Discover our growing range of premium kitchen appliances and smart solutions across our two beautifully presented showrooms.
Alongside our long-established Bath city-centre showroom, you can also explore our South Gloucestershire showroom at Dunsdon Barn. Just two minutes from J18 off the M4, Dunsdon Barn offers a carefully curated display of quality appliances from world-renowned brands including AGA, Lacanche, Everhot, Miele, Bora and many more — all chosen for stylish and functional everyday living.
56 CLAYTON’S KITCHEN CELEBRATES 12 YEARS
Chef patron Rob Clayton on 12 years at the helm of Bath’s iconic British brasserie
Meet Nick Woodhouse and John Law of design studio Woodhouse & Law
All things sparkle with the latest apparel from Anthropologie 32 GOLDFRAPP’S WILL
The legendary Bath-based producer and composer talks synths, inspiration, and the Ivor Novello nominated Moog Ensemble 36 WHAT’S
Our round-up of must-attend events happening this
Following Lindy’s appearance on the TV show Portrait Artist of the Year, she shares her passion for painting with us 52
A Christmas cheat sheet of the perfect wines to pair with your festive feast. Sip and be merry!
54 INDIAN FARE AT BANDOOK
We share some of our favourite dishes (and cocktails) at one of Bath’s most beloved restaurants in Shire’s Yard
64 TELL YOUR DOG I LOVE THEM
We meet illustrator and dog-lover Harriet Lowther to learn about her new book and her decidedly uncanny illustrations
70 12 DAYS OF BEAUTY
Must-have products to to see you through the season, perfect for gifting or as a treat for yourself
76 WALK BATH
Peter Lant shares how simply putting one foot in front of another can be a powerful mood booster
78 MAKING A MARK
Andrew Swift explores some of the ciyt’s historical graffiti and the history behind it
82 GOOD READS
Delightful gifts for green-fingered friends seeking gardening inspiration for the season ahead
Our festive cover is hiding six rugby balls. Can you find them all?
FROM THE EDITOR
Christmas in Bath never fails to feel a little magical. Whether you’re savouring the return of festive traditions or carving out new ones of your own, this time of year always brings with it a sense of celebration and reflection.
This month’s issue is filled with stories to inspire, uplift, and accompany you through the season. We meet the legendary composer and producer Will Gregory, best known for his work with Goldfrapp, to talk synths, science, and the Ivor Novello-nominated Moog Ensemble.
We also chat with artist Lindy Wright, fresh from her appearance on the TV show Portrait Artist of the Year.
If you fancy donning your walking boots, Peter Lant, founder of Walk Bath, has just the ticket. He reminds us of the profound benefits of simply putting one foot in front of the other, sharing how walking can be both grounding and transformative for mental wellbeing.
For the dog lovers amongst us (yep, that’s me!), make sure you read our interview with illustrator Harriet Lowther, who will be in Bath this month to sign copies of her book, Tell Your Dog I Love Them
On the foodie front, we have several stories, including an interview with Rob Clayton, chef patron of Clayton’s Kitchen, and a review of Bandook, which offers delicious Indian street food dishes.
Of course, no issue would be complete without our round-up of the very best events, city updates, fashion, beauty, and so much more. Finally, on our festive cover, we’ve hidden six rugby balls - can you find them all? Happy hunting!
Wishing you a joyful, restorative, and wonderfully indulgent Christmas.
Joanna
Tis the season for gifting
The Hidden Store on 2 Pierrepont Place offers a delightful selection of homewares, perfect for gifting. The store’s owner, Natasha, is drawn to natural fibres and materials, textures and patterns, and these form the basis of the store. All the items in The Hidden Store are made by UK-based designers, makers, and creators. A recent addition to the rear of the store is The River Mouse, Bath’s new lifestyle store for babies and children, offering a delightful collection of clothes, shoes, and toys from select UK designers. Just like The Hidden Store, The River Mouse offers beautifully crafted pieces that celebrate quality, comfort, and playful design. It’s an ideal spot to discover thoughtful presents for little ones, from cosy winter outfits to charming toys and keepsakes. Pictured is a hand-painted bauble with eco non-toxic paint, and finished with a soft velvet ribbon. It’s inspired by cosy evenings by the fire under vintage quilts. Find it in The Hidden Store, priced at £16. Visit the hiddenstore.co.uk and therivermouse.com
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Seagrass is…
• Natural and sustainable
• Hard-wearing
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• Timeless
City updates
JOE WICKS INSPIRES US TO A HEALTHIER NEW YEAR
Bath Festivals is delighted to welcome Joe Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, to Bath as he brings his energy and enthusiasm to The Forum on Friday, 6 February, at 7pm, to inspire us all to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
The fitness guru will be introducing his latest book, Protein in 15, which features 80 quick, proteinpacked unprocessed recipes for the whole family. Discover easy weeknight dinners, plant-powered meals, lunchbox inspiration, and home takeaways - all in Joe's easy-to-follow style. Every recipe is simple, speedy, and bursting with flavour helping you balance blood sugar, build muscle, and sustain energy throughout your day. Just what we need to set us up for a healthy new year!
Joe’s passion for a healthy lifestyle presented in a relatable way, has won him legions of fans. This live event from Bath Festivals is part of the ReBalance Bath Festival of Wellbeing 2026, which runs from 28 January to 16 February.
Book your tickets for Joe Wicks at bathboxoffice.org.uk
BATH ABBEY’S SAINT ALPHEGE WINDOW APPEAL
Supporters of Bath Abbey’s Saint Alphege Window Appeal have generously donated £33,403 since the Appeal launched in July. With £56,597 remaining to reach the £90,000 fundraising target, Bath Abbey is delighted to share an updated design of the Saint Alphege stained glass window by Bath-based artist, Neil Ireson. More than 1,000 years ago, Saint Alphege was born in Bath. A humble monk who rose to become Abbot of Bath Abbey and later Archbishop of Canterbury before his untimely death at the hands of Danish Vikings, Alphege’s life was centred in generosity, social justice and peace.
The new stained glass window will be situated in the Abbey’s Alphege Chapel. Donations to the Saint Alphege Window Appeal can be made online through Bath Abbey’s website bathabbey.org/alphege-appeal
CONTINUES ‘BATH PHIL FOR FREE’ INITIATIVE
Bath Philharmonia is delighted to announce the return of Bath Phil for Free, its successful scheme designed to remove financial barriers, increase access and share the joy of live orchestral music. The scheme offers every household in Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) a free ticket to select concerts during the 2025/26 season. The next eligible concert is on Wednesday, 4 February, featuring Peter Moore. In this concert, Michael Seal will lead Bath Philharmonia in a thrilling programme of Sibelius, Howard, Wallen, and Borodin, and a concert that promises to be powerful, moving, and vividly alive. For full details and to claim your ticket, visit bathphil.co.uk/bathphilforfree
BATH PHILHARMONIA
THINGS TO DO IN DECEMBER
Christmas at Westonbirt
Enjoy an unforgettable day out at Westonbirt National Arboretum with a magical after-dark trail featuring brandnew lights, spectacular installations, and festive fun for the entire family. Created by the award-winning producers behind Christmas at Kew. Wander through the illuminated arboretum, where twinkling lights bring the forest to life. There will also be festive fairground rides and food and drink stalls serving festive warmers. You might even catch a glimpse of Father Christmas! The trail runs throughout December. Visit christmasatwestonbirt.co.uk
Get a Georgian glow-up
Step into the shoes of Bath’s regency forebears, as No. 1
Royal Crescent Museum and Bath Theatrical Costume Hire collaborate to launch two immersive heritage experiences: The Portrait Parlour and The Georgian Glow Up. The Portrait Parlour offers the opportunity to don period-style clothing and capture your own portrait (selfie). A selection of easyto-wear “slip-on” costumes will be available, designed to fit comfortably over everyday clothing.
The Georgian Glow Up offers a full costume hire service, presenting a range of Georgian and Regency attire displayed on dressed mannequins. Visitors can pre-book costumes for collection and enjoy an overnight hire, allowing them to experience Bath’s streets, architecture, and atmosphere while dressed in authentic period clothing. Visit no1royalcrescent.org.uk/whats-on/
Visit Father Christmas
Nothing brings the magic of the season to life quite like meeting Father Christmas himself! This year, you’ll find him and his elves in the grounds of the Holburne Museum. The magical Grotto Experience, put on by the awardwinning The Production Garden, offers an immersive event and the opportunity to enjoy live music, gifts, storytelling, and, of course, a bit of banter with the main man himself! Father Christmas will be at The Holburne until 23 December. Visit fatherchristmasbath.co.uk for more event details and to book tickets.
The Snowman
Experience the pure magic of Christmas as The Snowman returns to the big screen, accompanied by Bath Philharmonia, Bath’s very own professional orchestra, performing the beautiful and iconic score live! Bring the whole family for this cherished, festive tradition. Before the film, enjoy a hamper of seasonal orchestral delights - perfect for getting everyone into the holiday spirit. Tickets are £23.50, £16 for under 18s. Visit bathphil.co.uk, or bathboxoffice.org.uk.
Swing into Christmas at The Forum
Celebrate the festive season in style with the sensational Down for the Count Swing Orchestra! This is a Christmas spectacular like no other, as Down for the Count’s 30-piece big band with strings is one of the largest swing bands currently touring the UK. Directed by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith and featuring some of the UK’s top vocalists and instrumentalists, the orchestra recreates the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday in a uniquely joyful and engaging performance that has endeared the ensemble to audiences up and down the country. The event takes place on Wednesday, 17 December. Doors open at 6:30pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Visit bathforum.co.uk
5 minutes with: Nick Woodhouse and John Law
For more than 15 years, Nick Woodhouse and John Law, designers and co‐founders of Woodhouse & Law, have overseen the design transformation of some of Bath’s most iconic residences, hotels, and bars. The dynamic duo took time out of their busy schedule to answer some of our questions on life in Bath.
Tell me the story of Woodhouse & Law and what makes it unique?
We met in a bar in London. We think the planets might have been aligned in some way that night because we were both out with school friends. They met that night, too, and are now married. We married in 2007 and set up Woodhouse & Law two years later, shortly after moving to Bath from London. We established Woodhouse & Law in response to what we saw as a significant gap in the market. No other design firms were offering a holistic approach to the design of both interiors and gardens, which to us seemed so inextricably linked. From the outset, we were determined to avoid an identikit look to our designs, preferring instead to work with our clients to create individual schemes that reflected their own character and lifestyle.
What have been some of your favourite design projects this year?
We are so proud to be working alongside The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in their ongoing refresh and modernisation programme. Initially appointed in 2023 to transform its lobby, drawing room, and bedrooms, we have since been awarded the contract to design and renovate their conference and event facilities, further suites and bathrooms, and a new residents’ bar. We are really excited to soon start on the next design phase: the refurbishment of the hotel’s renowned spa and fitness facilities in The Dower House.
Can you tell me about some of your community projects?
In 2023, we launched our Random Acts of Kindness scheme. Each month, a member of the team is given £50 to contribute to a local cause, charity, or individual. So far, donations have gone to Grow for Life, Eddie’s Street Cuts Suicide Prevention, Bath Food Bank’s Christmas Appeal, and Bath Hygiene. We extended this recently to clients at our Summer Party, where each guest was given £20 to donate to a local cause close to their hearts. We also encouraged our team to take part in Bristol’s MoRun last November. In all, ten of us ran a combined 90km, raising over £2,000 for two charities very close to our hearts: Cancer Research and CCS Adoption. While
many of us had never run before, a number of the team have now found a new passion in the sport, planning to run further events this year.
Bath is such a stunning city; how do you draw inspiration from it?
Bath is such a unique, special place. Its rich Georgian heritage perfectly combines elegance with wonderfully proportioned spaces. To add to that, it sits within an almost amphitheatrelike setting, each window enjoying its own unique view onto the surrounding hills. It is that intrinsic link between inside and out that was the very inspiration for our own company. For us, being able to look at inside and out as one from the very outset of the design process allows us to approach the project in a truly holistic manner, with greater flexibility in colours, materials, and textures. Even though these links can be subtle and nuanced, they can really help break down visual barriers between inside and out.
Any challenges with working with Bath’s Georgian and Victorian properties?
We are incredibly lucky in Bath to have so many historic buildings, most of which are protected through their listed status. Whilst this status comes with its challenges, it does mean the beautiful, original features remain intact. Our approach is always to celebrate the architecture of a building; that doesn’t necessarily mean highlighting every element; instead, it’s about the balance of the overall scheme. People can tie themselves in knots trying to match their furniture to the period of their property. They shouldn’t; antique pieces can work in contemporary and traditional settings alike - as long as there’s contrast. For example, a bold piece of contemporary art will work just as well in a Georgian drawing room as it would in an ultra-modern setting. Arguably even more so with the glorious high ceilings of that architectural style.
We are on the cusp of a new year: What new design trends are you seeing?
Integrating natural elements, with their rich diversity of life, shapes and colours, is fast gaining a dedicated following for its ability to greatly improve our well-being and creativity. As such, we’ve noted a growing number of
pieces made from natural stone and wood coming to the fore recently, with curved lines and soft shapes to instil a more natural, organic feel to a scheme. This move towards those more natural elements has gone hand in hand with a growing appreciation for a more sustainable approach to design. We are keen to leave behind the disposable approach of constantly changing trends and regular renovation. It’s critical that we include in their place timeless, well-built, occasionally bespoke, pieces that endure and evolve with us.
What are some of your favourite spots in the city?
We love the spots on the outside of the city as much as those at its centre. For food, drinks, and coffees, we love Rooted on Chelsea Road, Goodies at Larkhall, and Roasted Lemon Café at Sydney Gardens.
What do you love most about living and working in Bath?
Whilst the city is internationally renowned as a historic Georgian city, with its UNESCO World Heritage status, we are keen to avoid becoming a pastiche, instead giving equal importance and support to its burgeoning creative industry and vibrant cultural, arts, and entertainment scene. To have that, and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it on your doorstep, is a very special thing.
How do you relax at the end of a busy day?
We plan time away together. By the beach, with our son and our dogs.
Finally, what is your top design tip for 2026? Be bold and allow yourself to be more open to schemes that reflect your own personality, rather than getting too hung up on the latest design must-dos. If you love colour, embrace it. If you are drawn to a more clinical look, but are chaotic by nature, try leaning towards a more cosy, comfortable vibe that will be more accepting of that very chaos.
Worry less about second-guessing what the next buyer might want from your home; instead, thinking more about the here-andnow: what items you have an emotional attachment to and what makes your heart sing. Visit woodhouseandlaw.co.uk
Metallic Midi Skirt, £98.
Maeve Belted Faux-Fur Coat, £168
Bow Block Heels, £120
The Fiona Beaded Bag: Food & Drink Edition, £88.
Sequin Bralette, £48.
Pearl Wrap Necklace, £68
Faux-Fur Jacket0 £1420
Maeve Bow Kitten Heel Mules, £144
Gold-Plated Clover Huggie. Hoop Earrings, £36.
Sequin Feather Tank Top, £128.
The present perfect
The festive season is upon us and it’s time to find perfect presents to delight friends and loved ones. Here’s a wondersome show of gift inspiration from the finest local ateliers, stores and online retailers.
A COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE
Specialising in country lifestyle, Wadswick has a collection of men’s and women’s fashion and accessories from some of the world’s bestloved country brands including Holland Cooper, Barbour, Schöffel, Fairfax & Favor, R.M. Williams, Ariat, Joules and Yeti. Shown here is just a small selection of beautiful things; from, top left: Holland Cooper Antonia Fairisle roll neck, £149. Schoffel men’s bamboo sock gift box, £40. Fairfax & Favor mini Salisbury coin purse, £115. Dubarry Foley hat & scarf gift set, £79. Wadswick, 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath, BA2 4AX wadswick.co.uk
FINE GOLD RINGS
Offering high-quality, beautifully designed jewellery, Jody Cory is an established independent designer goldsmith with over 30 years’ experience, and her shop in Bath is not only home to her work but also displays a range of wonderfully inspired pieces by many local and national designers. Not only are there beautiful pieces on display to cater for all budgets, but Jody’s fine individual creations and her commission work means that her shop represents the highest quality jewellery. Shown here is a 9ct yellow Gold sky blue Topaz and Diamond cluster ring. £870 Visit Jody Cory, 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath jodycory.co.uk
DESIGNS IN SILVER
Carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather, renowned silversmith Graham Watling, Ariana Watling is bringing fresh creativity to Lacock’s long tradition of fine jewellery. Her pieces combine contemporary design with the timeless textures and craftsmanship that define the Watling name. Shown here is the Sterling Silver ‘Dippin Dot’ bracelet, £189.00. Find Ariana at The Studio, The Tanyard, Lacock, SN15 2LB. Open daily 10am – 5pm arianawatling.com
SLUMBER LUXE
Slumber Luxe premium grade 100% Pure Organic Arbas cashmere hot water bottles are crafted from a sumptuous six-ply yarn where every element of the product – from the choice of organic materials to the packaging – has been carefully considered to reflect a commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and design integrity. This is comfort with a conscience brought to you by three generations of Bath-based women. £135 each slumberluxe.co.uk
A COOKBOOK WITH A DIFFERENCE
My Bohemian Kitchen is a fabulous cookbook by Evie Harbury - Beautifully written and designed, this storytelling cookbook celebrates modern Czech cooking through nostalgic recipes and charm. A thoughtful gift for food lovers, storytellers and travellers - perfect for anyone who loves discovering new cultures or gathering friends around the kitchen table. Available at Waterstones, all good bookshops, and online. £20 RRP.
(Published by Murdoch Books: murdochbooks.co.uk
THIRNS AT HOME SPA SET
Experience the soothing, nurturing botanical benefits of Thirns in the comfort of your own surroundings with the new ‘At Home Spa’ set containing a trio of hand-crafted products, presented in an elegant ribboned box. Whether you want to indulge yourself or spoil a beauty-lover, it’s the perfect set to create your own at-home sanctuary. £100. Includes: Firming Emulsion with Rose from Damas, 30ml (full size) Energising Mist with Apothecary Rose & Seaweed, 30ml (deluxe travel size), Aromatherapy Candle with Rose & Geranium, 170g (full size).
thirns.co.uk
DENTS INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION
Hats, gloves and scarves from Dents International Collection. Shown here, the Grove, Women’s Heritage touchscreen handsewn three-point wool-lined leather gloves, Available in 14 colours. £109. The Shaftesbury, Men’s touchscreen handsewn three-point cashmere-lined leather gloves, £119. The Fernworthy - Men’s Abraham Moon plain tweed flat cap, £49.00. Dents Factory Shop, Furnax Lane, Warminster, BA12 8PE dentsgloves.com
SUSANNAH WAY CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY
Having worked with some of the west country’s top goldsmiths and jewellers, Susannah Way creates her own range of contemporary jewellery. Much of her work is inspired by the forest. The design of this silver and jesmonite brooch uses shapes and colours from a beautiful piece of petrified wood.£375. Visit her Etsy online shop: (SusannahWayJewellery) or find more details at: swayjewellery.com
BEAUTIFUL GAME
PARTERRE FRAGRANCES
If you need a gift that is really special, Bath based perfume house, Parterre, creates Limited Editions eau de parfums defined by botanical ingredients that they grow themselves. Working with a leading Master Perfumer in Grasse, the result is exceptional fragrances with a distinctive intensity. Workshop Gift Vouchers are also available, they make the perfect present for any fragrance lover. Prices start from £38. All workshops are held in central Bath. For further information and to book go to: www.parterrefragrances.com
HOMEFRONT FOR GIFTS
This new Omuti statement necklace from Nkuku is handmade by artisans in India. Using age old techniques artisans use their skills to create beautiful delicate jewellery pieces. This necklace has a contemporary edge and is perfect for dressing up any outfit - day or night. A versatile and eye-catching necklace that will be a great addition to your go to pieces of jewellery for everyday and special occasions. £95. Find this and more at Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP. homefrontinteriors.co.uk
Available from Beau Nash Bath this delightful pair of solid sterling silver pheasants made in Hanau, Germanymost likely by Berthold Muller with London import marks of JR & Co in 1961. £6,250. Height 22.5 cm. Beau Nash probably has one of the largest collection of antique silverware outside London, from practical pieces to impressive statement objects and so much more. Beau Nash, 28 & 31 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LN beaunashbath.com
CITY GIFTS FROM THE ROMAN BATHS SHOP
For a wonderful selection of thoughtful gift ideas the Roman Baths Shop sources and sells many unique and interesting products of excellent quality and are not just for the tourists. From fun Christmas tree decorations to jewellery there’s something for everyone. Shown here are handglazed ceramic mugs – stamped inside with ‘Aquae Sulis’, £28 each.
Visit the Roman Baths Shop, entrance on Stall Street, Bath. romanbaths.co.uk
ICARUS JEWELLERY
A multi-colour gemstone and turquoise stone embellished sterling silver sun necklace. Available in rose gold plated sterling silver. 45cm long. £145.00. Find this and many more unique and interesting pieces of elegant and bold jewellery designs at Icarus, 3 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX icarusjewellery.com
SARTORIAL DAPPER
Founded by Bath locals, Thomas Fortin Menswear celebrates classic style with high-quality accessories crafted in England and Italy. Inspired by early 20th-century elegance, the silk ties, scarves, pocket squares and trouser-braces bring sartorial sophistication back to the modern wardrobe. The Walcot Street shop is perfect for those who appreciate timeless fashion and dressing up for the occasion. Discover authentic, beautifullycrafted menswear at Thomas Fortin and indulge your inner dapper! Visit : 11 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BN thomasfortin.com
ETHICALLY SOURCED BEAUTY
A butterfly frame subscription is a unique way to bring timeless natural beauty into your home. Each ethically sourced specimen arrives expertly preserved and elegantly framed, transforming your walls into a curated gallery of colour, form, and curiosity. For £36.99 a month, you can celebrate the artistry of nature, delivered with care and craftsmanship straight to your door. Subscribe online or visit the Bath shop. 4-5 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX tilliuslifestyle.com
A GREAT WHITE
A magnum of Planeta’s World class Chardonnay from The Great Wine Company. Golden yellow with greenish hue, this wonderful wine is layered and delicious, with citrus fruit flavours, chestnut, honey and a spicy complexity. As good as top Cru white Burgundy, at half the price. Each magnum is individually packed to unsure it arrives in pristine condition and what a lovely gift idea! £77.50 . Visit the store for this and many more great bottles. The Great Wine Co. Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AP greatwine.co.uk
THE GIFT OF GIVING
Gift a 12-month subscription to the Luminaries and support the sparkling future of Bath Assembly Rooms. An ideal gift for that hard-to-buy-for person who has a passion for Bath’s Georgian history. Donate £250 and your gift recipient will receive a welcome pack, Christmas gift and regular updates. nationaltrust.org.uk/luminaries
FINELY CRAFTED JEWELLERY
The Gold & Platinum Studio is one of Bath’s most beloved independent jewellers. On display in the studio are many unique and beautiful pieces, while upstairs in the workshop client commissions are being designed and created by a team of highly skilled goldsmiths. The studio is owned by renowned goldsmith and designer Michael Parsons. Michael has always been fascinated by gemstones and is a qualified gemmologist. He specialises in sourcing gemstones and crafting bespoke, one-off fine quality pieces. Shown here is a Champagne Diamond set disc pendant in Platinum, priced at £1,595. See this and many more beautiful pieces at 19 Northumberland Place, Bath, or shop online. goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk
WELL READ, THE POWER OF GREAT PRINT
Described by Conde Nast Traveller as a ‘Magazine nirvana’ Magalleria offers a unique collection of magazines on art, architecture, design, fashion and photography to food, travel. music, interiors , lifestyle and more. It’s the largest selection of fine, independent and specialist titles in the UK and possibly anywhere in the world. Located in the centre of Bath. A Magalleria gift card makes a perfect present for those of us who appreciate a World of wonderful magazines. Magalleria, 5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG magalleria.co.uk
THE MOON AND THE STARS
A stylish Sterling Silver Moon and Stars Necklace with a cosmic vibe. It's a standout gift for anyone who loves jewellery with personality, £21.95. Available in-store and online. Find inspired gift ideas like these and many more, visit: The Sliver Shop, 25 Union Passage, Bath BA1 1RD thesilvershopofbath.co.uk
CLASSIC HOT CHOCOLATE
Ethically sourced and truly delicious Islands powders and flakes are a rising star in the world of hot choc. You can find them in Fortnum & Mason, Harrods and all the top stores - now inlcuding Tesco.
Islands Chocolate Classic Hot Chocolate Powder 200g, £4.95 islandschocolate.com
GALLERY NINE
ART AND DESIGN AT
Shown here is a Wallace Sewell 100% Lambswool Scarf, £65. It’s just one of the fantastic items by many talented artists and designers whose work is on show and available to buy at Gallery Nine, Bath’s contemporary arts and crafts gallery – pay them a visit to see the full range. Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret’s Buildings, Bath gallerynine.co.uk
COOL BOTTLE
Famed for its iconic kitchen appliances, SMEG is taking its signature style beyond the kitchen with its first-ever water bottles, created in collaboration with eco-conscious design innovators 24Bottles. There are two different sizes in a choice of SMEG’s colours. The 500ml is double skinned so can keep contents hot or cold and the 1 litre version is single skinned. Each are priced at £39.35 and could be the hottest, coolest Christmas gift this year. Find them at Coopers Home Appliances, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath. coopershomeappliances.com
THE GIFT OF ‘YOU TIME’
THE NICHOLAS WYLDE RADIANCE COLLECTION
From Nicholas Wylde's new and exclusive Radiance collection; a beautiful range of interchangeable diamond jewellery that allows you mix and match different colour halo disks to suit your mood or wardrobe. Shown here: a Radiance pendant with a 1ct diamond – £POA.
Find out more at: Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath, BAI 5AR nicholaswylde.com
BERRY CHRISTMAS KIDS
Hats off to Up to Seven! Designed and handmade at their workshop in Bath, these adorable, roll-edged hats are all knitted in anti-tickle wool, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees. Available in five sizes (and also in navy), they are priced at just £18 making them the perfect gift. They can be matched with Up to Seven’s beautiful handmade cardigans, baby shoes and mittens. Up to Seven, 6 Pulteney Bridge, Bath.
The Orangery beauty salon in Bath is one of the city’s most respected salons and the highly qualified team offer a full range of the very best in treatments. Ever popular at Christmas are their beauty care gift vouchers, which can be redeemed on the full range of treatments at the salon as well as for skincare products. Beautifully presented, they make a lovely gift of ‘you-time’ for someone you love. The Orangery, 1 Argyle Street, Bath. theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk
A
CHRISTMAS JUMPER
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STATIONERY AND FRAMES FOR THE MAKER & CREATOR
The Bath Framer, owned by Kelly, is a friendly boutique picture framers that has a beautifully quirky front-of-house and a workshop, stacked with all kinds of frames. It’s a joy to visit, not only to see beautiful prints and frames, but also to watch how frames are created. As well as a bespoke framing service, there’s a whole selection of unique cards, gift wrap and some very interesting traditional brass stationery (shown left) – perfect gifts for a maker or creator. 14–15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD thebathpictureframer.co.uk
An absolute must for the festive season... Celebrate Christmas in something blue, black and white – the colours of Bath Rugby. Available in adult (£38) and junior sizies ( £28). Visit Bath Rugby Shop, 1 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA bathrugbyshop.com
Christmas at MALLORY
A selection of beautiful things from Bath’s shop of many wonders
Our new jewellery specialist Alexandra takes us on a journey to Italy in pursuit of her favourite maker.
“When I was last in Rome in September of this year I was intent on visiting the Basilica of San Clemente for the sole purpose of seeing the breathtakingly beautiful Byzantine mosaic in the apse - the inspiration for one of my favourite jewellery maker’s many micromosaic jewels. The jewellery maker is a family of jewellers started by Fortunato Castellani and then headed by his two sons.
We have been lucky at Dore & Rees to have sold two pieces by Castellani; the first was an archaeological revival micromosaic brooch which the jeweller had taken direct inspiration from a 3rd Century AD mosaic, now in the Capitoline Museums. The second were a pair of ear pendants in the Etruscan revival style and there are similar examples of these pendants in the Villa Giulia and the Capitoline Museums. Castellani jewellery demands high prices at auction and are highly collectable but also wearable; perhaps this is due to the jeweller’s use of reviving ancient goldsmithing techniques which seem to instill a certain magical warmth into the pieces.”
ALEXANDRA FRANCIS
Alex read Art History at the University of Edinburgh, before completing the Graduate Gemologist programme at the Gemological Institute of America. She then spent 7 years in auction house jewellery departments, handling and valuing individual pieces and collections from across the world. This experience in the diverse areas of maker and style honed Alex’s skills as a gemologist, and today she is an accomplished and recognised specialist in her field.
Alex is based in Frome and regularly visits Bath assisting clients. If you would like the benefit of her expertise, get in touch.
“I just love the sound of different synths and they’re not really employed to the extent of other band instruments.”
Will Gregory
Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory may be best known for icy pop and electronica, but these days he’s turning heads closer to home. Writer Joe Shooman meets the Bath‐based composer to talk synths, science, and the Ivor Novello‐nominated Moog Ensemble
Gooldfrapp’s blend of icy pop, trip-hop and electronica has delighted millions over the years.
The instantly-recognisable vocal of Alison Goldfrapp is couched in sumptuous soundscapes created with the other half of the band, Will Gregory.
Gregory lives and works in Bath and is currently celebrating an unexpected, but very welcome, accolade for one of his other projects, The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble.
Composer Gregory was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award in October 2025 for song writing and composing on the Moog Ensemble’s latest LP, Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project. He is clearly delighted and a little mischievous at such a nomination.
“It’s like wading into classical areas that I shouldn’t be allowed to be in,” he tells The Bath Magazine. “My career has often been more commercial - but I do come from a classical background.”
The band plays a blend of classical music, film scores and their own original work, all based around analogue synthesizers. It’s no gimmick, however: the Ensemble has regularly broadcast on BBC including a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings at the 2019 proms.
When you consider that Gregory has had an opera performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall plus composed for productions of Shakespeare in Stratford-Upon Avon plus TV and movie soundtracks, the Novello shout is really not such a stretch.
The Archimedes Project came about during COVID lockdown, he adds: “I was ruminating and like many people ended up down a rabbit hole. I became obsessed with Archimedes.”
The ancient Greek philosopher would no doubt be delighted with Gregory’s subsequent lateral thought.
“I had a mad scheme to bring together Archimedes with my other obsession – synths. And with the Moog Ensemble it became, Peter and the Wolf-style, more like a musical lecture.” Clearly the Novello board had done their homework.
In fact, it’s not the first brush Gregory has had with Ivor Novello Awards. In 2004, Goldfrapp won an award for Best Dance Single, for their track Strict Machine, and then in 2021 the prestigious Inspiration Award, which is voted for by peers.
Bath for good
Gregory ended up in Bath by a suitably random route, he says, courtesy of his friend and one-time band colleague Andy Creswell Davis.
“Andy is an eminent Bath musician, having lived here for years working with the likes of The Korgis, Stackridge and The 3 Caballeros. I’d just come off a Tears for Fears tour with Andy and was feeling very rootless, as can happen. So, I stayed with Andy.”
Davis was a one-time Tears for Fears live keyboardist; Gregory recorded and toured with the chart band for much of the 1980s. You’ve got to be based somewhere, and Bath seemed to tick a lot of boxes.
“Bath is an easy town to live in. You can walk everywhere; it’s not a village of course but it has those attributes: you can always find everything you need here. My partner and I often go for post-dinner walks to clear our heads. It can be quiet in the evening, for example, round the Lansdown hills side, or Charlcombe.
“It can be very atmospheric: you hear owls and if you’re very lucky you might see a badger.”
Gregory was born in London but spent his formative years in Bristol, where the scene was absolutely popping off. He retains close links:
“Bath is so well-connected to the mainline; you can be in Bristol in 12 minutes. We often go to Wales, too, and it’s quick to London from here.”
Those connections prove handy for all kinds of adventures – Gregory is also an accomplished and in-demand saxophonist.
Seven Deadly Synths
More than anything, though, Will Gregory is head-over-heels for retro synths and has an ever-growing collection; he warns us that if we start him talking about them, he’ll not stop. We take the chance.
“Synths are quirky, individual things and different cultures make different versions. There’s ones from the States, UK, France, Germany, Japan and the often-overlooked Italian synths. Many of them are at the studio; there’s one room with shelves of synths, some in racks ready to play.”
Ah, that studio. It’s somewhere in the Bath area, he divulges, but as it’s not a commercial studio he’s not hugely keen on sharing the exact location. It’s a place, he shares, where he can get away from everything.
“It is a personal studio, though people I know can and have come to specifically record synths. It’s in a bungalow, which is great for a studio as they generally have bigger rooms compared to more historic buildings, which can be a bit cramped.”
Every synth in the collection gets a chance, he says, to justify its existence; that might mean appearing on a single song. Many of them were bought on consultation with his bandmate Alison Goldfrapp, says Gregory.
“I’d say: ‘shall I get it?’, and she’d say, ‘yes’,” he says. We suspect he never takes much convincing, though.
“I just love the sound of different synths and they’re not really employed to the extent of other band instruments so they come with less baggage. I love the characterful sound of the older ones. It’s a pleasure to pull a previously-neglected one out in the studio and see how I can rekindle a love for it, to give a song something absolutely individual.”
He adds: “Nobody else is mad enough to have all these old synths [to hand].”
The Moog Ensemble still play stuff by J.S. Bach; Gregory reckons the venerable composer would be delighted to get stuck in: “Oh I’m sure he would have gone into orbit behind a Moog,” he says, laughing.
Goldfrapp Goodies
Whilst there’s been quite a hiatus with Goldfrapp, the good news for fans is that he and Alison speak very regularly.
“We’ve both been working on other projects recently, but Goldfrapp is precious to us both so when it comes to new music, never say never. Watch this space! We did recently finish some new remixes for a special edition of our album Supernature which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year”
There’s also to be a new LP by The Moog Ensemble, plus putting together a longer set of live material that’s festival-friendly; film and telly projects continue to come in; and Gregory is also looking forward to playing pub gigs with Gas Giants.
“If you don’t get out there and play live you can get stale,” he comments of the small, whites-of-their-eyes concerts, “and very gratifying. It’s instant marks out of 10 from the audience.”
Awards are fantastic, but sometimes music is all about such grassroots rewards. Either way, you can be sure that Gregory’s got a synth to soundtrack the emotion n
What’s on
BEYOND INFINITY: AMERICAN SPACE EXPLORATION
Until 4 January 2026
n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor, BA2 7BD
Discover the wonders of space at this fantastic family exhibition, which showcases innovation, collaboration, and the sublime magic of space that ignites awe in all of us. americanmuseum.org
LIVE MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE
Throughout December
n Green Park Brasserie, BA1 1JB
Soak up live music alongside world-class pizza, cocktails, and craft beer every night, Wednesday through Saturday. Bookings and walk-ups available. greenparkbrasserie.com
CHRISTMAS AT WESTONBIRT
Throughout December n Westonbirt Arboretum, GL8 8QS
Enjoy an unforgettable day out at Westonbirt National Arboretum with a magical after-dark trail featuring brand-new lights, spectacular installations, and festive fun for the entire family. Wander through the illuminated arboretum, where twinkling lights will bring the forest to life. New installations include Laser Garden, Fireworks Trees, Wicker Animals, and Mycelium Network. There will also be festive fairground rides (additional fee), and food and drink stalls serving winter warmers. You might even catch a glimpse of Father Christmas! Tickets start at £25 for adults, £18 for children. christmasatwestonbirt.co.uk
BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET
To December 14
n City centre
Be transported to the scene of a winter fairy tale with stallholders, charities, and artisan food, drinks, and gifts. New for this year is a reindeer trail around the footprint of the market. Daily Park & Ride bus services will be running at an increased frequency. People with sensory needs or who would like a calmer experience can enjoy quieter shopping periods from 10am to 12pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with no entertainment scheduled between these times.
bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
TALK: MERRY CHRISTMAS MR DICKENS
4 December, 10:30am
n The Pavilion, BA2 4EU
Join the U3a for a talk by David Allen, public speaker and storyteller. Admission is free for u3a members, with a donation of £5 for nonmembers. Doors open at 9:45am for coffee. u3ainbath.uk
UNIVERSITY OF BATH GARDENING CLUB TOM CHRISTIAN: IN SEARCH OF TREES
4 December, 7:30PM-9PM
n Room 1, Level 1, East Building, BA2 7AY
Tom is a botanical horticulturalist and dendrologist. He has travelled widely to collect plants and seeds of endangered tree species.In this talk he will sample the breadth of his current work and personal highlights from his travels to date. Open to all, Annual membership £25, Visitors £8 ubgc.org
CHRISTMAS STOCKING WORKSHOP
5 December, 6PM-8:30PM
n The Artpad, 62 Great Pulteney Street, BA2 4DN
Design and customise your very own Christmas stocking. Choose from a selection of beautiful stockings and make it your own! All equipment is provided, plus sustainably sourced, quality fabrics and a vintage haberdashery bar. No sewing skills? Experienced tutors will guide you every step of the way, sharing simple techniques and plenty of creative inspiration. Leave with a gorgeous, handmade, sustainable Christmas stocking. £45 per person (includes all materials and a festive hot drink and mince pie) To book, email: hellomakecreativestudio@gmail.com
DOROTHY HOUSE FAIR
6 December, 9am-1pm
n Dorothy House, Winsley, BA15 2LE
Join Dorothy House for some festive fun and support your local hospice by helping to raise vital funds for end of life care in the local community. Browse a variety of traditional festival stalls, including crafts, clothes popups, treats and refreshments. dorothyhouse.org.uk
STYLING & SHOPPING EVENT
6 December, 10am - 5pm
n Jigsaw, BA1 1BP
Join Natasha Musson aka The Secret Stylist for a day of festive styling and shopping at the Jigsaw Bath Boutique, 14 Old Bond Street. Natasha will share her expert tips on seasonal style and gifting, helping you to
Join in with some Christmas Carols at The Circus.
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan.
ANTIQUE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING
discover timeless looks and thoughtful presents for everyone on your list. Enjoy mulled wine and mini mince pies. Receive an exclusive piece of Jigsaw jewellery as a gift with purchases over £200. Drop in or call 01225 426383
CITYSOUND VOICES BATH
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
6 December, 7.30pm
n St Stephen’s Church BA1 5SX
Join Matt Finch and the CitySound Voices choir, together with their guests, mezzosoprano Cassie Dalby, Harmonics, and Saxation as they perform Christmas Magic, a sparkling programme of seasonal music. The concert is in aid of Julian House, fighting homelessness in Bath and the South West. Tickets £10 (under 18s £5) available from citysound.org.uk or at the door.
FESTIVE WEEKEND
6-7 December, 10am-4pm
n American Museum BA2 7BD
Be enchanted by wonderful artisan Christmas decorations inside the museum’s Georgian Manor House, including a spectacular 17foot Nordmann fir tree from Langford Lakes in Somerset. Listen to the Courage Singers choir or Bath Phoenix choir (1pm & 2:30pm 6 Dec & 12pm & 2:30pm on 7 Dec) and enjoy festive storytelling, 11am and 12.30pm in the Stables. americanmuseum.org
PANTO: THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN
11 December - 11 January
n Theatre Royal Stage and screen star Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street, Casualty, The Bodyguard) will don the infamous hook and sail to Neverland as the fearsome Captain Hook in this year’s pantomime spectacular, The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook. Written by Bath’s own panto legend Jon Monie, who also stars as the side-splitting Smee, this year’s show is bigger, bolder, and more dazzling than ever! theatreroyal.org.uk or bathboxoffice.org.uk
FESTIVE SUPPER CLUB
12 & 19 December, 6:45-10:15pm
n Iford Manor, BA15 2BA
Enjoy a delicious festive dining menu with live music. Welcome drinks included in the price. ifordmanor.co.uk
CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE CIRCUS
12 December, 7pm
n The Circus
Enjoy an evening of carols with the Salvation
Army providing the music. There will be a charity collection at the event with all funds raised going to the Salvation Army Fund. carabath.com
BATH FILM
SOCIETY
12 December, 7:30pm
BRLSI, BA1 2HN
Join the Bath Film Society as it continues its 2025/2026 season of thought-provoking films, much-loved classics, and awardwinning documentaries, aired fortnightly. This month, enjoy a screening of Babette’s Feast (Denmark 1987), directed by Gabriel Axel. Members are invited to meet ahead of the film at 7pm for a glass of wine at a nominal price. bathfilmsociety.org.uk
MINCE PIE WORKSHOP WITH RICHARD BERTINET
12 December, 10am
The Bertinet Kitchen, BA1 2QR
Join Richard Bertinet for the morning as you refine those Christmas essentials, mince pies. You will be making sweet pastry, learning how to rest and roll your pastry, and lining your mince pie trays. Fill your mince pies with homemade mincemeat, creme d’amande, and top with flaked almonds. There might be some rum too! thebertinetkitchen.com
BATH MINERVA CHOIR
JS Bach Christmas Oratorio
13 December, 7:30pm
St. Swithin’s Church BA1 5LY
Join the Bath Minerva Choir for what promises to be a wonderful evening of music. They will be joined by the choir’s patron, tenor James Gilchrist, soprano Natasha Agarwal, mezzo soprano Rhian Davies and baritone Christian Andreas, together with Southern Consort, and all under the baton of the choir’s musical director, Gavin Carr. Tickets £30 (all seats unreserved), £20 Students with an NUS card and under 18s bathboxoffice.org.uk
LAVANA WILD BOTANICAL
SKINCARE SHOPPING EVENT
13 December 11am-5.30pm Gallery Nine, BA1 2LP
For the first time Lavana Wild brings botanical handcrafted skincare from Barcelona to Bath only at Gallery Nine for a day of Christmas gift shopping with mulled cider and mince pies. lavanawild.com & galleryninebath.com
FESTIVE WEEKEND
13-14 December, 10am-4pm
n American Museum, BA2 7BD
Be enchanted by wonderful artisan Christmas
BATH & COUNTY CLUB
The Bath & County Club wish readers of The Bath Magazine a happy Christmas. Join them, if not in December, in 2026.
Tuesday 2 December Quiz Evening 6pm for 6.30pm start Supper to follow.
Thursday 4 December Christmas Wine Dinner 6:15pm for 7pm. Three course dinner with all wines inc.
Friday 12 December
A Christmas lunch 12:30pm for 1pm.
Thursday 18 December
A Christmas lunch with a hamper to win, 12:30pm for 1 pm.
Saturday 20 December Drinks & Nibbles 6pm start Musical Entertainment.
Wednesday 31 December
New Year’s Eve Lunch 12:30pm for 1 pm.
Rooms also for hire. Event venue: Queens Parade, Bath BA1 2NJ. Booking essential, email secretary@bathandcountyclub.com Call: 01225-423732.
decorations inside the museum’s Georgian Manor House, including a 17-foot Nordmann fir tree. Listen to the Courage Singers live at 12pm and 2.30pm and enjoy festive storytelling, 11am and 12.30pm, along with a range of activities, and treats in the deli. americanmuseum.org
JANE AUSTEN AT 250: AN EVENING WITH SUSANNAH HARKER
14 December, 4pm-6:30pm n Gainsborough Bath Spa, BA1 1QY
Enjoy a unique literary event featuring ‘Jane Bennet’ herself, Susannah Harker, as part of the Phenomenal Women series at Gainsborough Bath Spa. The award-winning actor and writer will reflect on her career, her connection to Austen’s world, and how the author continues to inspire her own storytelling. Resident expert Gabrielle Malcolm will guide the discussion. Sip a complimentary drink, canapés, and discover behind-the-scenes insights from the Pride and Prejudice BBC adaptation. eventbrite.co.uk
POTTERY WORKSHOPS MAKE A CHRISTMAS BAUBLE
Looking for a fun and creative activity?
Pottymouth Workshop offers fun popup handbuilding pottery workshops, offering a fantastic way to get hands-on with clay in a relaxed, supportive setting. Workshops are designed for all skill levels and focus on creativity, playfulness, and self-expression.
Bath Cider House, BA1 5LS Dec 4 (7pm-9:30pm) & Dec 7 (1pm-3:30pm)
Electric Bear Taproom, BA1 3JL 11 Dec 7pm-9:30pm
The Den, BA2 3GJ 10 Dec 7pm-9.30pm
For prices and to book, visit pottymouthworkshop.com
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Cappella Nova: From Stillness to Song 14 December, 4:30pm n St Mary's Church, Bathwick BA2 4EB
Cappella Nova's Christmas concert is a reflective yet joyful journey from the quiet anticipation of Advent to the celebration of Christmas. Blending familiar carols with contemporary choral works, the programme moves from stillness and wonder to the radiant joy of Christ’s birth. A charity concert in aid of Bath City Farm. Tickets £15/£8. cappellanova.org.uk/home/from-stillnessto-song/
AQUASANA CLASS
17 December, 8am n Thermae Bath Spa, BA1 1SJ Dive into relaxation and rejuvenation with Aquasana in the Rooftop Pool at Thermae Bath Spa with Bex Bridgeford. The class is followed by a 2-hour spa session with use of towel and robe. Aquasana includes classic yoga postures combined with gentle tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa’s mineral-enriched waters. You will enjoy exclusive use of the rooftop pool before other guests arrive. eventbrite.co.uk
A WINTER UNION
17 December, 8pm n Chapel Arts Centre, BA1 1QR Five leading lights of the British roots scene
join forces to create a festive folk band like no other. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and littleknown, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic. Tickets are £20. chapelarts.org
STEP INTO CHRISTMAS
18 December, 7:30pm
n The Forum BA1 1UG
Get ready to Step into Christmas once again for the most magical, feel-good show of the year! This spectacular Christmas concert is the ultimate way to kickstart your festive celebrations, guaranteed to fill your heart with holiday cheer and have you singing along from start to finish. Packed with all your favourite Christmas classics, the show brings the spirit of the season to life with dazzling performances, stunning festive visuals, and a sensational live band. Tickets from £34. bathforum.co.uk
BATH BACH CHOIR CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT
18 &19 December, 7-8pm & 8:30-9:30pm
n The Pump Room
The Bath Bach Choir presents A Georgian Christmas for its Candlelight concerts at The Pump Room. With four-one hour performances of Christmas music, the earlyevening will include the children of Voices for Life while the later performance will feature the virtuosic violin playing of Hester Wiltshire. bathboxoffice.org.uk
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
20 December, 7pm-8:45pm
n Bath Abbey, BA1 1LT
Handel’s glorious masterpiece sung by acclaimed Abbey choirs of Girls and Lay Clerks. Renowned specialist Baroque instrumentalists, Rejouissance, on period instruments provide unique accompaniment and total authenticity to this highlight of the Abbey Choirs’ concert repertoire. bathboxoffice.org.uk
THE BATH INDEPENDENT MARKET
21 December, 10am-3pm
n Green Park Station, BA1 1JB
Visit Bath's most popular contemporary maker's market. The main floor will be bustling with creativity, a kaleidoscope of local independent artists, designers, and
makers showcasing their finest work. From up-and-coming talents to established artisans, each stall promises high-quality artwork, handcrafted treasures, and unique products. Indulge your taste buds with irresistible food and drink offerings. DJ’s and live music too. greenparkstation.co.uk
POPKIDS CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
22 December, 1pm
n Komedia, BA1 1EP
Popkids is a family friendly interactive show with special guest performances, club djs playing music for all ages, prizes, surprises, party dances and so much more. With different themes every time it gives adults and children the perfect opportunity to dress up and party. Each event includes a fully hosted 90- minute show with a Popkids Party Host, meeting a special guest, teaching party dances, and playing fun games that the whole family can enjoy. Prizes will be awarded during the games. komediabath.co.uk
LOOKING AHEAD
THE AGE OF JAZZ
Bath Arts Society
5 JAN, 11:30AM n Widcombe Social Club, BA2 6AA
A blend of rigorous structure, free-wheeling creativity, close-knit ensembles and imaginative improvisation, with musical illustrations from the very first jazz recording to the dawn of Swing. Hosted by Sandy Burnett. Non-members £10 (£7 on Zoom). Must book by email latest Friday 2 January. bath@theartssociety.org theartssocietybath.com
PANTOMINE: DICK WHITTINGTON
15-18 January, 2pm & 7:30pm n Bath Drama, BA1 6RT Dick and his magic cat, Tiddles, leave Bath to seek their fortune in medieval London. Everything looks rosy - a good job, new friends, the beautiful Alice - but the evil king Rat soon ruins it all! Follow Dick through a dramatic storm and shipwreck, and onto a pirate island. Will he ever recover his fortunes and become Lord Mayor of London, as the Fairy Bowbells has predicted? A pantomime for everyone, stuffed full with comedy, songs, audience participation, high drama and terrible jokes! bathdrama.com
ACheers to 2025
BY RON PRINGLE & CYNTHIA WIHARDJA Beau Nash Antiques
s we wrap up another year, we just want to pause and say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported our antique silverware and furniture shops in 2025. Truly — this year wouldn’t have been the same without you. Every chat, every visit, every order, and every kind word has kept us going and reminded us why we love doing what we do.
One of the things we’re especially proud of this year is being able to offer more part-time opportunities to our community. From shopkeeping to cleaning to helping online, they’ve made our days brighter and workload lighter in all the best ways, freeing up time to source for treasures, spend time with our growing family and enjoy the life we’re building.
Helping people find unique pieces such as overmantel mirrors and silver candelabra have added an exciting dimension to our business. We may not have space for the big showstoppers, but we’ve been able to find them quickly and smoothly to the surprise of the new custodians.
And then there’s our Food Guide — now at Version 3.0! What started off as a helpful email to a friend has somehow become a trifold pamphlet and a favourite among many of you in Bath and overseas. This year’s edition even covers our go-to watering holes and gems around the wider Bath area. Supporting our favourite venues have been delightful.
Proud to play a small part in Bath’s historical charm, we’re truly grateful that more tour guides and local residents are bringing their guests to see the Georgian kitchen in the basement of our furniture shop, once an 18th-century lodging house. It’s become a warm, relaxed little stop that adds a pleasantly unexpected moment to their tours.
We’ve also been thrilled to see more people discovering us online. Website traffic has been on a steady climb, and Cynthia wakes up most mornings to orders popping up on her phone… which usually means Ron gets an early call to start packing! It’s been lovely seeing our shop-front go far beyond our beautiful Brock Street.
At the end of the day, our shop is so much more than a place to sell things. It’s our connection to the community, our reason to get up every morning, and our way of pouring our love of business (and a good challenge!) into something meaningful — together.
Thank you for being such a big part of our 2025 and for making it genuinely special.
From our home to yours, we wish you a warm, joyful Christmas and a wonderful year ahead.
Founded in 1904, the Bath Society of Artists has grown to a membership of just over 125 diverse, talented artists. Many distinguished 20th century painters have exhibited and taken an interest in the Bath Society of Artists including John Singer Sargent, P. Wilson Steer, Gilbert Spencer, and Mary Feddon. The Bath Society of Artists members exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for BSA Members to showcase their work as well as support the dedication and outstanding efforts of all the staff at the RUH. The exhibition, held in the main corridor of the RUH, is a celebration of the creativity within the BSA membership community and a platform for members in and around the Bath area. All work is available for sale with one third paid to the RUH. artatruh.org
Courting Colour, 4 December - 4 January, Sandra Higgins Art Gallery, Shires Yard Unit 12&13, 41 Milsom Street, Bath
Courting Colour invites viewers to slow down, look deeply, and allow colour to do its transformative work. It celebrates colour as a living, expressive force, one that continues to inspire, challenge, and delight. Through vibrant contrasts, muted harmonies, or unexpected juxtapositions, Louisa BurnettHall, Gina Parr and Robin Sewell, invite us into a different emotional register, revealing a unique chromatic world shaped by personal inspiration – whether drawn from nature, memory, emotion or pure abstraction. sandrahiggins.art
Powder and Presence: Pastel Portraits in the Eighteenth Century, until 4 May, The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath
In the 1700s, pastel rose in popularity as a favoured medium for both professional and amateur artists. The Holburne’s new display includes portraits by eighteenth-century pastelists from the museum’s own collection. Alongside leading European artists, such as Jean-Étienne Liotard and Anna Tonelli, are Bathonian portraitists William Hoare and his son Prince Hoare, as well as the celebrated draughtsman Thomas Lawrence. Unlike oil, pastel’s immediacy made it ideal for quick commissions from Bath’s many visitors, as it required no drying time and a portrait could be completed, framed, and ready to take home within hours. holburne.org
Bath Society of Artists Members Exhibition, until 31 January, Royal United Hospitals Bath, Central Gallery (B4 – B8), Combe Park, Bath
Left: Whitstable print 16 by Alex Nash
Left: Unknown lady (called Mary Robinson) with a singing child, John Russell (1745 – 1806), 1793. Pastel on paper, purchased from Frank Brown in 1979
Above right: Exuberant Apogee, Robin Sewell; bottom right, A Great Escape, Gina Parr; bottom left: Capricorn, Louisa Burnett-Hall,
Beaux Arts
Rachel Ross & Jo Barrett, New Paintings
Until 23 December
Beaux Arts, 12-13 York Street, Bath
Beaux Arts winter show showcases works by two still life artists. Rachel Ross’s work features meticulously detailed and carefully composed paintings of ‘flatware’- silverware and utensils.
Jo Barrett is a former graduate of Bath Spa University. Her beautiful, minimalist paintings focus on the subtle inflections of light on flowers and crockery. Works on display also include Helen Simmonds, Ruth Brownlee, Nicholas Middleton, Melissa Franklin Sanchez amongst others. Ceramics are by Patricia Shone. beauxartsbath.co.uk
Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 14 December 10am–4.30pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath
Under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station, the awardwinning Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) returns to bring you the best selection of contemporary art – right in the heart of Bath. BCAF is a space where local artists can network, share ideas and display art. Visitors can not only see and admire their work but purchase pieces of fine art as well as photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and so much more. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf.co.uk
Clifton Contemporary Life’s Waking Dream Exhibition, selected works by Richard Cartwright, 9 December - 24 January, Clifton Contemporary Art, 25 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol
Celebrated Bristol artist Richard Cartwright’s paintings explore a world conjured from the mind’s eye that is both dreamlike and disarmingly real. Here is a sensual world, with an undercurrent of vulnerability and universal truths, wrought gently without pretension. Explore these works and find shadows and light, solitude and communion: life’s bittersweet journey. Also showing for Christmas and the New Year will be a selection of painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery by gallery artists such as Anna Boss, Andrew Hood, Elaine Jones, Chris Buck and Nancy Pickard. cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk
Craig Underhill creates three-dimensional ceramic paintings through an experimental use of materials, producing diverse surface finishes. Sasha Wardell is known for her pure white bone china enhanced with a subtle colour palette. Trevor Price specialises in handmade drypoints and etchings produced in his studios in St Ives and London. Emerging artist and printmaker Huddie Hamper paints with thick, wavy brushstrokes that convey movement. Guy Royle, who began as assistant to Breon O’Casey, crafts bold contemporary jewellery from beaten and etched silver and gold. Susie Hines combines traditional constructions with etched and patinated surfaces, different golds, silver, and unique gemstones to create contemporary jewellery. galleryninebath.com
Above: Artwork by Michael Sutherland
Four Trees at Midnight by Richard Cartwright
Left: Ceramics by Craig Underhill
Left: Rachel Ross, Flatware with Mother of Pearl Corkscrew, Acrylic on Board, 42 x 40cm
Lindy Wright’s appearance on Portrait Artist of the Year inspires creative renewal
As the cameras rolled, Lindy’s re-emergence as an artist marked a significant personal milestone. Prior to her appearance on the show, Lindy hadn’t painted for two years. Following the death of her son, who lived in Singapore at the time, her life had taken on a new priority, spending time with her family and trying to come to terms with the sudden loss of her son.
“At the time, it felt impossible to immerse myself in my work,” Lindy says. “But then last December I was contacted by the production team at Sky Arts and they asked me if I would like to participate in the show. My immediate thought was ‘God no, it seems terrifying!’ But then I thought about it for a bit, and I thought, well, you know, maybe this is an opportunity I should seize.”
Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year is a televised series which sees selected artists given just four hours to paint a surprise celebrity sitter. While the celebrity sitter gets to choose their favourite work of art to take home, it is the panel of judges that makes the final decision as to which artist will go on to compete at the semi-finals. From the semi-finals, just three artists are selected to go through to the finals for the chance of winning a £10,000 commission for a major British institution, along with £500 of art materials.
To be selected to appear on the show, Lindy had to submit a selfportrait, which she completed in January this year, with filming taking place in April.
Her submission piece was inspired by Sir Joshua Reynolds’ self-portrait, which is currently in the National Portrait Gallery. Her submission has a gentle nod to her son, William, with the Cassiopeia constellation featured in the top right, famed for its “W” shape.
“I was painting in January and we happened to have very clear nights,” Lindy explains. “I kept noticing the Cassiopeia, so I thought I would include it, I suppose it’s a sort of memorial portrait, but also an expression of how I was feeling. I was thinking about him [William] on the other side of the hemisphere, and I’m looking into the light, and he’s over my shoulder, so it shows two different hemispheres.”
An intense experience
Lindy says that while she worried appearing on the TV show would be a stressful experience, she didn’t really have time to feel stressed. “It was very intense,” Lindy explains. “It’s a very new experience to be scrutinised so closely while you’re trying to make so many decisions so quickly. So much can go wrong.”
Lindy’s celebrity sitter was Si King of the TV show The Hairy Bikers “He was very engaging and friendly. When I met him, he had also quite recently had a bereavement [TV partner Dave Myers], so I felt it didn’t seem quite right to paint him as the very jolly man that we are used to.
I wanted to show a more serious side of him.”
While Lindy had just four hours to complete the portrait, she said she spent almost the first hour trying to find the right image that she felt portrayed Si.
“Normally, I would draw somebody first, perhaps get it wrong, and then start again. There’s no real science in it. But I said to myself, ‘don’t start too quickly’ because if I get it wrong, I’m going to have to start again. That is worse than making a slow start.”
Her strategy paid off, with Si selecting her work to take home with him. “I was thrilled that Si selected my work. It meant that the portrait meant something to him, that it was important enough for him to choose it.”
“People are so individual, and that’s the kind of thing that I like to try and capture”
Lindy Wright
Ceramics to portraits
Lindy, who studied at the Royal College of Art, originally moved to Bath from north London in 2014. It was only when she moved to Bath that she started her journey as a portrait painter, having previously focused on ceramics and teaching design and technology at secondary school.
“The thing is, with ceramics you need so much equipment,” Lindy explains. “But, with painting, you just need paint and time, that’s all. So, I thought, I’ll give portrait painting a go. I just find people’s faces so intriguing, how they hold themselves, how they look at you, or look at something. People are so individual, and that’s the kind of thing that I like to try and capture. I don’t really feel that kind of engagement with a landscape or still life.”
Lindy is known in Bath for her series of oil portraits of chefs. Her portraits include chefs Richard Bertinet, Sam Moody, Rob Clayton, Rachel Demuth, Michael Nizzero, Dave Pynt, Laurent Couvreur and Dave Giddings. The latter was selected from nearly 2,000 entries by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters to appear in a major national portrait exhibition at Mall Galleries, London, in 2017.
“The best thing about painting chefs is that they are really focused, creative people, which makes them intriguing subjects,” Lindy enthuses.
After the thrill of Portrait Artist of the Year, what’s next for Lindy?
Following her two-year painting hiatus, she has picked up her paintbrushes with a renewed vigour, focusing on painting portraits of her family.
Bath‐based portrait artist Lindy Wright recently appeared on the Sky Arts TV series Portrait Artist of the Year.
Joanna Lewis headed down to meet Lindy at her studio at Bath Artists’ Studios in Comfortable Place.
that you can try things that you haven’t done before,” Lindy explains.
Lindy says she has been experimenting with painting on different formats, such as on unprimed board using thin washes of paint to create the look of watercolours. One of her most recent portraits of her granddaughter, called Making a Wish, was selected for the Bath Society of Artists’ Open Exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery, and is now on display until Saturday, 10 January.
“The TV show has completely reinvigorated me,” Lindy says. “Once
• Save Bath Artists’ Studios
Lindy, along with more than 60 other artists in Bath, works from workshops at Bath Artists’ Studios, a space that is now under threat, with the lease set to end in early 2027.
For nearly 30 years, the studios have formed a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape, not only providing affordable workshops for some of Bath’s most established and up-and-coming artists, but also a yearround programme of workshops, classes, and community outreach for thousands of people of all ages, along with a popular public gallery.
The building in Comfortable Place - just opposite the Royal Victoria Park children’s play area - sits on prime land just a short walk from the city centre, and is owned by the St John’s Foundation.
With Bath Artists’ Studios having been served notice that their lease is to end, the artists are desperately trying to find a new place.
and so, it begins to spiral. Things begin to make more sense.
“For now, however, I’m happy to focus on painting my family. It gives me a lot of freedom. I love having my grandchildren around, and I want to paint them. It’s as simple as that. When you paint someone you love, you have a different attitude to the painting. You want to make it about them. It’s about creating a legacy.” n
View Lindy’s work on her Instagram page, lindywrightartist.
“I live in a one-bedroom flat, so actually wouldn’t be able to work without access to the studios,” Lindy says. “There are a lot of people here in the same position. Bath Artists’ Studios is a charity, which is quite a difficult status to get, and we could be at risk of losing that status if we don’t find new premises.”
However, with affordable workspace in Bath increasingly hard to find, Bath Artists’ Studios are struggling to find a new location.
“Artists are being priced out and cultural spaces are being lost, yet creative communities like ours are essential,” Lindy says. “It’s very expensive to move, so we need to find a suitable, affordable place where we can settle. Time is running out.”
Visit bathartistsstudios.org/save-the-studios to learn how you can get involved and help.
Lindy’s self-portrait submission piece for Sky Arts TV series Portrait Artist of the Year.
Making a Wish, now on display at the Victoria Art Gallery as part of the Bath Society of Artists’ Open Exhibition.
Strong Results for Ceramics in Lawrences Fine Art
The ceramics department saw some exceptional results in our recent Fine Art Sale, with two standout lots achieving outstanding hammer prices and attracting strong bidder interest from the room, online, and on the phones. Simon Jones, Head of the Ceramics Department, commented that he was very pleased with the results across the section, with these two exceptional Chinese pieces performing particularly well.
A large Chinese Yen Yen vase, later 'clobbered' and painted to the neck and body with lively scenes of figures, boats, and mountains. The piece, bearing a double ring mark to the base and showing various damages and restorations, nonetheless drew keen competition due to its impressive size and period charm. It ultimately hammered for £13,000, soaring well above its pre-sale estimate.
Also from the Kangxi period, the large blue and white temple jar (decorated with elegant peony and leafy tendril designs within shaped panels and a repeating leaf border around the base) proved another highlight of the sale. Despite lacking its lid, the jar’s scale and quality drew determined bidding, and it achieved £9,000 under the hammer.
Both lots underline the continued strength of the market for fine Chinese ceramics and the appetite among collectors for pieces of historical and decorative significance. Entries are now invited for our next Fine Art Sale, taking place early next year. To discuss consigning items to the auction or to arrange a valuation with one of our friendly team, please contact us through our website online form, or give us a call!
Lawrences are welcoming consignments for their forthcoming Fine Art sales to include:
Wine | Spirits | Books | Maps | Manuscripts | Photography Free valuations are available online at lawrences.co.uk
Home visits also available throughout Bath and the West Country without charge or obligation.
South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB.
T: 01460 73041 E: enquiries@lawrences.co.uk
1A Woodlands Estate, Westbury, BA13 3QS
T: 01373 822337 E: wessex@lawrences.co.uk
Festive Sips The Coastal Martini
The team from the bar at Emberwood has fired up this season's conversation starter cocktail:
The Coastal Martini, crowned with an Emberwood-branded olive. Try it at home if you fancy impressing your guests over the holiday season, or better yet, settle in at the bar and let the mixologists at Emberwood make it for you.
The Coastal Martini is a modern twist on the classic dirty martini, built around coastal olive brine and a whisper of premium local spirits. It's creamy, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. Loved by martini novices and purists alike.
To make Martini glass | Ice | 1 large Nocellara olive | Witchmark Vodka Coastal olive brine | Strainer Mixing glass
Prep the Coastal Brine
Yield: 250ml (keeps for 2 weeks)
100ml water | 130ml olive brine
20g slightly crushed olives
15ml Tio Pepe Fino Sherry
10ml Chardonnay vinegar | Kombu
1 sprig rosemary | 1 sprig lemon thyme
2 strips lemon peel
Combine everything in a large stirring glass. Mix with ice, strain before it melts. Keep those brined olives for garnish.
Method
60ml Witchmark Vodka. 20ml of your coastal brine. Combine in a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir gently for 20-30 seconds until perfectly chilled.
Strain into your chilled martini glass. Crown with the Nocellara olive.
Sip slowly. This one's about taking your time. Visit emberwoodbath.com
The most wonderful wines of the year
Recommendations from Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co. | greatwine.co.uk
Christmas is a time for celebration, joy, and indulgence. As families gather around the table, the clinking of glasses filled with great wines only adds to the festive spirit. While Christmas is a time for celebration, the lead up is often extremely busy. To make things nice and easy for you this year, I have created a Christmas cheat sheet, pairing all the big festive occasions with the perfect glass of wine. The selection is on offer throughout December at The Great Wine Co. So, whether it’s just one, or a couple of these wines you choose, the team and I hope you have a Christmas full of happiness.
1. PUTTING UP THE TREE
This is the first time of each year I truly feel festive. My lovely wife and I have a tradition: turn on It’s A Wonderful Life, decorate the tree, and open a comforting bottle of red. Bogle’s Old Vine Zinfandel will be my go-to tipple this year, packed with dark fruit, chocolate, and baking spice flavours, while wonderfully silky.
4. CHRISTMAS DAY WELCOME DRINKS
When guests arrive, I always find bubbles are the perfect greeting. I recommend reaching for Crémant Cuvée Excellence from Veuve Ambal. A rich style with citrus, honey, and toasty notes, it’s a real crowd-pleaser.
7. THE NIGHTCAP
As Christmas Day winds down, take a quiet moment with Castarede VSOP Armagnac. From the oldest trading house in Armagnac, aged at least eight years, it offers walnut, plum crumble, coconut, and honey. This is also perfect with the Christmas pudding or hard cheeses.
2. LAST-MINUTE WRAPPING
Personally, wrapping is the task I tend to put off, until I have to. A glass of wine makes it more bearable, and my go-to is Capeline Vermentino 2024. Fresh, zippy, and bursting with juicy peach and ripe pear, this wine is exclusive to The Great Wine Co. and it’s well worth trying.
It’s incredibly important to keep Santa happy, and leaving a glass of Crasto 10-year-old Port out alongside his milk and mince pies this year will certainly do that!
Attractive amber in the glass, with aromas of honey, figs, and festive spice. Our Fine Wine Manager Tom King says, “If I were Santa and received this, I’d be ‘Ho-Ho-Hoing’ all evening!”
5. OPENING THE PRESENTS
With the family gathered around the tree, you can stick with bubbles or opt for Les Granges de Félines Blanc 2024, from Domaine de Belle Mare. From the south of France, this Picpoul and Sauvignon Blanc blend is wonderfully refreshing and great value.
8. BOXING DAY LEFTOVERS
Boxing day in our household traditionally means cold cuts left from the day before, best paired with a light red. I recommend Nerello Mascalese 2024 from Tenute Orestiadi, Sicily’s juicy answer to Pinot Noir. Packed with cherries and red fruit, fresh, low in tannin, and beautifully easy drinking.
6. CHRISTMAS DINNER WINES
The main event calls for something special. For turkey, chicken, or goose, I recommend Rully Premier Cru from Domaine Jaeger-Defaix 2023. Classic White Burgundy with peaches, pears, subtle oak, and honey. For beef or game, Chateau Villegeorge 2014 is a superb claret. With 11 years of bottle age, it’s drinking beautifully.
9.
START 2026 IN STYLE
Treat yourself this New Year’s Eve with Gramona Lustros 2016, Spain’s pinnacle sparkling wine. Organic and biodynamic, it’s complex with baked apple, ripe pear, lemon, grapefruit zest, fennel, and rosemary. With more than 90 months of ageing, it rivals Champagnes worth two to three times the price and a sure-fire way to start 2026 with a bang.
3. SANTA’S FAVOURITE TIPPLE
Something to savour...
When Moe Rahman from Bandook asks if you’re hungry, you say yes. You certainly do not tell him how many Quality Street you’ve already eaten, writes India Farnham
Ah, Bath at Christmas time. The lights. The markets. The carols. And a million panic-shoppers funnelling down a cobbled Georgian street.
Call me a grinch (and I will do the Jim Carrey impression), but during the festive season the city centre can be a bit much for me. I tend to find it, as the kids say, rather overstimulating
Thankfully, the destination we’re off to today is set in the off-thebeaten-track oasis of calm that is Shires Yard. Here, perched beside a courtyard so tasteful it could only be in Bath, is where you’ll find Bandook, undoubtedly one of our city’s most loved restaurants.
Bandook, born from the team behind fine-dining Indian favourite the Mint Room, is known for its elevated mix of authentic, casual dining Indian street food dishes made with ‘good, British ingredients’. This relaxed approach to dining translates into a festive menu that is everything Christmas should be: warm, colourful and surprisingly straightforward. For meat-eaters, £40 per person covers three courses, only two of which you have to actually decide on. For veggies you’re looking at £35. In the words of a meerkat, simples.
To start
Well, it seems all that’s left to do then is order a cocktail. Two of them! We tried the Drunken Mango Lassi – silky smooth – and for our sober friends, the Rosemary Lemonade – energetic and aromatic – which comes with a freshly-charred sprig of rosemary on top. Christmas drama, my favourite kind.
Starters arrive as a family of small plates, including my dining partner Rosanna’s ‘death row final meal’ starter, Anjeer Papdi Chaat, which has such a satisfying crunch and kick that I reckon I’ll be requesting it on my death bed too. Alongside the Anjeer Papdi Chaat are some super-moreish Okra Fries, a Chicken Lollipop and my favourite, the unique Roasted Beetroot Tikki: a warm, almost bread-like patty of savoury roasted beetroot with a crispy, zesty salad and Christmas tree-green dip.
The main event
Main courses here are showstopper-type affairs, presented alongside ample accompaniments in a satisfying assortment of shiny silver dishes, including a velvety Lamb Kolhapuri and a warming Daal Makhani. The Festive Meat Platter is home to a Salmon Tikka so juicy and fresh that I find myself suddenly without any skills in sharing. The Turkey Leg Biryani is presented to us with a golden top of shortcrust pastry which is opened up professionally at our table to reveal a steaming, buttery centre topped with gem-like pomegranate seeds. Turkey meat falls off of its bone effortlessly and joins the deliciousness.
Top it all off with something sweet and smooth. We tried the Crimbo Shahi Tukda, which is fried bread swimming in a thick, creamy milk, delicately spiced (ideal for cleansing your palate after such rich decadence of the previous dishes), and of course, the Chocolate Mousse, which is so rich you’ll find yourself making a comment about how you’d have never guessed in a million years it was vegan.
Final thoughts
With its cheerful, stylish interior, peppered with colonial-era decorations and photographs, Bandook has that special lived-in quality that so many restaurants aim for. It’s also achieved another nebulous but highly sought-after quality: a gentle buzz. Huzzah for well-judged background music. Altogether this is a confident, no-nonsense festive menu from a restaurant that knows its strength is in its simplicity. Spend time there with your loved ones, friends, co-workers, neighbours – heck, even people you want to break bread with and get to know better. It'll be time well spent. n
Bandook’s Christmas menu is available until 24 December. Bandook Restaurant, Shires Yard, 3-7 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1BZ. bandookkitchen.com
Roasted Beetroot Tikki
A Festive Thyme cocktail with the Festive Meat Platter
Turkey Leg Biryani being revealed
Cardamom Creme Brulee
Turkey Leg Biryani plus accompaniments
The Festive Meat Platter
Clayton’s Kitchen celebrates 12 years
Melissa Blease steps inside Clayton’s Kitchen, the much‐loved local institution celebrating 12 years, to chat all things food with Rob Clayton
As dusk starts to set on a chilly winter evening in Bath and Christmas sparkle lights your path, George Street’s own glow-up comes into its own.
The little independent shops that thrive along one of the most vibrant thoroughfares in Bath are beautifully-lit for passer-by browsing purposes, a plethora of bars and taverns shimmer invitingly beyond their picture windows and enticing kitchen smells waft on the bracing breeze.
But one beautiful little brasserie in particular, radiant with fairy-lit fusion, grabs the attention most of all: Clayton’s Kitchen, a cornerstone of Bath’s independent restaurant scene wholly deserving of its local institution status - and, this year, celebrating its 12th birthday. 12 years! In restaurant world - particularly in the current climate - that’s a massive landmark indeed.
“It is, but I don’t think people realise it takes so long to get to where you want to be!” says Rob Clayton, the hardworking chef/patron who originally wanted to study to be a vet in his home town of Grimsby before his attention was diverted towards the hospitality industry by a shrewd teacher who spotted his potential.
Just food
Following a course in Home Economics, Rob’s career proper began with a commis chef stint at Antony Worrall Thompson's Knightsbridge restaurant Menage à Trois (his course lecturer, offering yet more support, had spotted the vacancy) before he went on to hone his skills under legendary chef Nico Landenis at the triple Michelin-starred Chez Nico. In 1995, Rob earned a Michelin star of his own at Huntstrete House Hotel (now The Pig Hotel, Bath) and, two years later, he moved to the Bath Priory, where he achieved another Michelin star which he maintained for his seven-year residency.
“Earning and maintaining those stars was a wonderful experience,” says Rob, looking back on his star-spangled days. “But overall, I simply liked to cook without being too precious about it. At the end of the day, it's just food, and food should be an enjoyable, happy thing, not a stressed-out thing.”
And food at Clayton’s Kitchen is most definitely an enjoyable, happy, stress-free affair: seasonal, uncomplicated, affordable, uplifting and impeccably presented. There’s more than a hint of that Michelin flair on the plate; a starter dish of Pembrokeshire Little Haven Crab with a shellfish bisque sauce dotted hither and thither with all manner of oils and flavour-bombs is almost - but only almost - too beautiful to disturb with my fork... and it takes a super-inspired chef indeed to lift roasted Cotswold chicken breast on cep risotto out of the beige/brown doldrums to spectacularly variegated heights. Across the whole menu, a strict adherence to local sourcing and a clear passion for good produce bolsters the foundations of every dish while a similar ethos brings cheer to the bar too; overall, the whole experience is a class act, from start to finish.
Is Rob’s restaurant now exactly where he wanted it to be, 12 years on from opening his doors in Bath? “When we first opened, we did everything: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner - ambitious, for sure!”, Rob recalls. “We even had our own cocktail bar downstairs. But looking back, we were stretching ourselves too far. So, we started paring back, and got to a point where we knew what we were doing, and had a really good team. Then Covid came along.”
Ah, the Covid crisis. While the public were holed up at home, the hospitality industry in particular was thrown into long-term - and, as it turned out, long-lasting - disarray.
“It was nice, in one way, having the time off to completely refocus,” says Rob, talking about the crisis. “We were eventually allowed to offer a takeaway service, which was fun for a while but obviously not what you want, long-term. It was scary not knowing what was going to happen, but
when we were finally allowed to reopen it was the craziest time ever, with up to 100 people eating outside. Even when we were allowed to reopen inside, people still wanted to eat outside; we went from doing maybe 80 or 90 covers max on a Saturday night to 140 with the outside tables too. Even today, even when it’s quite cold, people still want to sit outside!”
A quintessentially British brasserie
And when the sun comes out to play, why wouldn’t anybody want to do just that? There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the terrace tables on the historic flagstones outside this quintessentially British brasserie that puts me in mind of Paris (the 3rd and 4th arrondissements in particular).
But then again, eating inside in one of Rob’s smart, bright dining rooms is never going to be a dark or ‘nighttime-ish’ experience, whatever the weather or time of day. Big picture windows bring the outside in, and subtle sparkle adds to the serene yet buoyant beat; dress up or dress down, party on or chill out and you’re instantly swathed in a soft blanket of seductive bonhomie.
Has Rob hit on the perfect restaurant formula? “I just do what I think is right, and avoid following whatever the current trend is,” he says. “I believe you need to love what you do in order to strike a balance that works for everybody involved.”
Loving what he does is clearly deeply embedded in Rob’s DNA. I’m fascinated by chefs and I’ve interviewed dozens of them in my foodwriting career, but few are as easy-going, affable and good-natured as Rob.
“I really, really love to cook,” he tells me, several times throughout our conversation. What aspects, in particular? “I like the creativity, I like the routine - I like having a job that I like to do. When you speak to people who hate going to work, or chefs who say they’re doing it for the money, that makes me really sad - I just don’t get it. Of course, we all need money, but isn’t it nice when you earn that money doing something you love?”
Putting diners first
Putting the needs of his diners before any hint of ‘cheffy ego’ clearly pays off for Rob too. On the evening we visited, he was chatting away to a handful of old friends from his Bath Priory years - and if you drop by on a Friday lunchtime, you’ll probably meet Ernie.
“Ah, Ernie!” says Rob. “He’s been coming to Clayton’s Kitchen pretty much every Friday lunchtime since we opened. He’s a fascinating man! He comes to Bath on the train all the way from Swindon - we love him! But we’re lucky to have lots of regulars - all sorts of people from Lady soand-so to groups of lovely, polite bikers in their leather jackets. I love getting to know our regulars!”
And if you’re one of those regulars, you’ll no doubt get to know Rob’s family too. Over our dinner, we got to know Rob’s daughter Imogen (“Imi”) - a young Front of House superstar who knows as much about wine matches and how to make a diner feel special as Fred Sirieix does.
Rob’s other daughter Liberty regularly helps out on Saturday evenings, his wife Sara takes charge of all the restaurant bookings, his dad keeps a keen eye on online reviews and even the family’s beautiful Weimeraner Myrtle is an Instagram superstar in her own right. As Clayton’s Kitchen is such a strong family affair, would Rob encourage Imi and Liberty to follow in their dad’s kitchen-centric footsteps? “I’d definitely recommend it if they wanted to,” says Rob. “It’s a nice job!”
But there’s little point in either of Rob’s daughters eyeing up the family empire just yet. “I was 55 in July, but what would I do if I retired?” says Rob. “There’s nothing else I want to do! Maybe in another five years I might feel differently, but I honestly can’t see why I would.”
Like legions of Clayton’s Kitchen fans, I hope Rob never changes his mind - not least of all because the restaurant’s 25th anniversary, just over 12 years from now, would be a spectacular event; I already look forward to raising a glass to Clayton’s Kitchen with Ernie. n
Bath business
INTERACTION APPOINTS FIRST-EVER DESIGN DIRECTOR
Interaction, the leading UK workplace design and build company based in Bath, has promoted Pamela D'Alessandro to a newly created design director role to oversee the firm’s creative vision and strategy.
Pamela joined Interaction’s design team in 2020, having previously worked for international architecture and design practices in London including HLW. She has played a key role in delivering future-proof workplaces for Interaction’s clients, including leading flexible office operators and law firms, that foster wellbeing and collaboration.
Pamela began her interior design career in 2013 with a leading design agency in her native Canada where she worked on high-profile projects including The Mall of America.
After moving to Europe, Pamela specialised in high-end workspaces for fintech and financial services clients, becoming an expert in agile workspaces for clients including Google and its London Incubator Hub, Warner Bros and Pernod Ricard.
In her new role as Interaction’s design director, Pamela will be responsible for developing Interaction’s award-winning design team, ensuring the firm continues to provide innovative design solutions to the evolving workplace challenges that businesses Visit interaction.uk.com
BATH ONLINE LITERARY GIFT SHOP NAMED ONE
OF UK’S 100 MOST INSPIRING SMALL BUSINESSES
People Literary Craft Parlour in Bath has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign.
Literary Craft Parlour, which sells unique gifts and décor for book lovers which are designed to look like items from fictional worlds, was founded by Marianne Coote in 2020. Originally started as a creative project during lockdown, it has since grown into an online shop with a worldwide community of book lovers.
Following a nationwide search, the Bath firm has been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases the most innovative and admired small businesses across the nation, as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which celebrates small businesses and encourages the public to support and spend with small firms.
“I’m so thrilled that Literary Craft Parlour has been chosen as one of this year’s SmallBiz100. What started as a creative outlet during lockdown has grown into something that connects me with book lovers all over the world. It’s such an honour to be recognised alongside so many brilliant small businesses and I’m so grateful to everyone who’s supported me along the way,” said Marianne.
Visit literarycraftparlour.co.uk
NEW BUSINESS HELPFUL HR PEOPLE LAUNCHES
The Helpful HR People, a new Bath-based venture, founded by Aisling Corbett - Associate CIPD, is aiming to make professional HR support more accessible to small businesses. Recognising that many smaller organisations lack the resources for an in-house HR function, Aisling started the company to offer flexible support ranging from ongoing guidance to help with specific, one-off projects.
“What sets the business apart is its emphasis on tailoring services to the particular needs and working style of each client, adopting a personal and pragmatic approach rather than a one-size-fits-all model,” Alison says.
The team is inviting local businesses to explore their HR needs through free, no-obligation consultations, offered as a way to understand common challenges and discuss potential solutions.
Those interested can contact hello@helpfulhr.co.uk
Christmas Parties and Festive Gifts
As the festive season approaches, many employers will be looking for ways to reward their teams’ hard work. But how can you do that in a tax-efficient way that benefits both you and your employees? In most cases, work Christmas parties and gifts for staff members are tax-deductible. However, employers will need to consider the tax and National Insurance implications of such benefits. After all, there’s nothing more festive than sitting down to examine the tax legislation before you commit to that party!
Tax and National Insurance
Where Christmas parties are concerned, the total cost of holding these can usually be offset in full against your profits. There is also an exemption for employees from both Income Tax and National Insurance up to a cost of £150 per head (including partners/spouses etc.), as long as all employees are invited, either within the firm as a whole or at a particular location or office.
The exemption applies to an annual party or similar annual event provided for employees and there can be more than one per year, as long as the combined cost of the events is no more than £150 (including VAT) per head.
VAT Position
The current annual allowance (the maximum gross contributions which can be made to a pension scheme and obtain tax relief) is £60,000 per tax year. This annual allowance is reduced for high earners, tapered by £1 for every £2 that an individual’s income exceeds £260,000 (subject to a minimum allowance of £10,000). Any unused annual allowance can generally be carried forward up to three years and used on a ‘first in, first out’ basis.
As well as the annual allowance, the amount on which an individual can claim tax relief on personal contributions made to their pension scheme is also limited to the greater of £3,600 (gross) or their UK ‘relevant earnings’ for the tax year (broadly, their salary and/or self-employment/partnership income).
What about contributions from my own limited company?
As a general rule, any VAT incurred on the cost of entertaining non-staff, e.g. clients/customers, suppliers and other business contacts, is not reclaimable. Therefore, it is only the element of the cost of the staff party which directly relates to employees, i.e. excluding spouses/partners etc, on which VAT can be reclaimed.
Christmas Gifts
Gifts are dealt with separately but there is a special exemption which HMRC give to so called “trivial benefits”. These tax-deductible trivial benefits can be provided to staff without the employee being taxed on the value of the gift. A benefit is treated as trivial if it meets all of the following conditions:
• the cost of providing the benefit must not exceed £50;
• the benefit must not be cash or a “cash voucher”, but gift vouchers should be fine;
• the employee must not be entitled to the benefit contractually (including as a result of salary sacrifice); and
• the benefit must not be in recognition of services performed by the employee as part of their employment.
It is important to note that if the cost of the benefit exceeds £50, even by a very small amount, the whole sum becomes chargeable to tax, not just the excess.
Somewhat generously, the exemption applies to each individual benefit in isolation and there is no limit on the number of trivial benefits an employee may receive in the tax year, unless he or she is a director of the company, in which case there is an aggregate annual cap of £300.
The above is for general guidance only and no action should be taken without obtaining specific advice. Such advice in relation to pension schemes should be obtained from your pension advisor or an independent financial advisor.
Matthew Rutter BSc(Hons) FCA CTA Pearson
Harriet Lowther’s whimsical world comes to Bath
Illustrator and dog lover Harriet Lowther will be at Toppings, Bath, this month to showcase her new book, Tell Your Dog I Love Them. Ahead of her visit, Joanna Lewis spoke with Harriet to learn more about her book and decidedly uncanny illustrations.
Harriet’s quirky illustrations adorn a wide range of items, from homeware such as mugs and tea towels to tote bags, calendars, prints, apparel, and hand-painted originals. While the focus of her illustrations is primarily dogs (of all shapes and sizes), there are also lots of cats too, and, occasionally, other critters, including geese, polar bears, badgers, foxes, and giraffes.
The illustrator’s inaugural book, however, is an ode to all her doggie illustrations, with 170 pages filled with some of her favourites from the past few years… “some scrappy, some quick, some detailed,” Harriet explains.
Harriet started her journey as an illustrator when touring with her partner’s multi award-winning theatre band, The Zoots. While travelling, she used to sketch illustrations of dogs on the back of boarding passes at airports. What started as simple doodles soon morphed into more considered pieces. “I started trying watercolours, then launched a few greeting cards,” Harriet notes. “I was amazed when people bought them. It just kind of snowballed quite quickly from there. Soon, the illustrations started to take over my house. So, now I’ve got a lovely purpose-built studio at the bottom of my garden.”
She says her style has evolved over the years through constant experimentation and learning to let go of perfection. “I love creating work that’s playful, relatable, and brings a smile, often inspired by the animals – especially dogs! – that makes life so joyful.”
Dog fanatic
selected to design a Christmas card range for the RSPCA. She says it felt “overwhelming” at times as she feared the charity would not like her designs. However, the illustrations, based on animals that were currently in RSPCA shelters, were a resounding success.
Experimentation
Throughout her work, Harriet experiments with a wide range of media and mixes it up with various scales and sizes.
“So, I’ve been doing some large-scale pieces to take on the book tour with me, some big cardboard dogs,” Harriet says.
Ah, the book! Harriet says a book wasn’t even on her radar; however, she was contacted by publisher Francis Lincoln, who asked if she was interested in putting a book together. You could say, the rest is history.
“It was the most perfect project that I didn’t even know that I could do,” Harriet says.
She gave Francis Lincoln access to her oeuvre and gave herself a year to work on the project. The result is a coffee-table style publication that has the look and feel of Harriet’s personal sketchbook, filled with delightful illustrations and snippets of text.
“I love creating work that’s playful, relatable, and brings a smile, often inspired by the animals – especially dogs! – that makes life so joyful.”
Harriet
Lowther
Harriet says she’s always been a dog fanatic and had dogs growing up as a child. However, travelling with the band prevented her from having a dog of her own. Drawing illustrations of some of her favourite hounds offered her an outlet to combine her love of art with dogs.
The illustrator is especially known for her love of sight hounds and lurchers. “Anything that looks a little bit dippy, a bit unusual, a bit long… long legs, long nose, long body,” Harriet enthuses.
Her passion has morphed into a busy studio, Made by Harriet, with her illustrated homewares and apparel sold through her dedicated site. And, with her feet more firmly on the ground, she now draws inspiration from her mischievous studio sidekicks: Doughnut, her 50kg rescue lurcher, and her cat Sean Connery. “They’re both constant sources of chaos and love and endless inspiration.”
A highlight of her career came a couple of years ago, when she was
“Originally, we were going to try and put it into sections, like tall dogs, small dogs, but it didn’t really work. I was also conscious that my illustrations are quite sight-hound heavy, and I wanted the book to have some variety, to have a few more different breeds. So, I started working on more varied illustrations, then I would add some text here and there. I’d never done a book before, but the whole experience has been really lovely. It has just been a joy to do.”
Harriet says the book is designed for anyone who loves dogs. “They [dogs] kind of tap into the human psyche and mirror our own feelings or our own uncomfortableness. That’s what really makes them so great.”
So, on the back of the success of her new book, what’s next for Harriet? She’s working on her inaugural exhibition in San Francisco in January, and she has also started taking on a limited number of commissions. But, get in quick, they are in high demand!
You can meet Harriet on Thursday, 11 December at Toppings, from 4pm, where she will be signing copies of her new book. The signing is priced at £14.99 and includes a copy of her book, and Harriet will even draw your pup as part of the cost. Visit toppingsbooks.co.uk. To learn more about Harriet’s work, visit madebyharriet.co.uk. n
Education matters
NEWS ROM THE CITY’S LEARNERS AND LEADERS
ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE ACHIEVES TOP MARKS
St Gregory’s Catholic College in Bath has been awarded the highest possible grade in every area of its recent independent inspection, achieving Outstanding across the board.
The CSI (Catholic School Inspection) evaluated three key areas of Catholic education: Catholic Life and Mission, Religious Education, and Collective Worship. St Gregory’s achieved the highest grade of Outstanding (Grade 1) in each area, as well as an overall Outstanding judgement for the quality of Catholic education provided.
This marks the third consecutive inspection the school has achieved Outstanding in all areas, a rare distinction that places St Gregory’s among the highest-performing faith schools in the country. Visit: st-gregorys.org.uk
KINGSWOOD SCHOOL CELEBRATES IMPACT REPORT
Kingswood School has published its 2024/25 Social Impact Report, celebrating a year of remarkable community engagement, charitable giving and transformational partnerships, both locally and internationally.
The report’s release coincides with the Independent Schools Council (ISC)’s Partnerships Week, which highlights the power of collaboration between schools and their wider communities.
Since moving to Bath in 1851, Kingswood has been proud to play a leading role in the life of the city. Guided by founder John Wesley’s call to “do all the good we can”, the school continues to live out its values of service, compassion and partnership.
Over the past year, the Kingswood community of current and former pupils, staff and families, raised more than £50,000 for charity, supporting causes at local, national and international levels. Students alone contributed over 10,000 hours of service activities through community and charity initiatives, including the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and community events. While the Social Justice Group built new partnerships with The Life Project and Southside, two local charities fostering inclusion and support for families in need. At the Prep School, pupils united around a Year 6 student’s story to support the RNLI, turning personal inspiration into school-wide action.
A highlight of this year’s report is Kingswood’s growing partnership with Mentoring Plus, which has become a cornerstone of the school’s community engagement. Since 2021, 175 primary school pupils in Bath, including those at St Andrew’s, St Stephen’s and Kingswood Prep School, have benefited from one-to-one mentoring by Kingswood Sixth Formers. Visit kingswood.bath.sch.uk
KES GIVING DAY IS RESOUNDING SUCCESS
The first ever Giving Day at King Edward’s School, Bath, which brought together pupils, staff, parents, Old Edwardians and supporters in a joyful celebration of the KES community’s spirit and generosity, has raised an extraordinary £126,287 to support the School’s means-tested Bursary Programme and two new outdoor spaces for learning and wellbeing.
Giving Day saw the whole school community come together to take part in celebratory events, from a Danceathon at the PrePrep and talent shows, quizzes and carnival-style games at the Junior School, to an ‘It’s a Knockout’ race at the Senior School , where members of staff donned inflatable animal costumes to the delight of pupils. Across the whole school everyone endeavoured to run, hike or row 1,552 miles in honour of the School’s founding year (1552). Also proving hugely popular was the Headmaster’s Challenge, which saw him face 126 football penalties whilst in goal!
The School also saw its largest ever collection for Bath Foodbank, with well over the target of 1,552 items donated by the KES community.
The day ended with the Wroughton Lecture given by Old Edwardian, Natalie Hewit, who spoke about the making of her film, Endurance, which tells of the discovery of the wreck of Shackleton’s famous ship in Antarctica. Visit kesbath.com
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MBST: Cellular Healing comes to BATH RUGBY
MBST Health and myself at CURA are thoroughly enjoying working with Bath rugby this season. Rugby is an ideal setting to test the efficacy of this technology on trauma. We’re using MBST to improve healing quality and speed and the results we’re seeing are very exciting.
In terms of player care, and keeping injury numbers low, it’s already having the effect we’d hoped it would have.
Notable cases we’ve seen so far are the rapid return to play of fracture cases, halving the return to play time recommended by the surgeon. We’re seeing ligament tears avoid surgery and heal so quickly the players were able return to international duty.
Head of medical, Rory Murray is loving using the technology: ‘After 19 seasons of working in elite sport I’m getting PB’s across the board in return to play. Even the players with chronic slow burning issues have felt improvement.’
MBST UK is the official regenerative Partner for Bath Rugby and Wrexham FC. Not only is this leading to dramatic increases in the speed of player rehabilitation and return to play, but it’s allowing us to gather data and explore the full ability of this technology
MBST Bone Health: At CURA we have the have the latest technology in assessing bone density and fragility. Unlike DEXA that uses X-Ray, REMS Scans use ultrasound to precisely assess the thickness of bone and the bone strength/architecture.
It’s an amazing tool to have, especially to safely monitor the progress our patients are making after using MBST to address the deconditioning of bone in Osteoporosis:
We’re seeing remarkable results when applying MBST to bone, both after trauma and in Osteoporosis patients.
Our observations include;
Significantly faster fracture healing times
• Significant reduction in fracture pain.
• Improved Bone mineral density
Improved T scores and reduced fragility
MBST Arthritis: MBST is helping so many patients with debilitating arthritic conditions: From knees hips and spines to hands shoulders and ankles. At CURA we’ve treated over 2,000 patients with arthritis. It’s gentle and safe yet gets powerful life-changing results in a high percentage of patients.
MBST applies electromagnetic energy to cells using precisely targeted resonance/tuning. This energy positively influences the cell’s function, downgrading cell inflammation and putting the cell in an energised regenerative state.
This affects conditions such as arthritis in a very positive way, reducing pain and inflammation but more importantly, it takes the brakes off the healing process and creates optimum tissue conditions to repair and heal.
It is solved by walking
On July 15 2023, Peter Lant went for a walk over Solsbury Hill with his dog Sid. It was the first official Walk Bath adventure. Fast forward to 2025, and Peter is doing that same walk, plus many others like it, with an ever‐evolving group of up to 50 local people every week. India Farnham catches up with Peter to find out how a simple weekly stroll can build communities and transform lives.
All the best things in life are recurrent. Christmas, Sunday lunch, a morning coffee. It seems that regularity, as I discovered while chatting to Walk Bath founder Peter Lant, is a winning formula for building community.
Walk Bath’s weekly walks, which are currently completely free thanks to National Lottery funding, are a simple operation. After booking onto a walk via an app, walkers will head to one of the group’s meeting points (most often one of the three Park & Rides in Bath) for 9am on a Saturday morning. From there, Peter and his team of Walk Captains will split up the group and head off on a circular route in the countryside, bringing their party right back to the beginning for a high-five about two hours later. Peter assures me that if you’re comfortable with occasionally walking either uphill or through woodland, then you’re more than qualified to join the group; “As long as you can do that, then all you need to know is where we meet.”
The beauty of Walk Bath is that this happens, like clockwork, every single week. In other words: “You turn up at 9am on a Saturday, and we will be there”, as Peter tells me affirmatively. “People say, ‘you can go walking with your friends’, and it’s like, you can, but are they going to be there every week? Of course, [at Walk Bath] not everyone can make it every weekend, but 50 people came last weekend.”
Early days
Peter is originally from Newcastle, but moved to Bath in 2007. After being made redundant and getting a dog (Sid, now a regular member of Walk Bath), he started walking the hills routinely, and remembers feeling shocked that people he talked to in Bath didn’t know how close they were to the countryside.
“After lockdown, I’d be chatting to people and saying ‘we went for a walk up Solsbury Hill’. And someone would say, ‘where’s that?’, and I’m
like, ‘well, it’s right there!’ you know? And then I started to realize that people drive everywhere, and they don’t know where anything is.”
Peter found that a lot of walking groups he’d seen advertised were for retired people, with walks taking place during the working day. This is where he saw an opportunity. “I decided to do the walks at 9am on a Saturday, so anyone of a working age could make it, too.
“So the first walk I did, it was just me and Sid the dog. And then we did it two weeks later, and it was me, Sid, my partner, and a lady and her boyfriend who I already knew.
“And then we did it two weeks later, and there was about five of us. And then we’ve just done it every week since then. And it’s just grown and grown. It just started to capture people, you know.”
Come rain or shine
Take a scroll through the Walk Bath Facebook group and you’ll see hundreds of photos of walkers smiling broadly in front of viewpoints or standing proudly on top of hills, the Bath skyline glimmering behind them. Peter lights up as he tells me where Walk Bath can be found venturing.
“From Lansdown, we’ll go over to Kelston Roundhill, North Stoke, Charlcombe Valley or Primrose Hill Woodland. And then from Odd Down, we’ll go down into Englishcombe village, or into Combe Hay village. From Newbridge, we’ll go to Newton St. Loe and Corston and along the river. And then we also do things in Batheaston, Solsbury Hill, Browne’s Folly, Dundas Aqueduct, everywhere.”
We may be descending into the colder, drizzlier months of the year, but Peter reassures me this doesn’t affect his walkers as much as you might imagine. “The weather is not as bad as you think it is. If you’re sitting in your house looking out the window, it looks terrible. But if you actually go out in it, it’s not as bad as you think. When you’re moving, everyone gets warm.”
In fact, these seasonal variations in the weather are part of what makes Walk Bath so special, Peter is keen to express. “We have a saying that you never do the same walk twice. You’ll do the same route, but depending on the time of year, it’ll feel completely different. Different colours, different sights, different sounds, different wildlife. But also, you never do the same walk twice because every time you do the same route again, there’ll be different people there to the last time you did it.”
Better together
It’s clear within moments of our conversation that the people who walk with Peter are the driving force behind what he does. At a moment in time when one in six of us worldwide are lonely (WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2025), Walk Bath’s innate ability to connect people is not lost on Peter. And 226 walks later, the results of Walk Bath’s latest survey speak for themselves: 69% of walkers found that the weekly walks have improved their mental health, and 49% stated that as result of the walks, they feel less lonely.
I ask Peter if these improvements in his walkers’ wellbeing have been noticeable? “Absolutely. We’ve got so many stories. There’s one lady in particular who came along because of social anxiety. I remember the first time I spoke to her, the conversation didn’t flow, whereas now she’s a different, more confident person.
“The great thing about walking and talking is that you’re not actually looking at each other. If you’re walking side by side, you’ve always got a bit of a distraction - you might see a kestrel or a red kite or a sheep or a deer. Distractions facilitate opening up, and talking about things you wouldn’t usually talk about.”
This proliferation of walkers feeling the benefit of social connection, along with Peter’s interest in philosophy, inspired the company franchise name Walking Solves, which comes from the Latin phrase Solvitur Ambulando, or ‘it is solved by walking’, a phrase associated with Greek philosopher Diogenes the Cynic.
Now, it may not have been said by a Greek philosopher, but I grew up hearing my granny say ‘there are few problems that cannot be solved over a cup of tea’, so I can get behind this sentiment. Indeed, it seems Walk Bath is doing a lot more for its walkers than simply providing them with some easy-going exercise. Anecdotes abound as Peter enthuses about walkers who moved to Bath and didn’t know anyone; others who were socially prescribed to the group; and people who have simply had difficult lives and walk away (no pun intended) from their engagement with Walk
Bath feeling stronger. It’s as clear as day that Walk Bath is as much about being in nature as it is about giving likeminded people a place to gather together week after week.
The community goes beyond Bath. “There’s one guy who comes in from Paulton every week”, Peter notes. “He's been coming for over a year, and he’s probably done about 65 walks now. We’ve got lots of people who come along in the beginning for one walk, and then just keep coming back.”
What’s it like for someone embarking on their first ever walk with Walk Bath then, I wonder? “Well, I think it can be quite intimidating, because it looks like it’s quite a big group”, Peter admits, “but what we tend to see is that after that person comes in, we welcome them in immediately, and then they’ll get chatting with someone and forget that it's the first time all together. Everyone’s just really nice.”
Crucial to Walk Bath’s philosophy is celebrating participants’ achievements, however big or small. “We give out pin badges to people”, Peter explains. “When someone’s done 10 walks, they get a pin badge. So on that walk, we’ll do a little ceremony. And it’s a little goal for people to have. And then we’ve got one at 25 walks and then at 50, and there’ll be a one for 100 walks as well.” You don’t get many pin badges as an adult, do you? I muse. “Yeah, kids love it, but adults love it, too!” Peter laughs.
To the future
The success of Walk Bath seems naturally to point to a universal walking group model that could be successful in other localities. Peter can envision Walking Solves as a global community, one day. “What I want to do is have a walk on Saturday at 9am everywhere in the world. So, if somebody lives in Bath, but they go up to Manchester for the weekend, they can go on a walk in Manchester. Then you’ll meet people there, and you’ll get the benefit of local knowledge wherever you go”, he imagines.
I wonder if that branch of Walking Solves, somewhere entirely different from Bath, would be the same without Peter, its beating heart?
“Well, no, but it’s gone beyond me, and beyond the walks, even. They’ll have someone who understands that locality, who’s enthusiastic about that environment”.
And they’d be very lucky, too. n
Fancy taking part, or getting more info? Find out more at walkbath.co.uk
Peter Lant and partner Sian on a walk Walk Bath at a viewpoint
Making a mark
This month, Andrew Swift explores ancient graffiti througout the city and the historical insights it offers.
Most people would probably agree that graffiti – especially when it means scoring initials into historic buildings –is a bad thing. When the graffiti is itself historic, however, it’s not quite as straightforward. The older it is, the hazier the issues become – and Bath has some very old graffiti indeed.
As you enter the Abbey, for example, and walk along the north aisle, there, at the base of a column, is a whole cluster of rough scrawlings, including one dated 1606. Older examples can be found in the south aisle and the tower, while the memorial to Lady Waller in the south transept ramps up the level of desecration even higher. After her death in 1633, her husband, Sir William Waller, commissioned a monument on which his effigy lay alongside hers, in the expectation that he would eventually be interred alongside her. Ten years later, he commanded Parliamentary forces at the Battle of Lansdown. After the Royalists won the battle, Royalist soldiers garrisoned in Bath showed what they thought of him by hacking at his effigy and chopping his right hand off. Similarly-minded citizens subsequently made their own contribution by incising their names and initials into the marble folds of Lady Waller’s dress.
The most mysterious marks in the Abbey are on the left-hand side of the archway into the gift shop. They form a Tetragrammaton, signifying the Hebrew name for Jehova the Almighty, and it has been suggested that they were carved by one of the Parliamentary soldiers garrisoned in Bath after the fortunes of war turned in their favour.
Just south of the Abbey, at the far end of North Parade Buildings – aka Gallaway’s Buildings – is the most conspicuous bit of 18th-century graffiti in the city centre – reading simply IG 1778. Two much fainter examples can be found in Queen Square. In the north-east corner, on the side of No 27, ‘1767’ can be made out, as well as some indistinct lettering. In the
south-west corner, on the side of No 13, ‘JP 17’ has been carved. It looks 18th century, which suggests that there should be two more letters recording the date. Perhaps they have worn away, or perhaps the perpetrator was disturbed. On the side of 15 Alfred Street, the initials WH have been roughly carved, with no date, although the style of the W is characteristic of the 18th century.
Empire Hotel
Something much more recent, but just as evocative, can be found if you turn up the alleyway linking Grand Parade with the back of the Guildhall and look over the railings into Boatstall Lane, which led through Bath’s medieval east gate. Above you looms the Empire Hotel, opened in 1901 and requisitioned by the Admiralty in World War Two. In 1940 and 1941, some of the Royal Navy Guardsmen posted to Bath carved their names on the jambs around its basement windows.
From the darkest days of the war to victory in Europe – commemorated in the unlikely setting of Lime Grove, off Pulteney Road, on the side wall of The Limes. Having carved VE DAY MAY 9 however, the unknown chiseller only got as far as carving a 1 before abandoning the project. A little way along to the right there is a feebler, more fragmentary and presumably earlier attempt at carving the same message. Curiously, VE Day in Britain is generally reckoned to have been on 8 May.
Beyond the city centre
In the city centre, examples of the bygone graffitist’s art may be few and far between. Further out, however, some of the city’s finest architectural treasures have been laid siege to in spectacular fashion. The oldest is the Monument to Sir Bevil Grenville, the Royalist commander killed at the Battle of Lansdown in 1643. Erected in 1720, hardly was the mortar dry
The Monument to Sir Bevil Grenville, erected in 1720, is filled with graffiti and J Hodges made an impressive contribution in 1862 under an iron bridge along the canal by Sydney Gardens.
before local graffitists were trooping up to this lonely spot to pay their disrespects. Among the dates chiselled into the stones, 1738 and 1743 –possibly even 1733 – can be made out. The palimpsest of carvings is so densely packed, however, there may well be even earlier ones. Condemnation of them is nothing new. In 1888, for example, a correspondent to the Bath Chronicle wrote that, ‘surely, even in this Puritan city, the memory of a cavalier like this … deserves to be remembered with more respect than is consistent with allowing the vandalism of carved initials to be repeated’.
Sham Castle
South of the city, Sham Castle on Bathampton Down, built for Ralph Allen in 1762, has proved just as much of a magnet, and the earliest legible date here seems to be 1783. Another of Ralph Allen’s buildings which has fallen victim to inscriptive vandalism is the Palladian Bridge in Prior Park. Built in 1755, it had already attracted the attention of a penknife-wielding ne’er-do-well by 1799, and many more have followed in his wake. Although the earliest carvings were probably made by intruders, later ones are thought to have been the work of boys at the college. A gatepost at the main entrance to the college on Ralph Allen Drive is also packed with inscriptions, with a couple of dates – 1749 and 1773 – appearing to feature in the mix.
Past Sydney Gardens
There is one place in Bath where making your mark is raised to another level. If you follow Beckford Road up past Sydney Gardens and turn off to follow the canal as it tunnels under the road, you will find not only the initials of roving graffitists but also crosses, triangles and more elaborate marks made by the masons who built the canal. Emerging at the other end of the tunnel, graffiti fills an empty niche to your right. Under the iron bridge ahead is a particularly impressive contribution by J Hodges in 1862. Many more lurk under the next bridge, including one from 1807 and one so neatly incised it has to be the work of a mason. The niche beyond it has another fine collection, while the coping stones over the tunnel entrance are also scored with masons’ marks. Inside the tunnel is one of the finest collection of masons’ marks on the entire canal network.
Graffiti is nothing new. There has always been someone eager to make a mark, and, while historic graffiti will never acquire the patina of respectability, it does at least open a window into a somewhat anarchic past. Seeking out the rough-hewn artistry of those who sought such dubious immortality can also be a way of seeing some of Bath’s most iconic edifices in a new light, as well as providing the ideal inspiration for a brisk winter walk. n
Victory Day is commemorated on Lime Grove off Pulteney Road.
GARDENERS’ good reads
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a green‐fingered family member or friend, then why not choose from some of the latest books on offer? It’s the perfect time to gather information and inspiration ready for the season ahead, whether you’re buying for a loved one or maybe giving yourself a treat. Our gardening expert Elly West shares her top picks.... ellyswellies.co.uk
Literary Gardens by Sandra Lawrence, Frances Lincoln, £19.99
Garden imagery is a powerful force in literature, and this book looks at the gardens created by a selection of authors, each given a separate short chapter. Many are from much-loved children’s classics, appealing to our sense of nostalgia, such as The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland and Tom’s Midnight Garden, revealing gardens as places of secrecy, magic and adventure. Others are less wellknown, but equally evocative. If you’ve not read the book in question, her descriptions of the plants and settings may well make you want to get hold of a copy, or re-read a classic in a different light. Whether it’s the gardens of the Gatsby mansion as the backdrop for his hedonistic parties, or the pervasive perfume of azaleas that link to Du Maurier’s Rebecca at Manderley, this is a well thought out, and thoughtprovoking book that would make the perfect gift for someone who loves both gardening and literature.
What Grows Together by
Jamie Butterworth, Dorling Kindersley, £22
I love a good planting recipe and new ideas of what to grow with what, and here are 64 inspiring combinations, all beautifully photographed to remove the guesswork and catch the eye. Flick through the seasons for combinations that are at their best at different times of year, with plants chosen for colour, texture and form. Foliage is as important as flowers in most cases, giving plants a longer period of interest. Each recipe has a page of description, care notes and tips, plus suggestions for substitutions or additions. This book is aimed at anyone who loves plants, whatever their gardening experience or size of garden, and the combinations are suitable for both pots and borders.
Garden to the Max by Teresa Woodard, Timber Press, £35
Aimed at those of us who always want to make room for ‘one more plant’, the advice is to push the boundaries and embrace drama, boldness and exuberance. One for the coffee-table, the spotlight is on 20 gardeners in the United States who have brought maximalism into their gardens to create spaces packed with personality and joy. Among those featured are a tropical jungle of lush foliage and flowers, a water garden complete with 40 waterfalls, 150 koi carp and giant water lilies, and a rock garden packed with grasses, hardy cacti and small conifers. Although the gardens are across the Atlantic, there are plenty of takeaway ideas and the overall message is to grow what you love and make your space your own.
Start
However much we spend on plants, the foundation of a good garden is in the soil. Inspired by a trip to East Africa, where the quality of the soil has a direct impact on whether or not essential food can
grow, this book looks at ways we can do our bit at home to improve the ground beneath us and give our plants the best conditions. The science behind the substance, such as the nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle and soil structure, is covered in the first section, which includes clear and user-friendly diagrams. This is followed by practical advice on how to test and assess your own garden’s soil, and how to improve it with compost, home-made fertiliser and mulch. At the back is a useful list of plants that thrive on different types of soil, whether sandy, clay or loam, acidic or chalky.
with Soil by by Juliet Sargeant, Frances Lincoln, £15.99
A
Year Full of Pots by Sarah Raven, Bloomsbury, £27
Containers are the perfect way to brighten up a space, and these ideas will help you design and create beautiful potted displays all year round. The focus is on colour, which is evident on every beautifully photographed page, and there are several pages devoted to Sarah Raven’s favourite palettes of rich reds, vibrant pinks and soft apricots. ‘More is more’ is her motto, and she discusses the four ingredients of a large container display – the Thrillers, Fillers, Pillars and Spillers – as well as how to group and position pots around the garden. The bulk of the book is a month-by-month guide, with planting ideas, practical jobs, care tips, and a focus on a particular type of plant that’s at its best. This is one to dip in and out of whenever you need some colour and inspiration.
For the Love of Plants by Adam Frost, Dorling Kindersley, £22
Television presenter Adam Frost reflects on what gardening means to him, how it has helped his mental health struggles, and his move to a simpler life from a large farmhouse in Lincolnshire to a much smaller cottage garden. We are led on a tour of his garden, and his love of music is also given credit as an important force in his journey to mental wellness. Chapters are organised by areas of the garden (Front Garden, Courtyard, Lower Terrace etc) with each given a song to set the scene. Despite this personal approach, the book is, in essence, a practical plant directory that chronicles a real working garden. Choose an area – for example the shady North Border – and there will be a planting plan and profiles of all the plants that are thriving there, plus tips on hard landscaping and other ornamental features that work in this spot.
Fireguards for stoves
Asubstantial Grade II listed Georgian townhouse set in a stunning location off Widcombe Hill with far reaching views, well-proportioned rooms throughout, a wonderful good-sized garden and planning permission for a double garage.
Macaulay Buildings is one of the most distinctive terraces of Georgian properties within the City of Bath. Built in the late 18th Century the accommodation is laid out over 4 floors, with 2 very well-proportioned rooms on each floor providing 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms and a large kitchen/breakfast room.
The accommodation is well presented throughout and has been maintained in meticulous order by its owner who was a professional architect. It was completely renovated in the 80s/90s with the roof and guttering being maintained in good order in the intervening period.
A feature of the property is the stunning West facing garden comprising 2 main terraces and with the potential for a garage to be erected to the rear of the property for which there is currently planning permission.
This is a quite spectacular property and a viewing is strongly recommended by the sole agents Cobb Farr.
37 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; Tel: 01225 866111
Widcombe, Bath
• 4 bedrooms
• 3 reception rooms
• Wealth of period features
• Stunning Views
• Grade II listed townhouse
• Large west facing gardens
• Immaculately presented
• Sought after location
£1,695,000
Bradford on Avon
OIEO £525,000
Exuding Edwardian elegance and rich period detail, this exceptional 4bedroom home combines classic style with contemporary comfort. Ideally situated within easy reach of local amenities, the property is offered to the market with no onward chain.
• 4 bedroom Edwardian terraced home
• Beautifully maintained
• Period character and charm
• Delightful rear garden
• Rear access leading to off street parking for 2 vehicles
Norton St Philip, £600,000
A stunning newly built 2 bedroom detached house with 3 bathrooms, gardens to front and rear together with a single garage and additional parking for 2 vehicles. The property sits in this superb and spaciously laid out development in the sought after location of Norton St Philip. The property has the advantage of a sitting room on the ground floor which could be used as a third bedroom with the potential to gain direct access through to the shower room.
• Detached new build house, 2 bedrooms both with en-suites
• High specification kitchen and bathrooms
• 10 year NHBC warranty
01225 333332 | 01225 866111
Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire
Leigh Road, Bradford on Avon
Bath’s Property Market: End-of-Year Reflections
By Peter Greatorex, Managing Director, Peter Greatorex Unique Homes
As 2025 draws to a close, I believe Bath’s property market is in a more confident position than many expected at the start of the year. It has not been without challenges, but the final quarter has shown a level of momentum that suggests a more balanced marketplace emerging.
The past few months have been some of the busiest of the year. The market is closing with a real flurry of activity, and we have agreed more deals in consecutive months than we saw for much of 2025. This largely comes down to price management and expectation management. Buyers have become more value driven, and sellers have gradually adjusted to what the market will support. When both sides take a realistic view, transactions move forward.
Families remain one of the strongest groups in our market, particularly those upsizing in the £800,000 to £1.25 million bracket. The same message has applied throughout the year - the price has to reflect the current market, not the one people wish we still had. Detaching yourself from the emotional side of selling is never easy, but it often creates opportunity. Once a seller adopts that mindset, it allows us as agents to negotiate more effectively on their behalf.
August and early September were good examples of how fragile confidence can be. Many people paused, concerned by rumours around the upcoming Budget and the broader economic outlook. However, we quickly saw a shift, with people deciding to simply get on with their plans. Life events carry more weight than anything else. Moves happen because families need more space, jobs change or circumstances evolve.
The upcoming Budget remains on many people’s minds. None of us know what will be announced, and trying to time a move around it can create more stress than certainty. If you are buying and selling in the same market, any adjustment in sale price is usually balanced by what you pay next. What matters more is taking good advice early, pricing sensibly and trusting the process. That said, it is worth being aware of potential changes, particularly around council tax or any form of “mansion” tax, so that any purchase is made from an informed position and with a clear understanding of future affordability.
Looking ahead, I am also excited about the early 2026 launch of Ladye Bay in Clevedon, a stunning collection of four waterfront homes priced between £2 million and £2.5 million. Clevedon is arguably one of the most desirable locations to live in the South West and these stunning homes will have uninterrupted views across the Bristol Channel and the Welsh Hills.
So, while 2025 has been a year of adjustment, it has also been one of re-engagement. Buyers are more thoughtful, sellers more pragmatic and the market is behaving as a healthy market should. As we head into the new year, that balance gives me considerably more optimism than I had twelve months ago.
If you are thinking of selling your home in 2026, we would love to hear from you
West Stoughton, near Wedmore
OIEO £875,000
This beautifully presented property comes to the market for the first time in over 50 years.
• Large, mature gardens with courtyard areas and outdoor space
• Fabulous open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space
• Four generously sized bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms
• Large, mature gardens with courtyard areas and outdoor space
• Council Tax band E, EPC Rating E
COMING SOON
Ladye Bay, Clevedon
A development of four individually designed five-bedroom residences on one of the South West’s most breathtaking coastal frontages.
• Set above the shoreline with uninterrupted views across the Bristol Channel, just 30 minutes from Bristol.
• Each home is a masterclass in modern architecture and natural connection, offering direct access to the beach below, expansive terraces, and openplan living spaces.
• Generous double bedrooms with en-suites, multiple living areas, double garages, utility spaces, and bespoke finishes throughout.
• Sustainable luxury and complete privacy in a truly exceptional setting.
• In partnership with Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills™ programme, delivering zero home energy bills.
OIEO £475,000
• Georgian Lateral Conversion
• Leasehold
• Grade II Listed
• Three double bedrooms
• Two luxury bath/shower rooms
• Fabulous views
• Council Tax band E, EPC rating D
• Beautifully presented two-bedroom apartment in central Bath
• 15’ sitting/dining room
• modern kitchen with integrated appliances
• Private landscaped garden
• Successful short-term rental/holiday let history
• GARAGE AVAILABLE BY SEPARATE NEGOTIATION
OIEO £450,000
• Council tax band C, EPC rating C
Combe Down, Bath
OIEO £1,175,000
Upper Langford, Somerset
OIEO £935,000
Blagdon, Somerset
OIEO £450,000
Langford, Somerset
OIEO £950,000
Shipham, Somerset
OIEO £1,100,000
The General, Bristol
OIEO £850,000
See our latest available properties
Monkton Combe • Guide Price £1,000,000
A stunning contemporary detached family home offering four to five bedrooms. This beautifully presented property provides 2,347 sq ft of light, flexible living space, complemented by landscaped gardens, picturesque countryside views, a double garage, and driveway parking. Freehold, EPC Rating D, Council Tax Band F.
Marshfield • Guide Price £750,000
A spacious detached family home situated in the beautiful village of Marshfield. The property benefits from flexible, well balanced accommodation set over two floors along with driveway parking, garaging and a substantial garden. No Onward Chain. Freehold, EPC Rating E, Council Tax Band F.
A stunning Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in the highly sought after location of Widcombe. Set over five floors along with a fantastic rear landscaped garden. Freehold, EPC rating D, Council tax band F.
