Bath Life – Issue 545

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ISSUE 545 / SPRING 2026 / COR, STRENGTH!

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QUITE THE FLEX!

CaliUnity gym wins, not one but two, Bath Life Awards

THE NEW T IN SOMERSET; W W W.THENEW TINSOMERSET.COM

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PHOTO BY NARR ATED FR AMES; W W W.NARR ATED FR AMES

EDITOR’S LETTER

hank goodness spring has sprung, bringing with it new energy, a blossoming hope and the promise of a little more lightness in our lives. And we have a beautiful, bouncy new issue to reflect just that. From our flexible CaliUnity friends on the cover, who just happened to win both the Health and Wellbeing Award as well as the ultimate prize of the Platinum Award at this year’s Bath Life Awards (page 15) to insightful and inspirational advice from our local experts on how to create a garden for all your needs (70), we’re here for the good times.

We also have one of my favourite features of the year – a guide to the best fests in the West. Whether you like things edgy, informative, muddy or dry, operatic or dancey, there’s a whole plethora to choose from, starting over on page 52. (I’m already trying to work out if I can fit in Shindig, WOMAD, We Out Here, and End of the Road this summer, and that’s on top of attending the upcoming must-do local events like Bath Festivals and Queer Bath).

Another of my favourite things is lovely pubs. I also like eating out, and tales of community success. Well, hello there, Hop Pole Inn (page 62). The story of the Limpley Stoke boozer is a pretty exceptional one and one that will stay with me. It embodies so much that is positive about this region, and also happens to have been another Bath Life Award winner this year. So now, on top of my busy festival schedule, I have another visit here to plan. As the saying goes, no rest for the wickedly lucky magazine editor!

SARAH MOOLLA

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two views, one exceptional lifestyle Exploring contrasting family homes above the city and beyond the skyline in Bath

There are few places in the country where landscape, architecture and lifestyle intertwine as effortlessly as they do in Bath. From the honeycoloured elegance of Georgian terraces to the bold confidence of contemporary rural design, the area offers remarkable variety for families seeking both beauty and practicality.

In this month’s property spotlight, our boutique agency presents two outstanding homes priced above £1 million each with expansive views, each designed for modern

family living, yet each offering a very different interpretation of what “home” can be. One sits proudly on the upper slopes of Bath Camden, within walking distance of the city’s cultural heart. The other rests in the peaceful hamlet of Kingsdown, Box, just six miles from Bath’s outskirts, where architecture meets open countryside in striking style.

Both are exceptional.

The choice lies in the lifestyle you envision.

Bath Camden | Georgian Living Near the City The Firs Guide Price: £1,500,000 A handsome Grade II Georgian seven-bedroom family home set on the desirable upper slopes of Bath Camden, combining elegant period architecture with generous living space. Rich in original features, including high ceilings and sash windows, the property enjoys elevated panoramic views across the city.

With the added benefit of garage parking and a location less than one mile’s walk from Bath city centre, it offers a rare blend of heritage, convenience and family practicality.

Branches at - Batheaston, Bear Flat, Camden/Larkhall

Kingsdown, Box | Contemporary Design in the Countryside The Tree House Guide Price: £1,150,000 A striking four-bedroom contemporary home set in the peaceful village of Kingsdown, Box, blending bold modern architecture with a warm, design-led interior. The property centres around a dramatic vaulted ceiling with an exposed oak frame, creating a light-filled living space reminiscent of an art gallery meets Scandinavian chalet.

Surrounded by open countryside views and located approximately six miles from Bath city centre, it offers privacy, tranquillity and a distinctive modern lifestyle within easy reach of the city.

camella.co.uk

PHOTO BY ROY NEWPORT; INSTAGR AM @ROYNEWPORT

COVER The CaliUnity gym team with their Bath Life Awards, photographed by Narrated Frames; www.narratedframes.com

BATH LIFE AWARDS

15 WINNERS & BTS All the action from the city’s best night out

THE ARTS

PHOTO BY BENEDICT CAMPBELL.

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Issue 545 / Spring 2026

45 ARTS INTRO Maggie O’Farrell is headed to The Forum 46 WHAT’S ON People to see, places to go 48 CULTURE CLUB The arty picks of Rebecca Collingwood 51 FILMS What’s big at The Little 52 FESTIVALS The best of the fests

FOOD & DRINK

62 RESTAURANT Inspiration is served at the Hop Pole Inn 65 NEWS FEED Nuggets from the foodie scene

52 62

LIFESTYLE

68 GARDENS The Newt’s new horticultural celebration 70 HOMES How to ‘zone’ your outdoor space 83 EDUCATION The importance of choosing the right school

NETWORK

85 NETWORK LEAD Bath Life Network Lunch with Andrew

Gordon-Brown of Kingswood School

90 NETWORK NEWS News, views and interviews 93 BIZ Q&A Phillip Bolton of Goughs Solicitors 95 CAREER PATH Toni&Guy Bath salon owner Catherine Hodges

PROPERTY

101 PROPERTY LEAD RIBA recognition for local builds 108 SHOWCASE Explore the darling Darlington Place

DEPARTMENTS

13 SPOTLIGHT Shining a light on the positive 41 FLATLINE Flats is not green with envy 106 BATH LIVES Meet Dr Amy Jeffs

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Victoria Bond, Elsie Chadwick, David Flatman, Ella Killbourn, John Mather and Nick Woodhouse Commercial director Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@mediaclash.co.uk Business development executive Ruby Coburn ruby.coburn@mediaclash.co.uk Production and distribution manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane. ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Media House, 1 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT. tel: 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk. Instagram @TheMediaClash ©All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath and Bristol.

Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 11

SPOTLIGHT

The Bath Abbey St Alphege window design by Neil Ireson

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Bath Abbey has successfully raised £90,000 to create a new stained glass window honouring Bath-born Saint Alphege, reaching its fundraising target after launching an appeal in July 2025. The project, supported by congregation members, visitors, Bathonians, trusts and foundations, local philanthropists and appeal sponsor Mogers Drewett LLP, will celebrate the life and legacy of the former Abbot of Bath Abbey and Archbishop of Canterbury.

Renowned Bath-based stained glass artist Neil Ireson has been commissioned to design and create the window for the Alphege Chapel, a popular space for prayer among international visitors with installation scheduled for winter.

For more: www.bathabbey.org

GO FOR GOLD

Medal winner Dimitri Coutya

Paralympic champion Dimitri Coutya enjoyed a golden treble at the recent Para Fencing World Cup in Budapest, winning all three of his individual events. The University of Bath-based star dropped just eight hits en route to Category B foil gold, before adding epee and sabre titles on consecutive days. Teammate Piers Gilliver, who also trains at Team Bath’s Sports Training Village, also struck gold, topping the Category A epee podium after a strong run capped by a 15-9 victory over China’s Liqiang Chen.

For more: www.teambath.com

The former England and Liverpool striker paid a surprise visit to Larkhall Athletic Youth FC

HOME TURF Representatives from Alice Park Trust, Bath Urban Trees, B&NES, and care-experienced young people join the ‘offspring’ planting ceremony; inset: The Sycamore Gap tree as it originally stood

NEW ROOTS

A rare sapling grown from the mighty Sycamore Gap tree, which stood beside Hadrian’s Wall before being illegally felled in 2023, has been planted in Alice Park, Bath. The young tree is one of 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ cultivated by the National Trust and gifted to communities across the UK. Alice Park Trust successfully applied for the sapling, now named the ‘Tree of Life’ and have now dedicated it to children and young people living in care or with care experience.

Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian’s Wall properties, says, “It’s incredible to think that the first ‘offspring’ of this very famous tree are now being planted – it feels like just yesterday that those tentative first shoots appeared. Over the next couple of years, the saplings will really start to take shape, and because sycamores are so hardy, we’re confident they’ll be able to withstand a range of conditions.”

For more: www.bathnes.gov.uk | www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Peter Crouch paid a surprise visit to Larkhall Athletic Youth FC in Bath as part of a new nationwide M&S Food campaign to boost nutrition in grassroots football. The former England and Liverpool striker joined a training session and Q&A with young players before heading to the club’s snack shack, where he helped prepare a high‑protein recovery smoothie alongside M&S senior nutritionist Sophia Thistlethwaite.

The visit also honoured long‑serving volunteer Doreen Gilbert, who has fed generations of players over more than 20 years, and in that time, seen the club grow from a small field to a modern 4G pitch.

For more: www.marksandspencer.com

Volunteer Doreen Gilbert, M&S senior nutritionist Sophia Thistlethwaite and Peter Crouch

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PHOTO BY ADAM CLUT TERBUCK; W W W.ADAMCLUT TERBUCKPHOTOGR APHY.COM

BATH LIFE AWARDS

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BATH SHINES

The biggest and best of our city’s celebrations, the Bath Life Awards, returns for its 21st year to entertain you

obbie Williams singing, David Flatman joshing, and 23 winners announced – yes, it was the brilliant, dazzling and entertaining Bath Life Awards at The Forum with its biggest attendance yet – demonstrating for the 21st year why Bath really is the best city in the world.

A showcase of enterprise, community, talent and friendship, the prestigious Awards had everything – much-loved regulars, a glittering Art Deco city-centre venue, a powerhouse headline sponsor (big thanks to Truespeed!), rising local stars, and an astounding parade of everyday people doing truly exceptional things. There was also the sparkling gowns, beaming smiles, champagne toasts, feel-good energy, and pure positivity.

Guiding us through the evening was rugby legend, TV presenter, podcaster extraordinaire and brilliant Bath Life columnist David Flatman, aided and abetted by MediaClash’s own chief exec Greg Ingham, who co-hosted with warmth, verve, and a Robbie Williams singalong, carrying the crowd through a tide of speeches, standing ovations, laughter, tears and thunderous applause. There was also an emotional moment when we paid tribute to a long-standing friend of the magazine, the late talented artist, photographer, and designer Jason Dorley-Brown who will be very much missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Every high, every hug, and every emotional moment has been

captured by the laser-focussed photographers, Adam Clutterbuck, Roy Newport and Narrated Frames, for both this magazine and online. If you don’t see yourself in the imagery on the following pages, do check the individual photographers’ websites.

The night was such a high that we could be forgiven for thinking the only way down was home to bed after that. But as we all know, Bath’s movers and shakers are made of tougher stuff – and the celebrations simply shifted gear as the afterparty rolled on into the early hours at Sub13.

Enormous thanks go to our brilliant winners, of course, but just as much gratitude is owed to our fantastic judges, to everyone who made the shortlist, and to the wonderful crowd who came along to share it all – you’re all stars, each and every one of you. And if you’ve not yet experienced this legendary night for yourself, we hope the joyful, vibrant coverage over the next 11 pages will be the nudge you need to join the party next time.

Because while Bath can rightly boast a breathtakingly elegant setting, a rich and storied past, and an exciting future ahead, the city would be nothing without the people who are here right now – living, working, achieving, supporting and loving this place. Here’s to all of us, and to next year, when we’ll gather to do it all again.

For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

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CATEGORY WINNERS

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BAR & PUB Sponsored by

CHARITY

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EMPLOYER

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HAIR & BEAUTY

WINNER:

JUICE RECRUITMENT

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B HAIRDRESSING

EVENT

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ROBBIE WILLIAMS LIVE IN CONCERT AT THE ROYAL CRESCENT

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LEGAL & FINANCIAL Sponsored by

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LEGENDS

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NEW BUSINESS

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AGM PLANNING CONSULTANTS

18 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

LEISURE & TOURISM Sponsored by

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RETAILER Sponsored by

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PHOTOS BY ROY NEWPORT; INSTAGRAM @ROYNEWPORT

AWARDS 2026 If you attended but can’t see yourself on these pages, don’t forget to check out the Bath Life Awards website, under the ‘gallery’ section, to see all the gorgeous pictures taken on the night

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PHOTOS BY ROY NEWPORT; INSTAGRAM @ROYNEWPORT

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PHOTOS BY NARRATED FRAMES; WWW.NARRATEDFRAMES.COM

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PHOTOS BY ADAM CLUTTERBUCK; WWW.ADAMCLUTTERBUCKPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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BATH LIFE AWARDS

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PHOTOS BY ADAM CLUTTERBUCK; WWW.ADAMCLUTTERBUCKPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

GOVERNANCE ISN’T JUST FOR BIG COMPANIES

It’s a smart move for every business owner says director MARIE-CLAIRE TIVEY GOOD GOVERNANCE ISN’T JUST FOR BIG BUSINESS

Most small business owners think governance is something to worry about later once the company is bigger, more complex, or ready to ‘look more corporate.’ It’s an easy assumption to make, but it’s one that quietly leaves growing businesses exposed to risks that are entirely avoidable.

Here’s the truth: governance isn’t about boardrooms or box-ticking. It’s about knowing who makes decisions, how those decisions get made and making sure the business you’ve worked hard to build is protected as it grows.

YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ELEMENTS OF GOVERNANCE…YOU JUST HAVEN’T CALLED IT THAT In owner-led businesses, governance shows up every day whether recognised or not. It’s in how you assign responsibility, how you structure ownership and how you record the decisions that matter. When those things are clear, businesses move faster and with greater

“GOVERNANCE ISN’T ABOUT BOARDROOMS OR BOX-TICKING. IT’S ABOUT KNOWING WHO MAKES DECISIONS”

confidence. When they’re murky, problems tend to stay hidden until they’re not, at which point you have an unexpected problem!

Many businesses run well on trust and informal arrangements, especially in the early years.

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AWARDS 2027

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FLAT LINE

“In our current garden, I could cut the lawn with kitchen scissors”

The grass is greener You can keep your acres of rolling countryside, says Flats, but he’ll keep his dreams of a ride-on mower

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s much as we love living in town – and we really do – there remains in this thickly-boned head a dream that sees me slathered in suncream, cold cider in hand, rolling at low speed around my large garden on a ride-on mower. I love the idea of an almost hidden area in which I’ll put a rusty little bistro table and chairs for those blissful morning coffees together. There are visions of the children sprinting and darting about like spaniels, kicking and chasing footballs.

In our current garden, I reckon I could cut the lawn with kitchen scissors in the time it would take to refuel my imaginary ride-on. I say ‘lawn,’ about a third of it has no actual grass to speak of, such is the shade cast by nearby, neatlypacked houses. And it has to be acknowledged that I have indeed lived the life mentioned in the paragraph above. I have lived it, and I am, I think, looking back at it through green-tinted glasses. The suncreamy cidery lawn mowing I did do and I did really love, but the location of said home meant that, ultimately, it was move into town or spend 23 hours a day in the car.

What this now means is that a huge amount more thought has to go into how we lay out our city garden in order to get the most out of it. For

lots of the year our modest lawn is wetter than a beaver’s toenails and simply cannot be trodden on by anything heavier than an adolescent wren, unless you want to disappear up to your knees in Bath mud. This makes even walking to our little shed the sort of mission that requires multiple footwear options, lots of odd tiptoeing, and much mud being brought back into the house.

We’ve looked at fake grass (I’m sure the experts call it something else but let’s stop mucking about. That’s like the bloke who asked me if I wanted ‘cow’s milk’ in my flat white just this morning. It’s just milk, chief) but that’s been ruled out by both my wife and by the lovely lady who helped originally to sort our garden, Rosie Nottage. I trust her taste implicitly. She did warn me that grass may struggle to grow in certain places and that we should consider an extra ‘breakout’ patio. I ignored her, and here we bloody are. We’re now looking at an extra breakout patio instead of mud and can’t wait to pay for it now that everything is twice as expensive as it was then…

Folks of course have different priorities when it comes to gardens, but ours are eating and playing. I love to cook outdoors whenever I can, and I love to eat said food out there, too.

My wife and daughters not being 20-stone

bookends, though, means that all too often it is deemed too cold to do so. That’s why I often eat my Deliveroos in the garden when I’m home alone. It’s a thing.

And we want our kids to play out there. They will never reach full speed in our garden, of course, but we do what we can. We have an outdoor kitchen, a patio for scooters and trikes, a small sauna (not as posh as it sounds, by the way), flower beds and some lawn on which to inflate a cheap and nasty paddling pool during the 12 minutes a year that the ground is dry enough to cope.

With the massive garden from the aforementioned former life, no thought really had to be given to space or what might be compromised by one suggested feature or another. Go for it. Whack it in. But with a far smaller space comes a far greater responsibility to think around any changes. This can all be fun – and I’m indeed excited about a little mudproof footpath leading the way to a new patio (we got our original stone from Boniti and will be going back for more – they were lush to deal with) on which we might put a sun lounger or two, just so that we can never use them because they’d be in the shade (my wife is adamant that this is what she wants – mad call).

These little pockets of practicality and fun are enjoyable to create and maintain, and our garden does work for us (well, it will once we’ve paved over the swamp). Does it work as well for us as a couple of acres with multiple patios and some woodland and a pond and lots of flat lawn and maybe even a pool would work for us? No, no it doesn’t. But that’s the town versus countryside thing. It’s a conundrum with no everlasting answer. For now we remain happy and grateful to be where we are, but I’m afraid that won’t stop me looking at ride-on mowers online before I fall asleep at night.

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on X/Twitter @davidflatman and Insta @dflatman

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SING FOR HOPE! There is rarely a dull moment at local charity VOICES FOR LIFE, and with preparations underway to host a massed choir of 250 children at Bath Abbey on the 24th June, the coming months will be no exception

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lready, the children from 7 local schools are learning a broad repertoire of songs ready for the ‘Sing for Hope’ concert, which celebrates 5 years since the music/ wellbeing charity launched. From uplifting favourites such as ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’, to Musical Director Kate Courage’s brand-new composition, it is a performance guaranteed to put smiles on faces.

Yet the fun doesn’t stop there. The children are also enjoying the wellbeing games in their workshops, designed to help them focus on the hopeful things in life. Whether they’re acting out their favourite hobbies or practising positive affirmations in the mirror, each session leaves them feeling more joyful and sure of themselves. As one child in a previous project put it, “When I don’t know what to say, it’s like the songs give me confidence.”

With many children performing on stage for

the first time in their lives, every effort has been made to make it a memorable moment for them and their families. Besides the stunning venue, they will be joined by former BBC presenter Ali Vowles as compere, professional musicians and VFL Young Ambassador Belinda Gifford-Guy (BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2023). The VFL Bath Children’s Choir and the VFL St Michael’s Junior School Choir will also join the fun.

Proceeds from the concert will go to Voices for Life’s fifth anniversary ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal, giving 500 children from under-served areas the chance to take part in its projects.

Performance suitable for any age. Tickets available from voicesforlife.org.uk/events or via the QR code.

New children who would like to sing at the concert are invited to join the Bath Children’s Choir. Book a free taster session here: voicesforlife.org.uk/bath-childrens-choir/ Participating schools: St Michael’s Junior

Church School, St Mary’s Writhlington, Three Ways School, Combe Down Primary School, Oldfield Park Junior School, St Philips Primary School and Paragon Prep School. n

For more on Voices for Life and the work it does visit voicesforlife.org.uk

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A WORLD AWAY, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK Discover the Isles of Scilly, a simple escape to quieter shores and slower days

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here’s a place just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall where everything begins to slow down.

The sea is clearer, the sand feels softer, and the pace of everyday life quietly slips away.

The Isles of Scilly don’t feel like anywhere else in the UK. Think white sand, open skies, quiet lanes - the kind of space that’s increasingly hard to find.

What surprises most people is how easy it is to get there. From Bath, Exeter Airport is a straightforward drive, and from there it’s a short flight across the water. As the islands come into view below, you get that first real sense of leaving the mainland behind.

If you’re heading further west, you can also travel by sea on board Scillonian III sailing from Penzance. It’s a slower, more relaxing way to arrive and a chance to take in the wildlife and iconic Cornish coastline along the way.

Once you’re there, there’s no pressure to do anything in particular. Walk the coast, swim in clear water, hop between islands, or simply find a spot and stay put for a while. It’s less about plans, more about time well spent.

It also pairs naturally with a trip to Cornwall, plan a few days on the mainland, followed by something that feels altogether more remote -

Fly with Skybus from Exeter, Newquay and Land’s End or set sail on Scillonian III from Penzance.

EXCLUSIVE EXETER DISCOUNT Passengers travelling from Exeter can redeem £5 off entry into Exeter Airport’s executive lounge and 10% of online bookings for Exeter Airport parking.

Use code: SKYBUS2026 For more details, visit: islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/skybus/exeter-airport

even just for the day.

And with everything staying within the UK, it’s an easy kind of escape. No longhaul travel, no complicated planning, just a straightforward journey to somewhere that feels a long way from it all...

www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/skybus/ exeter-airport

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 43

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

O’FARRELL LANDS IN BATH Fresh from the red carpet of the Oscars, Maggie O’Farrell is heading to The Forum as part of the Bath Literature Festival to launch her new novel, Land.

The bestselling author, whose acclaimed works include The Marriage Portrait, After You’d Gone and the memoir I Am, I Am, I Am, will be in the city on 1 June following the global success of Hamnet, the multi-prize-winning novel about Shakespeare’s wife, which was adapted into a film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. The movie was nominated for eight Oscars, including Maggie, jointly with director Chloé Zhao, for Best Adapted Screenplay. But the big win was Jessie scooping Best Actress.

Land is set against the mapping of Ireland in the mid‑19th century, and explores family, legacy and place, weaving together buried treasure, overlapping lives and persistent ghosts. The Forum audience will be among the first to have the opportunity to buy the book, which is officially published the following day on 2 June.

For more: www.bathfestivals.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 45

WHAT’S ON

The work of Palestinian photographer Enas Nashif can be seen at Among The Pines until 3 May

11 April – 9 May

EXHIBITIONS Until 3 May

ENAS NASHIF: QUIET CONVERSATIONS Among the Pines gallery, based in Berdoulat, introduces the work of Palestinian photographer Enas Nashif, presenting ten still life images of foods that are inherent in the Palestinian culture. www.amongthepines.gallery

Until 10 May

POSTER POWER! This colourful exhibition showcases an exceptional range of British posters from the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting the spirit of the times, from entertainment and travel to political campaigns and war recruitment. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 10 May

HANDLE WITH CARE A look through the eyes of one of Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary visual artists,

46 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Cornelia Parker, at the historic glass and found objects that inspire her work, which often centres around the themes of destruction, resurrection and reconfiguration.

The Gallery at No.1 Royal Crescent; www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk

Until 19 September

REIMAGININGS Shaped by her upbringing in London and her mixed Singaporean and British heritage, sculptural artist Hannah Lim works with materials including polymer clay, wood, and metal to create playful sculptures that explore mythology, history, and personal reflections on identity. The Museum of East Asian Art; www.meaa.org.uk

Until 21 June

KITH & KIN: THE QUILTS OF GEE’S BEND A celebration of the extraordinary work of a group of African American women from a remote river island community in Alabama, which embodies a 200-year

tradition of making quilts that hold both profound artistic and political significance. American Museum & Gardens; www.americanmuseum.org

18 April

Until 26 April

BATHAMPTON ART GROUP First established in 1968 by local artist Jack Bryant, the collective now consists of three separate weekly art groups. They have come together for their spring exhibition with more than 120 pieces of work on display. Bathampton Village Hall; www.bathamptonart.com

Until 26 September

WALCOT TEXTILERS: A CELEBRATION OF PRINT The pop-up exhibition at 62 Pulteney Street features four local textile designers who met at Bath College: June Wagstaff, Charlotte Maxwell, Bee Burt, and Clare Walsh. Work is available to view and purchase. email: clpbrown@gmail.com

BODYSCAPES Judith Brenner is contemporary abstract artist who specialises in figurative art and celebrates gesture, movement and the poetry of line, using the notion of alchemy to respond to her environment and life experiences. Roseberry Road Studios; www.roseberryroadstudios.com WORLDS APART: RARE EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHINA AND BATH It might seem that the cities of Shanghai and Bath stood ‘worlds apart’ around the late 1820s to 1839, as photography was just beginning, but these two collections draw interesting parallels and place them together in surprising ways. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution; www.brlsi.org

18 – 19 April,

24 – 25 April

HAUS OF BEAU Bristol-based artist Aiyla Beau Darling, who also worked as an illustrator, brings her large-scale abstracts to Great Pulteney Street.

The Artpad; Instagram @theartpad62

PHOTO BY DAVID WILSON PHOTOGR APHY

PHOTO BY COAL POET MEDIA; W W W.COALPOETMEDIA.COM

WHAT’S ON

clockwise from top left: Mythos

Ragnarok slams into the Forum on 2 May; Midge Ure starts off his new tour in his adopted home of Bath on 8 May; The wronged Tudor queens sing their side of the story in Six coming to Theatre Royal Bath 14 - 25 April; There’s still time to catch Victoria Art Gallery’s Poster Power exhibition before it ends 10 May

THEATRE / MOVIES 14 – 25 April

SIX The crowning musical glory of Broadway and the West End makes its royal return to Bath with the six Tudor queens remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak and misery caused by their murderous ex, King Henry VIII. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

18 – 19 April

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST A Bath Spa Theatrical Society production of the Oscar Wilde witty glittering classic that satirises social conventions, marriage and identity, and is now recognised as having a significant gay subtext. The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

Until 19 April

BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL Still in full funny force, look out in a packed programme at venues across the city. Highlights includes Fringe legend Phil Kay, Ahir Shah’s work in progress and the finale of the new act competition. www.bathcomedy.com

17 April

RUSSELL HICKS It’s all about him, and this time it’s personal as the razor-sharp American stand up comedian talks success, Instagram, and life in the UK. The Rondo; www.rondotheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

1 May

THE PARTY Written by Sally Potter and presented by Platform 8, politician Janet hosts a night that starts with a celebration and descends into accusations, betrayal, and a gun.

Rondo Theatre; www.rondotheatre.co.uk

FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara perform an evocative tribute honouring the composers, songwriters and record producers including Quincy Jones, George Gershwin and Hans Zimmer whose artistry transcends generations.

The Forum; wwwbathforum.co.uk

29 April – 2 May

8 May

2 May

8 May

22 – 25 April PHOTO BY PAMEL A R AITH PHOTOGR APHY

COMEDY

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Bath Drama reimagines one of Shakespeare’s most fantastical, comedy works and sets it in the corporate world of the 1980s.

Rondo Theatre; www.rondotheatre.co.uk MYTHOS: RAGNARÖK This acclaimed, must-see Edinburgh Fringe hit fuses Norse mythology with high-octane professional wrestling as the gods battle through the apocalypse.

The Forum; wwwbathforum.co.uk

MIDGE URE Acclaimed musician, producer, and songwriter Midge Ure begins his visionary and much-anticipated A Man of Two Worlds tour, kicking off in his adopted hometown of Bath.

The Forum; wwwbathforum.co.uk EZIO The folk-rock duo, formed in 1990, have gained a reputation for dynamic and exciting performances delivered with energy, humour and emotional beauty. Chapel Arts Centre; www.chapelarts.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 47

WHAT’S ON CHILDREN Until 31 May

SPRING AT WESTONBIRT A whole host of family-friendly events are launched to celebrate the new season at the beautiful arboretum, including the Room on the Broom trail, the Champion Trees Walk, and the family spring trail. www.forestryengland.uk

2 – 3 May

ALL IN A WONDROUS NIGHT A tiny street under a beautiful moon is where magic can happen with puppetry, music and mischief. 3+.

The Egg; www.theatreroyal.org

8 – 9 May

them. Performed by Bath Theatre Academy Students. 14+. The Egg; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

OTHER Until 16 June

RENAISSANCE: JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY The fascinating programme of talks and events at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution continues, exploring the Renaissance movement and how it is intrinsically linked to the new age of scientific advancement. www.brlsi.org

6 May

SARA WHEELER ON JAN MORRIS: A LIFE Uncovering the complexity of the journalist icon Jan Morris to reveal a mosaic of contradictions.

Topping & Company Booksellers; www.toppingbooks.co.uk

PHOTO BY CARYS GRIFFITHS; W W W.CARYSG.CO.UK

REPLICA After a school trip, a group of teenagers becomes convinced there is an impostor walking among

Rebecca stars in Emma Rice’s Malory Towers adaptation

CULTURE CLUB with REBECCA COLLINGWOOD Rebecca Collingwood stars as Gwendoline Lacy in Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers, staged by the Emma Rice Company and coming to the Theatre Royal Bath from 1 to 9 May. Rebecca was last seen on stage in Bath in Jeremy Sam’s production of Roman Holiday the Musical, playing Princess Anne.

The last great film I saw I just watched A Matter of Life and Death on iPlayer. I thought I was in for a classic 1946 war drama, but the smashing together of dramatic depth and Alice-inWonderland-surrealism knocked me over. It felt so fresh for a film that’s 80 years old.

Best TV show ever Carnage by Simon Amstell. He found a unique, satirical way to bring his comedy and veganism together in a way that I found hysterical and moving. And of course, The (American) Office – Steve Carell is a genius.

My TV guilty pleasure Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon. I’m a memento keeper and it’s fascinating to see what other people hold on to.

The play that changed my life The Seagull by Anton Chekhov.

There’s so much life and longing contained within the world he created. It changed the way I approached acting and character.

See Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara at The Forum on 1 May

48 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The book I could happily re-read I find myself going back to Wuthering Heights a lot; I always find something different

to connect with. I did the play on tour with the Emma Rice Company last year and, even after performing the story night after night, there was always something new to discover.

Last live music gig I went to Raye at the O2. She’s just sensational, and somehow managed to make a huge arena feel like an intimate jazz lounge.

It might have been because she performed the whole thing with no shoes on – I was obsessed with that!

My desert island disc Close to You by the Carpenters.

I walked down the aisle to it when I got married, so hearing it takes It may be 80 years old but me back to that Rebecca loved the movie day and how A Matter of Life and Death happy I felt.

The first song I remember hearing My parents met doing Gilbert and Sullivan shows, so it was usual to have Iolanthe or Pirates of Penzance blaring around the house. I’d say G&S is the soundtrack of my childhood.

My karaoke go-to Anything by Queen Celine Dion, pass me the mic!

For more: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

JODYCORY.CO.UK 01225 460072 JODY@JODYCORY.CO.UK 9 ABBEY CHURCHYARD, BATH, BA1 1LY

THE REEL THING ELLA KILLBOURN clockwise from top:

The atmospheric modernday Western, Rebuilding; Rose of Nevada is a chilly folk horror from the director of Bait Mark Jenkin; Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen make the perfect combative duo in The Christophers

Artists, cowboys and sailors, they’re all rolling into The Little this spring Rebuilding

Release date 17 April

This ambling, modern-day Western will warm you like the California sun. Sweeping American landscapes and a cast of quietly kind characters colour the film in equal measure in this heartrending story of loss and recovery.

The California wildfires we’ve become all too familiar with over recent summers are placed at the centre of this film. Dusty’s (Josh O’Connor) family ranch is devastated by them, leaving behind just a cowboy with no cows.

O’Connor, just about pulling off the accent and definitely pulling off the hat, delivers a stoic, yet vulnerable lead that lets silence and absence do most of the talking. Through his understated performance, we witness a man whose purpose has been snatched away, searching for a new start.

His relationship with daughter, Callie (Lily LaTorre), is tender and unsure. Her child’s perspective adds a sweetness and earnestness to the story that gives it the attitude of a fable, one that insists on hope and humanity in the face of loss, and an enduring faith in the natural world, even when it seems to have turned against us.

This Sundance alumnus has, at its heart, a love of people and of the world.

Rose of Nevada

Release date 24 April

This chilly folk horror from the director of Bait finds us back in Mark Jenkin’s homeland on the Cornish coast, with the socio-political tint we’ve come to expect from him. Much like his directorial debut, this film centres on a

dwindling fishing community facing economic extinction. When a boat that inexplicably disappeared 30 years earlier, reappears just as mysteriously, two men join the crew in hope of improving their fortunes. Instead, they find themselves more than just lost at sea.

Far from his shoestring budget origins, Jenkin has had significant financial support for his third film. In fact, he received the single

“Scratches in the film create an authentically retro aesthetic” largest production award from the BFI since the Filmmaking Fund was relaunched in 2023.

Household name stars, George MacKay and Callum Turner, certainly represent a change in tax bracket from Jenkin’s previous work, but it remains to be seen how else the Cornish director’s latest production may benefit from his newfound financial freedom.

Bait was filmed in its entirety using a vintage Bolex camera, and on black and white film that Jenkin developed himself. Loyal to the low-budget techniques that made his name, Jenkin appears to employ a similar effect in Rose of Nevada, scratches in the film creating an authentically retro aesthetic that supports an unanchored chronology, setting the audience and the characters adrift in time.

The Christophers

Release date 15 May

Fans of the British art heist movie of 2020, The Duke, will enjoy another playfully critical take on the art world in the form of conversational and sardonic comedy-drama, The Christophers.

Ian McKellen, in a refreshingly gnarly role, and I May Destroy You’s Michaela Coel are the perfect partnership to create an authentic and complex dynamic between the two leads.

Art restorer, Lori (Coel), takes on a new role as assistant to infamous artist, Julian Sklar (McKellen). Sklar’s disaffected children (James Corden, and Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning) hatch a plot to con their way into an even larger inheritance, enlisting Lori’s help to hoodwink their father. However, as their relationship develops, Lori’s motivations become increasingly complicated, leading us into a warren of unpredictable twists and turns.

This charming film delivers a deft critique of the art world and its entanglement with commerce and status. McKellen portrays the dangerous and diluting impact of fame and criticism on art and artists with a complex performance that draws on the accrued wisdom of his age, wonderfully offset by the bolshie confidence of youth Coel brings to her role.

Ella Killbourn is the cinema manager at Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael’s Place, Bath; www.picturehouses.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 51

CENTRE STAGE Big names, tiny cloisters, circus rings and secret gardens – the local festivals that are worth going all out for this year

By John Mather

52 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

F

Z AI CALLISTE PERFORMING AT L AST YEAR’S BALLET UNDER THE STARS. PHOTO BY ALICE PENNEFATHER

“Every ticket supports Forestry England’s vital work”

FESTIVALS

rom secret woodland stages to circus big tops, arboretums, opera farms and lakeside lawns, the West’s festival season is looking seriously irresistible. Across the coming months, fields, forests and stately homes will be transformed into pop-up playgrounds for music lovers, culture vultures and families who like their weekends with a side of wonder.

Pitch a tent at Mendip Basecamp’s rolling mini-fests or head to Shindig for a shimmy and We Out Here for ‘out there’ vibes. Soak up bigname sets beneath Westonbirt’s canopy, discover new global sounds at WOMAD, and embrace the classics pits at Mozart at If Opera and Ballet Under the Stars. Add in rainbow-bright Queer Bath, the storybook world of Giffords Circus and soulful off-grid escapes at Wild Creative Immersion, and you’ve got a summer that’s less about one big weekend and more about a season-long adventure. Plus, if you want to keep it even close to home, there’s a whole programme of music, literature, and events on our doorstep, thanks to the Bath Festivals (turn to page 45 for more) with the Bath Literature Festival (16 –24 May) and Bath International Music Festival (30 May – 7 June), which starts with a city-wide party on 15 May.

TREE HUGGERS

Forest Live at Westonbirt Arboretum 24 – 28 June; www.forestlive.com Launched in 2001 and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the series brings world-class acts to one of the most beautiful tree collections on the planet, transforming this spectacular woodland into an open-air arena for up to 9,750 music lovers each night.

This year’s headliners include Fatboy Slim, Richard Ashcroft, Rick Astley, Deacon Blue and UB40 feat. Ali Campbell, and by day, before the big event, families can wander among 15,000 specimens and 2,500 tree species, then spread out a blanket, unpack a picnic, settle into camping chairs by night, and enjoy the magical, music-filled canopy.

Every ticket also supports Forestry England’s vital work planting over 7 million trees a year and protecting wildlife habitats – so you’re not just enjoying an unforgettable gig, you’re helping forests thrive.

Ballet Under the Stars 24 – 26 July; www.coventgardendance.com Often dubbed the ‘Glyndebourne of dance’, Ballet Under the Stars offers an intimate, atmospheric experience where extraordinary artists feel just a step away.

Now in its 17th year, and coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Covent Garden Dance, the festival was created by director Matt Brady and has grown from a onenight gathering into a must-attend social highlight, welcoming 430 guests each evening. Hatch House’s exquisite twotiered 17th-century Dutch walled garden is transformed into a fully covered dinner theatre, blending the romance of a country estate with the polish of a purpose-built venue.

Audiences enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner with paired wines, interspersed with 12 short performances by 12 international stars, including returning guest artists Joy Womack, Xander Parish, and Ksenia Ovsyanick.

The programme spans classical, neoclassical and contemporary works, pairing beloved favourites with exciting new creations, many supported by the Dickie Buckle Fund. opposite: Forest Live at Westonbirt celebrates 25 years; inset: Ballet Under the Stars is back 24 – 26 July

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 53

FESTIVALS blocks, a Pavilion serving food, drinks and barista coffee, a well-stocked shop, and more than 20 outdoor activities at Mendip Activity Centre, and you’ve got the ultimate recipe for a summer of music, adventure and memory-making.

STREETS AHEAD

End Of The Road 3 – 6 September; www.endoftheroadfestival.com Tucked away in the magical Victorian Pleasure Gardens of Larmer Tree on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, End Of The Road celebrates its 20th edition this year with around 15,000 culture lovers descending on this woodland wonderland. Along with six main player stages hosting a dizzying array of live music, there’s a standout programme of comedy, literature and talks.

End Of The Road is all about discovery – wandering from stage to stage, stumbling upon your new favourite band, and soaking up the friendly, inclusive atmosphere. Big hitters for 2026 include Pulp, Mac DeMarco, CMAT and a very special secret headliner, while rising names such as Shallowater, ØXN and Beverly Glenn-Copeland promise plenty of ‘I was there’ moments. With camping, heaps of kids’ workshops, excellent local food and craft beer, plus strong eco and Safer Spaces commitments, this is a small-but-mighty festival with a huge heart.

We Out Here 20–23 August; www.weoutherefestival.com The award-winning 4-day festival We Out Here returns to the beautiful grounds of Wimborne St Giles, Dorset, bringing world-class music and out-of-this-world vibes.

Curated by BBC Radio 6’s Gilles Peterson, the festival joins the dots between soul, hip hop, house, afro, electronica, jazz and beyond, showcasing trailblazing pioneers alongside tomorrow’s stars. This year’s headliners include Stereolab, Sampa The Great, Daddy G and Mr Scruff.

above: The Gilles Peterson curated festival We Out Here is back 20 – 23 August ; inset: Mendip Basecamp is hosting six mini festivals at no extra cost to campers; below: Irish singer-songwriter and musician CMAT returns to End of the Road

PHOTO BY R ACHEL JUAREZ CARR

OUT OF THIS WORLD

MINI-FEST

Mendip Basecamp July & August; www.mendipbasecamp.com After scooping the second-best campsite at the VisitEngland awards, Mendip Basecamp is celebrating in style: instead of one festival, they’re putting on six mini-festivals as part of its summer of entertainment.

Campers can enjoy live music every weekend at no extra cost, with each Mendip Mini Fest promising mellow summer evenings of live bands, family fun, and a buzzing yet easy-going atmosphere, all framed by the sweeping Mendip Hills.

Across the six weekends is an impressive line-up of acts, including The Sam Evans Band, The Lipinskis, The Missing Cat Band, Aardvarks, Supervision, and Station2Station. There’s also the opportunity for new talent to shine on the brand new Bandwagon stage, offering up-andcoming and wannabe performers a 30-minute slot. Add in crackling campfires, pitch-where-you-like freedom, multiple toilet and shower

“The ultimate recipe for a summer of music, adventure and memory-making” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 55

PHOTO BY RYLEY MORTON

FESTIVALS

above: Revellers of all ages enjoying their weekend at WOMAD, which will see over 150 artists perform from over 50 countries; inset: Giffords is a tale of travelling circus folk like no other

PHOTO BY BENEDICT CAMPBELL

ROLL UP ROLL UP

Giffords Circus Touring across the region until 27 September; www. giffordscircus.com The much-loved familyrun circus touring troupe is back with Waterfield, a brand-new story-driven, high-production show that dives straight into the heart of the English countryside and the golden age of the travelling circus.

Inspired by rivers, hedgerows and wildlife, Waterfield unfolds like a living storybook, drawing on the charm of classic British children’s literature.

Expect feathered and furred characters, laugh-out-loud clowning and breathtaking set pieces, all played out along a magical riverbank. It’s a celebration of legacy too: the show’s name was chosen by Red and Cecil, children of founders Nell and Toti Gifford.

“You’ve got a show bursting with spectacle”

A world-class cast brings the tale to life. The Ethiopian Addis Ababa Troupe wow with soaring acrobatics, while the Valencia Flyers’ Wheel of Death and the razor-sharp knife and crossbow act from Elena and Giacomo Jasters dial up the danger. Add in high-energy juggling, aerial artistry and returning musical legends Los Rivelinos and you’ve got a show bursting with spectacle.

Of course, Giffords wouldn’t be Giffords without its animal stars – including Shire horse Maisy, tiny Shetland Tinkerbell, and scenestealing Brian the goose.

GLOBAL THINKING

WOMAD 23–26 July; www.womad.co.uk The global phenomenon WOMAD, which stands for world of music, arts and dance, plants fresh roots this year at its beautiful new home: Neston Park in Wiltshire. Framed by rolling hills, ancient trees and a shimmering lake behind the main stage, it’s the perfect setting for a truly all-encompassing celebration.

Founded by Peter Gabriel in 1982, this more than a festival – it’s a vibrant, family-friendly village where discovery is everything. Expect boundary-pushing sets from Greentea Peng, Barrington Levy, José González and Oumou Sangaré, alongside extraordinary artists from every corner of the world.

Children- are brilliantly catered for, with dedicated family camping and the World of Kids area offering free workshops, games, circus skills and more. Food is a global adventure too, from Ethiopian wat and Sri Lankan curry to wood-fired pizza and vegan feasts – all served with a sustainable, planet-conscious ethos at its heart.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 57

PHOTO BY NATHAN ROACH

FESTIVALS Insider tip: don’t just stick to the main stages – those late-night DJ sets and surprise performances hidden deep in the arboretum are where Shindig’s true magic happens.

A TREAT OF A RETREAT

Wild Creative Immersion 12 – 15 June; www.georgiemason.co.uk Artist Georgie Mason hosts a digital detox retreat in Campbell Woods, blending creativity, mindfulness and connection. Guests enjoy intuitive painting, woodland yoga with Zuzu, forest saunas, foraging and gut-restorative food by Somerset chef Laura Rose. A soulful off-grid weekend designed to embrace imperfection and help people feel more like themselves.

MOO-SIC MAESTROS

Valley Fest 30 July – 2 August; www.valleyfest.co.uk Big sounds, big views and big singalongs at the Chew Valley lakeside. Enjoy sets from Big Special, Friendly Fires, Cast and more, with late-night vibes from Channel One and Scotland Yard Sound System. By day, unwind with hot tubs, yoga, creative workshops and family activities, all fuelled by wood‑fired feasts from top regional chefs. left: Shindig brings the love once again; inset: Valley Fest with its lakeside views;

below: Experience a digital detox retreat

with Wild Creative Immersion

Shindig Festival 21–24 May; www.shindigfestival.co.uk Launched in 2014 by a tight-knit crew of Bath and South West music promoters, DJs and creatives, Shindig has grown from a 1,000-capacity word-of-mouth gathering into a much-loved independent festival – all without losing its friendly, homemade feel. Now located in the 300 acres of rolling parkland of the Charlton Park Estate, near Malmesbury, complete with arboretum, hidden stages, art installations and afterdark lighting that transform the festival into an enchanting playground, especially at night.

Shindig’s ethos is all about community, creativity and individuality.

Expect a big-name lineup in an intimate setting, with international live acts and DJs spanning funk, soul, house, disco, bass and more across seven stages. This year’s headliners include Bob Vylan, Fat Dog, War, Mungo’s Hi Fi, My Baby, Snapped Ankles and Jamz Supernova. Fuel up on wood-fired pizza, global street food, vegan and veggie dishes and festival favourites, washed down with craft beer (from Bristol Beer Factory), cocktails, natural wine, local cider and alcohol-free choices.

Behind the scenes, Shindig champions sustainability with reusable cups, reduced single-use plastics and greener power, while working closely with local suppliers and traders.

“The ethos is all about community, creativity and individuality” 58 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ABOVE PHOTO BY GIULIA SPADAFOR A

DIG IT

FESTIVALS woven into the fabric of the city – from the Chevalier d’Éon, the transgender diplomat and duellist who made Bath her home, to the gender-defying Roman emperor Elagabalus, and even Mary Shelley, whose life and circles were profoundly queer.

This year’s theme, Gender Revolutionaries, invites collaborators to explore figures who challenged or transcended the gender norms of their time, raising powerful questions about how we understand gender and sexuality in 2026. Headline highlights include an intimate ‘Holburne Up Late’ conversation with award-winning poet Joelle Taylor, a Queer Bath Film Festival curated with FilmBath and a Rainbow Family Fun at the American Museum & Gardens with paywhat-you-can entry, outdoor adventures, creative activities and a trail led by Charlie the Chipmunk.

AND ALL THAT JAZZ

above: Enjoy music in the unique setting of the Iford Manor cloisters; inset: Marvin Muoneké brings big-band energy to Iford Opera; right: WIG will be pumping it up at this year’s Queer Bath

ACCESS ALL ARIAS

If Opera 6 – 16 August; www.ifopera.com If Opera is tuning up for a very special season this summer, as the much-loved festival celebrates its 30th anniversary in the bucolic surroundings of Church Farm, Wingfield (just outside Bradford on Avon) from 6–16 August.

Set against the dramatic Westbury White Horse, the site is pure pastoral charm: an ancient farmhouse, the exquisite fourteenth-century Parish Church of St Mary, peaceful churchyard, idyllic gardens, a duckpond and resident donkeys. Within these tranquil grounds you’ll find the Saddlespan auditorium, a pop-up bar, Patron’s lawn and Picnic Canopy, the sell-out on-site restaurant The Cowshed by Homewood and a Taittinger Bar. This year’s programme is packed. Carmen – but not as you know it – makes her first appearance at If Opera, reimagined around 1900 and restoring rarely heard original music. There’s sparkling operetta with The Chocolate Soldier from Opera della Luna, Baroque riches with maestro Christian Curnyn in an open masterclass and concert, and a one-night trip to the taverns of Baroque Europe with the award-winning Vache Baroque. The season rounds off in swinging style as the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and Marvin Muoneké bring big-band energy to a Picnic Prom finale.

RAINBOW VIBES

Queer Bath 1 – 30 June; www.queerbath.co.uk Queer Bath is set to light up the city one again, transforming Bath’s museums, historic buildings and cultural venues into a month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ lives, histories and futures. Having originally grown out of the success of Holburne Pride in 2024, it is now a vibrant collaboration between the Holburne Museum, WIG!, Bath Arts Collective and a growing network of museum partners.

More than just a programme of events, Queer Bath is a city-wide commitment to visibility and inclusion. Institutions across Bath will be delving into their own archives to uncover hidden queer narratives

60 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Iford Manor Jazz Festival 18 – 21 June; www.ifordmanor.co.uk Set in the enchanting grounds of Iford Manor near Bath, the Iford Manor Jazz Festival returns from 18–21 June 2026 for four unforgettable days of world-class music in a truly magical setting. Born out of the post-lockdown BounceBack Festival created by William and Marianne Cartwright-Hignett in 2020, and curated by jazz legend Claire Martin OBE since 2022, this boutique festival has quickly become a must-do date in the jazz calendar.

Evening concerts on Thursday and Friday take place in the exquisite Grade II* listed cloisters, with just 88 seats in-the-round offering an intimate, goosebump-inducing experience. On Saturday night, the party spills onto the lawn in front of the casita, where festival-goers can dance under the stars. Each evening, guests are invited to arrive early and picnic in the normally private, Grade I listed gardens – a oncea-year opportunity.

This year shines a spotlight on women in jazz, with three female-led acts headlining, including powerhouse vocalist Vanessa Haynes presenting Aretha Franklin – Queen of Soul, and Snowboy and the Latin Section bringing serious groove to Saturday night, supported by DJ Mike Vitti. n

Upcoming Events 1

Bath Urban Treescape Guided Walks Various routes | Throughout the year

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Nigel Kennedy The Forum | Tue 21 April

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Rigoletto The Mission Theatre | Thu 14 May

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Is It Too Early For Champagne? Remembering Jilly Cooper

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The Guildhall | Sat 16 May

40 Years of Graceland with the London African Gospel Choir

The Forum | Thu 21 May

Richard Goode plays Beethoven St Mary’s Church, Bathwick | Sat 30 May

bathboxoffice.org.uk | 01225 463362 | @bathboxoffice The Forum, St James’s Parade, BA1 1UG | Open 10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (closed Bank Holidays)

THE HOP POLE INN How the Limpley Stoke villagers saved a pub from closure and created a culinary marvel in the process

By Sarah Moolla

“Having been saved by the community the Hop Pole Inn now serves the community”

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RESTAURANT

nce upon a time there was a pub, and it was ham hock that’s been scrumpeted, which means the slow-cooked, pulled, threatened with closure. It didn’t matter that it dated smoked ham has been pressed overnight to create soft, sinewy shreds back to the mid-1500s, it didn’t matter that it stood of meat. It’s a total winner, especially teamed with the clean, sharp and at the heart of the village, it didn’t matter that it fresh-from-the-orchard apple sauce, a buttery, herby, velvety ravigote backed onto the Kennet and Avon Canal or that it studded with cornichons, and see-through coils of lemony courgette. was surrounded by beautiful, undulating countryside.

While the menu is ever-changing, I’m told Charlie turns the dial on The doors shut in 2018 and it was about to be sold as dishes rather than redoing radical overhauls, meaning scrumpet makes a a housing development. Now this is a story you may have heard too many regular appearance, so as well as ham, beef, lamb, and venison have all times before, and usually at this point it’s ‘The End’. been Charlie scrumpeted.

But not so for the Hop Pole Inn in Limpley Stoke. Here lies a tale My faith in Charlie is such at this stage that I try the gnocchi. Why? of hope, determination and inspiration. The villagers got together and Because I don’t like gnocchi. My experience has been lumps of clumped formed the Limpley Stoke Community Benefit Society in 2022, managed potato in a wet, white, indistinguishable sauce. Turns out I really, really to raise £400,000 in just six weeks, and saved the pub. One £1.3million like gnocchi done Hop Pole Inn-style. Here, they are little light clouds of renovation, approximately 800 shareholders, and delicately flavoured pillowy heaven in an unctuous some four years later, the community-owned Hop basil velouté, strewn with dollops of soft cheese and DINING DETAILS Pole Inn opened for business in January 2025. showered with nutty Parmesan. My plus one’s fave Pole Inn, Woods Hill, Limpley Stoke, Bath, And this is just the start of its happy ever after, not Hop is the tender, moist rare roast beef, served with a BA2 7FS. www.hoppoleinn.uk least thanks to the stewardship of on-site tenants tangy devilled egg salad and fat dripping toast. But Opening hours Tuesday to Thursday Hannah Randall and partner Charlie Rawlings. the pie is vying for top spot – the chicken is super 10am-3.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm; Friday to Saturday He is a Le Gavroche-trained chef, and she has soft, the bacon salty and firm, the Iford cider gravy 10am-11pm; Sunday 11am-8pm extensive hospitality experience, including in the silky and sumptuous, and the flaky pastry pie top is Owned by Community shareholders via the Save super-yacht sector, which is how they met. I’m the Hop Pole project, with landlords and operators puffed perfection. told that when the shareholders were looking for We’re getting to the point where we’ve had Hannah Randall and chef-landlord Charlie Rawlings tenants, Charlie and Hannah applied along with so much savoury deliciousness, we can barely Food served Hearty, seasonal British pub food 35 pages of plans for the Hop Pole, and even just breathe and are coming out in food sweats. But with a strong farm-to-fork ethos, showcasing local suppliers and comforting, ingredient-led dishes. on paper, they were a done deal. then Hannah suggests puddings. Seeing a slight And boy, did the shareholders get it right – hesitation, not through lack of want but through Covers Up to 40 the food, the welcome, the vibe is just perfect. lack of space, Hannah knowledgeably informs us Outdoor space Front and back gardens offer It’s everything a 500-year-old country pub should plenty of room there’s a second stomach for sweet things. She is, be, and more – weathered Cotswold stone, of course, correct. We practically inhaled the Recommendations Scrumpet, scrumpet, and mullioned windows, original beams, time-worn light-as-air, rich-toffee flavoured caramelised milk more scrumpet flagstones, a seamless all-weather extension and Prices Starters £4-£12, mains £16-£29, desserts £8 chocolate mousse with candied walnuts and boozy an expansive, stone-walled working garden with prunes. And managed to make light work of the Drinks Lots of great local beers including Hoppy a greenhouse and lots of pub bench seating. And dark, malty Guinness cake served with cream from True Story Brewery. the more is the food. True to its pub roots, the cheese, and a sticky Guinness caramel sauce.

Disability access Yes, with an accessible toilet dishes are reasonably priced, and the portions are on-site.

Fantastic food aside for a moment, it also has to hearty. The menu is innovative and imaginative be noted that having been saved by the community, In a nutshell A proper pub with heart, history and but not pretentious, just elevated. It’s not toast but a story of hope the Hop Pole Inn now serves the community. dripping toast, the chips come triple-cooked, and There’s hog roasts, Easter egg hunts, run clubs the buns are Pipit milk buns from the nearby Pipit Bakery. and the car park even plays host to other small local food vendors to Charlie’s skill, talent, and love for food radiates with every dish we “give another small business a chance to shine.” The story of Hannah try. They are, without exception, exceptional. The crispy, golden-fried giving lifts home to a recently, dearly departed regular due to intermittent arancini balls are bursting with umami-flavoursome wild mushrooms bus timetables touches my heart, as does discovering how many people and the accompanying wild garlic pesto aioli is punchy, pungent and volunteered to make the ‘Hoppie’ happen, including Daahir Mohamed little-finger-around-the-plate lickable. Retro prawn cocktail starter is from Bristol Heritage Skills, who not only lime-plastered the pub’s walls reimagined as a luxurious and tender crayfish cocktail and comes served for free, but used the opportunity to train refugees. with sesame prawn toast, which is fat with prawns pressed between This new chapter of the Hop Pole Inn’s 500-year history, one in which dripping toast and its densely seeded crown. it has already won a Bath Life Award and been ranked at no 29 in The Oh, and then there’s the scrumpet, which is now my new favourite Good Food Guide to UK pubs, is already a remarkable tale of a community word, food, and lifestyle choice, and it’s a revelation. On my visit, it’s the coming together to preserve the past for a bright new future.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 63

A wonderful day out, just 5 miles from Bath ●

Grade 1 listed Gardens

(advanced booking essential)

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Award-winning restaurant & café 2026 Iford Jazz Festival 18th - 21st June Iford Manor Kitchen Supper Clubs Tours of private Walled Garden Iford Manor, nr Bath, BA15 2BA www.ifordmanor.co.uk

Root Spice is the perfect place to escape the cold this winter. Step beneath the streets of Bath and enjoy bold Indian flavours, expertly crafted dishes, and creative cocktails in a cosy, luxurious setting designed for relaxed winter dining.

Head Chef Soyful brings skill and creativity to every plate, delivering a dining experience that feels considered and distinctive.

15 Argyle Street, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4BQ 01225 698127 | contact@rootspice.co.uk

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FOOD AND DRINK

CULTURED THINKING

Dr Simi Rezai-Ghassemi will be at Topping on 23 April

Bath-based foodways expert Dr Simi Rezāi-Ghāssemi will visit Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath on 23 April to introduce her new book, Fermented Dairy of Central Asia.

An authority on Āzarbaijāni and Turkic food, as well as an ethnographer, educator and gardener, Dr Rezāi-Ghāssemi explores the enduring legacy of fermented dairy across the vast Central Asian steppe. Her book invites fermenters, home cooks, travellers, food lovers and scholars to discover how milk is transformed into tangy staples that nourish both body and celebrate heritage.

Moving from grasslands and yurts to contemporary kitchens, Fermented Dairy of Central Asia uncovers how these foods shape identity, community and culture. Readers are guided through the meanings of both familiar and lesserknown fermented dairy traditions, tracing connections between language, history and taste while immersing themselves in the The new book explores textures, aromas and flavours that bring these age-old practices the enduring legacy of fermented dairy to life.

Chef and broadcaster Ken Hom has praised the book as “an amazing insight into another world in the culinary universe… so well researched and written with such feeling that I felt transported to Central Asia.”

For more: www.toppingbooks.co.uk

HARE STYLE In February, The Beckford Group reopened The Bradley Hare Inn in the Wiltshire village of Maiden Bradley, close to its existing site, The Bath Arms in Horningsham. The inn forms part of the group’s expanding collection of pubs with rooms and restaurants.

The interiors have been redesigned to reflect the Beckford aesthetic, with a book-lined bar painted in Farrow & Ball’s Mouse’s Back, a library area and dining rooms, seating 85. Oak Windsor chairs, and Robert Morden county maps framed in a Hogarth style complete the look, while a former skittle alley in the garden has been converted into an additional sitting room for guests and locals.

Group chef Adam Bristow and head chef Jaek Kelly have also created a menu focused on celebrating local produce and includes such dishes as pickled hen’s eggs with celery salt, Poole Bay clams with bacon, curry-spiced fish pie, Tamworth pork T-bone with Madeira, and Creedy Carver duck leg with blood orange and Grand Marnier. Desserts include rhubarb trifle, baked cheesecake with blood orange and Trinity burnt cream.

For more: www.bradleyhare.com

above: The Bradley Hare Inn in the village of Maiden Bradley; below: Head chef Jaek Kelly with Charlie Luxton, co-owner of the Beckford Group; left: The interiors have been redesigned to reflect the Beckford aesthetic; inset: The new menu is shaped by the South West larder

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 65

WITH A FLOURISH The Newt in Somerset launches a brand new festival celebrating ‘the story of gardening’ Words by Nick Woodhouse

H

ot on the horticultural heels of The Newt in Somerset’s fouryear run as headline sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it is hosting its inaugural Great Garden Show. Starting on 9 May, the nine-day curated programme will feature talks, installations, interactive workshops and plant sales.

During its tenure as headline sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 2022 to 2025, the partnership focused on the theme of ‘Gardening for Good’, with The Newt supporting the RHS’s ongoing charitable work in scientific research and community programmes. It’s this core spirit that The Newt will now carry on in Somerset, with one of the main pillars of the programme being to inspire all ages, from budding young horticulturalists to expert industry panellists, with learning, craft, cultivation and food always at its heart.

The open weekend in Bruton will see a series of celebrations for all the family, with a promise of music, dancing and more – all to the backdrop of The Newt’s gardens in their full springtime bloom. Weekdays will see The Newt team deep dive into this year’s theme, ‘The Story of Gardening’, examining regenerative agriculture, climate-resilient growing and long-term sustainability, with gardeners, growers and chefs all sharing their expertise.

The event’s hosts are also keen to cultivate the next generation of horticulturists, with students and schools invited to join talks and tours with its own expert gardeners. Young visitors will be encouraged to make their first foray into the world of gardening through special family-friendly sessions running throughout the show. These will include a new spring trail weaving across the estate, educational activities in the Beezantium, flower crown making, and a ‘Design a

Planter’ workshop.

The gardens themselves have been shaped over the last two centuries by successive garden enthusiasts, from Victorian horticulturist Margaret Hobhouse to garden designer, consultant, historian, and author Penelope Hobhouse, who married into the Hobhouse family, and gave Margaret’s vision a new lease of life in the late twentieth century. The latest incarnation of the garden is the vision of Italo-French architect Patrice Taravella, a strong believer in the need for a garden to be both beautiful and useful.

Completed in 2014, at the garden’s core sits the parabola, a walled garden and home to a collection of more than 600 dessert apple trees. These are trained in all manner of forms and have recently been given National Collection status, with varieties planted out by county of origin.

From the parabola, visitors are invited to a wealth of treats that combine the ornamental with the productive, from the grand potager-style kitchen garden to the four seasons garden; a formal space designed to hold interest throughout the year, through cherry blossom to scented roses, topiary and autumn leaves, to spring bulbs and summer climbers.

Inquisitive visitors are invited to further explore the 3,000-acre estate. Its ancient, diverse woodland provides logs, leaves and berries for the estate’s restaurants, and habitats for wildlife too. And as guests make their way through the estate, they are also encouraged to learn of its many stories - of its past, its present and its future. Inspired by the unearthing of a settlement on the estate, Villa Ventorum is The Newt’s reimagining of a Romano-British villa, one accompanied by an innovative and educational archaeological museum. A short walk away sits The Story of Gardening, an interactive space that explores the history of gardening and the human

“With gardeners, growers and chefs all sharing their expertise”

68 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

impulse to shape beauty from the ground up, and will also play host to a number of events and drop-in sessions throughout the show.

Members to The Newt enjoy free entry to several prominent national and international gardens, including Kew Gardens, Wakehurst, Great Dixter, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Winterthur in the USA and The Newt’s sister garden, Babylonstoren in South Africa. The event will also see Harry Baldwin, The Newt’s head gardener, hosting a breakfast alongside gardeners from those very partner gardens.

In line with The Newt’s ethos, seasonal, farm-fresh produce will sit at the heart of the show, with special menus and popups celebrating such produce. Alongside barbecues in the gardens, pre-orderable picnics will also be on hand, featuring strawberries and cream and freshly-shucked oysters. Fermentation pioneer Sandor Katz will also host a dinner in the Garden Café, while sister farm Babylonstoren will present its rosé wine at a special lunch in the Cottage Garden.

The show will close on the Sunday of the second weekend, when the team will be conducting an estate-wide ‘bio-blitz’.

Focusing on the diversity of the estate’s flora and fauna, they will share ideas on creating eco-friendly gardens, show camera-trap screenings of wildlife spotted across the estate, and invite everyone to take part in wildlife counts, from butterfly spotting to insect identification sweeps in the meadows.

Here’s wishing the inaugural event every success – hopefully the first of many annual shows to be held at this inspiring Somerset destination.

For more: www.thenewtinsomerset.com Nick Woodhouse is the codirector of interior and garden design company Woodhouse and Law at 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

GARDENS

opposite page: The parabola is a maze of apple trees; this page, clockwise from top left: Views across The Newt’s working kitchen garden; head gardener Harry Baldwin will be talking at the inaugural Great Garden Show; the 3,000-acre estate is home to an ancient, diverse woodland; discover a subterranean world of crystals and volcanic rock alongside the flora; the new nine-day programme of events celebrates all things horticulture; guests can explore the gardens during their visit; The Newt in Somerset has been shaped by thousands of years of horticultural history

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 69

IN THE ZONE From playground to patios and from feasts to peace, how to make your garden a glorious space for work, rest, and play

T

By Sarah Moolla

hink your garden has to choose between a play zone, a beauty spot or a grown-up escape? With smart zoning, it can be all three – and more. We’ve asked local experts how to carve out hard-working areas for kids’ adventures, laid-back lounging and sociable suppers, all while keeping things stylish and horticulturally fabulous. From covered dining corners and quiet nooks to robust planting and go-for-it kids’ spaces, these ideas will help you design a garden that flexes with, accommodates, and enhances family life – so you can work, rest and play outdoors all year round. But as Isobel Spandler of Wiltshire Garden Design notes, zoning isn’t necessarily about division and heavily demarked sections. “Zoning is about signalling a change in purpose,” she explains.

“Airy screening plants such as ornamental grasses or Verbena bonariensis introduce a sense of separation without blocking views or making the garden feel smaller. Low, structural planting can subtly mark out different areas, and a change in materials underfoot – from lawn to gravel, or paving to bark – helps each zone feel distinct while still flowing.” Here we learn more from our garden experts about ‘getting in the zone…

SITTING PRETTY

Creating inviting seating is at the heart of a truly liveable garden, and designers are increasingly looking at how furniture can suit different moods and moments. Rather than relying on a single dining set or a traditional sofa, they are thinking in terms of zones that can adapt as the day unfolds with comfort, flexibility and durability going hand in hand to create outdoor living areas that invite everyday use, from solitary morning coffees to lively gatherings that stretch late into the evening.

Nick Woodhouse, gardens creative director with Woodhouse and Law says, “We’ve noticed that clients are definitely becoming more drawn to more flexible opposite: Create a perfect garden for all, even Mr Pooch; inset: The Newt in Somerset team believe child’s play

should be woven through the whole garden

70 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SUSIE WATSON DESIGNS; W W W.SUSIEWATSONDESIGNS.CO.UK

GARDENS

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seating areas within their outdoor spaces. Rather than separate dining and lounge furniture, we often will look at introducing generous, low-level seating that offers a comfortable spot on which to curl up and read a book, just as much as a place to eat and entertain with family and friends. These seating arrangements can often take the form of modular furniture, which can be designed around the size, position and aspect of the space in question. Considered arrangements can make the most of the sun and shade throughout the day, as well as view lines and the route of flow through the space. Seating can be arranged in a conversational style, perhaps around a generous coffee table from which food and drinks can be easily enjoyed.”

It’s a sentiment that many garden designers recognise: seating should feel effortless to use and simple to maintain, as well as stylish. Picking the right material is therefore crucial. Echoing Nick’s focus on practicality and ease, Sophie Strutt, garden designer, also champions solutions that will stand the test of time. “Metal furniture is the most practical choice as it can last for decades when left outside all year round and needs next to no maintenance.”

PHOTO BY CASPER FARRELL PHOTOGR APHY

GARDENS

FABRIC OF BEING

Durability is just as important as comfort when it comes to outdoor furniture.

Designers are increasingly steering clients towards pieces that will stand up to the elements while still looking good year after year, protecting an investment that will be enjoyed

top: Nick Woodhouse notes clients are increasingly drawn to flexible seating areas; inset: Katrina Sharland uses Torc planters to help indicate different areas; left: Katrina also suggests creating gardens that evolve with the family

“Zoning is about signalling a change in purpose” 72 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

across many seasons. Picking the right finishes and internal materials can make all the difference to how furniture weathers and how easy it is to live with. Nick Woodhouse says, “We will often recommend more hard-wearing finishes over those more traditional teak options; ones that require less maintenance and are more long-lasting. This might take the form of an aluminium frame, often finished with an anti-rust treatment as well as UV-resistant powder coating to prevent fade from sunlight. We would also recommend opting for reticulated foam inners for cushions if you’d prefer to be able to leave them out during showers; their porous nature allowing for water to drain through, and for the cushions to dry quickly and resist mould and mildew. For those cushions that do require protection from the rain, we would suggest introducing storage nearby so that cushions can be easily accessed when that much-anticipated sun does appear.”

Nick’s advice underlines a broader shift towards outdoor furniture that behaves more like indoor pieces in terms of comfort, yet is engineered to cope with rain, sun and temperature changes. By focusing on frames, coatings and cushion interiors, designers can create schemes that look polished but never precious, encouraging people to truly relax and use their spaces without worrying about every change in the weather.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Once the key furniture pieces are in place, the next layer is lighting – both for atmosphere and practicality. Here, evolving technology is opening up new possibilities for beautifully lit, cable‑free gardens that feel welcoming long after sunset. A mix of solar technology, carefully placed

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fixtures and glowing focal points can redefine the garden after dark, turning paths, planting and seating into a series of softly lit destinations.

“Technology is forever on the move, presenting us with means of making our lives just that little bit easier,” says Nick Woodhouse. “These improvements have traditionally had greater uptake within the home but it would seem that garden suppliers are finally catching up. Solar lighting, for example, has improved significantly in both performance and aesthetics in recent years.

Their inclusion in a design can instantly remove what can become expensive and disruptive cabling, providing instead instant impact and greater interest in the garden that extends beyond dusk. Outdoor lamps and lanterns are also becoming real features in themselves, with emerging products offering the ease of recharging via a USB port or mains charger. These are really handy for introducing instant ambient light to dining or entertaining spaces as and when the light levels dip in summer evenings. For those after a bit more control of their outdoor lighting, wireless lighting systems can also be controlled through a smartphone or tablet, offering flexibility and the ability to expand easily in the years ahead.”

Katrina Sharland of Bath Garden Design echoes Nick’s belief that lighting and heat sources can transform how spaces feel throughout the year: “A carefully positioned fire pit or sunken seating area can extend the garden’s use throughout the seasons, creating a natural focal point for gathering – whether to share stories, toast marshmallows or simply enjoy the warmth of a fire as the light fades. Seating more broadly should be seen as an opportunity for creativity rather than an afterthought.

top: Gardens should be both robust and playful says Rosie Nottage; inset: Eaglestone Gardens’ team suggest a rustic pergola with wisteria for a picturesque dining space

“Let wisteria and roses clamber around so you’re nestled in the blooms”

A variety of places – tucked into planting, positioned for sun, or partially enclosed for shelter – encourages use throughout the year.

In one scheme, we used bespoke tree planter benches from Torc Pots to introduce greenery and shade into an otherwise separate terrace, creating a more immersive and inviting space.”

Isobel Spandler agrees that clever lighting is about far more than simple illumination, reinforcing both mood and safety. “Thoughtful lighting makes a difference here too. Subtle, low level lights tucked into planting or along pathways creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The garden will feel sophisticated in the evenings while still being safe and easy for children to navigate after dusk.”

AL FRESCO MANIFESTO

When it comes to entertaining, the most successful outdoor spaces blur the boundary between house and garden, making it easy to move between cooking, eating and relaxing. It’s about flow as much as furniture, and about creating places where people naturally congregate.

“Effortless entertaining begins with proximity.

Establishing a patio space immediately off the kitchen area creates a natural flow that allows the host to also be in the thick of things,” say Tom and Ailsa Eaglestone of Eaglestone Gardens. “The flexibility of a parasol, such as the high-quality Plia or a sleek sun shade, can look great, but we think nothing beats a natural canopy.

For a timeless look, we recommend a rustic pergola: a simple, solid frame topped with slatted wooden lengths, entangled with vines or wisteria. If you prefer a living ceiling, a silver birch creates a dappled light effect.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 75

GARDENS Entwine any surrounding structures or walls with fragrant scented climbers such as the vigorous clematis montana, architectural akebia, or honeysuckle.”

Tom and Ailsa’s focus on structure and shelter is complemented by the way others think about finishing touches. Beyond the framework, it is the table settings, textiles and layers of comfort that encourage guests to linger. As the team at the home furniture specialists Susie Watson Designs notes, “As the days grow longer and the warmth of summer beckons, there’s nothing quite like dining outdoors to celebrate the season. Whether it’s a leisurely lunch in the garden, a sun-dappled brunch on the patio, or a candlelit supper under the stars, al fresco moments are made for sharing with family and friends.

Embrace the joy of outdoor living with and look to use details such as comfortable furniture, charming mix-andmatch pottery, glassware, table linens, cushions and soft Shetland wool throws.”

Principal garden designer Rosie Nottage encourages us to look to craftsmanship and nature for dining space inspiration: “A gorgeous timber structure with good joinery, natural materials and open sides allows you to be outside with the elements, without having to be in them. My favourite spaces have Japanese joinery details, built by local oak framers. Shade from leaves is cooler and more relaxing than the shade from structures. A group of fruitless mulberry trees trained into tabletop shapes gives a lovely, dappled shade and look great against the sky. If you’re building a pergola, perhaps a chunkier frame with a wire top to let wisteria and roses clamber around so you’re nestled in the blooms rather than under a roof.”

“A meadow maze becomes a place of discovery” below: Becky Sibley reminds

us to think about shady spots especially for little ones; inset: Metal furniture really does stand the test of time advises Sophie Strutt

STYLING BY CABBAGES & ROSES; WWW.CABBAGESANDROSES.COM

Picking up this theme of natural materials and enveloping, tactile spaces, Sophie Strutt adds the importance of solid, grounding furniture beneath these canopies: “A pergola with fragrant evergreen climbers growing up it makes a lovely shelter for shade in the summer and some shelter from the elements in the winter. I would generally choose generous, chunky slabs of wood for furniture, it’s the material my husband and carpenter Ed Strutt works in and it feels so grounding and warm to have in garden spaces with its muted tones and natural feel.”.

ROOM FOR GROWTH

In family gardens, planting must work hard – providing beauty, structure and habitat while accommodating play and evolving needs over time. Designers are increasingly creating spaces that can shift in character as children grow up and lifestyles change, without losing their sense of place. As Katrina Sharland explains, “Planting plays a central role in balancing function with beauty. While an area of lawn is often retained for informal games, it need not be a sterile expanse. We favour species-rich turf or lawns carved as clearings within wildflower meadows, threaded with mown pathways that guide movement and create a sense of journey.

“Edible planting adds another layer of engagement.

Fruit trees and kitchen gardens not only support wildlife, but also encourage foraging and a deeper connection to seasonality. Ultimately, the approach is about creating gardens that feel timeless, immersive and deeply

76 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

above: Dining outdoors is part of the summer celebrations, say the team at Susie Watson Designs;

STYLING BY CABBAGES & ROSES; WWW.CABBAGESANDROSES.COM

below: Avoid over‑engineered, toy‑cluttered corners advises Sophie Strutt

connected to their setting – spaces that evolve with the family, encourage imagination, and offer lasting enjoyment for both people and nature alike.

“By working with the landscape rather than imposing upon it, we can introduce features that are both ecologically beneficial and quietly playful. A meadow maze becomes a place of discovery, while a gently sculpted grass mound beneath the dappled canopy of weeping willows offers opportunities for hide-and-seek, or a peaceful retreat amongst wildflowers for reading and making daisy chains.”

Rosie Nottage agrees that gardens should be robust, playful and ready to adapt as family life shifts: “Ornamental grasses are very tough and mix well with perennials. I once looked after a footballer’s garden; we found six balls hidden in the grasses, which weren’t immediately visible!

“Gardens are for people, and the needs of family change. Gardens need to work now and for the next five to ten years. Invest in well-made furniture and ideas that’ll grow with your family; sunken trampolines become teenage fire pits; football pitches become lawns or meadows; entertaining areas for parents of small children become the teenage party area. A mistake is buying swings and climbing frames, which will only be used for a year or two.”

Isobel Spandler agrees on looking to resilient planting that can cope with busy feet and energetic play while still delivering colour and texture: “Dense, tough evergreens work best in a high traffic family garden – plants like Osmanthus and Taxus cope brilliantly with the inevitable knocks. Many cottage-style perennials are surprisingly forgiving too; lavender and hydrangeas bounce back well, and long-flowering performers such as Nepeta and hardy geraniums can be trimmed after their first flush to keep them looking good. Choose perennials with generous, leafy bases rather than those with delicate tall stems; plants like alliums or echinacea can quickly look battered in a busy family garden.”

CHILD-FRIENDLY

Designing with children in mind doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style or dedicating half the garden to plastic play equipment. Instead, many designers advocate creating spaces that invite exploration for all ages and feel both magical and practical – to create outdoor spaces that are beautiful, immersive and welcoming, with just the right balance of shade, freedom and gentle structure.

Head of programmes and education Arthur Cole and Martha Hemmett, children’s activities coordinator at The Newt in Somerset, very much believe that play should be woven through the whole garden, rather than confined to a single spot. “It can be less about creating a designated play area and more about allowing children to feel welcome in the garden as a whole. Spaces don’t necessarily need to be overly curated for the purpose of children’s play, often the areas that feel most engaging are those that are a little more relaxed and lived-in. This might be as simple as giving children the freedom to move through the space or involving them in everyday garden tasks.

“Encouraging play doesn’t have to mean introducing large or permanent equipment. More subtle approaches can work just as well, leaving space for movement or including natural materials that can be interacted with.

At home, this could be a small digging patch, a few logs or stones or an area of the garden that isn’t too finished.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 77

PHOTO BY ANDREW MAYBURY

GARDENS

“Gardens will feel more engaging for children when they offer opportunities for interaction, not just something to look at. Edible planting could be one way to do this. Giving children ownership and responsibility for growing simple herbs, fruits or vegetables can invite curiosity, involvement and a sense of achievement. Even in smaller spaces, growing something simple can add a sense of discovery. This again means less large play equipment is needed and the spaces are shared by adults and children alike. A simple swing or seating area can become a shared space for both adults and children, showing that it doesn’t need to be overly designed or child-specific to be enjoyable. Often, it’s the interaction and willingness of adults to join in that brings the space to life, something that applies more broadly across the whole garden too.”

Becky Sibley, head gardener and designer with Wild Thyme Designs, complements this approach by highlighting the importance of comfort and protection, ensuring that these shared spaces feel safe in strong sun as well as inviting in cooler months. “Now we have greater awareness regarding looking after our skin whilst under the sun’s UV rays, it is important to consider screening.

Place a pergola near the house to offer screening whilst eating – running an evergreen climbing plant like a Clematis Armandii over it will create a beautiful scent and flower-filled space in the spring and a cool environment in the summer. We use sails and umbrellas where young families are involved, as well as well-placed trees which can offer cool shade over a lawn – the perfect environment for toddlers to play.”

As Rosie Nottage notes,“Children like a lot of the same things as adults – places that have privacy where you’ll

gather and discover. Child-friendly gardens don’t need climbing frames, you could add a woven willow den or a swinging sofa, scented lawn to sprawl out on with a fabric teepee that packs away in the evening and space to grow vegetables and fruit.”

NO GO ZONES

top: A silver birch can create a dappled light effect say the team from Eaglestone Gardense; inset: Small water features can provide safe play for children says Becky Sibley

“The interaction and willingness of adults to join in that brings the space to life”

While there are many creative ways to make gardens work harder for families, there are also common pitfalls that designers see time and again – changes made with good intentions that can compromise both sustainability and enjoyment. “A very common error is removing natural grass from play areas and replacing it with artificial turf or rubber surfacing,” says Isobel Spandler. “Achieving safe fall heights with these materials requires deep excavation and building multiple base layers, which is often unnecessary. Grass is environmentally friendly, soft, quick to recover, and usually already in place. If you’re worried about mud, a loose layer of woodchip is a brilliant natural buffer.

“Another mistake is positioning the children’s area in the sunniest part of the garden. Shade is far more practical and comfortable. And finally, many people assume a children’s zone needs to be packed with toys. In reality, children are often happiest exploring nature – a willow wigwam, stepping stone tree stumps, bamboo bug hotels or a simple water table can offer endless play value without overwhelming the garden.”

Sophie Strutt agrees it is better to avoid toy‑cluttered, over‑engineered corners and instead create gardens where grass, trees and simple, nature‑based interventions provide the richest play experiences. “Play equipment can sometimes be an abandoned eyesore in people’s gardens. It can get used for a while, and then become

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 79

PHOTO BY CASPERFARRELLPHOTOGR APHY

GARDENS

a space invader. If space is limited incorporate play equipment into the natural elements of the garden, such as a den, swing or tree house, cave or mini paths through the planting. Making temporary structures for children in the garden can also work, such as a canvas teepee or a willow pod for them to play in. ”

COME TOGETHER

Ultimately, the most successful family gardens are those that encourage everyone to spend time outside together, with spaces that feel shared rather than segregated. These are gardens that invite conversation, creativity and calm in equal measure. “Families should be encouraged to spend time together in the garden, and it’s all about creating spaces which work for both children and adults alike,” says Becky Sibley. “Place small raised beds where children can play with dinosaurs or make mud pies within the sight line and close proximity to a seating area for adults. Giving children a space of their own to create, grow, or destroy helps take the focus away from your prized plants or flowers. We also add a small dipping container which looks like a water feature yet doubles as a pool for a child to play in. By being sited near seating or near the house it ensures you can keep an eye on your little one at all times for safety reasons.”

Our experts are united that family gardens come into their own when they are robust enough to be used, flexible enough to evolve and relaxed enough to invite everyone outside – a backdrop for shared memories that grow season after season. As The Newt in Somerset’s Arthur Cole and Martha Hemmett explain, “One

80 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

top: Make sure your layout makes the most of the sun and shade throughout the day advises Nick Woodhouse; inset: Clever planting can make the most of your garden’s areas says Rosie Nottage

“Seating should be seen as an opportunity for creativity”

potential pitfall could be making a garden feel too precious or overly finished. When everything feels fixed or untouchable, it can be harder for children to engage. Allowing for a bit of flexibility and wear can help create a space that works for the whole family. Equally, it could be just as much about mindset as design and a garden can still look beautifully curated, but if there’s a sense of openness around how children are able to explore and get involved, it’s far more likely to foster a lasting enjoyment of being outdoors and in spaces that are created together.

“The approach can be less about creating separate, child-specific areas and more about welcoming children into real garden spaces and activities, where a balance of light-touch, nature-led play and the simple willingness of adults to engage alongside them helps bring the whole environment to life.” n

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SCHOOL GUIDE VICTORIA BOND

That important first step to finding the right school

Search terms

Forget the chaos of the world wide web – there’s now an easier way to research our local schools

O

nce upon a time, in a land before ChatGPT, a young mum moved to Bath and realised she’d bought completely the wrong house. Not because she didn’t love the Georgian sash windows or glimpses of the Abbey from the roof terrace, but because it was out of catchment for the school she’d set her heart on for her son.

In the years that followed, that mum (that’s me) had two more babies: a second son and a digital ‘baby’ in the form of my website, School Guide. The latter was borne out of frustration at the lack of straightforward school information for parents. It was 2014, but finding the admissions boundaries for our local primary school felt more like 1914. There was a parish map – available for scroll-like unravelling in the school office – which was only matched

in terms of ridiculousness by what I call my ‘ten-tonne tab era’. I had so many windows open on my laptop when I was researching school websites, Ofsted reports and catchment gobbledygook that I thought I was going to go www. bonkers.

In business start-up terms, School Guide was my lightbulb moment. In mum terms, it was just bloody useful. (Truth is, I couldn’t actually believe no one had thought of building a guide before so parents could find all the school information in one place.)

Fast forward to the year of our Claude 2026, and I’ve been helping parents navigate shifting catchment areas, complex admissions, inspection reports and exam data for over a decade.

Along the way, my team and I built partnerships with Rightmove and Mumsnet, and – possibly

my proudest moment – steering millions of mums and dads through the pandemic when the schools were closed but the need for information was at an all-time high.

Professionally, I’ve become an accredited researcher with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to ensure those pesky catchment areas never trip me up again, and worked with Ofsted and the Department and Education on improving the accessibility of school data. Personally, I have journeyed through primary and secondary school with my own sons (now 18 and 22), gaining first-hand experience of state and independent schools as well as single-sex and co-ed environments. This much I know: every school has its pros and cons.

This month I am thrilled to be

“Choosing a school can be overwhelming”

adding one-to-one consultations to my ‘Head Girl’ CV. I’m hoping my experience will help ease the pressure of making one of the most important decisions in family life. Choosing a school can be time-consuming and overwhelming and, ironically, AI seems to have made research feel even more fragmented.

If you or someone you know is planning a school move, a house move (with schools front and centre of the Pick Me criteria) or even just want to get ahead on options before an application deadline, I’d love to hear from you.

Victoria Bond is founder of School Guide and is now offering bespoke school consultations with a focus on Bath, Bristol and the South West.

Victoria offers a complimentary 15-minute introductory call.

Email: victoria@schoolguide.co.uk For more: www.schoolguide.co.uk/consultancy

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 83

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NETWORK

THE CITY’S HOTTEST BUSINESS NEWS

TALKING HEAD

LESSONS AND LEADERSHIP WITH ANDREW GORDON-BROWN, HEADMASTER OF KINGSWOOD SCHOOL ALL ABOARD The vital funding keeping the Bath Safe Bus running across the city

GREEN TEAM Hotel Indigo Bath celebrates sustainability recognition

LONDON CALLING

Bath Spa University opens a site in Canary Wharf

WORK OF FICTION

The Literary Craft Parlour named an inspiring small biz

OUT OF THE WOODS Balancing commercial imperatives with Wesleyan values, head ANDREW GORDON-BROWN of Bath’s Kingswood School has no cookie-cutter educational background, and seems all the better for it

Words by Paul Marland Main photos by Narrated Frames; www.narratedframes.com 86 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I

t’s a big old beast, Kingswood School. Revenues topping £25 million a year; over 120 acres of prime Lansdown real estate; an all-through offering, from baby sign-up to eighteen years old; and with a market share of the independent school sector in Bath currently hovering around 29 per cent. They’ve a thriving nursery of about 90 kids, 330 in prep school, and 890 seniors – “so over 1,300 pupils, young souls, and 315 full time staff,” we’re told. When people say, “You’re not a headmaster any more, you’re a CEO”, they perhaps had Kingswood in mind.

But for Andrew Gordon-Brown, the current head, it’s almost the perfect job, combining City know-how with pastoral care, pragmatism with good deeds.

He’s got an investment banking background, you see, although soon realised City hours and the desire to be a good father hardly walk hand-in-hand. “When our first was born, it wasn’t obvious what else I could do,” he says, “but from the moment I first thought I might teach, to actually

NETWORK opposite: Kingswood head, Andrew

Gordon-Brown was the latest speaker at the Bath Life Network Lunch, interviewed by MediaClash’s chief exec Greg Ingham; left: The talk and lunch held at Emberwood was another sell out event; inset: Andrew with students on the grounds of Kingswood School, which was founded in 1748

teaching, was less than a year.”

As an analyst, “my role was to build financial models, then come up with investment theses recommending shares to buy and sell – effectively, storytelling to fund managers – and that’s not a million miles from entering a classroom and talking about supply and demand.” Kingswood is the fourth independent school he’s worked at, and his second headship. What attracted him, he says, is the “palpable sense of community, which bowled me over. It’s a Holy Grail to find a place to work where you can really give expression to your beliefs and values, and I felt I had that here.”

Kingswood was founded way back in 1748 by John Wesley, the man behind Methodism. “It was the first school he set up,” Andrew says, “to educate the sons and daughters of Methodist ministers. But there was such a scandal over the idea

that both sexes might be taught at the same boarding school that it became boys-only, and only started admitting girls 50 years ago. There’s a wonderful heritage here, much of it revolving around the generosity of others, so part of our ethos remains to make it possible – as possible as we can! – for anyone to come, regardless of their ability to afford the fees. Naturally, I wish I had a bigger bursary fund – although the fact that we don’t means there’s an imperative to make our regular fees as affordable as we can.”

The ’24 election, of course, saw

“MY ROLE WAS TO BUILD FINANCIAL MODELS”

quite the ruckus over school fees suddenly incurring VAT, the fear being that dozens would be forced to close, hundreds of teachers would lose their jobs, and thousands of pupils would overwhelm the state school system…

“And although the reality hasn’t been quite that in Bath,” Andrew says, “for dozens of small independent schools it has represented a tipping point. The sector is contracting quite materially and – though it’s in many ways unfair – big schools like ours are coping with it disproportionately. Our pupil roll is the same this year as it was last, and it’ll be the same again in September. But while we’ve managed to sail through relatively unaffected, the general economic principle is sound: if school fees go up by 20%, demand is going to suffer.”

Teenage mental health and the

impact of social media are another huge issue, but Andrew at last sees the pendulum starting to swing back in a positive way. “You hear from people saying there isn’t any hard empirical evidence that social media or mobile phones are detrimental to mental health, but I can tell you as a headmaster that’s just not true. When pastoral or emotional issues crop up at Kingwood, half the time there’s a misuse of technology behind the story. So I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some sort of social media ban in the UK, and I’d probably support it – for under 16s. We’re currently in the second year of our own ban on phones at school, and although Kings has always been a high-achieving, happy kind of a place, last year I felt it had an even-happier-than-normal feel about it. And I can’t help but make the link between that and the kids actually talking to one another, rather than sneaking off to send WhatsApp messages.”

Expect pop-ups, then; perhaps concept stores. But what’s really going to make this place work – considering it’s a complicated site and “relatively small ticket, as they say in the real estate private equity world” – is the continued interest of long-term owners who are passionate about the buildings, have a lot of energy, and really want to do something unique.

So far, it’s paying off. “We’ve a vested interest in Bath continuing to improve,” William says. “We’ll be here, whether you like us or not, for the next couple of decades.”

For more: www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk | www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 87

NETWORK SCENE

Photos by Narrated Frames; www.narratedframes.com

Ian Lloyd, Andrew Gordon-Brown and Greg Ingham

Peter Blake

Matthew Blower, Leanne Kesterton and Steven Shepherd

Shaun Bartlett and Nishit Chotai

Jeanie Whelan

Jon Miles, Rich McNairn and Debbie Boulton

Natalie Ballantyne and Alex Neal

Oliver Baker

Jo Lund, Henry West and Nelson Missier

88 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Mark Lord, Faye Lord and Jenna Travers

Dan Nichols, Pat White and Alex Geenan

SPONSORED CONTENT

THE THREE BIG GAME-CHANGERS FOR YOUR FINANCES IN A NEW TAX YEAR

By Matthew Colman, Chartered Financial Planner at Fidelius

T

he start of a new tax year is an ideal time to think about your financial plan. Tax planning should be central to your strategy because the UK tax system is becoming ever more punishing for high earners. For that reason, one of the most impactful things you can do for your money is to maximise the tax allowances available to you.

DON’T SLEEP ON ISAS Making the most of ISAs is an important way to do this. Currently, adults get a £20,000 ISA allowance each tax year which they can save or invest as they wish across the handful of different types of ISAs that exist.

The two most popular ISA types are Cash ISAs and Stocks & Shares ISAs. If you want to make your money work as hard as possible and give you a return above the rate of inflation, many investors utilise Stocks & Shares ISAs. While a positive return is never guaranteed, the potential for inflation-proofing growth is always there.

You can also enjoy tax-efficient income from ISAs once you get to retirement, or indeed at any time as they are flexible and your money is not locked away until age 55 (soon to be 57) as it is with pensions.

“THE START OF A NEW TAX YEAR IS AN IDEAL TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN”

WHY PENSIONS ARE A KEY FOUNDATION Speaking of pensions, this is the second big piece of the puzzle. To get your finances working harder and legitimately reduce the tax you pay, pensions are a no‑brainer.

They offer an uplift that you can’t get from any other investment types.

Let me explain. If you are a higher-rate taxpayer, for every £10,000 you put into a pension, it will actually only cost you £6,000, and if you are a basic rate taxpayer the cost to you is still only £8,000. That’s because any personal contributions into a pension attract tax relief at your highest marginal rate of 20 per cent or 40 per cent. That’s an immediate uplift on your investment – where else could you get that sort of immediate return?

At the same time, with changes to the treatment of pensions for inheritance tax purposes coming in April 2027, the next 12 months are an important window to review how your pension contributions fit into your wider estate planning.

Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.

helps to keep your overall plan on track.

As independent, whole‑of‑market planners, we build portfolios aligned with your goals and attitude to risk so you can stay invested confidently through market cycles.

If you came to have a conversation with me here at Fidelius, I would be looking at your whole financial situation including your income needs, your cash position, and your longterm goals, to create a personalised plan that can help get you closer to achieving them.

A new tax year is a great time to blow the cobwebs away, spring clean, and get your money working harder for you. Get in touch with us via Matthew.Colman@fidelius.co.uk or 03452416500 to see how we can help. n

DON’T FEAR THE STOCK MARKET – TRUST THE PROCESS Pensions and Stocks & Shares ISAs involve investing, and investing is ultimately how your money grows over the long term.

Markets will always move through ups and downs, but a well‑diversified portfolio helps smooth those movements by spreading your money across different assets, regions, and fund managers. This reduces the impact of any single market event and

Fidelius Ltd are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, reference number 188615.

Fidelius Ltd are registered in England & Wales at the registered address of No1 Bath Quays, 1 Foundry Lane, Bath, BA2 3GZ. Email: advice@fidelius.co.uk. www.fidelius.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 89

ON THE UP THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH will host one of the world’s leading sustainability conferences in September, welcoming hundreds of researchers and experts from across the globe. The conference chair, Yixian Sun Dr Yixian Sun from the Department of Social and Policy Sciences at the University of Bath says, “It’s a chance to showcase the University’s work on sustainability and to be part of vital global conversations about how we protect our planet.” www.bath.ac.uk

Marianne Coote started up the Literary Craft Parlour during lockdown; inset: Fictional places, but a very real business

LITERARY CLASSIC Bath-based online retailer Literary Craft Parlour was recently named one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025.

The business, which creates unique literary-themed gifts and décor, was founded in 2020 by Bath resident Marianne Coote who explains what kickstarted the small start-up. “While furloughed, I decided to teach myself Photoshop. The first thing I designed was a bookmark in the form of a ticket to the Netherfield Ball from my favourite book, Pride and Prejudice. When

I posted it on my Instagram, people asked where they could buy one and suggested other literary designs. That moment sparked the idea for the Literary Craft Parlour.

“Since then, it has grown from a small creative experiment into a thriving online shop full of vintage-inspired, bookish stationery and gifts. Being chosen as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 feels like such a lovely recognition of how far it has come, especially as it is still just me running everything from my little home studio!”

For more: www.literarycraftparlour.co.uk

THRINGS is continuing to enhance its private client offering with the appointment of a new partner in its Bath office. Harriet Neusinger joins the law firm’s succession and tax team from Clarke Willmott, bringing more than Harriet 15 years of legal experience and Neusinger expertise in managing complex and high value estates.www.thrings.com CANNED WINE GROUP has appointed co-founder Ben Franks as CEO. Since its launch in 2019, it has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading premium canned wine brands and more recently introduced draught wine to its portfolio. He says, “we are excited to innovate with future formats that rapidly expand our availability, and reduce liquid waste from venues up and down the country.”

Ben www.cannedwine.group Franks

The University of Bath is commited to helping student wellbeing across the city

ON BOARD

The Bath Safe Bus has secured another year of vital backing, with both the University of Bath and Labyrinth Bar & Nightclub renewing their sponsorship to support nighttime safety across the city. The University of Bath has confirmed a £10,000 sponsorship for another year, reinforcing its commitment to student wellbeing and the wider night-time economy. Labyrinth has also extended its £3,000 sponsorship, adding to the support that keeps the service running every Friday and Saturday night between Operating from around 10pm to 4am, the Bath Safe Bus has become a trusted presence in the city centre, and is staffed by medical

90 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Labyrinth Nightclub extends sponsorship of the Bath Safe Bus

professionals, security and volunteers who offer support on everything from first aid and emotional help to phone charging and sexual health products.

Since its launch by the Bath Business Improvement District’s Safe and Secure Business Crime Reduction Partnership in March 2023, it has supported more than 1,093 people, including 264 University of Bath students. Bath BID’s Nick Bishop says,“The Bath Safe Bus plays an important role in keeping Bath’s night-time economy safe and ensuring people get home safely, and this continued sponsorship is crucial to its success.”

For more: www.bathbid.co.uk

King Edward’s School, Bath (KES) has agreed a new twoyear partnership with the Holburne Museum, strengthening both organisations’ commitment to widening access to the arts for children and young people across the city.

The agreement will support the museum’s learning and engagement team to expand its programme for local school pupils, particularly those who face barriers to creative and cultural opportunities. It will also provide rich learning experiences for KES students, who will be able to study works of art at close quarters, hear directly from artists and curators, and respond to major exhibitions ranging from Don McCullin’s photography to Post-Impressionist prints and early 20th century British painters.

Dr Chris Stephens, director of the Holburne Museum, says,“We are delighted that King Edward’s School share our belief that creativity is vital to wellbeing. With their support, we can continue to grow our renowned ‘Learning and Engagement’ programme, encouraging our local schools and community to take part in arts and creative activities.”

For more: www. kesbath.com | www.holburne.org Dr Chris Stevens, director of the Holburne with Martin Boden, headmaster of KES Bath

PHOTOGR APHY ANNA BARCL AY

CREATIVE ALLIANCE

NETWORK NEWS PHOTO BY MEGAN HOPE

Bath Spa University has opened a second London site; inset: Vice-Chancellor Professor Georgina Andrews

Photographer Betty Bhandari wins at last year’s Creative Bath Awards

BUSINESS DIARY 15 APRIL Bath Life Network Lunch at Emberwood; www.mediaclash.co.uk 14 MAY Creative Bath Awards at Komedia; www.creativebathawards.org

CAPITAL IDEA

Bath Spa University opened a second London teaching centre in Canary Wharf late last year, marking a major step in its expansion in the capital following the launch of BSU London in Hackney in 2020.

Located in the heart of the London’s financial district, the new site is home to more than 2,000 adult learners studying degrees in health and social care management, business

and management, and computing.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Georgina Andrews says, “Student experience, inclusion and accessibility are at the heart of our plans for Bath Spa University London (Canary Wharf). This new centre reflects our commitment to providing life-changing opportunities for learners across the UK and to growing in a sustainable, communityfocused way.”

For more: www.bathspa.ac.uk

GOING GREEN

Hotel Indigo Bath is celebrating after being awarded the prestigious international Green Key accreditation, recognising its commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible tourism. The eco-label, managed in England by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is granted only to businesses that meet rigorous, independently-audited standards.

The hotel formed a dedicated Green Team in 2024 to drive continuous improvements in energy use, waste reduction and other eco-friendly practices.

Operations manager Gemma Orford says, “We’re delighted to have been accredited with the Green Key… We believe in not just providing exceptional service to our guests, but also in doing so in a way that minimises our impact on the environment.”

For more: www.bath.hotelindigo.com

The dream Green Team of Hotel Indigo

17 – 18 JUNE EntreConf at the Watershed; www.entreconf.com 23 JUNE Bath Property Awards launch; www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk 2 – 5 JULY Bath Boules in Queen Square; www.bathboules.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE AWDRY LAW team takes on the Bath Half for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice

A

team from Awdry Law recently laced up their running shoes to take on the Bath Half Marathon, raising vital funds for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice and showing true determination along the way.

Conditions on the day were mostly kind, although runners were met with a burst of rain around midday and a distinctly chilly breeze. Despite this, the team pushed on with impressive resolve, supporting one another throughout the course and delivering a fantastic collective effort.

For several members of the team, the Bath Half marked their very first half marathon, which is no small challenge. One particularly determined runner even completed the course while carrying an injury, proving that nothing was going to stand in the way of crossing

the finish line. Thanks to the generosity of colleagues, friends, and supporters, the team raised around £852 for Julia’s House.

Fundraising efforts included not only sponsorship for the run itself but also a firmwide love of cake, with two in-house cake sales alone raising over £100 towards the total.

The Management Board is incredibly proud of everyone who took part in the Bath Half. Seeing colleagues support one another through training, race day nerves, and some tough conditions was inspiring, and raising vital funds for Julia’s House makes it even more special.

The event reflects Awdry Law’s ongoing commitment to supporting local charities while bringing colleagues together for positive causes, proving that teamwork, determination, and community spirit go a long way.

To find out more: www.awdry.law

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NETWORK

“WELLBEING, CULTURE, AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE NOT OPTIONAL EXTRAS”

BIZ Q&A

PHILLIP BOLTON The GOUGHS SOLICITORS’ partner and head of private wealth on the value of transcendental meditation, the power of principles, and Gareth Southgate

P

hillip Bolton’s practice encompasses all aspects of private client work, with a particular interest in wealth preservation, complex wills, tax mitigation, and estate planning. Phillip is also a Legal 500 recommended lawyer, the partner in charge of the Corsham office, and the deputy head of the private client department.

Tell us a little about Goughs Goughs Solicitors dates back over a century, and has deep roots in Wiltshire and the surrounding areas, including Bath. The firm has built its reputation on combining technical excellence with long-term client relationships, often advising families and businesses across generations.

How did you fall into your line of work initially?

I was drawn to private wealth work because it sits at the intersection of technical law, commercial thinking, and people’s lives. Estate planning, succession, and wealth preservation involve

complex legal issues, but they’re also deeply personal. That combination appealed to me early on. I trained at BPP Law School in London and qualified at a London firm. Here I gained a strong technical grounding working on demanding matters in a city environment.

Did you always know this is the work you’d be doing?

I knew I wanted to practice law, but I didn’t always know the exact shape it would take. Over time, it became clear that private wealth and estate planning aligned best with my skills, values, and interest in long-term problem-solving.

What were the early days like as a young lawyer?

The early years involve steep learning curves and high expectations, but strong mentorship, early client exposure, and a culture that encourages learning rather than fear of mistakes help you through it. Support like this will build confidence. Moving from London to a regional firm was also a shift, but it quickly became clear that the responsibility and trust I was given would accelerate my development rather than limit it.

What are the highs and the lows of your career?

Highs include helping families navigate complex, multigenerational planning and seeing long-standing client relationships endure. Lows inevitably come with the emotional weight of private client work, dealing with death, illness, and family conflict, but that’s also where the work feels most meaningful.

What changes have you seen over the years?

There’s been a growing recognition that wellbeing, culture, and mental health are not optional extras. Clients also increasingly value clarity, long-term thinking, and trusted advisers over sheer scale or brand.

Is there someone that you admire and try to learn from?

I am a big football fan, and I have recently been reading Gareth Southgate’s book Dear England: Lessons in Leadership. He has structured the book, so that it is aimed at business leaders rather than football managers.

I have found his insights very useful.

Are there negative perceptions about the work you do?

There can be a perception that lawyers are hard nosed and unapproachable. My experience is that many people in the profession are very personable who care deeply about their clients and the work they do.

How have you developed professionally and personally over the years?

Professionally, I’ve moved into complex, high-value advisory work and leadership roles. Personally, practices like transcendental meditation have been central to building resilience, clarity, and confidence in a demanding profession.

How does being Bath-based help your business?

Being here allows us to serve sophisticated clients while benefiting from a healthier pace of life. It attracts professionals who want to do excellent work without sacrificing everything else. I grew up in the Cotswolds, so I’m very much from this part of the world. After training and qualifying in London, I made a conscious decision to return to the South West. I wanted a career that allowed me to do high-level legal work without sacrificing family life or wellbeing, and this region offered exactly that balance.

What is it about working with Goughs that inspires you?

The firm’s ethos is serious legal work, delivered in a humane, sustainable way, with trust and continuity at its core. It’s around those principles I want to build my career.

For more: www.goughs.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 93

JUNE 17-18, WATERSHED

MINDSPA FOR ENTREPRENEURS Stimulation awaits Scan for Delegate Passes

Headline Partner Content Partners

Panel Partner

Albert Goodman S&W Doyle Clayton

Linkstone Advisory

NETWORK Now haircuts are sophisticated – all about texture and softness – and colour is kinder to the hair with limitless creative options. We used to get trends from magazines; now people bring in AI-enhanced images for inspiration. Running a business was simpler then too: you just had your physical salon. Now, with the internet and social media, you’re running your real business and a virtual one at the same time.

CAREER PATH

CATHERINE HODGES

The TONI&GUY Bath salon owner, hair stylist and trichologist on ashtrays, empathy, and celebrating a silver jubilee

C

atherine Hodges is the owner of Toni&Guy Bath, a franchise salon, formerly Essensuals, which is the sister company to Toni&Guy. It rebranded and became Toni&Guy Bath in 2021, but has been part of the city’s hairdressing scene for many years. Catherine is born and bred in Bath and has spent her entire working life in hairdressing, progressing from teenage apprentice to award-winning franchise director. Also a trained trichologist, she specialises in hair loss and scalp health, with volume toppers being one of the latest services on offer.

How did you start in hairdressing?

I started as an apprentice when I left school at 16, working in an independent salon. From there I moved to Toni&Guy before qualifying as a stylist.

Hairdressing is really all I’ve ever done; it’s where I grew up, professionally and personally.

Where did you train and study ?

I trained at the Toni&Guy Academy in London. That experience really shaped my

approach to hairdressing – the technical standards are incredibly high and it set the tone for the rest of my career.

What inspired you to take on your own salon?

I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to achieve and how I wanted my own salon to feel. I knew the standard of work, the kind of team culture and the level of client care I wanted to build, so opening my own place was a natural next step.

What were the early days of establishing yourself like?

Back then I didn’t worry too much; I just had ideas and kept pushing and growing. The hardest thing was when a team member wasn’t as committed as I was, but that’s something I’ve learned to manage over the years.

Financial pressures are always there in business – they’re just another challenge to navigate.

But you adapt, you grow, and you keep moving.

What changes have you seen in your field?

When I started, we were doing cap highlights with bleach, perms, sets and lots of short hair.

We’d charge extra for a bit of hair gel, and an ashtray came as standard with a client’s coffee!

Tell us a little about your T&G team My business partner Sarah Foster and I are like chalk and cheese, which makes for the perfect partnership. The team are amazing – their genuine friendships and the way they care for each other and their clients makes me very proud. Our younger stylists are incredibly creative and have so many strengths, including wedding hair.

Their positive client feedback is wonderful to see.

How have you developed professionally and personally over the years?

Personally, I’ve grown as an experienced stylist, always evolving and looking after my clients. I became a hair loss specialist after realising I didn’t have enough knowledge to help a particular client; that trichology work has now become invaluable to both our clients and our business. Professionally, I’ve always found leadership quite natural, but I don’t think I was as patient or empathetic. Those are skills that have grown with age and experience.

How would you define the importance of hairdressing?

Hairdressers are an important part of people’s lives; for some, a salon visit is like therapy, with real care and connection. It’s also a very future-proof career and one of the few that still relies completely on human interaction, which is something we all crave.

And what makes a great hairdresser?

A good hairdresser spends years perfecting their craft, like any other skilled trade. The cost of a haircut should reflect that skill, knowledge and professionalism – it’s not just a ‘quick trim’.

“YOU ADAPT, YOU GROW, AND YOU KEEP MOVING”

Most hairdressers start their apprenticeship at 16 and qualify around 19. They can make your hair look great, but their people skills are still developing. Those so-called ‘soft skills’ are actually core skills and they come with age and experience. Few other jobs put an 18-year-old face-toface with clients for an hour at a time, all day long. We have some remarkable young stylists who already have an advanced level of empathy.

Is there a moment you’ve been particularly proud of?

I was very proud to receive a special recognition award for leadership from Durham University – getting that acknowledgement from outside the industry was really meaningful. Winning franchise director several times for Toni&Guy and being placed in their Hall of Fame has also been a highlight.

Has there been any collaborations with other local independents?

Our Indian head massage service was taught to us by Janeen at the Health & Beauty Centre, who has run a fantastic business for over 30 years and offers exemplary massages. We’ve also collaborated with lots of local shops and bars over the years, and put on hair shows for charity.

What’s next for the Toni&Guy Bath team?

We’re celebrating our 25th year this year, so we’re planning a really exciting programme of fun giveaways for our clients. All during April we’re running five weeks of ‘25’ prizes including goodie bags and free haircuts.

It’s a way of being able to say thank you to the people who’ve supported us over the quarter of a century.

For more: Toni&Guy Bath, 1 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.toniandguy.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 95

MEET THE

FAMILY BUSINESS

PHOTO - GUY HARROP

Meeting the families behind the businesses and the stories shaping their success

IFORD MANOR ESTATE

MARIANNE CARTWRIGHT-HIGNETT www.ifordmanor.co.uk How and when did the business begin?

William’s mother, Elizabeth, purchased Iford Manor and its 100 acre parkland in 1965.

Previously home to landscape architect Harold Peto, the garden was largely thought ‘lost’ and Elizabeth set about restoring the house, garden and follies. Today the Iford Estate comprises just shy of 1,000 acres, having encompassed neighbouring farms in the 1970’s. This has enabled us to protect the landscape and farm 96 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

sensitively, mindful of the many other residents in the valley, including our Greater Horseshoe bats, whose roost is designated a SSSI. When William and Marianne took over the estate in 2016 it was largely a farming business with a small number of visitors to the garden and tearoom catered from the domestic kitchen. The pair were determined to put the garden and heritage on a sustainable footing by becoming more open than ever to visitors, and developing a new café and restaurant.

Most recently, when their two beloved local pubs, The Inn at Freshford and The Cross Guns at Avoncliff, came up for sale it was the perfect opportunity to expand the business further.

With Iford, Avoncliff and Freshford all joined by delightful walks, many through the Iford Estate, integrating further with our approach to heritage, food and gardening, albeit with a very different style at each, it was the natural expansion.

Iford Manor Estate has recently been featured

in More4’s series Saving Country Houses with Penelope Keith, in which Penelope follows the passionate owners of Britain’s country houses as they do whatever it takes to keep their historic homes in one piece.

Was it always meant to be a family business?

Iford is our home and within the garden the history of previous owners over the centuries has accumulated to what you see today with wisteria and trees planted hundreds of years ago by occupants of the Manor still extant. We take this care, pride and attention to detail across all that we do, and trust that those visiting us can appreciate the connoisseurship and love that goes into it all.

There are lots of little personal nods to history and people in all that we do. For example, the waggon wheel chandelier in Iford Manor Kitchen restaurant came from the first carriage owned by Eizabeth Cartwright-Hignett.

The restaurant is sited on her old stables and she is an avid carriage driver, still judging carriage driving competitions across Europe to this day.

What skills does each family member bring to the business?

Marianne and William are complete opposites, which is what makes them a powerful team.

Approaching ideas from different directions, it is when they meet in the middle we know it is probably the right answer. William is an entrepreneur, designer and often to be found out-front, whilst Marianne is more analytical, strategic and usually in the office.

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WRAXALL BUILDERS

HENRY CHANNER AND LOUIS CHANNER www.wraxallbuilders.com Wraxall Builders is 45 years old this year, how did it all begin?

Wraxall Builders was established in 1978 alongside the then-emerging architectural practice Feilden Clegg Design (now FCB Studios) and formally incorporated 45 years

JOHN MOORE SPORTS, BATH

ROB MOORE AND LEAH MOORE www.johnmooresports.co.uk How and when did the business begin?

In 1912 John Moore (Rob’s great-grandfather) acquired The Sports Depot from Somerset county and England cricketer Len Braund, and rebranded the shop at 13 Argyle Street John Moore Sports.

What did the early days look like?

Wooden tennis rackets sat alongside ferret muzzles, butterfly jars and shotguns.

What has been your proudest milestone?

When we moved the shop premises across the road to 2 Argyle Street, we were nervous and excited. The shop had existed at its previous address for 102 years before we relocated to the bigger premises. At the time we were anxious, but also proud of what we had created – the new shop allows customers to try trainers on the treadmill. There are dedicated areas for many sports as well as a restringing machine for squash, badminton and tennis rackets.

ago in 1981. Under the leadership of Guy Channer, the expanding team created award-winning energy efficient, environmentally responsible housing.

Since then, we have built a strong reputation for delivering contemporary new builds, alongside specialist restoration and conservation of historic buildings, using modern highend materials and techniques.

Today, the next generation is at the helm navigating the business for years to come, with several multigenerational families forming part of the Wraxall Builders team.

What values underpin the business?

We believe in building strong, lasting partnerships with clients, architects and local sub-contractors.

We also prioritise the development and success of our people, ensuring projects benefit from the

diverse strengths of a dedicated team.

We take great pride in the sensitive restoration of Bath’s listed buildings, using skilled master craftspeople to preserve its heritage with care and expertise. As a Bath construction company, we feel it is our responsibility to enhance the city’s built environment – leaving a lasting legacy for future residents and visitors.

We also enjoy the challenge of bringing new, exciting, architecture to the city. For 45 years we have integrated modern construction methods and technologies into our building projects, establishing ourselves as a market leader and trusted source of knowledge for our partners.

How does being a family business make you stand out?

We draw on generational knowledge to deliver both historic restoration and modern, efficient construction. With each individual bringing their own strengths, our work is very much a collaborative team effort.

We have trained 14 apprentices, many of whom have progressed into senior roles within the company. This investment in young talent highlights our dedication to developing the next generation of highly skilled builders.

Today, we employ 30 talented local people whose combined expertise and experience are central to our success.

What values underpin the business?

Customer service and product knowledge. At John Moore Sports, we empower our customers to make informed buying choices by helping them select the right tennis racket, hockey stick, cricket bat or running shoes. Customers can demo rackets before they buy, they can dribble a hockey ball around when choosing a new stick or try out various trainers on the treadmill. Plus, we offer a fantastic loyalty card scheme offering 5 per cent back on every £1 spent.

How do customers respond to the ‘family’ aspect of John Moore Sports?

Customers love the fact that we’re a family business. We pride ourselves that parents and grandparents have fond memories of shopping with us for their own sports kit decades ago.

People will often come in and reminisce about buying their first cricket bat or hockey stick.

What’s been your biggest area of growth in the last ten years?

School wear. As part of an expansion, we branched out into school wear in the early 2000s. We now own printing and embroidery machines and are proud to supply a number of schools, clubs and companies in the area with personalised kit.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 97

AWARDS 2027

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

CREATIVITY CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY AWARDS 2027

SPONSORED CONTENT

Main image: Tom, Tamara, Richard & Kim alongside family spaniel Bonnie

ROOTED IN HERITAGE

The Bowles family five-generation legacy shaping HARTLEY FARM and its community today

A

t Hartley Farm, everything starts with people. What you see today in the farm shop, kitchen and butchery is part of a much longer story, shaped by five generations of the Bowles family farming this land and serving their local community.

Today the business is run by husband and wife Tom and Tamara Bowles, alongside Tom’s parents Richard and Kim. It is still very much a family business, not just in name, but in how it feels day to day and in the care that runs through everything they do.

Farming has always been part of the family’s story. It traces back five generations to Tom’s great-great-grandfather Abel Bowles, who walked across the Limpley Stoke valley to work as a farm labourer in Claverton, returning home only at weekends. His son Herbert later bought a farm in Winsley, laying the foundations for what Hartley is today.

Photo above: Great grandfather Herbert George with his son Herbert Spencer his two sisters Mary and Mattie Photo below: One of our butchery team, Tom (another Tom!)

Producing good local food and being part of the community has always been at the heart of the farm. But like many farms, the future was not always certain. At the turn of the millennium, pressure from supermarkets and cheap food made it harder for small farms to survive. Rather than step away, the family chose a different path. In 2008, Hartley Farm Shop opened, creating a place to connect directly with their community.

In the early days it was all hands on deck. Kim making soup, Richard on the butchery counter, Tom wearing whatever hat was needed that day. What started small has grown into a business employing over 75 local people.

Despite that growth, the approach remains the same, doing things properly, supporting local producers and creating a place where people feel welcome.

That same thinking runs through everything at Hartley. The farm produces grass-fed native breed beef, alongside regenerative practices and environmental

stewardship. In the shop, shelves are filled with seasonal food from local makers, and in the kitchen, the focus is on simple, wellcooked food that brings people together.

For customers, it is straightforward. You know where your food has come from, you trust how it has been produced, and you feel part of something when you visit. Whether it is a weekly shop or a coffee with friends, Hartley is a place people return to.

Hartley’s three pillars of community, craft and stewardship continue to guide everything they do. While the business has grown, some things have not really changed. The important decisions are still talked through the same way they always have been, around the kitchen table. At its heart, Hartley is still what it has always been. A family farm, shaped by people who care deeply about food, place, and community. n

Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2JB tel: 01225 864948; www.hartley-farm.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 99

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BE PA RT O F T HE C ONVE R SATI ON

PROPERTY

Sky House in Bradford on Avon is up for a RIBA Award…

Awards

...as is The Creamery in Castle Cary

LOCAL LANDMARKS A reimagined creamery and the contemporary Sky House earn RIBA recognition

PHOTO BY CR AIG AUCKL AND-FOTO PRESS

PHOTO BY DAVE WAT TS PHOTOGR APHY PRESS

P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

Two projects near Bath are flying the flag for the area in this year’s RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) South West and Wessex Awards 2026.

The Creamery, by Stonewood Design, and Sky House, by Klas Hyllen Architecture, are among 17 projects shortlisted for the prestigious regional honours, which celebrate the best new architecture across the South West.

The Creamery in Castle Cary transforms a former industrial creamery into a contemporary space while retaining and celebrating its historic character, exemplifying the sensitive reuse of existing buildings. Sky House is a striking contemporary home in Bradford on Avon that makes the most of light, views and landscape, offering a bold yet carefully considered response to its setting near Bath.

They sit alongside an eclectic shortlist that includes an experimental home built using ancient construction techniques and the retrofit of two Victorian gas sheds into a research facility.

RIBA South West and Wessex jury chair, Sam Goss, says this year’s shortlist reflects the “breadth, ambition and quality” of work in the region, highlighting inventive responses to landscape, heritage and sustainability.

All shortlisted projects will be visited by a regional jury, with winners announced later this spring. Regional winners go on to be considered for RIBA National Awards and, ultimately, the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new building.

For more: www.riba.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 101

PROPERTY SHOWCASE

A DARLING of a HOME

The Bathwick Hill Georgian townhouse that captures the very best of city living

D

arlington Place is one of those addresses Bath residents speak of with a certain reverence. On the southwesterly slopes of Bathwick Hill above the city, the distinguished Georgian terrace designed by John Pinch the Elder around 1824, looks out across the honeyed skyline of Bath. Within it, this exquisitely presented townhouse – built of Bath stone under a slate roof and arranged over four graceful floors – offers a consummate blend of period charm and contemporary comfort.

Set back from the road behind a formally landscaped front garden, the house announces itself with characteristic Georgian restraint. A clipped hedge frames a modest, ordered garden of topiary and planting, softening the handsome ashlar façade. The elevation is a model of classical proportion: a lower ground floor subtly suggested by pavement grilles; a principal floor with tall, elegant sash windows; and upper storeys with slightly reduced openings that give the terrace its pleasing vertical rhythm. Simple stone surrounds, string courses and moulded cornices supply just enough ornament, while a pastel-painted front door, recessed within a shallow stone surround, suggests welcome rather than ostentation.

Inside, the tone is immediately set by the original Bath stone cantilever staircase, spiralling upwards with

102 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

By Elsie Chadwick

“A generous, high ceilinged space that epitomises Georgian elegance”

sculptural lightness and retaining its original handrail.

Linking all four storeys, it forms the architectural spine of the house, its graceful sweep drawing the eye to delicately detailed cornicing and ceiling roses.

The main entrance level is devoted to the principal reception rooms. To the rear, the drawing room is a standout – a generous, high-ceilinged space that epitomises Georgian elegance. Full height west-facing sash windows with traditional glazing bars flood the room with light and frame panoramic views across the city and surrounding hills. Step out onto the balcony and Bath is laid before you: roof lines, spires and the distant silhouette of Bath Abbey, glowing in the lateafternoon sun.

Period detailing abounds. Decorative cornicing runs around the ceiling, while a substantial ceiling rose provides an ideal setting for a chandelier. At the heart of the room, with its deep skirting boards, subtly panelled alcove joinery and polished timber floorboards, is a central chimney breast with ornate carved mantelpiece and decorative frieze creating a strong focal point.

Beyond, a charming withdrawing room offers a more intimate counterpart to the drawing room’s formality.

Integrated cabinetry with ample book storage, another period fireplace and the same generous ceiling height create a seamless continuity of style and comfort.

A cloakroom on this level adds practicality without disturbing the flow.

The heart of everyday life lies on the lower ground floor, which opens at the rear directly onto the garden. A large open plan kitchen and dining room spans much of this level, forming a convivial space well suited to family living and entertaining. The elegant dining area leads through to a contemporary kitchen/ breakfast room – a modern counterpoint to the historic fabric, yet entirely in keeping with the house’s understated sophistication. From here, a bright conservatory projects into the garden, blurring the boundary between inside and out and ensuring that even on cooler days, the greenery remains a constant presence.

Practicalities are carefully considered. A utility room keeps the main living spaces serene, while a modern bathroom and a traditional storage vault and workshop – or vaulted studio, with skylight in parts – provide useful ancillary accommodation. This level functions naturally as a relaxed family hub, spilling out on summer evenings to the terrace beyond.

Ascending to the first floor, the principal bedroom enjoys the same extraordinary vista as the drawing room below. Here, the full drama of the city’s skyline is on display, and the changing light through the day lends the room a constantly shifting character. A spacious bathroom/dressing room completes this private suite, creating an indulgent sense of retreat.

HOUSE NUMBERS Guide price

£1.95million

Bedrooms

4

Reception rooms

3

Bathrooms

3

Walled gardens

2

For more Knight Frank Bath, 4 Wood Street, Bath; www.knightfrank.co.uk

The top floor has a cosier, tucked away feel.

Three further double bedrooms, served by a shower room and WC on the upper levels, offer flexible accommodation for family, guests or home working. A study on the half-landing makes clever use of the generous staircase hall, creating a quiet corner with its own vantage point.

Outside, the house continues to delight.

The walled gardens to the front and rear are beautifully planted and arranged as a series of outdoor ‘rooms’. Immediately behind the house, a patio terrace is ideal for al fresco dining, benefiting from the west-facing aspect and long evening light.

Beyond, a lawned section is framed by mature trees, shrubs and seasonal planting, leading the eye towards a timber arbour seating area halfway down the garden.

The garden extends and culminates in a gate opening onto a raised pavement, providing an alternative pedestrian route into the city.

Darlington Place is a rare combination: a meticulously preserved piece of Bath’s architectural heritage that functions seamlessly as a modern family home. From the formal grace of its front façade and the drama of its reception rooms to the calm of its garden ‘rooms’ and the lure of the canal and meadows beyond, it offers a thoroughly civilised and charming way to live in one of the city’s most desirable addresses.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 103

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© R ACHAEL HUMPHRIES

BATH LIVES

“I tolerated school until I was about fifteen” for GCSE and remember feeling a kind of grief at closing a door on a possible future path. But I went on feeding my interest in the past through the historic texts we studied in English Literature.

I tolerated school until I was about fifteen. I was generally

disorganised and preoccupied with being a teenager. Then I met a trombone and bassplaying boy called Will, who is now my husband, and made two new friends at school: artistic Anastasiya from Belarus and theological Jane from Virginia.

All three, with their interests, gave me permission to be myself.

In my teens I worked in a farm shop but I used to make money

on the side selling my paintings.

I once sold one for cash to a bus driver which was witnessed by a teacher. I was called in for questioning by the deputy head – which I now think was very good safeguarding practice.

AMY JEFFS

The author and illustrator on collecting bones, secular legends and medieval tattoos Author, illustrator and medievalist, Dr Amy Jeffs is also the Senior Research Associate at Girton College, Cambridge. She grew up in Belgium before moving to the UK, and later studied AngloSaxon, Norse and Celtic at the University of Cambridge, before completing a PhD in Art History on illustrated manuscripts of secular legend. Her creative practice grew out of her academic work, and she now combines writing, printmaking and research. Amy has achieved widespread critical acclaim, and her first book, Storyland, was a Sunday Times bestseller and a Waterstones Book of the Year shortlistee.

106 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I was an only child, and learned to entertain myself;

I collected feathers and any kind of bones. My mum even had an old saucepan she kept aside for me to use to boil up and sterilise my discoveries, which I then displayed in my room as if it were the Pitt Rivers Museum.

When we moved back to the UK, my parents bought a house

with seven acres of ragwortrich land behind it. I became interested in small mammals and birds of prey and could often be found soaking and dissecting owl pellets.

I always wanted to be an artist. When I couldn’t fit it into

my timetable, I dropped history

My first job after my BA was as an editorial assistant at a magazine called Living Woods. I would write up

‘how-to’ woodwork projects and review woodworking tools and machinery. The best thing about that job was getting to know the editor, Nick Gibbs. He placed great emphasis on writing useful articles and only leaving the philosophical musings till the last sentence.

I have focused on the European Middle Ages. Once

I’d committed a few years to studying that thousand-year window of history, I found the experience so soothing and inspiring, it became a kind of psychological anchor. I love its parchment pages, oyster shell paint palettes, horse jaw ice skates, sculpted cloisters and oak gall inks. I find all that fascinating in the context of what we know of the darker sides of medieval life: autocracy, the threat of war, disease, famine.

One way or another, we show

ourselves to be makers and players.

Now that I am a mother of young children, work feels like

a cleansing discipline and helps me remember the things I am about to forget. These days, I like to write alone, at home, with lots of water and morning light.

I am devoted to early nights. It usually takes six months to write a book, but with several years of incidental research behind me.

My hobbies include singing, painting and gardening. I also

do kettlebells and Scrabble. I can wiggle both ears, and wiggle one on its own. I have a medieval NOTA BENE symbol tattooed on my right hand.

I have just been made a Senior Research Associate at Girton College, Cambridge.

This accolade represents the academic support for my creative work and, to me, that means the world. I want to inhabit a professional world that values playful yet rigorous exploration.

I live in Frome, and love its histories and how its cultures challenge me. My ‘secret’ Bath

is a seventeenth-century statue of King Bladud overlooking the King’s Bath. In Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain (completed in 1136), King Bladud, father of King Lear, builds the city around the thermal springs and uses them to practise necromancy. He then gets overmighty and builds wings to attempt flight by leaping from a high building.

Old Songs: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns (Quercus Publishing,£25) journeys through ten of Britain’s folkloric songs.

For more: www. amyjeffshistoria.com | www. quercusbooks.co.uk