10 minute read
Life in the Tub
by bathbid
SPRING FESTIVALS
From literature, to food, comedy and music, Bath has an excellent range of festivals for you to attend this Spring.
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First up is Topping & Company Booksellers who play host to some of the world’s most talented writers, including Michael Morpurgo, Lemony Snicket and Damon Galgut.
Bath Comedy Festival hits us right in the funny bone this April, with an outstanding roster of up and coming talent, as well as household comedy names.
The Bath Festival starts in May and brings more talented writers, comedians and musicians to the city to entertain audiences in the beautiful venues and spaces of Bath.
In June, Pub in the Park returns for another weekend filled with awardwinning food, music and celebrity cooks.
welcometobath.co.uk/whats-on
COMMUNITY MATTERS
In summer 2022 the Cleveland Pools Trust aims to re-open Britain’s oldest lido after a dedicated group of local volunteers tirelessly campaigned to save it from dereliction.
Thousands of supporters from far and wide have joined the campaign and today the Trust has a team of more than 100 volunteers who give their time freely: fundraising, engaging with the community, managing heritage assets, organising events and publicising progress.
clevelandpools.org.uk
LIFE IN THE TUB
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS
Bath has been chosen to represent the South West of England in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom competition national finals and will be in the small city category, Bath was chosen as a result of winning gold in last year’s South West in Bloom competition. It means Bath will be judged twice this year, the RHS finals will be judged late July or early August and the South West competition judged in early July.
Britain in Bloom was first held in 1964, and has been organised by the Royal Horticultural Society since 2002. The competition is entered by cities, towns and villages across the UK, and is divided into categories so only communities of a similar size compete against each other.
Bath has a successful history of competing in Britain in Bloom, and the city was the national winner of the first ever competition in 1964. Since then, Bath has secured over 15 awards.
There will be plenty of bright blooms to discover around the city, with displays in Royal Victoria Park, Walcot Street, SouthGate Bath, Milsom Street and Milsom Place, Union Street, Upper Borough Walls and many more city spots.
Our Bath in Bloom map on the Welcome to Bath website will be updated once again with this year’s route!
welcometobath.co.uk/bath-in-bloom
LIFE IN THE TUB
SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
On World Book Day this year Mr B’s Emporium donated all of its profits from the day, to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, in a meaningful show of support to the people of Ukraine.
Mr B’s Emporium is a beautiful, energetic and innovative bookshop on John Street in the heart of Bath. It’s a bright labyrinthine space where bookrelated chatter and advice seems everpresent and you never know what you might encounter next, from claw-foot bath book displays to toilets illustrated by Chris Riddell.
mrbsemporium.com
WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE
The Bath World Heritage Centre will officially open this spring!
Discover what makes Bath such a unique place and find out more about why the city is rated of Outstanding Universal Value, including: the hot springs, Roman remains, Georgian architecture, Georgian town planning, the social setting of the Georgian spa town and the city’s natural landscape setting.
Once the World Heritage Centre opens, its staff and volunteers will be on hand to give you more information on the amazing history and heritage of Bath.
bathworldheritage.org.uk/worldheritagecentre
LIFE IN THE TUB
NEW INDIE ARRIVALS
Square Grill
11 – 12 Abbey Churchyard, BA1 1LY
Overlooking the Abbey Churchyard, Square Grill offers locally sourced dishes from around the world for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant also has an outdoor dining terrace and hosts live piano music played every day and night.
Chapter 22 Roots & Records
8 Broad Street, BA1 5LJ
Situated on Broad Street, Chapter 22 Roots & Records combines records, exotic plants and coffee for a unique high-street experience. The owners are looking to make the business a destination shop where customers can come to chill out, grab coffee, buy or listen to a vinyl in their listening booths and pick up a rare plant to take home.
Bare Grills
Coming soon - 10 Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RG
Bath becomes the fourth city in the UK to open a Bare Grills restaurant, which offers hand pressed burgers, slow smoked meat and char-grilled steaks. The much-loved micro brand is sure to be a hit for Bath city centre.
Cream Cornwall
Coming soon - 29 Milsom St, BA1 1DG
The luxurious interior design brand is opening its first shop outside of Cornwall! Patterns and products are designed from the studio above their flagship Falmouth shop, where inspiration is taken from Cornish heritage, colours and coastline.
AFTER LIFE AT SYDNEY GARDENS
Many will have tuned in to watch ‘After Life’ on Netflix, a TV series that follows Tony, portrayed by Ricky Gervais, as he deals with the death of his beloved wife.
Inspired by the iconic park bench scenes in the series, Ricky Gervais teamed up with the charity CALM to donate 25 After Life benches to locations across the UK, where people can go to talk, listen and reflect.
Bath is lucky to have been donated a bench which is now installed at Sydney Gardens.
You can visit the Bath bench in Sydney Gardens
© Netflix
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EASY WAYS TO EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT BATH’S SUPPORT BATH’S INDIES INDIES
If you don’t want to live without Bath’s wonderful independent businesses, make sure you show them your support...
Bath’s independent businesses offer choice, tradition and innovation, as well as a personal and passionate service. Indies create jobs and have a positive impact on the city’s economy, supporting local artists and designers, food producers and growers.
Supporting the businesses in your local area is a greener choice, and it has never been more important to show Bath’s independent entrepreneurs that you value everything they do. There are so many great ways to show some love to the independent businesses you wouldn’t want to live without, and many of them don’t cost a penny! Our independent business directory makes it easier than ever before to remind yourself of old favourites, discover new treasures, plan your next indie trip to the city, and show your support on social media.
Here are five easy ways to support Bath’s independent businesses and show them that you care...
EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT BATH’S INDIES
THE TOTALLY LOCALLY £5 CONCEPT
If everyone in Bath spent £5 a week in the city’s local independent shops or businesses, it would be worth an extra £17.3 million per year going into the local economy. Here’s how it’s worked out using Totally Locally’s £5 concept: £5 X 66,644 (approx. adult population of Bath) X 52 (weeks in the year) = £17, 327, 440
SUPPORT ON SOCIAL
Be sure to follow your favourite indie brands on social media and engage with their content. By liking, commenting on, sharing or saving a post, you help their posts to reach more potential customers.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
Independent businesses with small marketing budgets benefit enormously from word-of-mouth recommendations. If you have had a great experience, be sure to tell your friends or post an endorsement on social media.
GIVE THE GIFT OF INDIES
If you’re looking for a gift for a loved one, you are bound to find the perfect present at one of Bath’s indies. Many businesses offer gift cards, which are perfect for those who are difficult to buy for, or you can purchase a Bath Gift Card, which is accepted at over 168 businesses in the city. DISCOVER NEW BRANDS
There are so many independent businesses to discover in Bath. Make a list of indies you’ve never visited before and pledge to stop by this Spring. Your visit will make a world of difference!
Every area of Bath has a Every area of Bath has a unique story to tell... unique story to tell...
Kingsmead Square
Each of Bath’s neighbourhoods has its own unique atmosphere, but all of them are filled with independent spirit.
Kingsmead Square and Saw Close
With coffee shops, restaurants, street food and a world-famous cocktail bar, Kingsmead Square is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and watch the world go by. Just around the corner from Kingsmead Square is Saw Close, the centre of Bath’s theatre district, which is home to the Theatre Royal Bath and also boasts a plethora of eateries, from wood-fired pizza at The Oven to the Bath institution that is Schwartz Bros.
Green Park Station
Green Park Station is a former railway station that is now a unique shopping venue, lined with independent shops and stalls, as well as the popular Bath Pizza Co. The beautiful cast-iron roof not only provides year-round shelter, but also houses regular bustling markets.
Milsom Street Quarter
The stylish Milsom Street is well-known for being home to one of the world’s oldest department stores, but you will also discover some independent gems on your wanders. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Milsom Street is Milsom Place, where you will find an array of shops and restaurants, including Chanii B, the home of internationally-renowned shoe designer Chantal Pilon, and Le Vignoble, a wine lounge offering self-service beverages.
Artisan Quarter
The Walcot Street area of Bath has held the informal title of Bath’s Artisan Quarter since the 1960s, and brings together a vibrant collection of characterful independent shops and restaurants. Whether you are looking for quirky second-hand clothes or classic comics, Walcot Street has you covered. There are some lovely restaurants lining the street, and you will also find one of Bath’s institutions, the communityowned Bell Inn.
walcotstreet.com
Abbey Quarter
Abbey Green is a historic cobbled square that is home to a nineteenth-century London Plane tree. Wander around the Abbey Quarter and you will find a wonderful selection of independent shops and eateries, and on the last Sunday of every month, you can explore the vibrant Abbey Quarter Market.
bathabbeyquarter.com
BATH’S INDIE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Widcombe
Head over the footbridge behind Bath Spa Station and you will find Widcombe Parade, offering everything from coffee houses to gift shops, and even a gin distillery. Just up the road, you will find Widcombe Social Club, a community-focused venue offering live music and comedy nights.
Larkhall
Sitting on the edge of the city, Larkhall’s village atmosphere is bolstered by independent shops including Larkhall Butchers, a farm shop, delis, florists and even a co-operative printing workshop.
Moorland Road
Based in the popular Oldfield Park area, the bustling Moorland Road is home to independent retailers aplenty. Find a wide range of hardware products at Francis DIY, which first opened in 1967, stock up on essentials at Bath’s first refill store, Newleaf Healthfoods, and tuck into out-of-this-world burgers from Magu Diner, or award-winning fish and chips from The Oyster Shell.
Bear Flat
Named the second-best place to live in the South West by the Sunday Times last year, Bear Flat has a tight-knit community and an impressive range of independent shops and eateries, including the Good Bear Café, where 2014 Masterchef winner Ping Coombes hosts supper clubs, and Menu Gordon Jones, a stylish contemporary restaurant with a long waiting list.
Weston
Originally a separate village, Weston is now a suburb in north-west Bath that is home to cosy cafés, takeaways, and a friendly pub.
The Lanes
Incorporating Union Passage, Northumberland Passage and Northumberland Place, The Lanes make up one of the city’s best kept secrets, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets but just seconds away from Bath’s tourist destinations. Described by Jane Austen as ‘“this interesting passageway”, the characterful area is crammed with quirky cafes, jewellers, pubs, and gift shops.
