Bath Cover November.e$S_Layout 1 22/10/2026 12:09 Page 1
ISSUE 285 | NOVEMBER 2026 | thebathmag.co.uk | £4.95 where sold
THEBATHMAGAZINE
Changing the game Maria Crowfoot‐Riggs talks women’s rugby, ambition and Bath
A killer of a story Murder and mystery at the Royal Crescent with Bath author Harriet F. Townson
Growing for the future How Ramsbury Estate is adapting to changing times
A new chapter in fine dining Fresh creativity and contemporary flair at The Bath Priory
Fifty shows later
Hugh Cornwell PLUS...
Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair celebrates a major milestone
No more heroes? Think again.
S O M U C H M O R E I N T H E C I T Y ’ S M O S T I N T E L L I G E N T G U I D E T O L I V I N G I N B AT H
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Make yourself at home this Christmas From the perfect m orning coffee to C hristm as dinner w ith all the trim m ings, discover appliances designed to m ake life at hom e that little bit better. Visit Coopers this Christm as and explore our carefully selected range of prem ium kitchen appliances from som e of the world's leading brands. You’ll find us at our long-established Bath city-centre show room , or v isit Dunsdon Barn, our South G loucestershire show room just two m inutes from J18 of the M 4.
Tw o show room s. Expert advice. G reat appliances... And a very Merry Christmas from all of us at Coopers.
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The home of appliances.
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Contents Bath SPETEMBER.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2026 17:59 Page 1
Contents
54 14 66 8
FIVE THINGS Great goings on to look forward to in Bath this month. Guess what, it’s beginning to look a lot like... you know.
14 A KILLER OF A STORY Bestselling, Bath-based author Harriet Evans – pen name Harriet F. Townson talks to Melissa Blease about her new book, Murder on the Royal Crescent.
16 COVER STORY Hugh Cornwell talks to us about cricket, music, personal reinvention and the strange ol’ business of being happy.
20 FASHION FAITHFULS How prepped are you for an all-weather winter? Wadswick Country Store provides us with some chic but practical ideas.
24 PORTRAIT OF BATH Changing the game. We meet Maria Crowfoot-Riggs, Women’s Performance Lead at Bath Rugby Ladies.
26 WHAT’S ON Our monthly round-up of must-attend events and things to do.
40 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS Our carefully curated guide to art and visual delights to be found at the city’s galleries, art trails and fairs.
48 ROOTED IN THE LAND Modern farming is about much more than agriculture. Simon Horsford travels to the vast Ramsbury Estate in Wiltshire.
52 FOOD NEWS Tasting events and mouth-watering ideas are being served.
54 RESTAURANT REVIEW– THE BATH PRIORY Executive Head Chef Chris Hopkins is bringing fresh creativity and contemporary flair to The Bath Priory’s highly acclaimed restaurant.
60 TUCKER’S GRAVE Andrew Swift tells us the fascinating story behind one of Somerset’s quirkiest cider houses.
66 INTERIORS – BEYOND YHE BEAUTIFUL Katherine Raderecht visits the London show and gathers the thoughts of some of Bath’s interior design experts.
36 BCAF – FIFTY SHOWS LATER Hannah Poon meets up with event organiser Malachi Bogdanov to discover how Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair began and the challenges faced along the way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On our cover this month Former Stranglers frontman and local resident Hugh Cornwell talks to Melissa Blease ahead of his Never Say Goodbye – Final Solo Acoustic Tour.
Follow us @thebathmagazine or enjoy our website: thebathmag.co.uk
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5
things to do in November
Follow the festive lights! Step into a world of festive wonder as Christmas at Westonbirt returns to the National Arboretum from 28 November to 31 December, with a dazzling illuminated trail through its magnificent trees. With brand-new light installations, enchanting displays and plenty of seasonal sparkle, it’s a magical way to spend an evening with family, friends or someone special. Wrap up warm, soak up the atmosphere and let Westonbirt light up your Christmas. Visit: forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/christmas
Go out with a bang at The Rec Bath’s skies are set to sparkle as the Rotary Firework Fiesta returns to the Rec on 7 November for what could be its final spectacular display at the ground for some time, ahead of the planned stadium redevelopment. Celebrating more than 40 years of fireworks and fundraising, this much-loved Bath tradition promises a dazzling evening, with samba rhythms from Jamma de Samba warming up the crowds before the big show. And with hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for local causes over the decades, it’s a brilliant way to light up the night for a good cause. Gates open at 5pm. Early-bird tickets £10 adults, £4.50 children. To book: bathboxoffice.org.uk
Artwork by Bridget Baker
A festive favourite turns 20!
Widcombe Christmas Market celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, bringing together around 40 talented local artists and makers for a weekend of festive shopping. Browse beautifully handcrafted ceramics, jewellery, candles, prints, decorations and more, with plenty of inspiration for thoughtful Christmas gifts. Taking place across Widcombe Social Club and the Natural Theatre Company, this friendly, volunteer-run market promises a warm welcome and seasonal refreshments. Saturday 14 November, 10.30am–5pm and Sunday 15 November, 10.30am–4pm. Free entry. widcombeassociation.org.uk/events
Be our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
The Handful Chamber Choir perform Purcell’s Baroque masterpiece An evening of musical splendour awaits at St Swithin’s Church, Bath, on 28 November at 7.30pm, as Bath’s acclaimed Handful Chamber Choir joins a stellar cast of guest soloists and early music ensemble Lilium Convallium for a celebration of Henry Purcell. At the heart of the programme is his much-loved opera Dido and Aeneas, accompanied by the glorious birthday ode Come, Ye Sons of Art and instrumental music from The Fairy Queen. A feast of Baroque brilliance in a beautiful setting. Tickets £23.50; under-25s £11.50; under-16s £6. Book tickets at: bathboxoffice.org.uk
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A tale as old as time gets a gloriously festive makeover as Theatre Royal Bath presents Beauty and the Beast, running from 10 December to 10 January. Written by Bath’s own pantomime favourite Jon Monie, who also stars as Louis La Plonk, this spectacular production features Coronation Street villain Marc Baylis as the dastardly Hugo Pompidou, alongside Nick Wilton as Dame Polly La Plonk. Expect dazzling costumes, spectacular sets, plenty of audience participation and more than a little panto mischief. With West End talent, musical numbers and magical special effects, it promises a Christmas treat for the whole family. Oh yes it does! Now taking bookings, visit: theatreroyal.org.uk
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City Updates Strike up the band! Is there a dusty violin lurking in your attic, a forgotten flute in a cupboard or a guitar that hasn’t struck a chord in years? Bath Philharmonic Orchestra wants to hear from you! The orchestra is joining forces with local charity Share and Repair for a Musical Instrument Amnesty, running from 3–7 November, inviting people to donate unwanted instruments and give them a chance to make music once more. Instruments in good condition, or needing only minor attention, could find a new home through Bath Phil’s creative learning projects, helping children, young people and communities discover the joy of music-making alongside professional musicians. From trumpets to tambourines, all types of instruments are welcome, although donations will be assessed for suitability. Drop yours off at the Share and Repair Hub, Redbridge House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, during designated collection hours. For details visit bathphil.co.uk or shareandrepair.org.uk
Give something original! Forget the high street and discover something a little more personal at the Bear Flat Artists Christmas Art Fair & Market on Saturday 21 November. Just a short stroll from Bath city centre, this popular festive fair brings together talented local artists and makers offering everything from ceramics, jewellery and glass to paintings, prints, sculpture and beautiful handmade decorations. It’s the perfect opportunity to find a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift, meet the makers and support Bath’s creative community. 10am–5pm, Methodist Hall, Bear Flat. Free entry. For more information visit: bearflatartists.co.uk
Exhibition: The art of looking to the stars Art and astronomy come together in a fascinating new exhibition at Bath’s Herschel Museum of Astronomy, where Irish artist Grace Weir explores the mysteries of space, time and scientific discovery. The as-yet unseen is the first solo exhibition by a contemporary artist at the historic house in New King Street, once home to pioneering astronomers William and Caroline Herschel. It was here, in 1781, that William discovered the planet Uranus, while Caroline went on to discover eight comets. Weir’s paintings, photographs, films and specially commissioned installations are thoughtfully placed throughout the Georgian house, creating intriguing connections between the Herschels’ discoveries and contemporary artistic practice. Among the highlights is an exquisite embroidered interpretation of William’s 1785 drawing of the Milky Way, displayed on an antique linen tablecloth in the family dining room. Elsewhere, a digital counter continuously calculates the changing distance between the museum and Uranus, while delicate works inspired by Caroline’s observations celebrate her remarkable contribution to astronomy. Exploring the relationship between seeing, knowing and understanding, this imaginative exhibition invites visitors to look a little closer at the world – and universe – around them. The as-yet unseen runs until 3 January 2027 at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street, Bath. For more information, visit: herschelmuseum.org.uk IMAGE: Grace Weir, An imperfect account, 2026. Watercolour and pencil on canvas, Calcite, hematite, meteorite, obsidian and quartz, dimensions variable
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Image credits: Clockwise from top left: Shay Parsons, Ben Hughes, Wendy & Andrew Cornish, Yvonne Elston
ZEITGEIST
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The Bath Magazine, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 424499 www.thebathmag.co.uk Editorial team and contributors: Melissa Blease, Simon Horsford, Katherine Ruderecht, Andrew Swift, Elly West, Hannah Poon. editor@thebathmagazine
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Financial Director Jane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk Editorial and Digital Assistant: Olivia Kent olivia@thebathmagazine.co.uk Production Manager Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk To advertise tel: 01225 424499 Publisher Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk Contact us at thebathmag.co.uk Follow us on Instagram @thebathmagazine The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazine are published by MC Publishing Ltd. We are independent of all other local publications. The Bath Magazine is delivered free, every month, to more than 15,000 residential addresses as well as businesses throughout Bath and the surrounding area. We also have special distribution units in many of Bath’s supermarkets. The Holburne and Toppings Books © MC Publishing Ltd 2026 Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.
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Handmade in the Heart of Bath
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Bestselling author Harriet Evans, who writes as Harriet F. Townson
A killer of a story – quite literally There’s been a murder on the Royal Crescent – but fortunately, it’s all fiction. Melissa Blease meets bestselling Bath author Harriet Evans, aka Harriet F. Townson, to discover the inspiration behind her latest 1930s mystery, the irresistible Dora Wildwood and a city with plenty of stories to tell.
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ek, there’s been a murder on the Royal Crescent! But before you search for breaking news bulletins, put the kettle on, plump up those cushions and prepare to settle in for a gripping read-all-about-it, totally clickbait free and in your own time. The murder we’re investigating “happened” decades ago – 1936, to be precise – and every single why, wherefore and whodunnit is documented and eventually solved by librarian and part-time detective Dora Wildwood, who readers initially encountered in Harriet F. Townson’s first Dora Wildwood book D is for Death (published in 2024). Legions of Dora fans have been waiting for her second murder-mystery to be unveiled since they read the final paragraph of the first one – and just last month, Murder on the Royal Crescent brought that wait to an end. On publication, the story of how Dora gets involved with an unsolved murder followed by a second murder on the twentieth anniversary of the original crime set against a backdrop of Christmas trees, carol singers and one of the most iconic historic locations in the UK instantly met with a shower of auspicious critical acclaim: “A love letter to Bath, to lady novelists, to classic crime”; “Like stumbling across a lost Dorothy L. Sayers 14 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
“Bath isn’t just a Bridgerton theme park for rich people!”
novel by way of Mitford and Wodehouse” (authors Joanna Nadin and Laura Wood respectively.) “I’ve never read murder-mystery before, but Dora’s turned the page on that!” (erm – me.) Dora is instantly likeable. She’s multi-faceted but down to earth and, despite the time-frame and the complex yarn she’s drawn into, relatable and authentic enough to draw you right into that world with her. But of course, she’s fictional – and so too, in a way, is Harriet F. Townson. “D is for Death started off as a sideline project really,” says Harriet Evans, the bestselling Bath-based author who has 15 award-winning novels in her back catalogue to date, including the multi-generational epic family drama The Sevenstones Trilogy. “I adore Dorothy L. Sayers, I adore Agatha Christie – and I thought, can I do this? My editor at the time suggested that I try. Like a lot of women, I was full of self-doubt about it, but when
Image: Photography by Philippa Gedge
CITY STORIES
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someone else suggests that you can do something it’s enabling. But I wanted to keep Dora a little bit separate from my previous novels, which were published under my own name. Harriet F. Townson is a combination of Francis, my grandmother’s maiden name, and my dad’s mum’s maiden name, Townson – I wanted to honour them both!” Harriet pays further fascinating tribute to her family’s back story in Murder on the Royal Crescent too; her grandfather was one of the Fortt family, the prominent Bath confectionery company best known for producing the famous Bath Oliver biscuit, and also a key player in legendary Bath establishments including the luxury restaurant and tea room Cater, Stoffell & Fortt Ltd. on Milsom Street (now a branch of Waterstones bookshop) and a much-loved traditional grocery on St. Margaret’s Buildings.
“My imagination is huge but I enjoy keeping one part of my brain really quite chaotic, wild and unkempt, and the other part really quite organised and structured.” “There’s a Milsom Street scene in Murder on the Royal Crescent because I wanted to include a little shout-out to my family; that sense of place is really important to me,” Harriet reveals. “Also, I really wanted to reflect what it was like to be a normal person living in Bath in the 1930s. It’s funny that there aren’t many books set in the city apart from the obvious ones; as much as I love Jane Austen – and I really, really do – Bath isn’t just a Bridgerton theme park for rich people!” Indeed – and neither is the all-access foray into the grand house on the Royal Crescent that Dora offers us anything close to an invitation into one of the grand Bridgerton-style family homes. But taking a step back from the book’s incredibly evocative cosmos, the level of detail in Murder on the Royal Crescent, from time/place factual to the small domestic elements that make a story complete, is impeccable. “A big part of my job is to do so much research that the reader relaxes and focuses on the story completely from the very first page without being aware of the preparation behind it,” says Harriet. “I have to learn way more than I’m ever going to need to know, and ChatGPT is never going to be enough! I’m a member of the London Library, where D is for Death is set. I once spent a day in the library’s Times Room, which holds every copy of The Times from around 1787. I read every single issue of the paper from every day of the four weeks in which the book is set from cover to cover, taking photos of what plays were on at the theatre and what was being broadcast on the radio – if you know what people were listening to back then, what clothes they wore, what houses were sold for in those days, you can enter that world. It was the same for Murder on the Royal Crescent, getting the detail of all the stuff that’s happening in the background right – Crystal Palace has just burned to the ground, Nazi Germany consolidated its dictatorship, there’s the abdication going on, Baldwin will have to resign and Chamberlain will take over – it’s quite a dark period. And in addition I had to get the city that my family has lived in for hundreds of years right too!” As for creating those characters…? “Oh, they have to be totally invented!” Harriet laughs, “but they have to
be real in my mind. I have a little questionnaire that I ask myself about them: what would their favourite film be, what happened to them as a child to make them who they are today, what were their parents like? The real skill of a writer is letting that chink of background light in, sometimes almost by sleight of hand, to explain who those characters really are. My imagination is huge but I enjoy keeping one part of my brain really quite chaotic, wild and unkempt, and the other part really quite organised and structured; if you’re going to bring home a huge tanker of a crime novel, you have to be really organised – but a large part of that process has to be untrammelled too.” When Harriet isn’t flitting between a working day packed with that unique combination of trammelled dedication to research and untrammelled creativity that eventually leads to the publication of another long-awaited novel, she’s a busy mum with two daughters aged 10 and 15 to occupy her time. Could Dora be seen as a role model for young women – or indeed, is Harriet herself a role model for women writers in general? “Well there aren’t that many young fictional female detectives out there, put it that way!” says Harriet. “I don’t like didactic novels, but personally I was always looking to see myself in books and not finding myself in the pages. Dora is completely and entirely authentic to herself, and also really clever; young people might read Dora and think, oh yeah, she’s herself, and she just gets on with it! But in general, I would love us to live in a world where women like me, who write books about women’s lives, aren’t hugely patronised and overlooked; we have to make our own case to be taken seriously because by and large, we’re really, really not! We get diminished, our books are called chick lit, and male writers are still taken far more seriously. When I feel that rage rise within me, I walk along to Persephone Books on Edgar Buildings and see both men and women buying books by women who should have been celebrated more in their own lifetimes, knowing that they’re going to get a really great novel.” And what Harriet F. Townson, and/or Harriet Evans, and/or Dora Wildwood, have given us, in Murder on the Royal Crescent, is exactly that: a really, really great novel, well worth celebrating. n Murder on the Royal Crescent is published by Viking and available from 29 October. RRP £16.99
And for those keen to discover more about the woman behind Dora Wildwood, there’s an opportunity to meet Harriet in person when she visits Topping & Company Booksellers on York Street on Monday 16 November at 7pm. The evening celebrates the publication of Murder on the Royal Crescent, offering readers the chance to step beyond the pages and into the world of its creator. Fortunately, the only mystery on the night should be how Harriet dreams up such deliciously devious plots. For tickets and further details, visit toppingbooks.co.uk.
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COVER STORY | HUGH CORNWELL
Hugh Cornwell: No more heroes? No, not quite From punk rock provocateur to solo artist, author and cricket obsessive, Hugh Cornwell has never been one to follow convention. Ahead of his Never Say Goodbye – Final Solo Acoustic Tour, which comes to Bath this November, the former Stranglers frontman talks to Melissa Blease about music, reinvention and the strange ol’ business of being happy.
❝
I
invented a great cricket game for cricket nerds like me the other day: think up a list of eleven active international Test cricketers with surnames that begin with the letter B. I was on a bike ride and it took me about 45 minutes, but you can just about do it!” No, honestly, I really can’t – I know nothing about cricket, and therefore I’m completely stumped. I believe I can be excused, though, for not even coming up with the name Ian Botham until at least an hour after I’d been presented with the cricket challenge because I was pondering a stumper of an entirely different kind: how did my conversation with one of the most iconic, legendary, pioneering frontmen of the punk rock era, today celebrating a career that honours a five-decade foothold on the rock’n’roll/cultural cliff face, turn to… making up a cricket game while riding a bike? But talking to Hugh Cornwell is, perhaps, the ultimate masterclass in learning to expect – and accept – the unexpected. Since he departed The Stranglers in 1990 after 16 years of massive success with the band, Hugh has worked as a solo artist and consistently toured both nationally and internationally. He’s recorded 10 studio albums (and has a new one, Succubus, coming out next year), released 11 live albums and been involved in a handful of fascinating collaborative projects with fellow artistes including John Cooper Clarke. He’s acted on stage opposite Bob Hoskins and Stephen Rea, he pours his deep passion for cinema into his Mr DeMille FM podcast which has hosted superstar guests including Debbie Harry, Sir David Puttnam and Brian Eno, and he’s written six books including three novels, an autobiography… and an account of the time he spent in prison for drug possession. But alongside – and, perhaps, despite? – all that, he describes cricket as one of his greatest passions... and, for decades, has made time to do 45 minutes of yoga and Alexander Technique every morning (“which means I’ve got to get up about an hour before I want to do anything else,” he says). Hugh has so much going on that there’s a lot to take in before we even begin to talk about why we’re, erm, talking today, prior to the start of an outing that’s rather pessimistically billed as his Never Say Goodbye – Final Solo Acoustic Tour, which pitstops at Komedia Bath on Monday 23 November. “I already had a bit of an interesting history before I got into the rock’n’roll game,” says Hugh, speaking from his home in Corsham, where he’s lived for more than 40 years. “I was into biochemistry, and fascinated by it. But I wasn’t very good at it! It’s all very well being interested in and liking something, but in order to be a success you’ve got to work hard creating the manifestation of your interests… and I just wasn’t that diligent in the laboratory!” But how did a fledgling rock’n’roll star find himself in a laboratory in the first place? 16 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
“When I was growing up, parental approval and guidance was a lot more in evidence than it is today,” Hugh recalls. “At school, you couldn’t do both science and art subjects; you either did one or the other, and my parents pushed me down the science route. It wasn’t until I’d done my degree at Bristol University and went to Sweden to do a PhD that it dawned upon me that I wasn’t really where I should be. When I discovered playing electric guitar, it was as though I’d rolled a dice and couldn’t go back.” To a generation of people who grew up with the results of the sound of that dice rolling acting as a backdrop to their early adulthood (Golden Brown; Peaches; No More Heroes – there’s today’s earworms sorted for you), we can only be thankful for Hugh’s lack of laboratory lure.
“We were all just picked up in the tornado and the resulting furore around punk, and we all just embraced it.” Could it be argued, though, that back in the mid- to late-1970s, the incoming punk rock scene was easier for a career-flitting youngster to gain a foothold in than today’s music industry might be? “The environment of making music these days has changed beyond recognition and there are pros and cons that come with that – nothing totally positively better, and nothing totally positively worse,” says Hugh. “But most of the musicians and songwriters who were involved in, or benefitted from, the original punk ‘scene’ didn’t have a clue what they were aiming to do; we were all just picked up in the tornado and the resulting furore around punk, and we all just embraced it. But I’ve always been ambitious. My inspiration came from the music I was hearing at the time; some of it was good, but some was so bad that I thought, I’m sure that, if I made an effort, I could be a little bit better. That’s always been the same mantra for me down the years, and I’m glad that I’ve still got that curiosity to see what can be done.” Which brings us on to… “It’s been 10 years since I last did a solo acoustic tour so I thought, well let’s see if I can do it again!” says Hugh, of his Final Solo Acoustic Tour (which I predict probably won’t be a ‘final’ at all.) “It’s a stimulus for me to raise my game again. Playing solo takes a lot of physical effort – you’ve got to really bang that guitar to get a sound out of it, whereas with an electric guitar you’re just, like, playing a big machine that makes all the noise for you. And there are certain aspects of going solo that are unique, and impromptu – and you don’t get that when you’re playing with other people.”
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COVER STORY | HUGH CORNWELL
And you certainly don’t usually get the extra-added bonus that comes with Hugh’s forthcoming show either: an up-close-and-personal, spontaneous insight into the fascinating man behind the music. “I like making a connection with the audience, so why not throw in a Q&A?” he says. “I’m not going to be just staying on stage for the whole show; I’m going to go out and about in the audience, a bit like Newsnight or Question Time, and people can ask anything they like and I’ll try and give them an honest answer!” Like the raw, punchy guitar riffs that define Hugh’s guitar-playing style, I can already predict that Hugh’s responses to any given question will be sharp, unexpected and memorable. Hugh has enjoyed a career after The Stranglers that’s now more than twice as long as the time he spent as the impactful frontman of one of the UK punk scene’s most highly acclaimed and popular bands, and today enjoys Godfather of Alternative Music status alongside fellow genre-defying artistes such as Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. Okay, we’re hardly on upbeat, ‘party people’ territory here, so I have to ask… Hugh Cornwell: are you a happy man? “I try to be, but the basis of happiness is not being too optimistic because then you get the satisfaction of the outcome of having a lower threshold,” he says, albeit in a decidedly upbeat tone. “If you start putting too high expectations on anything that you do or any relationship you have, you’re probably going to be heading for a very depressing experience, so you’ve got to manage your expectations. It’s a survival technique, and our in-built sense of survival is almost like our sixth sense. And anyway, life is a grey area, really; nothing’s black and white. I like heavy fog because when you’re walking through it you don’t quite know where you’re going, and you have to work it out. Sometimes the going
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“Sometimes a tune comes into my head and I’m singing along to it and I think what is that? And it turns out it’s one of my songs!” gets steeper, sometimes you trip over, sometimes it gets easier, sometimes it goes downhill, sometimes you get lucky. So to me, life – and the pursuit of happiness – is a bit like fog.” Okay, so let’s take a different route to the ‘happy’ question: when Hugh isn’t navigating his way through that fog, what – apart from making up cricket games while riding his bike – keeps him buoyant? “Cinema and international cricket are my greatest sources of pleasure!” he says. “I don’t listen to any music though; I create music for the listener. Sometimes a tune comes into my head and I’m singing along to it and I think what is that? And it turns out it’s one of my songs! So basically, I entertain myself with my career.” And making up cricket games. And doing yoga. And keeping us entertained; Rattus Norvegicus, ad infinitum. n Hugh Cornwell, Never Say Goodbye – Final Solo Acoustic Tour. Komedia, Monday 23 November, 7.30 pm For all event details and to book tickets, visit: komediabath.co.uk
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FASHION
Joules Tabby Blouse, £65.
One of the faithful Wadswick Country Store is banishing bad style this winter, staying faithful to chic yet durable clothes ready for all weathers and adventures – whether you’re sitting at the round table, exploring remote castles or on an adventurous team mission www.wadswick.co.uk/bath-store | 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX 20 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
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FASHION
Joules Rafferty Jumper. £59.
Ariat Wexford Sherpa. Waterproof Chelsea, £180.
Barbour Darwen Jumper, £109.
Barbour Penny Fleece Casual Jacket. £179.
Schoffel Briar0 Jumpsuit, £1750
Joules Rainmore0 Coat, £890 Barbour Modern0 Border Wax0 £3190
Ariat Blaire Boots. £200.
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How to Prepare Your Silver for a Free Valuation
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Dates for your diary this month
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Portrait of Bath Maria Crowfoot-Riggs - Women’s Performance Lead at Bath Rugby Ladies With a passion for the game and an ambition to take women’s rugby in Bath to new heights, Maria Crowfoot-Riggs is helping shape the sport’s future in the city. As Women’s Performance Lead at Bath Rugby, she’s nurturing emerging talent, building pathways to the top and inspiring the next generation of players.
Where would you like women’s rugby in Bath to be in five years’ time? I’d love us to have thriving PWR, Championship, university and college programmes, where players can stay in our area and progress through the pathway. And I want us to play rugby that excites and inspires people of all generations and backgrounds.
Where did your love of rugby begin, and what inspired you to become a coach? I watched my brother growing up and was so competitive, I wanted to join in! I fell in love with rugby and never looked back. Coaching became a reality at Loughborough University when I got injured and wanted to stay involved. When I graduated, I chose coaching over playing Premiership rugby because I felt I could make a bigger impact. In the early days, I worked six jobs to develop my coaching career. There were plenty of long days and nights, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
How close is Bath to having a women’s team competing at the highest level? Watch this space…
You’ve coached at Loughborough Lightning, Lichfield and Nottingham. What attracted you to Bath Rugby and the opportunity to develop the women’s game here? The opportunity to build something from the foundations up, drawing on the history of Bath RFC and Bath Rugby Ladies. I could see the vision was there, but the path was up to whoever Bath hired. I desperately wanted that to be me! I felt I could bring my experience to developing women’s and girls’ rugby here. I still believe our region holds some of the best untapped talent in the country. As a family, we’d always loved the idea of living in the South West, and it hasn’t disappointed. What does your role as Women’s Performance Lead involve? It varies, which is great! I coach three teams – the University of Bath, Bath Rugby Ladies and Bath Rugby 7s – alongside leading our bid to enter Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR). One morning I might be teaching someone who’s never played rugby to tackle, and an hour later I’m sitting with Bath Rugby’s executive team planning our next steps towards the PWR. I have to be flexible, adaptable and wear different hats. I love the variety. From grassroots rugby through to university and senior teams, how important is it to create a clear pathway for aspiring young players? If you can see it, you can be it. It’s a phrase that’s used a lot, but it’s genuinely important to me. I want every girl who picks up a rugby ball in our region to have the same dream as her male counterpart – to play at the Rec in blue, black and white. We have fantastic talent and junior programmes here, but top-level players often leave for more established college and university pathways. I’m working hard to keep that talent local while attracting players from elsewhere. What’s the biggest change you’ve witnessed in women’s rugby? That it’s a credible game. It sits within a brilliant sport of rugby union, but it has its own path – whether that’s how we market women’s rugby, how we play it? The coaching delivery, the commercial strategy. We can learn from the men’s game, but the men’s game can learn from us too! Since being at Bath, the number of people popping into my office to share with me the excitement of the Red Roses game they watched at the weekend has grown significantly – more people are watching, getting to know players and talking about them!
What gives you the greatest satisfaction as a coach? The greatest satisfaction for me is players fulfilling their potential and helping players find the love for the game whether new to it or someone falling out and coming back in via a team I’m coaching. I also love it when a coaching intervention works! Nothing better than a back running clean through via a strike move I’ve created! Or a maul try from a forwards session. Beyond physical ability, what qualities do you look for in a player? Willingness to learn and drive to succeed are two key qualities. You have to fit into our environment and culture to reach your potential, but having that internal drive is so important to maximise your enjoyment and potential in any sport. As a player, you can become so laser-focused that you lose sight of the wider picture. That’s something I help players understand – selection, feedback and so on are all contextual I also look for players with a point of difference, something they can go back to when things are going wrong, their go-to when they’re under pressure. That can be an X-factor skill of speed or footwork, it could also be hard work! Coaching 15s and sevens – which gives you the most grey hairs? I love sevens! It’s fast-paced and you have to trust your instincts. Take too long to decide and the moment’s gone, and suddenly the game’s over! Fifteens is more like a chess match, tactically choosing what will have the biggest impact. I’ve become better at staying present and reflecting, so hopefully the grey hairs are a few years off yet. How do you switch off from rugby? With a three-and-a-half-month-old baby at home, it’s about spending as much time as possible with her and my wife, Martha. We love sport and the outdoors, so we’re usually off doing something together. What have you come to love about living and working in Bath, and are there particular places you gravitate towards when you have some precious time off? Anything outdoorsy! We love walking around the city, doing the Bath Skyline walk and going for coffee – the Columbian Coffee Co., Rosarios and Society Café are favourites. We’re also big foodies, so meals out are a must! Further afield, we love National Trust walks around Bradford-onAvon, Holt and, of course, Dyrham Park. And finally, complete the sentence: “For me, Bath is…” The city of opportunity. bathrugbyladies.co.uk Photography by Joe Short, an award-winning photographer based in Bath. joeshort.com
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What’s on LIVE MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE Throughout November n Green Park Brasserie, BA1 1JB With a mixture of acoustic, funk, soul and popular music covers from the South West’s best musicians, enjoy live music alongside world-class pizza, cocktails, and craft beer every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Bookings and walk-ups available. greenparkbrasserie.com CIRCUS OF CURIOSITIES Throughout November, 10am-5pm n The American Museum and Gardens, Claverton Manor, BA2 7BD This wonderful interactive exhibition from the highly acclaimed Cabaret Mechanical Theatre brings together 25 automata – intricate, ingenious, hand-crafted mechanical sculptures that blend engineering with art and delightful storytelling. Be prepared to turn a handle to reveal the magic of movement. For tickets and more information visit: americanmuseum.org PLANETARIUM NIGHTS Until 17 December n We The Curious, Millennium Square, Bristol Spend an autumn evening exploring the universe as Planetarium Nights return to We The Curious and the UK’s only 3D
Image courtesy of Neil Emmerson
WHAT’S ON EVENTS
Junyan Chen performs at the Bath Mozartfest Planetarium. Two presenter-led shows offer different journeys into space. The Story of Stars explores Bristol’s seasonal night sky before following the spectacular life cycle of a star, from nebula to supernova – with the chance to venture to the edge of a black hole in 3D. Light from Afar looks deeper into the cosmos, revealing how astronomers capture and interpret light from distant objects to measure the universe and search for alien worlds. Shows run on selected Thursdays from 8 October to 17 December and last approximately one hour. Recommended for ages 16+. Tickets £16.50; concessions £12.50. wethecurious.org BEYOND THE FABRIC 3–7 November, 10am–4pm n BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN Bath Textile Artists return to BRLSI with their autumn exhibition, showcasing an imaginative and diverse collection of contemporary textile art. While previous exhibitions have drawn inspiration from the institution’s extensive archives, this year members have cast their creative nets more widely, exploring a rich variety of influences and ideas. The result is a celebration of individual expression, artistic experimentation and the versatility of textiles as a creative medium, with each artist bringing their own distinctive approach. Free entry. brlsi.org
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BRAMLEY WINTER SKINCARE WORKSHOP 4 November, 7-8.30pm n THE PIG-near Bath, Hunstrete, nr. Bath BS39 4NS Give your winter skincare routine a little extra attention at this relaxed evening where Bramley lead therapist Hannah Parsons-Shaw will demonstrate how to give yourself a nourishing 30-minute facial, while sharing practical advice on keeping skin hydrated and healthy through the colder months. There’ll also be time for questions and expert skincare tips. Tickets cost £47.50 and include English fizz on arrival, PIG Cut wine and Piggy Bits, plus a gift bag of Bramley miniatures and a £10 voucher to spend at the Bramley pop-up shop on the evening. Over-18s only. thepighotel.com EARLY WOMEN ARCHITECTS IN BATH 5 November, 10am–12.30pm n Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath Bath’s architectural heritage is celebrated around the world, but what of the pioneering women who helped shape the city? This fascinating Bath u3a talk explores the contributions of early women architects, including Amy Frost, who became the first woman to qualify as an architect in Bath. Discover the achievements and challenges of women working in a traditionally maledominated profession, and uncover a Continued page 28
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WHAT’S ON EVENTS
BATH MOZARTFEST FRIDAY 13 – SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2026
As the leaves start to fall classical music lovers eagerly anticipate a feast of the finest classical music at the annual Mozartfest – and not just Mozart but much, much more… 13 November, 7pm and 9.30pm Two great concerts by the peerless Nash Ensemble, including the festival’s new artistic director, cellist Adrian Brendel. Don’t miss the 1hour late-night concert featuring Mozart’s magical Divertimento. The Fulltone Orchestra perform at Bath Abbey 13 November lesser-known chapter of the city’s architectural history. Refreshments will also be available. Visit: u3asite.uk LUCIS CHOIR PRESENTS: VIERNE – MESSE SOLENNELLE 7 November, 7.30pm n St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, Bath Bath’s Lucis Choir joins forces with acclaimed professional vocal ensemble the Jervaulx Singers for an evening celebrating the rich tradition of French sacred choral and organ music. At its heart is Louis Vierne’s magnificent Messe Solennelle, combining powerful choral writing with the grandeur of the French symphonic organ tradition. The programme travels through works by Vierne’s contemporaries and successors, including Widor, Dupré and Duruflé, alongside the timeless sound of Gregorian chant and an organ solo from Vierne’s 24 Pièces en style libre. Based in North Yorkshire, the Jervaulx Singers perform regularly at festivals and concert venues across the UK and are known for their expressive performances and imaginative programming. To book tickets visit: bathboxoffice.org.uk JOSIE LONG & ROBIN INCE: 20 YEARS OF SHAMBLES 8 November, 1.30pm n Komedia, Bath For twenty years, Robin Ince and Josie Long have been performing and making things together. Now, after two decades of friendship, creativity and comedy, they are coming together for a special tour celebrating curiosity, collaboration and the joy of finding wonder in unexpected places. Expect a joyfully unpredictable afternoon of stand-up, poetry, conversation, (plenty of ) digressions and whatever else emerges when two endlessly curious minds share a stage. Ages 14+. Tickets from £13. komediabath.co.uk
LITTLEMEN 9 November, 7.30pm n Komedia, Bath Bath-based alternative rock band Littlemen bring their distinctive sound to Komedia for an evening of powerful songwriting and atmospheric live music. Littlemen draw their inspiration from artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave. The band blends its Americana roots with a more contemporary, eclectic edge. Fronted by singer and lyricist Nick, alongside Grammy Award-winning drummer and producer Robert Brian, Littlemen are working on their sixth album, with a live recording from Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios in Box also currently in the pipeline. Expect heartfelt lyrics, accomplished musicianship and a band that is confidently forging its own musical path. For tickets and details see komediabath.co.uk BATH PHILHARMONIC & ESTHER YOO: AMERICAN DREAMS 10 November 7.30pm n The Forum, Bath Acclaimed violinist Esther Yoo joins Bath Philharmonic Orchestra for American Dreams, a captivating evening of music celebrating hope, beauty and humanity. Under guest conductor George Jackson, the programme features Samuel Barber’s poignant Adagio, Aaron Copland’s spirited Hoe-Down and works by contemporary American composers. The evening culminates in Leonard Bernstein’s exhilarating Serenade, inspired by Plato’s Symposium, with Yoo as soloist. The concert also includes the premiere of a new work cocreated with young carers. Tickets from £12.50 (inc. fees) For more details visit: bathforum.co.uk
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14 November, 11.30am-1.15pm Give yourself a very special Saturday morning treat with Anthony Marwood (violin) and Aleksander Madžar (piano). 14 November, 7pm A wonderful new project brings together Bath Abbey’s renowned choir, the specially formed Mozartfest Ensemble, and talented young musicians from across the UK including Bathborn soprano Ruth Williams. 16 November, 1pm Multi-award winning pianist Junyan Chen gives the first of the Mozartfest’s 1-hour, weekday lunchtime concerts featuring Emerging Stars. Catch their performances while you can. 16 November, 7.30pm Bath Mozartfest is famous for presenting the finest chamber music and the internationally acclaimed Leonkoro String Quartet continue that tradition (and Leonkoro is Esperanto for ‘lionheart’ if you were wondering!). 19 November, 1pm Another Emerging Star, and prolific prizewinner, Samrat Majumder is a Scottish-Indian classical guitarist whose concert will offer a delicious lunchtime musical interlude. 19 November, 7pm Imogen Cooper – A Life in Music says it all. This is the final Bath concert to be given by one of the city’s favourite musicians, and the outstanding pianist will be joined by a handpicked cast of starry musical friends for an unmissable event. 21 November, 7pm London Philharmonic Orchestra will provide the festival finale, with a gorgeous programme including works by Beethoven and Mozart conducted by Adam Hickox and with pianist Till Fellner. Brahms’ much-loved romantic masterpiece, his Symphony No. 2, will bring Bath Mozartfest to a crowd-thrilling conclusion. Full details and tickets:
bathmozartfest.org.uk Tickets £18 - £51 from website or Bath Box Office: 01225 463362
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WHAT’S ON EVENTS
PHENOMENAL WOMEN: AN EVENING WITH DANIELLE COLLINS 12 November, 5.30pm–7.30pm n The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath BA1 1QY The Gainsborough Bath Spa welcomes Danielle Collins, internationally renowned Face Yoga expert, bestselling author and wellness entrepreneur, for the latest in its inspiring Phenomenal Women series. A graduate of Bath Spa University, Danielle has spent more than 20 years championing natural beauty and holistic wellbeing, developing her own Face Yoga method and building a global following. Join her for an engaging evening exploring her remarkable journey, the challenges of entrepreneurship and her passion for helping people look and feel their best. For tickets, search ‘Phenomenal Women Danielle Collins’ on eventbrite.co.uk NEW WORLD SYMPHONY: THE FULLTONE ORCHESTRA 13 November, 7.30pm n Bath Abbey, Bath The magnificent setting of Bath Abbey provides the backdrop for a stirring evening of orchestral music as the 50-strong Fulltone Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Brown, performs Dvořák’s muchloved New World Symphony. From its haunting Largo to its exhilarating finale, this is music on a grand scale. The programme also features Sibelius’ Finlandia, Vaughan Williams’ beautiful The Lark Ascending, with violin soloist Katy Smith, and sweeping film scores from Titanic and Dances with Wolves. An evening of musical drama, emotion and unforgettable melodies. Tickets from £12.50 (inc. fees). For more details visit: bathboxoffice.org.uk THE AMY WINEHOUSE BAND 13 November 7.30pm n The Forum, Bath Celebrate 20 years of Amy Winehouse’s superb landmark album Back to Black as her original band takes to the stage for a very special anniversary tour. Led by Amy’s longtime musical director and bass player Dale Davis, the musicians who performed and recorded with the late singer will bring her extraordinary catalogue back to life. Expect Back to Black performed in full, alongside other much-loved classics, in a heartfelt celebration of one of Britain’s most
The Chicago Blues Brothers The Forum, 20 November
distinctive and influential musical talents. Tickets: £36.20 (inc. fees). For more details visit: bathforum.co.uk A.C. GRAYLING: FIGHTING AUTHORITARIANISM, SAVING DEMOCRACY 17 November, 7.30pm–9pm n BRLSI, Queen Square, BA1 2HN Is democracy in danger of becoming a thing of the past? Acclaimed philosopher A.C. Grayling explores the growing threats to democratic freedoms, from rising authoritarianism and political polarisation to corporate influence and electoral manipulation. Drawing on his book For the People, Grayling examines the forces undermining democratic institutions and considers what can be done to defend them. Part of BRLSI’s thought-provoking Democracy Under Threat series. Tickets £4– £10. Find out more at brlsi.org ARCHITECTURE IN MOTION 18 November, 10.30am–3.30pm n The Arts Society Bath, Widcombe Social Club, Bath From magnificent railway stations to the provocative world of Banksy, The Arts Society Bath invites you on a fascinating journey through architecture and public art. Led by lecturer Ian Swankie, this special interest day features three illustrated talks exploring the influence of British architects at home and abroad, the romance and grandeur of the world’s great railway stations, and the evolution of public art from traditional bronze sculpture to contemporary street art. Discover the vision and ingenuity behind the buildings and artworks that shape our surroundings, with insights into celebrated architects including Sir Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Sir Edwin Lutyens. An inspiring day for anyone curious about the spaces and structures around us. For further details visit: theartssocietybath.com
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COSMETIC SURGERY: AN INFORMED CHOICE 18 November, 6.30pm–8pm n Sulis Hospital, Foxcote Avenue, Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8SQ Sulis Hospital Bath is hosting a free patient information evening exploring cosmetic, breast and body contouring surgery, alongside treatments for varicose veins. Consultant specialists Rachel Clancy, Mahesh Pai and Richard Sutton will discuss modern surgical techniques, treatment options, recovery and realistic expectations, with opportunities to ask questions and request a complimentary one-to-one introductory consultation. An informative, welcoming event designed to help patients make confident, well-informed decisions about their care. Arrive from 6.15pm. Over18s only. Register to attend at: sulishospital.com PERFUME EXHIBITION & POP-UP SHOP 14 and 21 November, 2pm to 5pm and 4 December 2pm to 5pm n The Artpad, 62 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DN Niche luxury perfume brand, Parterre, invites you to their free, interactive exhibition, try some fragrances and browse gifts in their pop-up shop. The exhibition follows The Spice Route, the long trek that brought precious scented ingredients from the Far East to the Mediterranean. We will celebrate the incredible aromas of cinnamon, pepper and orange plus vetiver, frankincense & myrrh. Scents loved by Cleopatra, Marco Polo and Catherine De Medici. You can also sample Parterre's range of beautiful limited edition eau de parfums, created in collaboration with a renowned French Master Perfumer and featuring their own botanical extracts. Perfume gifts, reed diffusers and gift cards will be available for purchase. parterrefragrances.com Continued page 32
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DECEMBER HEADS UP LAWRENCES AUCTIONEERS – FREE VALUATION DAY 20 November, 10am-2pm n The Holburne Museum, BA2 4DB Ever wondered what that treasured family heirloom, antique curiosity or intriguing objet d’art might be worth? The expert team from Lawrences Auctioneers will be on hand at the Holburne Museum for a free valuation event, offering visitors the opportunity to discover more about their possessions and their potential value. For further details on the event or to arrange a free, no obligation home visit for a private valuation visit: lawrences.co.uk
UNIVERSITY OF BATH GARDENING CLUB: TOM STUART-SMITH: A LIFE IN GARDENS 26 November, 7:30pm-9pm n University of Bath, Room 1, Level 1, East Building, BA2 7AY Landscape architect and garden designer Tom will reflect on his career to date, from his early experiences of gardening to the creation of some of his best known projects. He will also discuss his current work, including the Serge Hill Project. Open to all. Annual membership £25, Visitors £8. ubgc.org
THE CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS 20 November, 7.30pm n The Forum, Bath Get ready for a foot-stomping celebration of blues, soul and country as The Chicago Blues Brothers return to the stage with their latest high-energy production. Marking 45 years of the legendary Blues Brothers legacy, this award-winning show combines iconic hits from the films with some of country music’s best-loved anthems. Expect sensational live musicians, slick showmanship, plenty of humour and an infectious party atmosphere from a production that has entertained audiences in London’s West End. With its trademark combination of sharp suits, dark glasses and irresistible rhythms, expect an evening of musical mischief and singalong favourites that will have audiences dancing in their seats. For tickets and details: bathforum.co.uk
LET US TAKE YOU TO PARIS 26 November, 8pm n Chapel Arts Centre, Bath Take a musical journey to the City of Light without leaving Bath as Parisianborn chanteuse Fifi La Mer and accomplished musician Oliver Wilby transport audiences to the romantic streets and atmospheric cafés of Paris. Celebrating a century of French music, this enchanting show brings together the timeless songs of Édith Piaf, Charles Trenet and Serge Gainsbourg, alongside the irresistible jazz of Django Reinhardt and Sidney Bechet. With Fifi on vocals and accordion, accompanied by Oliver on clarinet, saxophone and accordion, expect an evocative evening of beautiful melodies, captivating stories and tales of love, mystery and heartache. A little joie de vivre to brighten a November evening. Advance tickets: £15.75. chapelarts.org
BACH’S MASS IN B MINOR 21 November, 7.30pm–9.30pm n Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1LW Paragon Singers bring their 50th anniversary year to a magnificent close with a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in choral music, this extraordinary work combines soaring choruses, exquisite arias and moments of profound beauty. Conducted by Sarah Latto, the acclaimed chamber choir will be joined by four outstanding soloists for an uplifting evening celebrating the genius of Bach and five decades of exceptional music-making. For tickets and details: bathboxoffice.org.uk
KES CHRISTMAS FAIR & SANTA’S GROTTO 28 November, 10am–2pm n King Edward’s Senior School, North Road, Bath Get into the Christmas spirit at King Edward’s School’s annual festive fair, bringing together local independent makers, businesses and community groups for a day of seasonal shopping and family fun. Browse stalls filled with gifts and treats, enjoy live entertainment and festive refreshments, and take the little ones to meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto, complete with a story and a gift to take home. Admission £5 for adults; under-18s free. Santa’s Grotto £5 per child, with advance booking recommended. For more details visit: kesbath.com/kes-christmas-fair
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THE MAKING OF LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHS 7 December, 11.30am–12.30pm n The Arts Society Bath, Widcombe Social Club, Bath Renowned British landscape photographer Charlie Waite explores the fascinating relationship between creating an image and how it is perceived by the viewer. Drawing on his experience behind the lens, Waite considers the extraordinary partnership between the eye and the brain, and how visual references, emotion and interpretation shape our response to a photograph. This illuminating lecture offers a fresh perspective on the art of landscape photography and the subtle decisions that transform a beautiful view into a compelling image. Non-members £10 (£7 Zoom). Book by email by 4 December. bath@theartssociety.org theartssocietybath.com SWING INTO CHRISTMAS 8 December, 7.30pm n The Forum, Bath Get ready to swing into the festive season as the sensational 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra returns to Bath for its Christmas spectacular. Led by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith, this dazzling ‘big band with strings’ brings the golden age of swing to life, recreating the irresistible sounds of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Judy Garland. Expect sparkling arrangements of festive favourites including Let It Snow and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, alongside timeless classics such as New York, New York. With superb musicians, fabulous vocalists and plenty of big-band sparkle, it’s a joyful celebration guaranteed to put a swing in your step this Christmas. bathforum.co.uk CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT 17 & 18 December, 7pm and 8.30pm n The Pump Room, Bath Bath Bach Choir presents four short concerts, each just an hour long to fit conveniently into your pre-Christmas evening diary. Join us in the Pump Room for a celebration of the true start of Christmas in Bath, with an intimate evening of carols, Christmas music, young guest musicians and audience participation. A calendar fixture for the city every year since 1947. Advance booking recommended. Tickets: bathboxoffice.org.uk
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FAMILY EVENTS | NOVEMBER
Family fun
The best things to see and do with the little ones this month CIRCUS OF CURIOSITIES Throughout November, 10am-5pm n The American Museum and Gardens, Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD This wonderful interactive exhibition from the highly acclaimed Cabaret Mechanical Theatre brings together 25 automata – intricate, ingenious, handcrafted mechanical sculptures that blend engineering with art and delightful storytelling. Be prepared to turn a handle to reveal the magic of movement. For tickets and more information visit: americanmuseum.org
Stourhead’s sparkly, brand new illuminated trail
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (SORT OF) 14 November. 11am n Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, BA15 1DZ Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals bring their lo‐fi, hi‐tech, big‐beat bonkers panto stuffed with songs, silliness and surprises. Family theatre and rock star legend Kid Carpet is back with a totally brand-new show! Featuring Bear, Gorilla, Badger and Hedgehog (with possible appearances from Hedgehog’s golden eggs), this is Jack & The Beanstalk like it’s been thrown in a blender with a drum machine and dodgy celebrity lookalikes. Part Air Guitar workshop and part magical mess. Perfect for children, families, party monsters, and fans of noisy nonsense. Visit: wiltshiremusic.org.uk
TWILIGHT TOBOGANNING From 6 November – 3 January n Mendip Activity Centre, Lyncombe Drive, Churchill, BS25 5PQ Magical sessions, perfect for festive family adventures. Race down the slope on a Zibob toboggan beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, with dancing lasers and holiday tunes. Earn your Santa-approved Toboggan Licence. Then follow the woodland trail to a hidden grotto. Led by an instructor, gather round the glowing log fire, toast marshmallows for s’mores and sip hot chocolate. With plenty of thrills, laughter and a little seasonal sparkle, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors on a winter evening. Make memories with a photo opportunity lit by sparklers. For more details visit: mendip.co.uk/twilight
WOOKEY’S WINTER WONDERLAND Selected dates from 21 November – 24 December n Wookey Hole Caves, The Mill, Wookey Hole, BA5 1BA Following a £250,000 investment in an all-new Christmas experience, a magical Christmas at Wookey includes a brand-new enchanted forest and storytelling tree, a new 24-seat immersive Wookey Express 4D train journey to the North Pole, the Father Christmas experience and Santa’s Toy Factory gift selection, Christmas cave projections, festive circus show and Christmas 4D cinema all illuminated by more than 100,000 festive lights throughout the attraction. for more information visit: wookey.co.uk
FLOTSAM 7 and 8 November. 11.30am and 3pm n The Egg Theatre, Sawclose, Bath Based on the picture book by David Wiesner. When a curious child discovers a mysterious camera washed up on the beach, the photos inside reveal a chain of children linked across time and space and an extraordinary underwater world. Turtles carry cities, starfish dance, octopi read by lamplight – but who took the pictures and where will the camera travel next? Kerry Andrew’s luminous new score and text blends music, movement and storytelling to explore curiosity, connection and the boundless power of imagination – a spellbinding adventure for audiences of all ages. Tickets from: £11.50 – £14 (inc. fees). Running time: 35 minutes. Visit: theatreroyal.org.uk
A WINTER NIGHT TO REMEMBER AT STOURHEAD From 27 November – 3 January n Near Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6SH A brand-new illuminated trail, filled with sparkling surprises, atmospheric lights and larger-than-life festive moments. As twilight falls, the historic parkland will become a wonderful landscape of shimmering light, seasonal soundscapes and larger-than-life installations, guiding guests through a memorable evening. Installations on the trail this year for visitors to enjoy include the timeless beauty of the classic Christmas Cathedral, the mesmerising Fire Garden, a sparkling Sea of Light, and the futuristic garden of lasers and light that brings festive magic to life in a spectacle of colour, storytelling and celebration. For times and details visit: christmasatstourhead.co.uk
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ART ON SHOW
Malachi (Mal) Bogdanov
Art under one roof:
BCAF celebrates its 50th fair Under the Victorian canopy of Green Park Station, one man’s dream has become a fixture in Bath’s creative calendar. Founder Malachi Bogdanov tells Hannah Poon how the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair all began.
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ath has always been a city for makers. There’s a gallery or studio down nearly every side street, and the city hums with talented artists. Celebrating this creative spirit, the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair showcases a diverse mix of work, from emerging talent to established names. It was this spirit that led award-winning director, writer and producer Malachi Bogdanov (Mal), 57, to create the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) in 2021, a place where creatives could show their work without breaking the bank, paying only a small fee for their pitch. What began with just 27 artists has since grown to support more than 500. Held each month in Green Park Station, the fair brings artists from across the region and beyond together under one roof, and visitors can chat to the person who made the piece they’re eyeing up. On Sunday 8 November, BCAF will be celebrating its 50th exhibition, and Mal looks back on how it all began. “I’ve always loved art, and when I moved to Bath from Italy eight years ago, I noticed there was a gap in the market. I wanted to create an affordable option to give a platform for artists in the heart of Bath,” Mal says. Armed with some basic marketing, Mal assembled a line-up of local artists, and the first fair was an instant success. “After the first one, I was inundated with requests to exhibit, and it 36 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
snowballed from there. It was very popular from the beginning, and the footfall was amazing. I took great solace from the fact that it was so popular and more people wanted to book.”
“We’re opening doors and making art accessible for all. For artists and the public. You don’t have to go into a gallery.” Malachi Bogdanov
At its heart, the fair is a celebration of artistic vision, where seasoned professionals and budding newcomers stand side by side. Painters, sculptors, photographers and digital artists all share the space, so there is something to catch every eye. Over the years, Mal and his team have built a true community, one that prides itself on being open to everyone. Working with Bath Spa University’s Emerge studio, Mal offers
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ART ON SHOW
Michael Sutherland with one of his paintings
“Beyond the sales, it feels like a real gathering place for artists from Bath and beyond. That sense of community makes it much more than a market.” Michael Sutherland
discounted stall prices to students, giving them a foot in the door and the chance to present their work to potential buyers. “It’s a real community here, and we do what we can to support emerging artists. We’ll have an 18-year-old pitched next to someone in their 60s who’s been in the business their entire career. It’s great for hands-on mentoring, and we celebrate everyone’s success,” Mal says. For Mal, one of the proudest moments actually came from a young exhibitor who sold her first piece for £1,800 at just 18 years old. He says, “She was really nervous. She was going on to study at Glasgow School of Art, and she was super talented. She sold her painting and everyone just stood and applauded her. It really was the best moment”. But the road to the 50th exhibition has not always been smooth. Following Storm Eunice in February 2022, over 20 heavy glass panes came loose and fell from the Victorian-era canopy. And in April the following year, a major fire broke out at the historic venue. Some local businesses were completely destroyed. It was devastating for everyone in the Green Park Station family. Mal says it was one of his biggest challenges, but he was determined that the show would go on. “We had to adapt and run it in a different way. I didn’t want to let people down, so with the big square unavailable, we moved all the artists down the walkway. The uptake was there and we ploughed on,” he explains. Despite all that, BCAF has gone from strength to strength and reaching its 50th fair is a true testament to the artistic talent in our city. Today, the fair attracts individuals from all over the country, with many travelling hours just to be there. Part of its success is just how accessible it is: artists can set up a pitch at an affordable rate, and shoppers can browse as they stroll by. The fair presents a unique opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind artwork that can become cherished additions to any collection. Children are welcome too, with interactive workshops and activities that make it a family-friendly affair and nurture creativity in the next generation. “I never thought we’d get to this point. It’s a huge milestone to reach our 50th exhibition. We’re now trying to expand, which is great,” Mal beams. “We’re opening doors and making art accessible for all. For artists and the public. You don’t have to go into a gallery. You could just walk past and possibly buy.”
Meet the artists Behind every piece on display is a maker with a story. Since 2021, BCAF has given more than 500 artists a place to share their work, and we caught up with a few of them to find out what the fair means to them.
Brian the Lion, coloured pencil art by Tina Moorland
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ART ON SHOW
Landscape and natural history photography by Stephen Davis
“The fair provides a unique gathering place for creative souls to share their artistic passions with others.” Stephen Davis
Tina Moorland “I’ve been attending BCAF for a number of years now, and it is always a highlight of my calendar. I find myself looking forward to catching up with old friends and being inspired by other artists. “It’s an amazing opportunity to meet up with both artists and customers. An artist’s life can be quite isolated socially, and these events offer us the chance to talk to people about our work and what motivates us. “But above all, I absolutely love the sense of community and fun. A wonderful array of beautiful artwork showcased in the historic backdrop of Green Park Station – what’s not to love?” Michael Sutherland “BCAF has been transformational for me and is a cornerstone of my business as a full-time artist. Having a regular monthly fair that’s friendly, welcoming and full of people keen to buy art makes a real difference – it helps me keep doing what I love.
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“My Bath prints have found a particularly enthusiastic audience here. I love showing the city in a different light through colour, and it’s hugely rewarding when someone connects with a familiar view and chooses to take it home. “Beyond the sales, it feels like a real gathering place for artists from Bath and beyond. That sense of community makes it much more than a market.” Stephen Davis “I spend a lot of my time (very happily) in the solitary pursuit and experience of sublime moments in nature that inspire me and give me hope. I want to share these moments with others through my photography. “Bath, and consequently BCAF, draws visitors from across the world. Where else might I have met someone who shared with me that they owned a temperate rainforest, and a talented German seamstress who has made her own skilfully embroidered Viking costumes out of linen, within half an hour of each other? “The fair provides a unique gathering place for creative souls to share their artistic passions with others. I greatly enjoy the camaraderie experienced between the participating artists. It is an inspiring and joyful event.” n BCAF 50th fair: Sunday 8 November, 10am to 4pm, Green Park Station. Free admission. bcaf.co.uk
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WHAT’S ON / ARTS
Michael Falzoni, Call of the Void
Arts & exhibitions
44AD Open Studios 2026 Fri 27 Nov 6-8pm. Sat 28 Nov 12-4pm
A vibrant new exhibition by Bath Open Studios (BOS), 17th November at Royal United Hospital’s Central Corridor Inspired by the theme, “Whatever the Weather”, the exhibition is an eclectic mix of painting, print, sculpture, tapestry, mixed media, and photography by many of Bath’s finest established and emerging artists who take part in its eight annual art trails and open studios. BOS, a non-profit group run by artist Ele Nash, is proud to support the wellbeing of patients, visitors, and staff through this exhibition, with a third of sales going to the hospital. bathopenstudios.com | artatruh.org Helena Miscioscia, Eclipse through a colander (on the face of my mum), Photography Feona Ness, The Restless Coast 1, Oil on board
Modern ArtBuyer Pop-Up Gallery 14th–15th November, 10am - 4.30pm Sylvan Lodge, 1 Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke BA2 7FY
You are invited to come and explore the studios at 44AD artspace. Treat yourself to a visual feast - and of course a mulled wine from the seasonal pop.up.bar! Artists at 44AD will open their Beryl Desmond, Roman Baths studio doors, offering a unique insight into their creativity. A selection of original artworks, prints and cards will be on display and available for sale. This is a great opportunity to meet the artists, see their studios, discuss their art, and explore the space. 44AD.net
Vestiges of Order. Maia Lys and Art Sokoloff 5th-22nd November Atelier Rad, 76 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BD
Art gallery and consultancy Modern ArtBuyer will be hosting their autumn Open House Pop-up Gallery over the weekend of 14th - 15th November in Limpley Stoke. The gallery, run by Jessica Lloyd-Smith, will show a vibrant new selection of original artworks in a relaxed home setting helping visitors to appreciate how artworks might transform their own space. Throughout the weekend, the team will be on hand to offer friendly, bespoke consultancy around artwork selection, framing and placement. Pop in and browse the show over a coffee or a glass of bubbles. modernartbuyer.com ‘The Dust Settles’ by Miranda Carter. ‘Helios delineated / night and day’ by Chuck Elliott
Vestiges of Order brings together Maia Lys and Art Sokoloff to explore how history, patterns, and beliefs shape our world. Lys reworks classical and folkloric imagery, while Sokoloff builds geometric compositions through repetition. Their distinct practices reveal tensions between structure and chance, inviting visitors to reconsider familiar forms and inherited meanings. rad@atelierrad.com Maia Lys, Leda, 2024, Jesmonite,11x16 cm Art Sokoloff, About to Fall, 2025, Ink wash, graphite and paint on raw canvas, 45x60 cm
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WHAT’S ON / ARTS
Gallery Nine’s Winter Exhibition presents for the first time Artist Neil Pinkett, Ceramics by Morag Maccines and William Papworth and Jewellery by Caroline Reynolds, Barbara Spence and Adele Brereton. Neil Pinkett has lived in Cornwall most of his life and exposure to such a dramatic environment has inspired him to paint. Morag Macinnes makes domestic ware, earthenware plates, platters and pots, smoke fired dogs and other sculpture. William Papworth’s work is hand thrown on a potter’s wheel, creating one-off and repeated forms that reflect appreciation of simple, ergonomic design. Neil Pinkett , Oil on Board, ' Kennet and Avon Bath' 45x58cm Caroline Reynolds creates sustainable jewellery from precious metals that have been inspired by botanical structures and Barbara Spence works in silver, using traditional techniques to create original contemporary pieces of jewellery. Adele Brereton returns with her use of subtle textures combined with a simplicity of form creates a quiet and understated jewellery. galleryninebath.com
Miss Polly - An Exhibition by artist and writer Valda Jackson MBE RWA, Opening Night Fri 6th, 6-8pm. Sat 7th to Fri Nov 27th, 25-28 Roseberry Rd, Bath Roseberry Road Studio are delighted to be bringing the thought-provoking artwork of VALDA JACKSON to The Christoph Moser Gallery this November. Valda was born in Jamaica and now lives and works in Bristol where she is based at the famous Spike Island studios. Her parents were part of the Windrush Generation and, like many other children from the Caribbean, she was “sent for” to join them after some years apart. Jackson returns repeatedly to the complexities of the migrant experience from her own lived experience, together with research into children’s neurological development, which is reflected across the works in this exhibition. Each piece sensitively bears witness to the emotions of both children and parents, especially mothers and daughters, during their separation. “Miss Polly” is a touching yet also troubling figure. Each variation of this small child reveals a spirit of adventurous independence and the experience of painful limits. roseberryroadstudios.com 42 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
Corridor View, French Chateau, Oil on canvas 76 x 61cm
Winter Exhibition 2026. 14th November - 31st January. Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret Buildings, Bath
Interiors, Still Life and Indian Landscapes by Sue Wales at The Barton Gallery, 28 Barton Street, Bath In November, The Barton Gallery has a beautifully curated exhibition of Sue Wales’ work, with a mix of interior paintings, still life and a vibrant collection of her India paintings. Sue is a well known and much loved Bath artist who works in oils and is a member of the Bath Society of Artists. Her work encompasses a wide range of genres. She has shown at the RBA, RWA, SWAC, Discerning Eye, Cheltenham Group of Artists and the Bath Society of Artists. She was a prizewinner at the Wales Contemporary (2020) and The Society of Women Artists (2024). Pop into the gallery as Sue’s work is hung alongside hand embroidered suzanis from Uzbekistan and ‘Bleu de Fes’ hand-decorated plates which have just been brought back from Morocco, in a beautiful and well lit space. It is a wonderfully eclectic feast for the eyes. thebartongallery.com
Sandra Higgins Art Sandra Higgins Art is delighted to welcome four new artists to the gallery: Malcolm Ashman, Gail Barker, Jeremy Kidd and Valentina González Sáez. Their practices span collage, drawing, painting and sewing, shaped by a distinct relationship to place and process. From González Sáez’s architecturally informed collages exploring memory and transformation, to Ashman’s landscape paintings drawn from memory of the West of England, Kidd’s paintings negotiating seeing and feeling and Barker’s works built from daily ritual and walking. Together they bring fresh range and depth to the gallery. For full bio and works go to sandrahiggins.art Images from top left: Gail Barker, ‘Untitled’, top right: Valentina González Sáez, ‘The Sky Turned’, bottom left: Malcolm Ashman, ‘Chalk Downs’, bottom right: Jeremy Kidd, ‘Joshua Tree Borealis’
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Winter Exhibition 14th November - 31st January Private View 14th November 5pm - 7pm
Neil Pinkett 'Cloud and Surf' Oil on Board, 51cm x 76cm
Morag Macinnes Ceramics
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WHAT’S ON / ARTS The Climb – Charlotte Latham. Opening Saturday 21 November, 6.30pm Roper Gallery, Bath Artists’ Studios Figurative artist Charlotte Latham presents The Climb, a solo exhibition exploring the human form through expressive, large-scale paintings. Drawing inspiration from Renaissance masters, Greek mythology and contemporary figurative art, Charlotte’s work has evolved from traditional life drawing and charcoal studies towards a freer, more instinctive approach. Rich layers of colour, flesh tones and increasingly abstract figures explore the relationship between beauty, vulnerability and the darker complexities of human nature. Developed during her time at Bath Artists’ Studios, this new body of work marks an exciting shift in her artistic practice. bathartistsstudios.co.uk Ruth Brownlee, Autumnal Blustery Day Burra, Mixed Media on Board, 40 x 40 cm.
Beaux Arts Bath. 14 November to 24 December 12-13 York Street, Bath BA1 1NG During November Beaux Arts Bath will host the stormy seascapes of Shetland’s best known living artist, Ruth Brownlee. Adding to the chaos will be a large pack of unruly wild dog sculptures by former wildlife artist of the year Nick Mackman. Decorative porcelain ceramics are by Rhian Malin and there will be a selection of small works for Christmas by the likes of Jennifer McRae, Helen Flockhart, Saul Robertson, Patrick Haines and many others. visit beauxartsbath.com 44 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
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Peaceful Christmas Shopping
Join u3a in Bath
By Ron & Cynthia Beau Nash Antiques
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s the Christmas market fills the city centre, many Bath residents plan their shopping around the crowds. We suggest a gentler idea. Stroll up to the quieter top of town and meet our neighbours on Brock Street and Margaret’s Buildings, the independent design and shopping quarter tucked between the Royal Crescent and the Circus.
Need something for the home? Louise at Hessian Collective gathers vintage Scandinavian furniture and lighting with character, while Arte House pairs antiques with Modern British art. For bolder tastes, Jamie and Tom at Divine Savages tempt you with maximalist wallpapers and fabrics, and Tobias’s team at 8 Holland Street brings modern design classics and art together with a gallery eye. Around the corner, Dan’s team at Red Rag Gallery champions living British and Irish artists. Our own doors at Beau Nash, 28 and 31 Brock Street, open onto antique furniture and silver, with fresh arrivals for Christmas and home trials for locals. And if you’d like a guiding hand, David and Pippa at Chapter Interiors offer personal design consultations. Christmas list still growing? Vanessa’s Homefront Interiors is a treasure trove of gifts and cards for loved ones, with every excuse to treat yourself. Catherine’s stained glass at Wyrd catches the winter light, and Bo at Gallery Nine curates jewellery and paintings, each with a maker’s story. Book lovers can lose themselves in Bath Old Books, the city's quirkiest bookshop, rich in design and architecture titles. For the party season, Tanya at Uber, a former stylist, curates British and European labels, while Paul, Jo and Sammy at Pockets dress you in designer wear. Declutter the wardrobe with Mercy in Action, welcoming donations for a good cause. Then let Monika at MK Beauty and Giuseppe and Rachel’s team at Figo Salon get you feeling fresh and ready. All that browsing working up an appetite? Settle in at Crescent Restaurant for a comforting meal with Simon and Leanne’s fun banter; it’s like dropping in on friends. Claire and Henry’s brunches and cakes at The Green Bird Café are worth the walk uphill, and Andrew’s Hong Kong-inspired snacks at Komorebi bring a bright change of flavour. Or book at The Circus Restaurant, where chef Matt presents seasonal menus and Mike’s team looks after you beautifully. Keep an eye out, too, for Taylor’s Bagels, opening soon. While the city centre celebrates, we’ll be up here as always, unhurried and personal. Most shops open from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy peaceful Christmas shopping with us. We’d love to see you. www.beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; @beaunashbath
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and enjoy these Benefits • Staying active, keep learning and having fun • Meeting people and making new friends • Access to online learning and training • Free attendance to talks and learning events • Meeting other members with similar interests • Learning new things and sharing your skills
About u3a in Bath There are 435,000 u3a members in the UK and over 1,600 in Bath. We are “u3a in Bath” and our members are all retired or semi-retired. We take part in a range of educational or recreational activities. See the complete list of over 110 interest groups on our website bath.u3asite.uk
Come and join us
You can join us by going to our website bath.u3asite.uk and completing the online application form and send it to: The Membership Secretary, u3a in Bath, Suite 104, 3 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2FJ
Our Monthly Talks Monthly Talks are usually held on the first Thursday in the month (except August) and start at 10.30am. Doors open at 9.45am for coffee. Admission is free for members but a donation of £5 is requested for non-members. Talks take place at: The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath BA2 4EU
Evening Social Meets Join us for an “Evening Social Meet” at a city bar or pub for drinks, conversation and conviviality. Open to all members of Bath u3a. Start time 7pm. October 27th 2026 at the Francis Hotel November 10th 2026 at the Crystal Palace November 24th 2026 at Everyman Café and Bar
Upcoming Monthly Talks 5th November 2026 Early Women Architects in Bath by Dr. Amy Frost, Bath Preservation Trust. 3rd December 2026 English Cookery and Elizabeth Raffald by Neil Buttery, Food Historian and Author
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Car boot sale jacket reveals hidden treasure There is always something special about a valuation morning, the chance to discover that an everyday item might be worth rather more than expected. That was certainly the case at our latest valuation morning, which proved another busy and rewarding session for visitors. Among the items brought in for valuation was a handsome inscribed 18ct gold pocket watch, estimated at £1,000-£1,500, a piece passed down through family. But it was a 15ct gold Royal Artillery Sweetheart brooch (estimated at £250-£300) that provided the morning's most memorable story. The brooch was discovered still attached to a jacket purchased at a car boot sale the previous year, an entirely unexpected and very lucky find for its new owner!
Sweetheart brooches like this one were given by servicemen to their loved ones, often as a token of affection before deployment, and carry real sentimental as well as material value. To find one tucked away in a jacket bought on a whim makes for a wonderful reminder that treasures can turn up in the most unassuming of places. Lawrences hold regular valuation mornings across the region, offering visitors the chance to have their items assessed by their specialists, free of charge and without obligation. Keep an eye on our website and social media for upcoming dates in your area. Lawrences are welcoming consignments for their forthcoming Fine Art sales to include: Silver | Vertu | Pictures | 19th/20th Century Design | Ceramics Oriental Works of Art | Jewellery | Watches | Furniture | Clocks Rugs | Militaria | Coins | Medals | Collectors | Sporting | Textiles 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.
Lawrences AUCTIONEERS 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
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COUNTRYSIDE STORIES
The vast expanse of countryside, making up the Ramsbury Estate
A spirit of innovation From fertile fields to award-winning spirits, Ramsbury Estate is proving that modern farming is about much more than agriculture. Simon Horsford explores a remarkable Wiltshire estate where diversification, sustainability and a deep respect for the land go hand in hand
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armers have never had it easy and in recent years their job has been getting tougher. It’s not just Jeremy Clarkson that has been saying this via his bitingly honest reflections on the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm as he suggests “farming is on its knees” – there have been frequent “tractor protests” against various governments and in 2023 farmers and food leaders sent a letter to the “big six” supermarkets urging them to “get fair on farming”. So what’s the answer? For many diversification offers some hope of remaining competitive or even surviving in the agricultural industry whether that is via new income streams, technology or changing working practices. For an example of what a modern farm/estate can look like, take Ramsbury Estate in the Kennet Valley. Made up of 19,000 acres – including 7,000 acres of farmland – it stretches into north-east Wiltshire, west Berkshire and north Hampshire. Growing, via various acquisitions, from 3,000 acres in 1997, it now encompasses everything from farming and forestry to brewing, distilling (gin and vodka) and education. It also includes a lovely pub with rooms, The Bell, in the picturesque village of Ramsbury. On a tour round the estate in a Land Rover Defender with brewery and distillery general manager Nik Fordham – who doubles as the estate’s master distiller – he gives us a detailed insight into everything that goes on here, from diversification and the importance of technology to sustainability and why everything in the surrounds is so crucial to Ramsbury’s ethos. As we reach a rise overlooking an expanse of land 48 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
stretching into the distance, Fordham says “all of this is ours” and you get an impression of the immensity of the project. Listening to Fordham, what comes across is the immense pride and care that goes into managing Ramsbury from all those involved and what makes it tick. He emphasises “we are just custodians”; the ultimate aim is to leave the land in a “better condition than when [we] found it.”
“Whether you love him or loathe him, Clarkson has done a huge amount for farming.” Nik Fordham
To this end, he shows us some of the machinery and tech involved in managing such a large operation – a £750,000 combine harvester equipped with an extraordinarily precise GPS system, huge tractors and a vast grain room with an advanced computer and camera system, which sifts the good grain from the bad. Sophisticated soil analysis comes into the equation too at Ramsbury and shows how remarkably technical and scientific successful farming has become. It’s a long way from a horse and a plough.
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Fordham joined Ramsbury in 2022 and his knowledge is driven by his background in chemical engineering (he worked for Unilever and Johnson & Johnson) “perfect for distilling” before joining Chivas Brothers, moving on to Bombay Sapphire, and then Tarquin’s in Cornwall. He highlights the main challenges facing farmers today: “three or four areas impact margins, one is fuel and fertiliser costs [red diesel and nitrogen], which are inflated because of what’s happening in other geopolitical areas. Then there’s machinery as the base rate of running a factory has gone up, so costs go up, and that’s been challenging. Farming also has a purposeful strategy put in place so if changes to government strategy [such as grants] happen then it takes quite some time to accommodate those and because everyone is going through the cost of living issue no one wants to increase their [spending] on food so you’ve got pressure driving the prices down.” And then of course there’s the weather, a while ago it was too wet and then we’ve just had a baking hot summer.
“The biggest thing for me is to be aware of which activities create the biggest environmental burden and to minimise that wherever possible” I bring up the issue of Clarkson and if he believes the TV series has been effective in raising awareness of farming problems. “I like watching Countryfile but they just haven’t raised some of the issues, although that’s changed in the past couple of years, but Clarkson, whether you love him or loathe him, has done a huge amount for farming. I remember the issues he had with the sheep, in effect there was no profit at all on them and then you look at the yields they were getting for some of the cereals he was growing. He’s done a lot by publicising these things. Of course, some of the scenes have been ramped up but the fundamental points are really solid.” We pass cattle and sheep on the estate (there are small herds of Aberdeen Angus and South Devon cattle), but elsewhere it’s essentially arable, mainly wheat and barley, which go towards the production of their spirits, together with rapeseed (used for their own brand of rapeseed oil) and legumes. Elsewhere we glimpse part of the woodland (2,500 acres) some of which is for commercial use (manufacturing) and the rest for amenity purposes and driving environmental goals; among the trees are Norway Spruce, Japanese Larch, Corsican Pine and Douglas Fir. Meadows and orchards play their part too – one where we stopped for lunch was rife with damsons, quince and sloes – these might be utilised for the gin production, while the estate’s hives are used to produce Ramsbury’s own honey – sold in jars, or to flavour their vodka or gin. The estate also accommodates pheasant and partridge shooting with 15 drives across downland and woodland (there’s a gun bus and game lodge), and guided fly fishing too for rainbow trout on the Kennet. Education is an important part of their remit too – a few years ago Ramsbury Farming and Countryside Education was created to offer schools, colleges and educational groups the opportunity to explore where food comes from and how farming shapes the environment. Farming students also come to the estate to help during the harvest. And enhancing the community aspect, the chef at The Bell runs occasional butchery masterclasses taking in how to prepare and butcher anything from venison to pork and poultry. The frequent takeaway is that sustainability is the key to Ramsbury’s DNA. “The biggest thing for me is to be aware of which activities create
The brewery’s General Manager and Master Distiller, Nik Fordham
Miniature copper stills and equipment in the Gin School
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The estate’s own vodka and gin
the biggest environmental burden and to minimise that wherever possible,” stresses Fordham. That might be making use of spent grain to feed cattle and wastewater being filtered through the reed bed system to sustain a lake for wildfowl and wildlife, or using wood off-cuts to fuel the biomass boiler. Solar panels have been installed on the brewery and distillery in a bid to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources, while a small helical wind turbine (about the size of a tree) is also being considered by Fordham. This careful nurturing of the land has ensured there is an abundance of wildlife on the estate with Fordham mentioning barn owls, red-listed (endangered) house martins, bats, red kite, fallow, red and muntjac deer. And weasels – “exceptionally attractive but a bit of a pest when you have partridge and pheasant,” he adds.
“A commitment to the land and the people... We will always continue to challenge ourselves.” In a fascinating diversion into the past from the present, we then drive through fields that were once the wartime base for the US Army’s E(asy) Company, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, who were based here in the months leading up to D-Day. They are now better known as the “Band of Brothers” after Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ mesmeric 2001 TV series starring Damian Lewis. Also nearby, RAF Ramsbury was where another US company (the 82nd Airborne) flew from on 6 June 1944. It’s a sobering reminder of the region’s recent past. After our circuit, we are shown the brewery where since 2004 barley from the estate and local chalk-filtered water have been used to produce an impressive and moreish selection of beers – “from plough to pint” as they say – including amber ales, a Farmer’s Best bitter and a couple of lagers. Then it’s on to the state-of-the-art distillery, which started operating in 2015 and boasts a 43-plate copper still. From here they conjure up award-winning single estate vodka and gin using Ramsbury’s wheat and
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The bar in the Stockclose Barn where cocktail-making lessons take place
chalk filtered water; there are three vodkas (including one at 47% ABV), while their gins include one with raspberry and wildflower honey, a London dry gin and a sloe gin. Then it’s on to another highlight as in Stockclose Barn, we are confronted by rows of miniature copper stills and given the opportunity to make our own bespoke gin. Distiller John France carefully explains the process, which begins by choosing “our botanicals” (there are more than 60 on offer). Eight to 10 is the recommended number (you can use more but balance and subtlety are the key) and they must include the core botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root and orris root. From then on, it’s up to you if you want your gin to be floral (options include heather and rosehip), spicy (frankincense or horseradish, perhaps) or citrusy (maybe, bergamot peel) or nutty, sweet or herbal. I choose chamomile, elderflower, fennel and bitter orange and lemon peel adding it to the base spirit (vodka) before distilling it in the pot still and then bottling it. I label mine ‘Gunner’s Gin’ and to my untutored palate, it’s pretty good! Should you not be distilling your own, the Ramsbury Estate shop sells bottles of beer, vodka and the gin. They also stock venison and beef from the surrounding fields, together with pots of the estate’s honey and bottles of rapeseed oil. If ever somewhere summed up the oft-used phrase “from field [or grain] to glass”, Ramsbury surely is it with everything originating from the estate. But, importantly, it’s also a place which believes in being part of and engaging with the local community. They stage numerous annual events, such as the two-day Ramsfest (with live music) and spring and winter markets (with shire horses dressed up as Rudolph the reindeer) together with comedy nights and even a charity pro darts night; they also have sponsorship deals with the local cricket team and Marlborough Rugby Club. Above all, says Fordham, Ramsbury is about forging “a commitment to the land and the people” – be that via sustainability, enhancing the environment, community work or producing a terrific range of beers and spirits. What’s more, he adds, “we will always continue to challenge ourselves.” n For details of tours, experiences (such as creating your own gin) and events go to ramsbury.com
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FOOD & DRINK November.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2026 16:25 Page 1
FOOD & DRINK | NOTEBOOK
Tasting tables
Foodie notes, events and delicious ideas to whet your appetite
A taste of the Languedoc Enjoy an exceptional evening of French wine and fine dining at Iford Manor Kitchen, where celebrated Languedoc winemakers Xavier and Géraldine Peyraud of Mas des Brousses will introduce their acclaimed organic wines. Produced from family vineyards overlooking the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, these distinctive wines will be paired with a specially created menu by Executive Chef Matthew Briddon. Guests will dine together at one long communal table, making this an intimate and convivial celebration of French winemaking and seasonal cuisine. Friday 6 November, from 6.45pm. £120 per person, including wines; £80 for non-drinkers. Iford Manor, nr. Bath BA15 2BA. ifordmanor.co.uk
Raise a glass to Beaujolais at Comptoir + Cuisine Celebrate the arrival of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau with a special tasting evening at Comptoir + Cuisine. Discover four wines from the celebrated French region, including the eagerly anticipated 2026 vintage, in a relaxed and convivial setting. Guiding the tasting will be François Domange, director of Vinothentic, a London-based specialist wine supplier championing artisan, terroir-driven wines from family growers across France. A lovely opportunity to explore the character and diversity of Beaujolais, with a little expert insight along the way. Santé! Thursday 19 November, 6.30pm. £20 per person. Comptoir + Cuisine, 5 George Street, Bath BA1 2EJ. To reserve your place visit comptoirpluscuisine.com
A slice of national success for Bath Pizza Co. Bath Pizza Co has been named as one of just 16 finalists in the National Pizza Awards 2026, representing the West Country at the prestigious competition in London on 3 November. The independent, father-and-son-run pizzeria, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, will be hoping to impress the judges with its wonderfully named ‘Gettin’ Figgy Wit It!’ pizza (shown above), topped with fior di latte mozzarella, fresh figs, goat’s cheese, Parma ham, capers and amaranth. Director Alex Peters praised the creativity and dedication of his team, adding: “We want to bring the title home for them and for the West Country!” Green Park Station, Bath bathpizzaco.com
Savour the Rhône – An evening of fine wine and dining at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa Raise a glass to the Rhône Valley on Friday 27 November, as The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa hosts an exceptional evening celebrating the wines of renowned French producer Maison M. Chapoutier. Enjoy elegant canapés followed by a specially created four-course dinner from Executive Head Chef Martin Blake, with each course paired with wines showcasing the character and diversity of this celebrated region. Discover the stories behind the vineyards and the art of winemaking in the elegant surroundings of one of Bath’s finest hotels. Friday 27 November, 7pm. £150 per person. royalcrescent.co.uk
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Celebrate Sri Lankan style at The Coconut Tree The Coconut Tree is turning ten, and everyone’s invited to the party! To celebrate a decade of bringing vibrant Sri Lankan flavours to the UK, the restaurant is offering a free ‘Big Birthday Plate’ at lunchtime on Thursday 19 November, featuring ten favourites from its much-loved menu, with vegan and gluten-free options available. The celebrations continue into the evening with ‘The £10 Takeover’, offering 90 minutes of unlimited food or unlimited drinks for just £10. A delicious way to say happy birthday! 36 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LP thecoconut-tree.com
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BATH PRIORY REVIEW.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2026 09:07 Page 1
FOOD & DRINK
Glazed Hardwick Lamb Belly
Mushroom Parfait
The Bath Priory:
A new chapter in fine dining Executive Head Chef Chris Hopkins is bringing fresh creativity and contemporary flair to The Bath Priory’s acclaimed restaurant. Melissa Blease discovers a dining experience where elegant surroundings and exceptional cooking go hand in hand.
R
egardless of how familiar you may be with the highways and byways that lead in and out of Bath city centre, there’s something magical about the Weston Road stretch on the west side of the city that gives pause for thought… especially at sunset, in autumn. The day’s last rays of sunshine give acres of historic, honey-hued Bath stone walls a soft, golden glow. A gentle breeze rustles the rusty-coloured leaves of multiple trees; the scent of bonfire smoke hangs in the air; glimpses of the impressive, imposing Georgian and Victorian mansions that line the route can just about be spotted beyond their grand gates. And, for visitors to The Bath Priory Hotel and Spa, a subtle sign at the gateway of one of those mansions represents the end of one journey and the beginning of a different kind of voyage altogether. Beyond the immaculately maintained gravel driveway, the ivy-framed windows of this super-pretty former private residence (built in 1835) are brightly lit from within, at once inviting and subtly exciting. Within moments of arrival for your dinner reservation, you might find yourself enjoying a cocktail and canapés while sitting in the Drawing Room captivated by the fine art that lines the walls, or basking in the glow of an open fire on a plush sofa in The Library, or at a table in the smart but cosy Pantry: the hotel’s ‘casual’ bar/brasserie that, in the summer months, offers beautiful views across the hotel’s 4-acre, award-winning gardens. You may only be a mile or so away from Bath city centre, but you’re far, far removed from any hint of urban thrum in this characterful,
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quintessentially British, long-established, world-class escape-from-it-all sanctuary… complete with a very interesting new chef hard at work in the kitchen. Chris Hopkins donned his whites as Executive Head Chef at The Bath Priory’s three AA Rosette-awarded restaurant in March of this year and brought a stellar line-up of experience with him, including kitchen residencies at renowned establishments such as Dinner by Heston, Ormer Mayfair and Whatley Manor. Little wonder, then, that Chris’s menus – a captivating, enticing array that pushes seasonal and locallysourced produce to the fore – are already setting foodie tongues wagging across Bath.
“It’s the kind of elegant backdrop that allows the food to speak for itself – and that food sparks up a conversation that immediately enthrals.”
Offering aesthetic contrast to the hotel’s reception rooms, the main dining room here is a spacious, genteelly urbane affair decorated in 50
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shades of eau de nil enlivened with contemporary art flourishes, lit by ceiling spotlights that give the impression of a starry, starry night and lined on one side by windows that frame yet more sweeping views of that spectacular garden. It’s the kind of elegant backdrop that allows the food to speak for itself – and that food sparks up a conversation that immediately enthrals.
“The front-of-house team here – effortlessly amiable, impressively well-informed – make you feel like a combination of old friend and A-list superstar” To start, a duo of richly buttery, subtly briny Orkney Scallops came complemented by sweet, grassy peas and cool cucumber, a sprinkle of sunflower seeds adding playful texture. The Mushroom Parfait, meanwhile, totally belied its otherwise prosaic description: a deeply earthy, super-umami, velvety-smooth pâté encased in a glossy dome of mushroom gel and accompanied by a dinky bouquet of roast maitake mushrooms, uplifting lime pickle and toasted brioche. Both dishes encapsulated the very definition of beautiful food, setting the standard for main courses that fulfilled our great expectations. Those main courses? A precise but generous rectangle of Creedy Carver Duck, glazed with Alsace wine and cooked to pink-tinged perfection, the gentle tang of pickled cherries playing tastebud tease with the warm, mellow tones of confit fennel while creamy, nutty broad beans added a flourish of subtle vibrancy to the whole affair. Rich, meltingly tender,
Orkney Scallops
super-flavoursome glazed Hardwick Lamb Belly – a criminally overlooked cut rightfully given the spotlight it deserves here – served with fresh ewe’s curd that offered a lively counterpoint to soft, comforting pillows of tomato gnocchi while hithers and thithers of fresh basil added their own, distinctive aromatic reverb to the harmonious chorus of supremely good taste. I was living the foodie dream, and no alarm bell could shatter my reverie, until… The thrilling klaxon of the freshest of fresh mint in the creamy quenelle that sat on top of my Dark Chocolate Moelleux (a sophisticated, much more complex version of a Chocolate Fondant) was the most delightful wake-up call I’ve ever tasted, the fragrant addition of cardamom easing my passage along the way. The fascinating Lady Grey, meanwhile, served a similar purpose: possibly the most original dessert you’ll ever taste, combining the familiar undertones of a classic, relatively contemporary British tea blend (smoothly fruity, softly citrussy, and tinged with bergamot essence) with a sunshine-infused citrus crème and a sweetly fudgy/caramel beurre noisette. Throughout it all, a selection of incredible wines flowed (go with the sommelier’s suggestions to discover course-matched highlights from an exhaustive collection spanning literally hundreds of bottles) and to say the service was exemplary would be neither an exaggeration nor a polite cliché: the front-of-house team here – effortlessly amiable, impressively well-informed – make you feel like a combination of old friend and A-list superstar. The Bath Priory Hotel and Spa brings Bath’s historic, cultural and, with Hopkins at the helm, contemporary culinary reference points together in one serene, super-luxe country house hotel and spa experience nestled in a neighbourhood with a city centre postcode; lock that postcode into your foodie satnav today. The Bath Priory, Weston Road, Bath BA1 2XT thebathpriory.co.uk Tel: 01225 331922
For dessert, The Lady Grey
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Bath Beauty November 26.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2026 17:02 Page 1
HEALTH & BEAUTY
beautynotebook It’s time to pamper. Treat yourself to something luxurious from one of the upmarket emporia that have chosen Bath for their flagship stores. Our selection of indulgences includes body washes, restorative serums, elegant fragrances, calming diffusers and other pampering essentials.
Bramley X The Pig Hand and Body Wash Bramley and THE PIG share a deeprooted love for the British countryside and a commitment to preserving the natural environment. Both are B Corp-certified brands that believe business can be a force for good. £24 (300ml). Bramley, Unit 11, Shires Yard, 41 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DN; bramleyproducts.co.uk
Overnight Reset Serum, L’Occitane What if you could reset your skin overnight, erase the impact of stress and fatigue, and wake up each morning with fresh, rested, healthy-looking skin? Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum is suitable for sensitive skin and is clinically proven to have an instant and long-term effect on glow. £62 (30ml). L’Occitane, 13 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BE; loccitane.com
By Terry Tea To Tan Lip & Cheek Give the lips and cheeks a fresh, dewy flush with this makeup and skincare hybrid designed to add tinted radiance while soothing and nourishing. Made with natural ingredients, this cheek and lip blush has a buildable, non-sticky texture. £26.00. Space NK, 13 Southgate Place, Bath, BA1 1AP; spacenk.com
Aesop Eleos Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum A fragrant composition with a fresh, aromatic and mineral character, taking the mind to rugged, wind-blown heights. Unforeseen Aer brings a cool gust of freshness, in an unconventional take on a fougère perfume. A fable about imperfection told through scent, it creates an accord of pure air via geranium, lavandin and rosemary, grounded by the textured warmth of nutmeg. £160 (50ml), £250 (100ml). Aesop, 16 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BA; aesop.com/uk
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Noir Diffuser, The White Company This sensuous, sophisticated fragrance captures the allure of Paris after dark, when the streets are quiet and flickers of light from apartment windows hint at the intrigue within. Opulent amber entwines with flirtatiously bright mandarin and whispers of aromatic sandalwood. £40. The White Company, 15 Northgate Street, Bath BA1 5AS; thewhitecompany.com
Red Roses Cologne Jo Malone London The essence of modern romance, inspired by a voluptuous blend of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses. With crushed violet leaves and a hint of lemon, it unfolds like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. £58 – £125. Jo Malone London, 6–7 Old Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BW; jomalone.co.uk
Bold Blend, Penhaligon’s Why play it safe? Peppermint jumps. Black pepper jolts. Palo santo pushes boundaries you never knew you had. Climb higher with violet leaf and clary sage, in a scent that says yes (before you overthink it). £220 (100ml), £145 (50ml). Penhaligon’s, 14 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BE; penhaligons.com
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A STILLNESS, WAITING FOR YOU There is a stillness that lives beneath the noise of an ordinary life. House of Sgra is a private sanctuary for sound healing, set within the estate of Southernwood Castle, a short distance from Bath, and held for those ready to return to themselves. Sgra is the Tibetan word for sound, pronounced ‘dra’, and it is the note on which everything here is built. House of Sgra’s practice is rooted in the ancient voice of Tibetan and Himalayan singing bowls. Each session is private: one room, one hour, one person. There is nothing to keep pace with, only the resonance moving through the body, loosening the shoulders long before it reaches the mind. However you arrive, you are met as you are. More than just a wellness experience, House of Sgra is a practice and a relationship. For those who choose to stay, it becomes a sense of belonging that grows with every season. What settles in the room travels home with you and quietly stays. Begin with a taster Every membership starts with a taster session, so that you and House of Sgra can be sure it is the right fit. The First Light Taster is a gentle introduction to the practice and the space, with nothing asked of you but an open mind. Visiting Bath? The Voyager’s Reset offers travellers a restorative pause in the middle of a busy itinerary. Should you wish to continue, membership follows in two tiers, First Light and The Sanctuary. If this feels like the place you have been looking for, House of Sgra would love to hear from you. Come as you are. Leave lighter. Visit at Southernwood Castle, The Rocks, Ashwicke, Chippenham, SN14 8AP Telephone: 0333 335 6371 | Email: hello@houseofsgra.co.uk
www.houseofsgra.co.uk
DENTAL & DENTURE CLINIC NEW PRIVATE DENTIST APPOINTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE
Routine Check Ups Crowns/Veneers Hygienist Appointments Teeth Whitening Denture Experts Free Denture Consultation Georgina Saunders Dentist
Call to book an appointment! 01225 311 681 @ info@jbdental.co.uk
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www.jbdental.co.uk
Georgina takes a holistic approach to dentistry and has a particular interest in Periodontal disease.
The Orangery November 2026.qxp_Layout 1 23/10/2026 11:13 Page 1
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STORIES FROM THE PAST
A map of 1787, showing Tucker’s Grave and the tollhouse at a lonely crossroads between Norton St Philip and Faulkland.
Tucker’s Grave: A spirited history From a lonely crossroads burial in 1747 to one of Somerset’s quirkiest cider houses, Tucker’s Grave has survived changing times, threatened closures and nearly two centuries of colourful characters. Local historian Andrew Swift uncovers the fascinating story behind a pub where the past is still very much present.
O
n 5 June 1747, ‘about the hour of eleven or twelve o’clock’, Edward Tucker walked into a barn at Charlton Farm, a mile and a half south west of Norton St Philip. He was carrying a length of hempen rope which he tied to a beam and proceeded to hang himself. Who Edward Tucker was, or what drove him to this desperate act, is unknown. What we do know is that, the following day, twelve local men were summoned to an inquest at which it was decreed that, instead of being buried in hallowed ground, he should be buried, according to the law of the land, at a lonely crossroads a mile to the north. His grim interment bequeathed a name to this formerly anonymous spot. Fifteen years later, in 1762, when James Collins mortgaged a cottage standing in a four-acre smallholding – including a cider orchard – at the north-east corner of the crossroads, he gave his address as Tucker’s Grave. Six years later, when the road past Tucker’s Grave was turnpiked, a tollhouse was built opposite the cottage. It soon became one of the busiest and most profitable tollhouses in the area. It seems overwhelmingly likely that James Collins would have taken advantage of this passing trade by selling cider on an informal basis. There were hundreds – probably thousands – of such cider houses across the West Country and beyond. James Collins died in 1820 and Tucker’s Grave was taken over by Joseph Rossiter, just when the authorities were starting to clamp down on unlicensed cider houses. In 1827, Rossiter decided to apply for a 60 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
licence, with no assurance that his application would be successful. His application was accompanied, however, by a petition from ‘the Curate, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Hemington and other reputable and substantial Householders’, certifying that he was ‘a person of good fame, sober life and conversation and a fit person to be entrusted with a Licence to keep a Common Inn, Alehouse or Victualling House’. The licence was granted. As well as being a popular haunt of workers from surrounding farms, it also provided accommodation. In 1851, when Francis Marchant was the landlord, four agricultural labourers lodged upstairs. In the 1850s, after a coal depot, served by a tramway from Foxcote Colliery, opened two miles to the west, the number of coal wagons passing the pub led to a sharp upturn in trade as carters made it a regular calling point. Tolls were abolished on the turnpike road in 1872, encouraging even more traffic to travel along it. Although cider was the tipple of choice for many regulars, Tucker’s Grave also brewed its own beer until 1878, when the brewing plant was put up for sale. As Tucker’s Grave went from strength to strength, however, elsewhere the storm clouds were gathering. Throughout the 19th century, the temperance movement grew ever stronger, and the Liberal government which came to power in 1906 was packed with temperance campaigners. Pubs had always had their licences revoked for being over boisterous or badly run. Now they could lose them ‘on the grounds of being unnecessary for the needs of the district’. The cull was relentless, and whether a pub stayed open or closed relied solely on
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STORIES FROM THE PAST
The Tap Room the whim of the local magistrates. Bath, for example, had 240 pubs in 1906. Eight years later, the number had fallen to 196. In February 1907, at the annual licensing session for the Kilmersdon Division, objections were lodged to the renewal of five out of 62 licences, including that of Tucker’s Grave. A police witness who supported its closure claimed that ‘the house did not supply any want’ as there was ‘but one cottage in the immediate neighbourhood and five others 600 yards away.’ He described the accommodation as consisting of ‘a small bar 12ft by 8ft; taproom 16ft by 12ft; a large room at the back, formerly a brewery, and a two-stall stable’, adding that ‘the licensee kept some cows’. In reply, George Greenland, the landlord, stated ‘that he paid £10 per annum for the house, and also rented 38 acres of land.’ He sold about three barrels of cider a week, ‘in addition to stout and bitter and spirits’.
As other pubs strove to keep up with the times, Tucker’s Grave didn’t He provided meals, and had cut up as much as 50 or 60lbs of cheese in 8 or 10 days. He also presented a petition signed by a large number of coal hauliers who called at the house over the past week’. After the manager of Frome United Breweries, which now owned the pub, backed him up, adding that the pub was ‘very necessary especially for coal carriers and others’, the licence was renewed. Three of the other pubs, however, were not so lucky. By the 1920s, as coal started to be carried in lorries rather than carts, custom from that quarter dropped off sharply, ending completely when the depot closed in 1931. By then, however, a new clientele had discovered Tucker’s Grave. This was the golden age of motoring, and increasingly customers from farther away started to seek it out, attracted not only by its old-world charm but also by its convivial atmosphere and the quality of its cider. As other pubs strove to keep up with the times, Tucker’s Grave didn’t. It had never had a bar counter, and the people who ran it saw no reason to install one. Stacking the barrels in the window alcove and serving from there, in the time-honoured way, would do just fine. And it grew ever more popular. In the 1970s it achieved local fame as the home of the Tucker’s Grave Deep Sea Angling Association, which, apart from organising fishing trips, held dinner dances, skittles matches and – in May 1972 – an All-Comers Tug O’War on the Village Green in Faulkland – first prize, ten gallons of cider.
Tucker’s Grave Inn and the Toll House In 1984, when Glenda and Ivan Swift took over the pub, they decided it was time to expand, so they turned their living room into another bar. But, in keeping with the spirit of the place, they left it more or less as it was, so it still looked like a living room. Bigger changes were afoot, however, at Charlton Farm, where Edward Tucker had hanged himself. It became a recording studio, attracting bands such as the Wurzels and the Stranglers, who became regular visitors to the pub. The Stranglers grew so fond of the place that in 2004 they released a song called Tucker’s Grave, which naturally inspired many of their fans to beat a path to its door. And so, to accommodate them, a campsite was opened at the back. Sitting in the bar of a summer’s evening, as the cider and conversation flowed, and time seemed to dissolve, it was tempting to think it would go on like this for ever. But in 2009, after 25 years, Glenda and Ivan decided to retire and put the pub on the market. It failed to attract a buyer, so they withdrew it from sale and carried on. Two years later, as Ivan’s health worsened, however, they felt they had no option but to call it a day. The end – which many feared would be final – came on 31 May 2011. It was a loss that many felt deeply, so, when news came, later that summer, that Glenda had decided to return and run the pub with the help of locals, it was greeted with jubilation. Ivan sadly died in 2014 but Glenda remained at the helm until 2017, when Tucker’s finally found a buyer. Naturally, there was much apprehension among those who knew and loved Tucker’s as to what would happen, especially when they heard that Jo and Bri, the new owners, had ambitious plans. Thankfully, their fears proved groundless. As the new owners explained, all they wanted to do was to ‘give more people a reason to come here, so that the little pub at the centre of it all can carry on doing what it has done for nearly 200 years’. So, while the pub remained untouched, the campsite was expanded, the old milking parlour became a cafe, bar and meeting place and the barn became a live music venue. Events – such as bike nights, craft fairs, classic car shows, wassails and weddings – became a regular feature, but, at the heart of it all, the old pub lives on, as timeless as ever, and set fair for another 200 years. n * Tucker’s Grave is open all day, every day from noon. tuckersgraveinn.co.uk Andrew Swift is the co-author of Awash with Ale: 2000 years of imbibing in Bath, published by Akeman Press. THEBATHMAG.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2026 | THEBATHMAGAZINE 61
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CITY NEWS
Bath business
CITY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES
Further £7 million boost proposed for Fashion Museum Bath Plans for the new Fashion Museum Bath could receive a further £7 million funding boost from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, strengthening the ambitious project to transform the Grade II listed Old Post Office into a major cultural destination. The proposed investment follows a £7.2 million grant awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in August, alongside £3.25 million already committed by the Combined Authority and substantial backing from Bath & North East Somerset Council. Scheduled to reopen in 2030, the museum will form a centrepiece of the wider regeneration of Milsom Quarter, bringing new life to one of Bath’s most prominent historic buildings. Planning permission was granted in May, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Housing an internationally significant collection of around 100,000 objects spanning more than four centuries of fashion, the museum is projected to attract over 250,000 visitors annually and generate at least £111 million in economic and social value for the region. The project will also create opportunities for education, training and employment, particularly for young people interested in creative and heritage careers. Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said the investment would help secure the museum’s long-term future while creating new opportunities for local people and businesses.
The White Cleaning Company expands into Bath The White Cleaning Company has announced its expansion into Bath, bringing its established cleaning, housekeeping and property support services to homes and businesses across the city and surrounding areas. Founded more than 15 years ago by Katie, the company has built a reputation across Berkshire, Surrey and Katie Phillips Buckinghamshire for its attention to detail, reliability and personalised approach. Its services range from regular domestic cleaning and housekeeping to specialist support for Airbnb and shortstay properties, alongside boutique commercial cleaning. “Our service has always been about more than cleaning,” says Katie. “We take the time to understand our customers, get to know their properties and build relationships based on trust, consistency and genuine care.” With an emphasis on providing familiar, trusted teams for regular visits, the company aims to offer busy households, property owners and local businesses dependable support tailored to their individual needs. whitecleaningco.com
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Pictured above: L–R. Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England; Robert Campbell, Managing Director, Culture and Heritage Services; Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council; with Fashion Museum Bath’s Jo Mawdsley, Learning & Engagement Lead,and Senior Curator, Elisabeth Murray Further fundraising is continuing as preparations gather pace for the museum’s much-anticipated return to the heart of Bath. fashionmuseum.co.uk
Joanna Lewis Media launches new website design service Bath-based marketing agency Joanna Lewis Media has launched a new website design service for businesses across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire, combining creative design with search engine optimisation (SEO) from the outset. Working alongside an experienced Joanna Lewis specialist design and development partner, founder Joanna Lewis oversees each project from initial concept to launch, managing content and SEO strategy to ensure websites are not only visually appealing but also easily found online. Drawing on experience working with luxury lifestyle brands, Joanna provides a personal, joined-up service, remaining the client’s single point of contact throughout. “I see too many brands launch with a stunning new site and then wait for the enquiries to arrive,” says Joanna. “They don’t. The design is lovely, but nobody told Google what any of it is, so the site sits in the digital wilderness.” The new service is particularly aimed at ambitious lifestyle brands looking to strengthen their online presence. joannalewis.media
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EDUCATING BATH
Education matters NEWS FROM THE CITY’S LEARNERS AND LEADERS
A new chapter for King Edward’s Prep School King Edward’s School, Bath has announced that its combined PrePrep and Junior School will become King Edward’s Prep School, Bath from January 2027, bringing pupils aged three to 11 together on its North Road campus for the first time. The new identity forms part of a £3 million investment in the school’s primary provision, with plans for a dedicated Early Years environment, improved STEM and dining facilities, enhanced music and performance spaces, and transformed outdoor learning areas. The first phase of the outdoor redevelopment, featuring purposedesigned spaces for younger pupils, is expected to open in early 2027, encouraging exploration, creativity and independent learning. “Bringing our Pre-Prep and Junior School together on one site is about much more than new facilities,” says Headmaster Martin Boden. “It is about creating a single community where children can enjoy a seamless educational journey from the earliest years through to the end of Year 6.” The new name also reflects the school’s heritage, with its Junior School originally known as the Preparatory School. kesbath.com
Royal High School Bath serves up a new cookery course Royal High School Bath is adding a new ingredient to its Sixth Form curriculum, becoming a Leiths Education Partner School and introducing the Leiths Confident Cookery course. The 30-week practical programme gives Year 12 students the opportunity to develop essential culinary skills, explore international cuisines and gain confidence in preparing everything from everyday meals to celebratory dinners. From chicken fajitas and Asian-inspired dishes to more elaborate entertaining menus, the emphasis is on learning to cook independently and creatively. Delivered through Leiths Academy, the course leads to a Leithsaccredited qualification and a food hygiene certificate, offering valuable skills for university life, travel and potential gap-year employment, including private chef opportunities. With demonstrations, hands-on cooking and assessments, the programme aims to inspire a lifelong enjoyment of food while equipping students with practical skills that will serve them well beyond their school years. royalhighbath.gdst.net
Millfield appoints new Head of Cricket Millfield School has appointed international cricket coach Lauren Rowles as its new Head of Cricket, bringing extensive experience across professional, international and school cricket to the role. Taking up her position on 9 November, Lauren succeeds Mark Garaway and joins Millfield with an impressive coaching pedigree. She currently serves as Women’s National Selector for Cricket Ireland and Head Coach of the England Men’s Learning Disability Cricket team, while also having held coaching roles with Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Central Sparks. In February 2025, aged just 32, she became the youngest head coach appointed within the county cricket system when she took charge of Gloucestershire’s women’s team. “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Millfield,” says Lauren. “It’s a school with a rich sporting tradition, and I’m excited to help shape an environment where every player can thrive, enjoy their cricket and push their potential.” Her appointment builds on Millfield’s distinguished cricketing heritage, with 14 former pupils featuring in the 2026 County Championship season. millfieldschool.com
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Lauren Rowles
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THEBATHMAG.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2026 | THEBATHMAGAZINE 65
“We launched Zallion, our new zebra-stripe wallpaper collection, at Decorex. With sweeping, irregular stripes, it offers a contemporary take on animal print, designed to work with both antique and modern interiors.” Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy, Divine Savages
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Image courtesy of Divine Savages
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HOMES & INTERIORS
Beyond the trends: what Decorex tells us about the future of interiors From richer colours and tactile materials to traditional craftsmanship and unexpected combinations, Katherine Raderecht visited Decorex to discover what the show tells us about the future of interiors, with insights from Bath’s interior design community.
T
here is always a temptation to leave Decorex with a list of trends: the colours we will all be painting our walls, the fabrics we will be ordering and the furniture shapes destined to appear in every showroom. But visiting this year’s show at Olympia, I found myself looking beyond the obvious to consider what the bigger picture might tell us about how we want to live. Now in its 48th year, Decorex brings together designers and makers from across the interiors industry. What interested me most was the thinking behind the products: a renewed appreciation for craftsmanship, a focus on natural materials and an appetite for interiors that feel individual rather than perfectly coordinated. I wanted to know what Bath’s interior design community made of the show, so I gathered thoughts from local designers on what had caught their attention and what they believe will shape our homes in the coming years. Their responses suggested a common direction: less emphasis on achieving a particular look, and more on creating homes that feel individual and reflect the people who live in them.
“The spaces that really catch your attention tend to have something slightly unexpected about them.”
Craftsmanship and the beauty of the handmade If one theme ran through the show, it was the value placed on things made with care. From handwoven textiles to decorative details, the quality of the making was often as important as the finished product. Jamie and Tom of Divine Savages, the British wallpaper and interiors brand, launched their new zebra-stripe wallpaper collection, Zallion, at Decorex. With its sweeping, irregular stripes, it gives a classic animal print a fresh interpretation. “We’ve always believed animal print is practically a neutral,” they explain, describing a design intended to work with both antique and contemporary interiors. For Alexandra Hunt of Goose Collaborative, the show was a reminder that interiors should have “soul, character and a bit of attitude”. She sees growing appreciation for hand-finished, individual pieces over mass-produced alternatives. “Give us something with a story over something straight out of a catalogue any day.” Pascale Grenié, who runs Danielle and Arlette, was also impressed by the work of independent makers, particularly carved furniture and mouth-blown glass. For her, Decorex’s value lies partly in the opportunity it gives artisans and smaller businesses to showcase their work. Grazzie Wilson similarly welcomed the use of traditional techniques
Grazzie Wilson, Ca’Pietra A richer, more confident palette Colour was one of the most striking aspects of Decorex, with deep wine reds and burgundy appearing across many stands. Chocolate brown, tobacco, olive green, warm creams and pale blue also featured prominently, creating a palette that felt sophisticated and welcoming. Kate Kitchen of Reverie Interior Design noticed how confidently these shades were being combined with tactile fabrics, expressive patterns and sculptural furniture. For her, the appeal lay in the richness of the materials and the individuality of the combinations, rather than any single colour trend. Grazzie Wilson, from Ca’ Pietra, also spotted a playful approach, with nostalgic influences appearing alongside unexpected colours, shapes and finishes. “There was a real sense of nostalgia running through the show, from seventies-inspired interiors to some quite theatrical furniture and lighting, but none of it felt like a straight forward trip down memory lane.” Familiar styles are being revisited, but with a contemporary twist. Rather than recreating a period look, designers are mixing references to produce something more personal.
“I really enjoyed Hidden Gems Design which celebrates organic forms and natural materials, combining wood and ceramics to create beautifully understated furniture and objects.” Kate Kitchen, Reverie Interior Design
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HOMES & INTERIORS
Image courtesy of Michelle Oberdieck / Sylvain Deleu
Image courtesy of Lick
“I loved Michèle Oberdieck’s mouth-blown glass vases and lights, which combine beautiful colour, organic shapes and expert craftsmanship to create pieces that feel both playful and sculptural. .” Kate Kitchen, Reverie Interior Design
“Lick focused on how spaces are shaped by feeling, memory, and personal connection rather than fleeting colour trends.” Katherine Raderecht
in contemporary ways. We don’t necessarily need entirely new ideas to create something original; sometimes it’s a matter of reimagining what already exists.
Natural materials and a more thoughtful approach Sustainability was another important strand of the show, although the designers’ comments suggest there is still work to do in translating industry ambitions into everyday client choices. Clair Strong, the Bath-based interior designer, was drawn to bespoke rugs and runners made from undyed goat hair, natural fibres and handwoven textiles. She also admired block-printed papers that celebrate the irregularities of the handmade process. “I think clients will increasingly be looking for sustainability, natural materials and pieces that are made to last. Texture is becoming just as important as colour, and there is something lovely about block-printed papers that embrace imperfections and the character of the handmade.” For Sophie Houdret and Rebecca Field of Manera Interiors, the prominence of natural materials was particularly encouraging. “In a world galloping towards artificial alternatives, it’s refreshing to see the interiors world falling back in love with natural materials – with wood, stone and glass back centre stage.” They believe clients will increasingly want “real materials. Genuine materials. Not copies or synthetics.” Pascale Grenié offered a useful note of caution: she believes designers still need to educate clients about sustainability and responsible choices, which are not yet a priority for everyone. Rhi Thomas of Studio 65 also highlighted the sensory qualities of design, from live demonstrations of woodworking and weaving to organic forms, layered textiles and considered lighting. Sustainability, she suggests, need not mean compromising on ambition: material knowledge, longevity and craftsmanship can become integral to the design itself.
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“Simplicity will become the ultimate luxury.” John Law, Woodhouse and Law
Making room for personality Perhaps the most compelling message from Decorex was that interiors are moving away from the idea that everything must match. This isn’t maximalism for its own sake, but a considered layering of old and new, pattern and texture, and objects that mean something to their owners. Alexandra Hunt describes it as “less throwing everything at a room and hoping for the best, more thoughtful layering of old and new, pattern and texture, and things that actually mean something to the people living there”. Grazzie Wilson shares this view, predicting that people will become less concerned about whether every element belongs to the same style or era. “The spaces that really catch your attention tend to have something slightly unexpected about them,” she says. Kate Kitchen expects clients to become more confident about mixing pieces they already own and love with carefully chosen new additions. Clair Strong sees a similar appetite for bespoke rugs, cushions, furniture and artworks that make a home feel personal rather than assembled from a coordinated collection, and adds, “I think we’re moving towards homes that feel collected and personal, where the things we choose have meaning. It is about embracing character and individuality rather than trying to make everything perfect.”
Continued page 70
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HOMES & INTERIORS
“Embrace imperfections and the character of the handmade.” Clair Strong
be a defining element of luxury, with technology integrated carefully to make everyday life easier rather than more complicated. As he puts it, “simplicity will become the ultimate luxury”. The goal is a home that feels good to live in, not simply one that looks impressive.
The future is personal This feels particularly relevant in Bath, where period properties, inherited furniture and contemporary design can sit happily together. A room doesn’t have to be finished in one go, and not every object needs to have been bought to fit a scheme.
One statement can be enough Individuality doesn’t necessarily mean filling a room with competing patterns and colours. Sophie Houdret and Rebecca Field of Manera Interiors were excited by oversized statement pieces, from lighting to tapestries and vases. Their approach is simple: invest in one exceptional piece and allow it to take centre stage. John Law of interior design studio Woodhouse and Law sees a similar emphasis on considered choices, particularly around wellness and functionality. He expects bespoke spaces for relaxation, from home saunas to dedicated wellness areas, to become increasingly important. “Organic materials and bespoke spaces for relaxation – from home saunas and spas to dedicated wellness zones – will become increasingly integral to residential design.” John also anticipates warm, pink-based neutrals providing a backdrop for stronger colour and lustrous finishes. But he believes simplicity will
Image courtesy of Jonathan Taylor
“ I love Marthe Armitage’s beautiful block-printed papers, which celebrate the charm of the handmade. The subtle irregularities and hand-drawn details give each design its own character and individuality.” Clair Strong, Clair Strong Interior Design
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My biggest takeaway from Decorex was that the most interesting interiors aren’t necessarily those that follow trends most closely. They are the ones that combine materials, craftsmanship and personal objects in ways that feel instinctive and individual. Rhi Thomas believes the industry may be ready to move beyond the influence of digital inspiration and trust personal judgement a little more. Alexandra Hunt’s call for “more individuality, more colour, more craftsmanship” captures the same spirit. Decorex will always be a place to discover new products and ideas, but its real value lies in the conversations it creates between designers and makers. As Jamie and Tom of Divine Savages put it: “Less perfection, more personality – and we’re absolutely here for it!” The future of interiors may involve richer colours, natural materials and beautifully crafted objects, but the bigger shift is towards choosing things because we love them, because they work for us and because we want to live with them for years to come. n Decorex returns to Olympia London on 10–13 October 2027. decorex.com
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GARDENING
Making the cut Step-over apple trees and yew topiary at The Newt in Somerset
W
hen I moved to my current house over a decade ago, I remember asking to borrow a ladder from my parents in order to cut back a large wisteria. My father offered to do it for me and I left him to it, then was gobsmacked to see he’d reduced it to almost nothing – just a bare, stumpy framework of knobbly stems. Despite my initial shock, the same wisteria grew back rampantly and continues to do so on a regular basis after its twice-yearly prunings. Many of us are reactive in our pruning, waiting until a plant has outgrown its allotted space and is blocking a window, gate or pathway before we take action. Cutting back and hoping for the best is certainly one method of pruning (and one I’m often guilty of in my own garden if something doesn’t look great and I don’t want to wait). Unpruned trees, shrubs and climbers can end up tall and unruly, heading for the light and all the flowers appearing at the top, too high to enjoy. Climbers can become a tangle of woody stems, half of which are dead. While most plants are quite forgiving of a cut at the wrong time or in the wrong place, armed with a bit of knowledge, pruning becomes a relatively easy and satisfying task that that can make a huge difference to your garden’s appearance, health and productivity. As we come into the dormant winter season, there are lots of plants that can be cut back now. Cutting back while dormant lessens the risk of sap oozing or ‘bleeding’ from the wound, which can then attract pests and weaken the plant. Waiting until shrubs and trees have dropped their leaves also means you can see the framework and assess the shape more easily, revealing dead, dying and damaged stems that need removing. There are 72 THEBATHMAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 285
There are lots of plants that can be cut back now, writes Elly West, who shares her top tips on when and how to prune for the best results...
lots of reasons that we prune. Often it is simply to limit a plant’s overall size, but we also do it to encourage productivity of flowers and fruit. If a bush has become dense with old stems, you’re usually safe to cut some away at the base to reduce congestion and allow more air to circulate, and to encourage new and more vigorous growth. As well as dead or diseased stems, which should be removed as soon as you see them, crossing stems that are rubbing against each other should also be cut back. Rubbing stems can cause the bark to break, and provides a potential entry point for pests and diseases. Pruning is also carried out to improve a plant’s appearance. As well as keeping shrubs neat and tidy, at the far end of the scale is the careful shaping of topiary, pleached trees, or training fruit trees in a decorative way such as an espalier or cordon against a wall. One of my favourite pruning tasks is to crown-lift a dense shrub or tree that has become a green blob, by removing all the lower branches and raising its canopy, often revealing beautiful twisting branches and stems in the process, and providing more space at ground level for underplanting. If in doubt about when to prune a plant, then knowing whether flowers appear on new or old shoots is a good starting point. Plants that flower in summer on new growth can generally be cut back quite hard in winter, although it might be best to wait until late winter or early spring for some, such as hydrangeas and clematis, to avoid frost damage. Shrub roses can have a light prune now, but harder pruning is best left until later in winter once the risk of severe frosts has diminished. Buddleia, climbing roses, wisteria, grape vines, acers, birches, apples, pears and lavatera can all be pruned in winter from November onwards.
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GARDENING
Plant of the month: Euonymus Some plants flower on older wood made the previous summer. These tend to bloom earlier in the year, such as forsythia, lilac, viburnum, azalea and weigela. These should be cut back soon after the flowers fade in late-spring or summer. If you prune them now, the plant will recover, but you’ll be cutting away next year’s flower buds. Also avoid pruning plum or cherry trees now, as they are susceptible to silver leaf disease, which sheds its spores in autumn and can enter through cuts in the wood. Apples and pears can be cut back now however, to encourage an open framework and remove whippy shoots that take energy away from next year’s fruit production. Avoid pruning more than 20% of the tree each year. Whatever you are pruning, always use sharp, clean tools and avoid tearing or splitting the stems. Loppers, a pruning saw and a pair of secateurs will tackle the majority of pruning tasks. Wear heavy duty gloves to avoid scratches and, when making a cut, try to do it just above a bud or side stem that’s ideally pointing in the direction that you want the future growth to take. Cut the stem at an angle, sloping away from the bud so that water doesn’t run on to it. It's also a good time for cutting back dead perennials and having a general clear up around the garden readying it for winter. However, leaving some old growth until early spring, especially plants with attractive seed heads and stems, will benefit wildlife during the colder months providing shelter and valuable food sources. n Elly West is a professional garden designer, working in and around the Bristol area | ellyswellies.co.uk
This colourful and versatile shrub sits quietly in many a garden, often unnoticed and not really talked about. However, it’s a tough allrounder that is fully deserving of some appreciation, particularly the evergreen varieties that bring year-round colour, interest and screening, often as a backdrop to more flamboyant summer plants. Euonymus has lots of attractive variegated forms, including ‘Silver Carpet’, ‘Emerald Gaiety’, ‘Harlequin’ and ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’. White and green ‘Silver Queen’ is one of my favourites for a shady corner against a fence or wall, where it will take on a climbing habit without becoming invasive in the way that ivy can. Euonymus are tough and respond well to pruning, so can also be used as low hedging. Dark-green, small-leaved ‘Jean Hughes’ or ‘Green Spire’ (which are extremely similar) make a good alternative to box hedging, now that box blight and box caterpillar are so rife in the south-west. Euonymus aren’t particularly fussy about soil or aspect and the lower-growing forms also make good ground cover on a slope, or around rockeries.
ELLY’S WELLIES GARDEN DESIGNS Turning your ideas into
beautiful spaces Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs will help you to maximise your outdoor space and tailor it to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for a complete redesign or just need advice on what to plant, contact Elly West for a free initial consultation.
ellywellies@gmail.com 07788 640934 www.ellyswellies.co.uk THEBATHMAG.CO.UK | NOVEMBER 2026 | THEBATHMAGAZINE 73
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PROPERTY
When ‘perfect’ isn’t perfect: the compromises worth making when buying a home By Peter Greatorex
A
sk most buyers what they are looking for and, understandably, they will have a list. The right number of bedrooms, a goodsized garden, off-street parking, a utility room or a big kitchen where everyone can gather. Perhaps a separate sitting room, a playroom, space for guests and, increasingly, somewhere to exercise or work from home. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you want. In fact, I would always encourage buyers to think carefully about what really matters to them before they start looking. However, there is a danger that, somewhere along the way, a wish list becomes a checklist, and a perfectly good home gets discounted because it does not tick every box from day one. After many years of showing people around properties, I think one of the most useful things a buyer can do is separate their genuine nonnegotiables from the things they would simply like to have. For many families, those non-negotiables will be fairly obvious. You may need three or four bedrooms, to be within a particular school catchment or a sensible distance of work. If you have young children or a dog, a garden might be essential. In some parts of Bath, parking will be high on the list too. These are the things to be realistic about because, in many cases, you cannot change them. You can replace a kitchen, but you cannot move a house to a different street. If parking is essential to the way your family lives, falling in love with a house where you will spend the next ten years circling the streets looking for a space probably is not the wisest compromise. Once you know what you genuinely cannot compromise on, however, it pays to become much more open-minded about everything else. Instead of asking whether a house has everything you want now, ask whether it has the potential to give you those things in the future. Perhaps the kitchen is not the big, open-plan family space you had imagined, but could it become one? Could a wall eventually come down to connect it to the dining room? Maybe there is no dedicated home office, but could there be space for one in the garden? Perhaps the loft could provide another bedroom or a garage offer future potential. Not every opportunity requires a major renovation either. Older houses in particular can have strangely proportioned rooms. Could fitted wardrobes be repositioned or reversed to give some space from an oversized principal bedroom to a smaller neighbouring room? Could part of that bedroom become an ensuite? It is surprising what can be achieved by looking at the space differently.
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There is also an important distinction between the things that are difficult to see past and the things that are difficult to change. An outdated kitchen may dominate your first impression, but ultimately it can be replaced. Good proportions, natural light, privacy, an attractive outlook or a garden that catches the evening sun are much harder, and sometimes impossible, to create. My advice is to concentrate on buying the things you cannot add later. You can install the kitchen or create the utility room. You cannot add another two feet to the ceiling height or pick the house up and move it to a better street. Budget comes into this too. There is something to be said for not paying a premium for somebody else's idea of perfection. If you have £800,000 to spend, there may be merit in looking at a £725,000 or £750,000 property that gets the fundamentals right and leaves money available to make changes over time. Clearly, you need to understand what any work is likely to cost and whether it is feasible before buying. However, if you plan to change the kitchen in five years anyway, or have little use for the immaculate home gym, your money may be better spent on a house with the fundamentals you want and the scope to create the rest yourself. It is also worth remembering that our needs change. A playroom becomes a study. A garden office becomes somewhere for teenagers to escape to. The loft you do not need today might provide the extra bedroom you need five years from now. A good home should have the ability to evolve with you. I sometimes wonder whether we are asking too much of our homes from the outset. Particularly since the pandemic, and with the rise of social media, our houses have been expected to become offices, gyms, entertainment spaces and sanctuaries as well as somewhere to live. We are constantly shown beautiful homes with enormous kitchen islands, boot rooms, pantries, dressing rooms and perfectly organised utility rooms. Things that were once luxuries can very quickly start to feel like necessities, but we are buying homes to live in, not photographs. A beautiful boot room is little consolation if having it means compromising on the street, outlook or location that mattered far more in the first place. One exercise I often suggest is reducing the wish list to just three genuine non-negotiables. If you could only choose three things your next home absolutely had to have, what would they be? Those are the things to hold firm on. Everything else should at least be open to discussion. In truth, without an unlimited budget, very few homes will deliver absolutely everything, in exactly the right proportions, location and at exactly the right price. The trick is not to abandon your wish list, but to understand which parts of it really matter. Sometimes the right home is not the one that is perfect when you walk through the door. It is the one with the potential to become perfect for you.
4 Queen Street, Bath, BA1 1HE | 01225 263559 info@petergreatorex.co.uk | www.petergreatorex.co.uk
Cobb Farr PIF.qxp_PIF Full Page 21/10/2026 13:38 Page 1
PROPERTY | HOMEPAGE
A rare opportunity to buy a beautiful, unique and unlisted home in St Catherine Valley, a picturesque location close to Bath. Approached along a quiet country lane, South View is set within the peaceful rolling hills and unspoilt countryside of the St Catherine Valley, which lies within the Cotswold National Landscape (AONB), just 3.5 miles from the UNESCO Heritage City of Bath. The house has been renovated and extended recently to provide beautifully presented accommodation that maximises the uninterrupted views over its stunning setting. Originally a smallholding cottage with outbuildings, built in the late 1800s, the house has been thoughtfully transformed into a five bedroomed family home with comfortable, airy living spaces. The house enjoys an elevated position looking down over the terraces and beautiful gardens to the east and the south. An extensive lawned area below the terraces accommodates a selection of mature specimen trees including a large magnolia, weeping willow, paperbark maple, Japanese acers and a Cox’s apple tree. The garden is bordered by hazel, holly and laurel on one side and a long, manicured yew and privet hedge on the lane side. A small brook feeds a large pond at the bottom of the garden. Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332 37 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; Tel: 01225 866111
St Catherine, Bath • Stunning views • Recently renovated and extended • 5 generous bedrooms, 2 with ensuite facilities • Beautiful kitchen/dining room • 2 further reception rooms • Large terraced and lawned gardens, facing east and south
OIEO £1,750,000
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Brokerswood, Westbury £1,225,000 Set in approximately 1.55 acres of mature, manicured level gardens and paddock, this beautiful farmhouse offers flexible accommodation boasting 6 bedrooms in total, self-contained annexe, ensuite facilities, ample parking and offered with no onward chain. • • • • • •
Approximately 1.55 acre plot Superb decorative order Flexible layout Self contained annexe Paddock and workshop and parking Fine rural views in a tranquil location
01225 333332 | 01225 866111
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St James’s Square, Bath £425,000 A pretty and generously proportioned one-bedroom ground-floor apartment located in arguably one of Bath’s finest addresses. The property overlooks a beautiful Georgian square and is within 5 minutes’ walk of Bath city centre. • • • • •
beautiful Grade I listed townhouse Impressive open plan space Large bay window to the front Handsome period fireplace Pretty double bedroom with a lovely period fireplace
Lansdown Crescent, Bath £450,000 An immaculately presented and beautifully proportioned 2 bedroom top floor apartment located in a fine Grade I listed Georgian Crescent enjoying wonderful far reaching southerly views and easy access to Bathcity centre. • • • • •
Elegant and beautifully maintained townhouse Tastefully decorated communal areas Grade I listed Georgian Crescent Handsome solid wood flooring Large open plan living and dining area
Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire 01225 333332 | 01225 866111
Leigh Road, Bradford on Avon
SYDNEY BUILDINGS, Bath, BA2
Guide Price £1,850,000
Set in a prime Bath location, this elegant Grade II listed Georgian townhouse combines period charm with a wonderfully peaceful canalside setting. Offering beautifully proportioned and flexible accommodation, the property enjoys spectacular views across the city towards Bath Abbey. A particular highlight is the enchanting, mature garden, with its secluded terraces, established borders and steps leading down towards the canal, creating an idyllic retreat just moments from the heart of the city. EPC D, Council Tax Band G. 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 3 Receptions | Canalside Garden | Tenure: Freehold
Bath and Rural Estate Agents 36 Gay Street, Bath, Somerset BA1 2NT 01225 320032 | www. bathandrural.com
KINGFISHER BARN, St Catherine, BA1
Offers in Excess of £1,250,000
Nestled at the top of the picturesque St Catherine’s Valley, just minutes from Bath, Kingfisher Barn is an exceptional stone barn conversion surrounded by glorious countryside. Beautifully converted and finished to a high specification, this distinctive home offers generous, versatile accommodation arranged around a delightful sheltered courtyard. Combining rustic character with contemporary comforts, the property also benefits from a spacious principal suite, extensive entertaining spaces and private parking. EPC E, Council Tax Band H. 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 3 Receptions | Outbuilding | Courtyard Garden | Tenure: Freehold
ENTRY HILL, Bath, BA2
Guide Price £950,000
Dating from around 1850, Dorchester Lodge is a substantial detached Victorian residence occupying approximately one-third of an acre on Bath’s desirable southern slopes. Rich in period character, the property boasts impressive proportions, high ceilings and a magnificent central staircase, alongside generous and flexible family accommodation. Mature, secluded gardens, complete with a natural spring, provide a tranquil setting, while a detached double garage and ample parking. EPC D, Council Tax Band G. 5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 3 Receptions | Double Garage | Gardens | Tenure: Freehold
Bath and Rural Estate Agents 36 Gay Street, Bath, Somerset BA1 2NT 01225 320032 | www. bathandrural.com
Properties For Sale See our latest available properties Marshfield • Guide Price: £1,275,000
This exceptional newly converted barn conversion is part of the Andrews Yard development set within the highly desirable Cotswold village of Marshfield. Award winning Ashford Homes have thoughtfully designed this home for modern living, offering flexible accommodation over two floors. off-street parking, a dedicated EV charging point. Freehold, EPC rating C, Council tax band TBC.
North Stoke, Bath • Guide Price: £725,000
An immaculately presented three/four bedroom detached dormer bungalow situated in the desirable village of North Stoke. The property offers well balanced, flexible, light and airy accommodation with landscaped gardens, garden studio, driveway parking and garaging. Freehold, EPC Rating D, Council Tax Band E.
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Bath • Guide Price £750,000
Bath • 2 Bed, 1 Bath, £1,800p/m
LET AGR EED
Stylish apartment within a prestigious period building, set in beautifully maintained gardens and ideally located in central Bath, providing an attractive and comfortable home.
Bath • 3 Bed, 2 Bath, £2,500p/m A stunning end of terrace townhouse situated within the desirable Crest Nicholson Riverside Development.The property is presented to the highest standard throughout, with light, flexible living accommodation spread across four floors. Complete with a low maintenance garden and two allocated parking bays. Freehold, EPC Rating D, Council Tax Band E.
Hanover Street, Bath • Offers in excess of £475,000 TO LET
Elegant apartment within a Grade I Listed townhouse, featuring high-quality fittings, period details, abundant natural light and expansive southerly views to the rear.
Shoscombe • 3 Bed, 1 Bath, £1,800p/m
LET AGR EED
An immaculately presented two double bedroom period home offered to the market with No Onward Chain. The house boasts well balanced, flexible accommodation set over three floors along with a level rear garden and driveway parking. Freehold, Council Tax Band C, EPC Rating D.
ALEX WHITE
LISA H E AT H
N ATA S H A EASEN
Head of Sales
Head of Lettings
K AT E P R I S TO
BETH P E R RY
EMILY STOPFORTH
GLENN P E R RY
CAROLINE ELLAM
KAREN H A AG
Beautifully renovated village cottage blending period charm with modern touches, offering fabulous countryside scenery and easy access to picturesque walks, ideal for village life.
SIMONA H E A L OVA
LILLIE B U RTO N
01225 481010 | 0117 3291400 happytohelp@zestlovesproperty.com zestlovesproperty.com Bath Branch: 1a Mile End, London Rd, Bath, BA1 6PT
JESS ROX B U R G
PORSCHIA STEADMAN
YA S M I N SANLI
L OT T I E BARNSLEY
DUNCAN TYLER
MARISHA E M I LY FILER MCDONA L D
C RY S TA L DAV I E S
YA N L I N YU
MIA P E L L OW
Bristol Branch: Clifton Village, 4A Waterloo Street, Bristol, BS8 4BT
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