 24/7 emergency alarm add to the peace of mind and, using the latest security technologies, access can be controlled from any telephone. Underfloor heating and heat recovery ventilation systems ensure the indoor environment is always comfortable, while kitchens are fitted with Corian worktops, soft close doors and drawers, magic corners as well as high quality integrated appliances. Box offers vibrant village life with shops, pubs, a surgery and post office, along with clubs such as the WI, a gardening club and a fine bowls green, all within within walking distance of Brunel Crescent. There is also a regular bus service into Bath, Corsham and Chippenham and there is a thriving Church of England community in the village too. Brunel Crescent residents can also meet each other and their friends or family in the pavilion. This charming building opens onto the piazza and is furnished to a high standard, fully fitted with a widescreen TV, high quality music system, library and kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities. A concierge service and full site maintenance is included and there is a care-trained professional estate manager on site, providing a service that’s never intrusive but always there when you need it. If required, this can extend to excellent-value care operated by Blue View Properties’ own notfor-profit company. It’s great to know that whatever the future holds for you, there is always someone on hand to help and assist. ■ To find out more about life at Brunel Crescent visit: www.brunelcrescent.com or call Knight Frank on 01225 325999.

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PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

DINDER HOUSE Nr. WELLS £ price on application

ne of the pleasures of owning a listed property is the ability to trace the history of both the house and its owners. Dinder House formed part of the early endowment of the Bishopric of Wells and through the ages has been in the hands of several prominent family dynasties. The present house was built in 1801 and is grade II listed, as are the gate piers to the village and bridge in the grounds which crosses the River Sheppey. In the last century, following the death of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir James Somerville in 1949, the house passed to the Brooking Clark family and they lived there for thirty years until 1994. It is included in Pevsner’s ‘Buildings of England’ and was featured in Country Life in 1977. During the mid 1990’s Dinder house became a company headquarters and the entire building underwent a careful and sympathetic restoration which included replacing the roof timbers, slating and lead work as well as renovation of much stonework, re-wiring and replumbing. Subsequently the current owners (since 2004) have overseen a comprehensive conversion and restoration programme under the guidance of internationally renowned designers and architects to create a fabulous family home. The magnificent gardens and grounds of the property extend to about 8.7 hectares with the main house providing around 1200 square metres of accommodation. In addition there is a detached coach house with former stables which are suitable for refurbishment to ancillary accommodation, and a detached two bedroom lodge cottage. Dinder House is a landmark property and offers the opportunity to acquire a truly unique country home with as many original and contemporary features as could be desired. Full particulars are available on application to agents Knight Frank Knight Frank, 4 Wood Street, Queen Square, Bath Tel: 01225 325 999

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PROPERTY | IN FOCUS

WWW.THEBATHMAG.CO.UK

JULY 2014

TheBATHMagazine 93

Jeremy Jenkins FP July.qxp_Layout 4 17/06/2014 10:02 Page 1

Woolley Street, Bradford-on-Avon, £585,000 • Very pretty town house • • Four or five bedrooms • •

Lengthy reception • with two fireplaces

• Kitchen breakfast room • • Study or bedroom 5 • •

Central location

•

• Attractive courtyard • garden

Tory, Bradford-on-Avon, £300,000 •

Lovely views for miles over the town

•

Four floors of character space

•

Fashionably long • kitchen dining room

•

Bedroom and modern wet room

•

Study or occasional • second bedroom

•

• Garden over the path • with patio and views • Pedestrian access only •

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

Hunter French fp July.qxp_Layout 2 18/06/2014 10:17 Page 1

hunter french

town and country specialists

Neston

ÂŁ630,000

Broughton Gifford

Offers Over ÂŁ200,000

'The Reading Room' is a unique and stunning one bedroom detached period property set in the heart of this sought after village with bundles of character! This stunning home is ideal for a range of buyers including couples, singles, investors or somebody looking for a village holiday let!

Corsham Office: 01249 715775 www.hunterfrench.co.uk

e: info@hunterfrench.co.uk

Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

BellottsHill, Road Single Shoscombe

01225 421000 www.fidelisinbath.co.uk

ÂŁ415,000 ÂŁ395,000

Fidelis Estate Agents 134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

Email: info@fidelisinbath.co.uk

Fidelis

Residential Sales & Lettings

Bloomfield Devonshire Park Mews

01225 421000 www.fidelisinbath.co.uk

419,950 ÂŁÂŁ495,000

Fidelis Estate Agents 134 Wells Road, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 3AH

Email: info@fidelisinbath.co.uk

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Mark Naylor - July.qxp_Layout 7 18/06/2014 11:14 Page 1

HANSFORD SQUARE - ÂŁ695,000 An absolutely stunning and individual detached family home, occupying one of Hansford Square's finest corner plots. The property excels in character and includes a stunning oak-framed garden room designed and built by the current owners. This property must be viewed first hand in order to be fully appreciated. Detached accommodation comprising: Entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, further reception hallway, oak-framed living/garden room, shower room, 4 bedrooms and bathroom. Absolutely stunning and large, surrounding gardens with independent office facility, stone folly and shed. Double glazing and gas central heating. Approximate gross internal floor area: 1,815 square feet / 168 square metres.

k Mar r o l y a N

01225 422 224 www.mark-naylor.com

Mark Naylor - July.qxp_Layout 7 18/06/2014 11:14 Page 2

MILTON AVENUE - ÂŁ530,000 An absolutely stunning and beautifully finished Edwardian family home, nestling in the heart of the ever-popular and extremely sought after Poetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner. Vestibule, hallway (with understairs cloakroom), sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms, bathroom and en-suite shower room. Front and southerly rear gardens. Approximate gross internal floor area: 1,385 square feet / 129 square metres.

k Mar r o l y a N

01225 422 224 www.mark-naylor.com

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

NEW INSTRUCTION

Sion Hill Place, Bath An elegant and beautifully presented second floor apartment situated across two Grade I Listed townhouses forming a handsome terrace located just above Sion Hill. The apartment is beautifully presented with retained period detail and fine views towards Bath.

Bath Office

Sales. 01225 459817 | Lettings 01225 458546

Guide Price £680,000 • • • • • •

2 Bedrooms 2 Reception Rooms 2 Bathrooms Across Two Townhouses Second Floor Wonderful Views

NEW INSTRUCTION

Sion Hill Place, Bath This courtyard apartment offers a great opportunity to live in one of Bath’s most desirable addresses. The apartment benefits from two good double bedroom and two bathrooms plus a fine drawing room with retained period features. There is also use of the grounds to the front of the terrace.

Guide Price £575,000 • • • • • •

2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Drawing Room Courtyards Exclusive Location Grade I Listed

Fine & Country July.qxp_Layout 12 19/06/2014 16:08 Page 1

Holt Located within the village of Holt, this property is quietly positioned at the end of a private track with a gated gravel driveway in a former orchard with several ancient trees. Orchard House is a unique home that has been individually designed and is of quality construction. It is a great home for entertaining and has at its heart the warmth of an up to date gas Aga with programmable functions. The property offers flexible accommodation including five bedrooms, three shower/bathrooms, a kitchen breakfast room, sitting room, dining room, garden room and utility room. In addition to the main house is a selfcontained annexe with kitchen and shower room. The property has a garage with

electric door, open car barn plus even more extra storage. The gardens are landscaped with a productive vegetable garden and lots of parking.

“The village of Holt has the National Trust Courts Gardens and thriving Glove factory studios and cafe. The village offers two public houses, a village shop, church and primary school, and is located 2.4 miles from the popular market town of Bradford on Avon and just over 9 miles away from Bath.”

ORCHARD HOUSE DETACHED HOME • FIVE BEDROOMS • THREE SHOWER/BATHROOMS • THREE RECEPTION ROOMS • ONE BED SELF-CONTAINED ANNEXE • GARAGE AND CARPORT • GARDENS • EPC RATING: C

Contact: 01225 320032

£850,000

Fine & Country July.qxp_Layout 12 19/06/2014 16:09 Page 2

Bathford This property is a contemporary, stylishly designed detached home, with an attractive series of mono-pitched roofs, and benefits from stunning views across the Avonvale Valley towards Solsbury Hill, situated on the fringes of the desirable village of Bathford. The current owners have carefully extended and refurbished the property to make it an attractive, spacious and light family home. The fully glazed double height entrance hall with dual aspect and open tread staircase emphasise the light, airy feel and the many rooms with dual aspect take advantage of the glorious views. In the living room there are large patio doors overlooking the decking area and garden, again increasing the sense of space of the property, by bringing the outside in.

The large secluded landscaped garden has been well designed, offering a kitchen garden and four large patio areas. There is also a private drive, leading to a double garage and parking for several cars.

“Situated in a peaceful and convenient location the property is in, a wonderfully tranquil and beautiful setting as well as having easy access to the beautiful City of Bath, located only 4 miles away. Bathford also offers good amenities such as a very well regarded primary school, village shop, café and two pubs.”

HIGH STREET CONTEMPORARY DETACHED HOUSE • OPEN PLAN SITTING ROOM AND STUDY• MASTER BEDROOM SUITE WITH DRESSING AREA AND BATHROOM EN-SUITE• 3 FURTHER BEDROOMS• EPC RATING: C

Contact: 01225 320032

£925,000

Laura Place

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ625,000

Grade I listed | Georgian | Garden apartment | Prime location | Two bedrooms one with en-suite | Front and rear courtyards | Two vaults | Viewing recommended The Apartment Company is delighted to market this superb two bedroom garden apartment in the highly sought after, Laura Place. This fabulous apartment boasts many ornate period features, a beautiful garden, a courtyard and its own private entrance. The beautifully presented accommodation comprises: large open plan sitting room with a fully fitted kitchen and dining area, a utility room that leads out onto the garden, master bedroom with a luxury en-suite, second bedroom and family bathroom. With its ideal location, stylish interior and outside space, this apartment is expected to generate considerable interest!

Marlborough Buildings

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ625,000

Grade II listed | Georgian | Lower ground floor | Garden apartment | Two double bedrooms | Luxury bathroom | Sought after location | Highly recommended A rare opportunity to purchase a stylish garden apartment in the very popular Marlborough Buildings. Built in the late 1700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, this property is adjacent to the Royal Crescent and is a short walk from the city centre, the historic attractions, award winning restaurants and world famous Bath Spa. The apartment comprises: large sitting room with French doors opening onto a stunning private garden, kitchen, two double bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom with a walk in shower. Properties of this type do not come onto the market often and therefore we would recommend an early viewing!

Manvers Street

Offers in Excess of £390,000

Grade I listed | Georgian apartment | Top floor | Two bedrooms one with an en-suite | Modern kitchen | Bright and spacious accommodation The Apartment Company is delighted to market this well presented top floor apartment, in the city centre just moments away from Bath’s finest restaurants, historic attractions and shopping. This fabulous two bedroom apartment comprises: open plan sitting room with space for a dining area, contemporary fully fitted kitchen, master bedroom with an en-suite, second bedroom and modern bathroom. With its beautiful accommodation and brilliant location this apartment is expected to generate a considerable amount of interest, therefore early viewing is highly recommended!

Camden Crescent

Offers in Excess of £290,000

Grade II listed | Georgian | Ground floor apartment | Open plan kitchen and sitting room | One bedroom | Period features | Sought after location A fantastic opportunity to purchase a delightful ground floor one bedroom apartment in one of Bath’s famous crescents. This property is a short walk away from the city centre providing access to all the historic attractions, award winning restaurants and the world famous Bath Spa. The accommodation comprises: Open plan sitting room and kitchen, double bedroom and a bathroom. This property boasts many original features from cornicing to working shutters. We expect this apartment in its popular location to generate a great deal of interest, therefore an early viewing is highly recommended.

Elm Place

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ220,000

Period apartment | Lower ground floor | Garden apartment | One bedroom | Original features | Sought after location | Highly recommended A superb one bedroom apartment with the rare advantage of a garden. The apartment is located in the sought after location that is Bear flat, a short bus ride to all Bath has to offer including its famous historic attractions and award winning restaurants. This beautiful apartment comprises: large sitting room with a feature fireplace, windows that overlook the garden, modern kitchen with a dining area, large double bedroom, bathroom, utility cupboard and a garden. This apartment is expected to generate a large amount of interest, therefore early viewing is highly recommended!

Rivers Street

Offers in Excess of ÂŁ180,000

Grade II listed | Georgian | Ground floor apartment | One bedroom | Mezzanine | Period features | City Centre location | Highly recommended This delightfully quirky one bedroom ground floor apartment close to the city centre with the historic attractions, award winning restaurants and shopping on the door step. This beautifully presented property comprises : sitting room with mezzanine over, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. This apartment would be a fabulous first time buy, city pad or ideal investment. Early viewings recommended!

Catherine Place

£900 pcm Northampton Street

£950 pcm Bladud Buildings

£950 pcm

Unfurnished | One bedroom | No pets | Sought after location | Central

One bedroom | No pets | Under floor heating | Select brand new apartment block | Free

Georgian apartment | Top floor | Two double bedrooms | Stunning views

close to shops | Agency fees £350+vat | Available immediately

wifi and fortnightly clean | Unfurnished | Agency fees £350+vat | Available immediately

| Close to all amenities | New carpets/decor | Available in June

Ground and First Floor one bedroom Maisonette in pretty Georgian Brand new stunning Second floor Unfurnished apartment in central Ground and First Floor one bedroom Maisonette in pretty Georgian Grade I Listed building.

Park Street

location

£975 pcm Grosvenor Place

Grade I Listed building.

£995 pcm Park Street

£1050 pcm

A superb beautifully presented Georgian furnished garden apartment. Beautifully presented spacious Georgian ground floor two bedroom Ground and First Floor one bedroom Maisonette in pretty Georgian apartment. Grade I Listed building.

Henrietta Street

£1,100 pcm Park Street

£1,150 pcm Brock Street

£1,275 pcm

Council Tax Band C | Two double bedrooms | Luxury bathroom | Immaculately presented |

2 Double bedrooms | Private courtyard | No pets | Vault | Council Tax

Central location | Two bedrooms | Arranged over two floors | Close to Royal

City Centre | No pets | Unfurnished | Agency fees £350+vat | Available 16th October 2014

Band D | Furnished | Agency fees £350+vat | Available immediately

Crescent | Furnished | Agency fees £350+vat | Available 1st October 2014

Two bedroom first floor Georgian apartment in sought after central Beautifully presented two bedroom Courtyard Apartment.

Spectacular two bedroom apartment in much sought after central

location.

location close to all amenities.

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allen’s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

Crisp Cowley Ralph Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town House York Street Bath BA1 1NQ 01225 789333

www.crispcowley.co.uk

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