Dining/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 346 / 18 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017 / £3
@BathLifeMag
CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY
HERE COMES THE GUIDE
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR LOCAL WEDDING ISSUE 346 / 18 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017 / LAUGHING MATTER
DISCOVER THE COLOURFUL ARRAY OF WORKSHOPS IN THE CITY
MEET THE MAKERS OF BEAUTIFUL HOME ACCESSORIES
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BEAR WITH large version
EAT YOUR HEART OUT
FOODIE TREATS INSPIRED BY THE GREAT BATH FEAST
AHEAD OF HER VISIT TO THE BATH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL, MIRANDA HART REVEALS HER MULTIFACETED PERSONALITY
EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 346 / 18 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017
PHOTO CREDIT: RACHELL SMITH
Funny girl
50 HART ON HER SLEEVE
Comedian Miranda Hart on her shy, introverted side
As you can see on our cover, we were lucky enough to chat with accident-prone comedian and actor Miranda Hart ahead of her visit to the city where she will show off her debut book at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. As the title of her work is The Girl with the Lost Smile, we were inquisitive as to whether Miranda has ever misplaced her seemingly permanent grin, and turns out, the answer was indeed yes. Turn to page 50 where you’ll find our open and honest chat with the Hollywood film and new-to-the-stage West End actor about anxiety, introversion and why she feels so emotional around babies (and she tells us why she can’t wait to return to Bath where she looks forward to a Gene Kelly moment). Elsewhere, we’ve spent time searching Bath and beyond for imaginative workshops and exciting ‘me time’ activities in order to help you discover your next hobby. On page 28, you’ll find everything from a new ‘creative madness’ course, to silk painting classes. The latter is run by a woman who initially used her craft as a tool to help refocus her mind when recovering from anorexia and depression, before turning her hobby into her career. We also have the lowdown on how to overcome wedding day jitters, with the help of local experts whose aim it is to make your dream day a reality (page 70); and our columnist Flats gets in on the nuptial action by revealing his chaotic marriage proposal (page 23). Also, take a look at our Great Bath Feast-inspired shopping motivation on page 68; and spot our restaurant review at Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen on page 58. Enjoy. Lisa Evans, Editor Follow us on Twitter: @BathLifeMag Follow us on Instagram:@bathlifemag
FEATURES / ISSUE 346 / 18 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017
Bath’s V V Rouleaux’s creative courses are for everyone who isn’t afraid of the bright and the bold
28
CLASS ACT
Discover new hobbies with workshops and taster classes in and around Bath
106 Bath Lives
We speak to illustrator and children’s author Alice Tait
REGULARS / ISSUE 346 / 18 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017
THE ARTS 37 Arts intro Capturing the light with artist Rod Craig
38 What’s on Our guide to the best music, theatre, events and exhibitions in and around the city
80
M E ET T H E T EAM Geoff Collard’s carefully crafted library steps
Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Assistant editor Samantha Walker sam.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors David Flatman, Angela Mount, Philippa May and Nic Bottomley Group advertising manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Sales executive Sophie Speakman sophie.speakman@mediaclash.co.uk Sales executive Michael Stevens michael.stevens@mediaclash.co.uk Sales executive Bradley Long bradley.long@mediaclash.co.uk
57 Bookshelf Nic Bottomley on the reinvention of travel guides
FOOD 58 Restaurant Dinner with novel surprises at the Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen
Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@mediaclash.co.uk
63 Drinks We sip our way through a platoon of gins
Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk
64 Food & drink news Giggling Squid, Corkage Chapel Row and Dining in the Sky
SHOPPING
Bath Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash
67 Shopping intro
Photograph Bath has the spotlight
© All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.
68 Editor’s choice Inspired by The Great Bath Feast, we discover indulgent flavours and eccentric accessories
80 Designed for life We talk to artisans crafting the contemporary and the traditional
LIFEST YLE 70 Weddings Local experts put brides’ worries to rest
78 Health & beauty Professional bridal makeup for the big day
BUSINESS 85 Business insider News, views and interviews from the regions’ professionals
PROPERT Y 96 Property showcase Nostalgia meets modernity in a Georgian townhouse
About 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, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag). 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
DEPARTMENTS 9 12 23 25
Spotlight Society A man’s world Inside story
On the cover Ahead of her visit to Bath, comedian Miranda Hart opens up. See the full feature on page 50. Photography by Rachell Smith
BATH: ITS LIFE AND TIMES
Regency splendour at this Bath festival
FESTIVALS
PHOTO BY VISIT BATH
THE JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL A festival celebrating the works of Jane Austen takes place in Bath next month. The 10-day Jane Austen festival opens on 8 September, with 4,000 Austenites expected in the city to celebrate our most famous novelist. This is the festival’s 17th year, and marks the 200th anniversary of her death. Over 80 events have been planned, starting with a Regency-costumed promenade. The promenade will have 500 people in 18th century costume making their way through the streets of Bath. This event currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed in Regency costumes. Tickets to take part cost £10, with the procession starting at 11am from the Royal Crescent. Northanger Abbey which was first published in 1817 and is set in Bath, is this year’s theme book. There will be Northanger Abbey themed tours, a theatrical production and daily readings of the book in Bath Central Library. Other events include a Regency dance workshop, theatrical comedy walks and a 20 minute version of Pride and Prejudice A country dance will take place at the Guildhall while a masked ball will be held in the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms. The festival ends on 17 September. For more: www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT
Bath’s attractions are taking part in Heritage Open Days
Lord Puttnam receives his degree from Jeremy Irons
AWARDS
DAVID PUTTNAM AWARDED HONORARY DEGREE
For more: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
For more: www.bathspa.ac.uk
PHOTO BY VISIT BATH
inside No. 4 The Circus and exploring its restored Georgian garden – the first of its kind in the UK.” Visitors will also be able to visit Cleveland Pools and learn how plans for the restoration of the Grade 2 listed pool are progressing. The baths are the oldest open air public pool in the country. Other attractions opening their doors include Fairfield House, an Italianate Victorian villa with an arts and crafts extension, and once home to Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, and Saltford Brass Mill, complete with a working 18-foot water wheel.
Film director David Puttnam has received an honorary doctorate from Bath Spa University, presented by actor Jeremy Irons. Lord Puttnam has produced a host of award-winning films including The Killing Fields, Roland Joffe and Chariots of Fire, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. His films have won a total of 10 Oscars, 25 BAFTAs and the Palme d’Or. “I was incredibly honoured to receive this honorary doctorate, most especially in the presence of one of my oldest, most admired and valued friends, the chancellor of Bath Spa University, Jeremy Irons,” says Lord Puttnam. The pair worked together on the film The Mission. Lord Puttnam teaches on the MA Independent Filmmaking and MA Scriptwriting courses at Bath Spa University, through his online education platform Atticus Education. Professor Christina Slade, the university’s vicechancellor says, “At Bath Spa University we are nurturing and developing the next generation of creative talent to work in film and television, and to tell stories on other platforms in our ever-more connected world. “We want our graduates to be ethical, globally engaged and emotionally intelligent, so it’s important that they have role models who have changed the world through their art and their actions.” Lord Puttnam was knighted in 1995 and appointed to the House of Lords in 1997 and sits as a Labour peer.
HERITAGE
BEHIND THE SCENES Heritage attractions in Bath will give visitors a glimpse behind the scenes when they open to the public for a celebration of history, architecture and culture. Heritage Open Days runs from 7 - 10 September, and are a chance to see hidden places and areas not normally open to the public. Councillor Paul Myers, cabinet member for economic and community regeneration, says, “This is a wonderful opportunity to see behind the scenes at venues that are normally closed to the public – from historic buildings to gardens and museum stores.” The four-day event includes seeing
Adventures in party-going
Arianna Brissi and Siobhan McKeating
SCENE AC ROS S B AT H , O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E
Catherine Howell and Judd Arthers
ITALIAN ST YLE A summer party at home furnishings shop Brissi was the perfect opportunity to showcase its new Burano Café. 180 guests enjoyed a selection of Italian canapés, known as cicchetti, from EccoChef, as well as drinks served by Vino Vino. “The Brissi philosophy is focused around our friends, customers and community,” say co-owners Arianna Brissi and Siobhan McKeating. “We can’t thank everyone enough for celebrating with us.” Pictures by Derryn Vranch www.derrynvranch.com Barbara Goodwin, Elissa Kelly, Jenny Knight and Sheila Bonham Christie
Chairwoman of B&NES Council Cllr Cherry Beath and Richard Beath
Carmine Pascale and Carmine Manfredi
Jarleth Mahon and Mel Mahon
Robyn Blackmore and Della Oliver
Eddie Egleton, Christine Graham and Amanda McGonigle
12 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
BONITI NATURAL STONE FLOORING | EVERHOT RANGE COOKERS TIMBER FLOORING | GARDEN FURNITURE
WWW.BONITI.COM | 01225 892 200 | SHOWROOM@BONITI.COM
SOCIETY
FINE FOOD AND FRESH THINKING
John Talbot and Stephen Martin
Veronica Hannon and Kate Fisher
Members of the Bath Life Business Club enjoyed a fine lunch at the Royal Crescent Hotel on 31 July, followed by a talk from the former chair of the Bath BID and manager of Waitrose Bath Nigel Huxley. For more on the BLBC, turn to page 90. Photos by Bonnie Rose Photography www.bonnie-rose.co.uk
Rachel Allen and Nicola McHale
Jonathan Stapleton, Ryan Cardwell and Steve Hawkins
Cllr Peter Turner in conversation with Nigel Huxley
The well-attended event shows that business matters in Bath Ben Elmore, Sheila Sawyer and Lyn Gerrish
14 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Will Morrish, David Mayne and Lucy Terrell
SOCIETY Jamaican the crowd crazy were FC Roman Bath
BACK OF THE NET Fourteen teams competed for the Bath World Cup on 6 August at Monkton Combe School. The family day out also had street food from Fire And Brew and The French Kitchen and a bar from Honey’s Midford Cider. Photos by Leon Day www.leondayimages.com
The tension was nail-biting
Half Moon Bay kick for England
Making a splash
Mais oui! It’s Roy’s Rovers representing France Is it Spain or is it Team Eleven?
Did Excel Tennis have the luck of the Irish? 16 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
SOCIETY
PERFECT PART Y The sun shone when recruitment firm Juice held its summer party on 8 July. Guests thoroughly enjoyed food and drink at the evening event, with an ice cream van and mobile bar The Little Tipple Van adding to the occasion. Photos by Philip Shone www.mamaisononline.co.uk Emma Summers with Sandra, Annabel, Joe and Dave Dixon Jade England, Will Hardy, Lewis Edwards and Abi Logg
Les Farran, Mollie Farran and Robin Oatley
Kat Henham and Rob Fulford
Mike, Rosie and Scott Osborne
Andrew Summers with Paul and Freya Burke Ali Watson, Martin Watson and Sam Fanthorpe
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Chris Bamford, Evie Catt, Mike Catt and Paul Clarke
Carpets
Rugs
Vinyls
Image shows, Axminster Carpets Natural Plaid
Commercial
SOCIETY Elisabeta Battersby, Nick Battersby and Jim Robertson
TIME FOR TEA
Carol Hicks and Peter Finnigan
The Royal Crescent Hotel was the setting for two afternoon tea parties held by Sanlam Private Wealth. The events commemorated the 250th anniversary of the iconic crescent, and started with a museum tour followed by tea and a glass of champagne at the hotel. Photos by Hannah Thomas www.hannahthomas.net
Chris White, Susan Tough and Tony Tough
DINE AND DONATE
Peter Hopwood, resident Rotary Club of Bathavon and Mayor of Bath Cllr Ian Gilchrist
Dafydd Evans and Sharon Dancey
Peter and Judith de Ste Croix and Liz Westbrook
The Mint Room was the setting for the Rotary Club of Bathavon’s fifth charity dinner and quiz. The club thanked The Mint Room owner, Moe Rahman, for his hospitality in donating both the venue and food for the annual event. £2,000 was raised for the Dorothy House Hospice. Photos by Philip Shone www.mamaisononline.co.uk
Chris Long and Wendy Clark
David Munn and Christine Hopwood
20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
W O N
BATH CAT CLINIC
N PE O
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FREE HEALTH CHECK! When you register your cat before the 31st August.
Book online:
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A MAN’S WORLD
DAVID FLATMAN
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH Love is in the air, kind of, as Flats reveals the rather original way he proposed to Mrs F. This is awkward…
I
n theory, a marriage proposal is so unique an occasion that it pays not to cock it up. Friends of mine have put huge amounts of planning into the popping of the question, some even leaving the country for this specific purpose. I always saw these logistical operations as a onestep guide to quadrupling the pressure on the shoulders of the proposer, and also as, well, a bit much. I mean, I’m all for a bit of romance here and there, but I never quite saw the appeal of trekking all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Anyway, Mrs F would have found it all terribly predictable and naff – being the cynic she is – so I had to get original. And I cocked it up. In an odd twist of fate which is definitely only interesting to me and Mrs F, we used to live in Lansdown, where we used to walk our steroidal-but-gorgeous white dog in Primrose Park and dream of one day sending our kids to the local school. Well, somehow we’ve ended up moving back into the building we lived in back then – 14 years ago – and are indeed putting the kids in there. So, if you’re still awake, we liked that park. I decided that, as it was kind of getting to that point where a proposal was inevitable, Mrs F would see right through any romantic plans I had and, rather than wait in hope and silence, would rumble me and ruin it all (she’s that person who, halfway through Luther, declares that she’s worked it all out and ruins my fun, rendering all plots and drama effectively obsolete).
So I told her I was worried about her weight. Well, I say that, what I really did was mention – in a worried tone – that her diet of junk food and Coke must be killing her on the inside and that she really did need to consider doing some light daily exercise. “Anyway,” I said, “I’ll pop out and walk the dogs while it’s still sunny.” “I’m coming!” she said, and I knew my plan was working. Mrs F hates walking the dogs, but I’d gently sewn sufficient seeds of worry that she bought in. Stage one complete. At the top of this hilly park was a bench with a view to die for. This would be the spot. So we walked the lower laps with the panting pooch and, towards the end, I suggested we climb uphill for a little rest. Mrs F couldn’t be bothered and wanted to go home. This annoyed me and she was both being lazy and ruining my plan, so we had an argument. I stomped off ahead and she followed, berating me for my childishness. Upon reaching said bench, I produced from my doggy bag a diamond ring, a mini bottle of champagne, and two pristine flutes, before taking a knee. Her first answer was a hilarious “No,” said as a joke (always hilarious), followed by a “yes”. She then reminded me that she hated champagne and told me I’d been a t**t for the last 10 minutes. Looking back, it was perfect.
SHE WAS BOTH BEING LAZY AND RUINING MY PLAN
David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on Twitter @davidflatman
INSIDE S T O RY
DEEP, DARK SECRETS From gentleman’s club-esque styles, to dark and masculine décor, PHILIPPA MAY has been picking up trend inspiration from the interiors of Bath’s coolest businesses
C
oming up with new ways to invigorate your interiors can be tricky. In recent months we’ve been fortunate enough to see some amazing new places open up in Bath and I jumped at the opportunity to hit the launches – mostly to suss out (and steal) ideas from the interiors. It’s wonderful when a new restaurant or boutique opens and brings with it a fresh approach to designing a room, and, more often than not, I pick up some amazing ideas. This year has marked a wind of change in Bath and I have especially enjoyed when a brand or company comes up with something fresh and new. I’m tired of seeing the same interior clichés; I love the fact that at BA1 Hair you get a really natural Aveda-esque salon to crush over while getting your hair done. Rustic, reclaimed wood adorns the walls, including the male Philippa thinks The Hideout on Lilliput Court has a gentleman’s club vibe
THE
SEDUCTIVE TONES OF OLDSCHOOL
grooming area, giving a wonderful cabin feel that is lightened with washed woods and greenery. If, like me, you’re a fan of wood with live edges in interiors, you have to check out their incredible new work stations where the table is actually a sawn-in-half tree trunk. It doesn’t get more exciting than that, yet they’ve managed to keep the masculine vibe down with light walls, dark skirting boards and wonderful glass lights from the treasure trove downstairs – Felix Lighting Specialists. It’s all about juxtaposition when combining textures or deep colours in this way and before long I was noticing my love for keeping rooms dark. Winter will soon rear its ugly head and I’m ready to recline in a few new haunts primed for winter gatherings. If you haven’t been into Framptons yet you have to go, if only for the décor. With a Soho House vibe, this huge space has been cleverly designed to exude warmth, with the tall rooms still feeling intimate by bearing dark walls framed by pure white borders – a clever design feature. These interiors are well thought-out, with an old-world library aura mixed in with contemporary industrial touches, and the breakfast is pretty good too. There seems to be an ongoing demand for darker interiors which makes me think that these deep, muted hues will carry on into 2018. Teal, dusty pink, deeps blues and burnt oranges will be shades coming through this winter, and combined with plush textiles like velvet and sleek woods or warm metals, they will be perfect for creating a sophisticated and luxurious ambiance – if you’re not sure what I’m talking about, check out the gentleman’s club vibe of The Hideout and The Dark Horse in Bath who have nailed this theme. This year is for the bold. Go bold or go home, or bring the bold into your home – either way, livening up minimalistic living spaces with some ‘out there’ dark colours won’t disappoint. Head into town and take a look at the way the interiors are evolving. You heard it here first, the dark, seductive tones of old-school members’ clubs that are inspiring Bath’s new haunts are back and better than before.
MEMBERS’ CLUBS ARE
INSPIRING BATH’S NEW HAUNTS
Philippa May is an interiors enthusiast and the designer and brand creative manager for accessories label Abbott Lyon. Follow her on Instagram @_philippamay_
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 25
COURSES & CLASSES PHOTO BY LIZ HOUSE
The Traditional Upholstery School is the first of its kind in the South West
MATTER OF COURSE When the mind is focused on something it enjoys, it’s much more likely to think creatively. Discover the workshops and taster classes in and around Bath which will help you select a new hobby to lose yourself in By L I SA E VA NS 28 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
The write track
When we allow our brains to focus on one solitary task, we give it a break. And in doing so, we allow for a neural reboot. This is one of the reasons concentrating on ‘unitasking’ – setting aside time to lose ourselves in a project – is important. “Learning calligraphy is a surprisingly calming pastime, as you need to concentrate on how to use the pen as well as the letter forms you are creating,” says Athena Cauley-Yu, the owner of Meticulous Ink on Walcot Street, Bath. “Hand-lettering is a hobby that needs very little in the way of tools too – a pot of ink, a suitable pen and some paper is all you need. It’s amazing what beautiful things you can make with this small collection of items, which you can then send
A HOBBY CAN BOOST WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS AND HAVE A
POSITIVE
IMPACT ON A PERSON’S
LIFE
Author Tessa Strickland will run a writing masterclass for adults at The Bath Children’s Literature Festival
PHOTO BY PHILIP FIELD
W
ith so many distractions and responsibilities in the average busy life, we’re doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t make room for ‘me time’. Hobbies provide physical and mental health benefits by giving a person an alternative place to spend time and mental energy and therefore become reinvigorated. If you’re looking for a new outlet to express yourself, read on…
out into the world. Learning calligraphy definitely makes people want to write and re-connect to people, which I think is lovely.” You can try your hand at the monthly calligraphy workshops in the shop from September onwards, and, in December, you’ll find paper wreath-making workshops too. www.meticulousink.com
Learn the art of calligraphy at Meticulous Ink
Take silk
Specialising in the bright and bold art of silk painting, making inspiring landscape art, colourful silk scarves and more, Nicola Davis Crafts in Corsham offers an array of courses to those interested in eschewing the ordinary. “The inspiration for what I do comes from my difficult past,” says owner Nicola. “Having battled and beaten both anorexia and depression, my designs reflect positivity and happiness, two qualities which I could not value more. I have also written a cookbook, My Super Sweet Recovery Cookbook, for people with eating disorders.” Her business actually started by accident. She had always loved art and textiles, and in one lesson during her A-levels she was briefly introduced to silk painting. “We only did a few minutes of it but I was hooked and bought some starter materials and used YouTube tutorials to teach myself. I decided to start selling my work and built it up to what it is today: my full-time business which I run at the age of 20.” She is a firm believer that a hobby can boost wellbeing and happiness and have a positive impact on a person’s life, as she explains, “While an energetic hobby such as exercise can strengthen your body, more subdued activities such as art can really boost your mental and spiritual health. If it weren’t for using art in my recovery, I would have found the process so much tougher.” www.nicoladaviscrafts.co.uk w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 29
COURSES & CLASSES Contemporary crafts
PHOTO BY KATE SIMMONS AT KMS PHOTOGRAPHY
With a range workshops on offer – from appliqué to glassblowing – the upcoming Night School run by The Frome Independent (TFI) – a not-forprofit social enterprise which organises a townwide monthly market celebrating independent retail and regional craftsmanship – could be worth getting involved with if you’re not sure where your passions lie. “Frome, Somerset and the South West are home to some fantastic artists, designers, craftspeople and food producers,” says Tabitha Clayson, the director of TFI. “We are lucky enough to have many of them trade with us at our markets, and wanted to offer local residents and fans of TFI the opportunity to learn a new skill from their favourite traders. This term, we have bookbinding, analogue photography, cake decorating, fermentation and charcuterie classes and much more on offer at the Forward Space workhub in Frome on Thursday evenings for participants of all abilities.” www.thefromeindpendent.org.uk
Hotting up
Simi Rezai-Ghassemi is a cookery teacher, recipe writer and allotmenteer who lives in Great Pulteney Street, Bath, where she runs her Simi’s Kitchen Persian cookery courses and popular supper clubs. “For the past eight years, I’ve been teaching from my home, local cookery schools and colleges,” she says. “I celebrate the food of Iran and I also make gluten- and dairy-free cakes and jam with ingredients I grow, or pick, in Bath. At my classes, people not only learn how to cook, but to source ingredients carefully, treat them with respect and reduce both waste and energy usage. “It’s always nice to learn new ways of treating already familiar ingredients,” she adds. “Most people who have been on my courses have started to cook the food as part of their regular culinary repertoire. It is simple, wholesome, seasonal nutritious food, good for all the family.” www.simiskitchen.co.uk
Above: Simi runs Persian cookery courses at her home in Great Pulteney Street; below: Frome’s Night School workshops range from analogue photography to bookbinding classes
OUR WORKSHOPS
REFLECT THE HERITAGE, VIBRANCY, AND CREATIVITY OF
BATH
Creative madness
If you’ve walked along George Street lately, you’ll have spotted the colourful new luxury ribbons and trimmings shop V V Rouleaux – a destination for designers, decorators, brides-to-be, stylists, crafters, lovers of colour and texture, and anyone looking for inspiration. The business, founded in 1990, has branched out of London – where you’ll find its flagship store – and has opened it’s second vibrant, treasure trove shop, on Edgar Buildings in Bath. Their upcoming workshops bewteen September and Christmas include heirloom lampshade making, wreath making and all things creative in between, as founder Annabel Lewis explains, “Our hats & headdresses workshop will teach you the top tricks of the millinery trade including ribbon-cutting and ruching techniques, how to wire feathers, and how to attach flowers and accessories. and our knots & tassels workshop is another fun course to try; you can use your creations to update interiors and jewellery. “Our team are famed for their creative madness and excellent knowledge of craft,” she adds. “Our workshops reflect the heritage, vibrancy, and creativity of Bath. In the heart of our old-worldly shop, we will show you all the secret tricks of the trade in an easy-to-follow, interactive and rather fun way.” www.vvrouleaux.com
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COURSES & CLASSES three practical workshops on writing children’s fiction,” says Gill McLay, artistic director for Bath Children’s Literature Festival. “If you’re a new or aspiring author working on a picture book, middle-grade title, or a novel for young adults, come and learn the techniques you need to take your writing to the next level.” www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Seek and you will find
Pottery slam
In addition to making his own ceramic art pieces, which you’ll find at One Two Five Gallery on Abbey Green, Bath, Gary Wood also teaches pottery to people of all ages and abilities. “I have worked in many local schools over the last 10 years, running pottery projects and workshops,” he says. “I have a particular interest in working with people with special needs. From my studio in Bathford, I also do clay workshops, one-to-one tuition, pottery birthday parties and hen parties.” He says clay holds great potential for learning as it is a tactile material which elicits both visual and verbal expression through touch. “It has a calming, meditative effect on the nervous system,” he says. “The making of clay artifacts will provoke stimulating conversation and often laughter. The alchemy of making something that’s permanent is an enriching experience that will stir the imagination to say and do more.” www.garywoodceramics.co.uk
Story time
It may be a festival geared towards young minds, but adults can immerse themselves in The Bath Children’s Literature Festival, too, with children’s book-writing masterclasses. Billed as ‘back to school for grown ups’, the workshops, which take place in October are hosted by best-selling authors who will share their expert tips. For example, picture book author and founder of Barefoot Books, Tessa Strickland will offer advice on developing key themes; the author of the Penny Dreadful series, Joanna Nadin, will guide guests through essential elements of the middle-grade writing process; and YA author Clare Furniss will offer advice on how to tap into your teenage years. “The festival has joined forces with the Children’s Writers’ & Artists Yearbook to offer 32 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
New ribbons and trimmings shop V V Rouleaux specialise in what they call ‘creative madness’
From an autumn preserves class to a fish cookery workshop, the upcoming foodie schedule at Vale House Kitchen – a country skills and cookery school in Timsbury, Bath – looks rather delicious, but its owner Bod Griffiths says their foraging course is one of the most popular. “Explore the bounty of the countryside with the informative, wild food foray in the woods, fields and hedgerows around Vale House Kitchen on the one-day foraging course,” he says. “You’ll find and prepare wild foods gaining knowledge, skills and experience from expert forager and landscape ecologist Adrian Boots. You’ll not only learn to identify common wild foods, but also landscape features, habitats, associated trees and plants species, and their relationships and seasonality with wild food. “After a morning’s foray in the beautiful Somerset countryside, we return to the kitchen for a fantastic seasonal lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon making some foraged treats to take home, too.” www.valehousekitchen.co.uk
Traditional Upholstery School
THE
ALCHEMY OF MAKING SOMETHING THAT’S PERMANENT IS AN
ENRICHING EXPERIENCE
Less than a year ago, Joanna Heptinstall opened, she says, the first school of its kind in the South West. Her Traditional Upholstery School – based in an 18th-century former tannery warehouse in Holt village – offers vocational diploma courses, leisure classes and Saturday workshops centered on modern and traditional upholstery techniques. “We teach skills to a professional standard, aiming for utmost excellence in craftsmanship,” says Joanna, a member of the Association of Master Upholsterers. The new term begins in September, and includes foundation and diploma courses as well as lampshade skills classes. “Professional lampshade making skills are rare – and even harder to find training in – and yet bespoke lampshades can offer real wit and style to an interior,” she says. “Many of these students – who travel from as far as France – come from a soft furnishings background aiming to broaden their repertoire.” www.traditionalupholsteryschool.co.uk
Ston Easton Park
At the unique and lavish home-from-home that is Ston Easton Park – 11 miles south of Bath – courses are held regularly including flower workshop and Strictly Come Dancing-style classes, but coming up in September is their muchanticipated Chocolate Discovery workshop. w
PHOTO BY PHILIP FIELD
COURSES & CLASSES
Ceramicist Gary Wood teaches pottery from his studio in Bathford
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 33
COURSES & CLASSES
“Our Head Chef will lead you through an hour of chocolate discovery and you will taste the raw product before you whip up some of your own creations,” says James Grundy, the hotel’s general manager. “With a combination of flavours to mix in, each guest’s handiwork will be unique to them. As 2017 marks Ston Easton Park’s 35th birthday year, the hotel is offering an exciting calendar of events.” www.stoneaston.co.uk
Bath College
Whether you’re looking for fun, short courses to enjoy with friends, or you want to acquire a professional skill to help kick-start an entrepreneurial business venture, then you may want to browse Bath College’s Love2learn courses which begin in September and are run during the day, evenings, Saturdays and the holidays to fit around busy lifestyles. “There are over 100 diverse courses which range from foreign languages, stone-carving and animal care to beauty therapies, floristry and gardening,” says Love2learn co-ordinator Anna Dawson. “Our extensive range of fine art and design crafts include life-drawing, photography and interior design lessons. “Learning something new can improve our state of mind,” says Anna. “Many people start learning a language, and quite often come back because they enjoy the group conversation. Some people have been coming to our Love2learn courses for years.” www.bathcollege.ac.uk 34 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Love2Learn courses at Bath College range from ceramics to gardening
WHEN WE ALLOW OUR BRAINS TO FOCUS ON ONE SOLITARY TASK, WE ALLOW FOR A
NEURAL REBOOT
Star bakers
You may have spotted hugely passionate baker Duncan Glendinning on your TV in shows such as the BBC’s Victorian Bakers and Nigel Slater’s Dish of the Day, and this charismatic personality will also guide you on bread-making adventures in Bath. Thoughtful Bakery started off eight years ago in a converted car garage just outside the city, but it now lives and thrives on Barton Street. As you walk in, you may be mistaken for thinking it is just a bakery shop and café. But under your feet, the team of bakers work night and day producing everything they sell, on site, from scratch. They also have a dedicated bakery school on site offering a range of exciting courses, including sourdough, bread baking and patisserie lessons, which take place from the end of August. “There are no pre-requisites,” say Duncan. “We’ve had seasoned bakers right the way through to some fella signed up by his wife as he was useless in the kitchen and had never baked before. Joining us for a day of baking isn’t just about momentary entertainment, or something to do. It’s about learning skills for life.” Interesting fact for all Great British Bake Off enthusiasts: two of the funky Neff ovens at Thoughtful came off the set of the last series. VIP ovens or what?! www.thoughtfulbakery.co.uk
O N G Y IN R LL UA RO AN EN R J FO
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Vale House Kitchen is a bespoke country skills and cookery school situated in the village of Timsbury, 8 miles southwest of Bath. We will be offering all the traditional courses you would expect from a cookery school but will have the added dimension of teaching skills such as fishing, shooting, foraging and butchery. 7th September - Introduction to Foraging 10th September - Beginners Cookery 15th September - Fish Cookery with Tim Maddams 24th September - Autumn Preserves Professional diploma courses enrolling now for January 2018. One-day workshops and leisure classes all enrolling for September 2017. Upholstery taster days Saturday 23rd September and 11th October For details of all our creative and vocational courses, visit:
www.traditionalupholsteryschool.co.uk
CRITERION A U C T I O N E E R S
&
VA L U E R S
Bath Saleroom
Lot 8
SOLD – £230
Lot 73
SOLD – £400
Lot 46
SOLD – £6,500
Lot 138
SOLD – £600
Lot 163
SOLD – £2,000
Prices achieved at our auction on 25th July 2017
Lot 3
SOLD – £400
Entries now invited for our monthly Jaggards Collections & Interiors Country House Sales Silver, Jewellery, Gold, Fine Art and Paintings, Bronzes, Fine Antique Furniture and Sculptures Valuation Days: Wednesdays & Fridays – 2:00pm – 4:00pm Or call to make an appointment for a Home Visit Some of the Lots in our upcoming sale on August 29th 2017
Lot 200 Est £16,000 – 22,000
Lot 201 Est £500 –600
Lot 100 Est £300 – 500
Lot 3 Est £500 – 700
Lot 4 Est £800 – 1,000
Lot 202 Est £400 – 600
Jaggards House, Jaggards Lane, Neston, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9SF 01225 439830 | bath@criterionauctioneers.com Website: www.criterionauctioneers.com Live Online Bidding via the-saleroom.com
Music/theatre/film/more
CHASING THE LIGHT Bath’s beauty has been captured in energetic watercolour by artist Rod Craig for an exhibition at the Imagianation Gallery. The exhibition runs from 2 – 30 September, with the former graphic designer finding plenty of inspiration in the city. Rod says, “Autumn in Bath presents a glorious opportunity for colour – the wonderful gold and umber autumnal shades in the watercolour palette are a delight to work with, in an attempt to capture the magic of the season. I particularly enjoy painting night scenes – Bath is a magical city at night. The Abbey always looks spectacular when it is lit against a clear sky with Sham Castle on the hillside beyond. The honey-coloured stone seems to take on a very different quality at night.” The artist usually starts his landscapes with the
sky, and says he hopes his works show the sense of time and place he is trying to create. His exhibition will also feature paintings from other locations. “I endeavour to create atmospheres by depicting a sense of movement, of light, of mood,” he says. “Watercolour is a very exciting way of exploring visual techniques and feelings. It is often regarded as rather unfashionable by much of the art world, yet it can be the most vibrant and expressive of all painting media.” Rod lives in Bath and says he is motivated by the city’s unique architecture and landscape, especially its back streets and quiet corners. Imagianation Gallery, 5 Terrace Walk, Bath BA1 1LN; www.rodcraig.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 37
19 August – 16 September
Robert Webb comes to Komedia; Torso is the theme of Gary Wood’s new exhibition; musician Langhorne Slim plays at Komedia
Exhibitions U N TI L 2 8 AUG US T
THE SUMMER EXHIBITION: PAST & PRESENT This summer the Rostra Gallery reaches new heights with its largest exhibition yet. It features artists from the gallery’s impressive 20-year collection and highlights the best artwork of past and present. Rostra Gallery; www.rostragallery.co.uk U N TI L 3 1 AUG US T
NICK CUDWORTH The summer show at Nick Cudworth’s art gallery will exhibit a wide variety of his paintings and prints that represent his interests and inspirations, including landscape, music and portraits. 5 London Street, Bath; www.nickcudworth.co.uk
U N TI L 3 SE PTEMBER
SKETCH Sketch is a touring exhibition of artists’ sketchbooks, selected from over 500 international entries, and aims to promote the importance of drawing and the role of the sketchbook in contemporary creative practice. Black Swan Arts; 2 Bridge Street, Frome; www.blackswan.org.uk U N TI L 9 SE PTEMBER
THE BRUTALIST PLAYGROUND Edge Arts presents an exhibition that’s part sculpture, part architectural installation, by Turner Prize winners Assemble and Simon Terrill, and commissioned by The Royal Institute of British Architects. The artists have used archival materials, drawings
38 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
and photographs from RIBA’s collections to create an interactive installation exploring the stark designs of post-war playgrounds. 11am – 5pm. The Edge, University of Bath; www.edgearts.org UNTIL 1 O C TO BER
TAPESTRY HERE AND NOW Celebrating the vibrancy of modern tapestry, this all-day exhibition showcases the work of more than 20 artists from as far afield as Australia, Norway, Latvia, Japan and the US. As well as revealing the skill of the craft, the show also explores the themes of the tapestries, our response to nature and the urban environment, and how pieces tell personal and political stories. The Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org
UNTIL 8 O CT O B ER
JOHN EAVES: ECHOES OF PLACE Vibrant compositions in oil, watercolour and collage dazzle the viewer in this show by one of the most distinguished local artists. Eaves studied and taught at Bath Academy of Art, working alongside such luminaries as William Scott and Kenneth Armitage. His work is noted for its rhythmic compositions and use of colour to create mood. All items in this show of recent paintings and prints will be for sale. Free; Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk UNTIL 10 O CT O B ER
DAVID RINGSELL David Ringsell’s interesting exhibition at The Beaufort Restaurant, London Road, Bath; www.real-images.com
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
UNTI L 2 9 O C T O B E R
JOYCE PETSCHEK: BREAKING THE PATTERN Bargello needlework is a beautiful flame-stitch pattern and the artist Joyce Petschek has created a captivating body of work that is colourful, inspiring and innovative. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org UNTI L 2 9 O C T O B E R
1920s JAZZ AGE: FASHION & PHOTOGRAPHS With over 150 garments, this stunning selection of sportswear, printed day dresses, fringed flapper dresses, beaded evening wear, velvet capes, and silk pyjamas, reveals the glamour, excess, frivolity and modernity of the decade. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org UNTI L 3 1 O C T O B E R
THE TRANSFORMED LAND The Transformed Land collects work from various artists who are interested in place. They include David Daniels, Russell Denman and Eleanor Goulding. 8am-8pm. CircleBath Hospital, Peasedown St John; www.artatruh.org 2 1 AUG US T – 2 S E PTE MBE R
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow is coming to the egg
ENDRE RODER Endré Röder’s elegant and contemplative portraits of feminine beauty are presented through a bold use of colour and strong line at Bath Contemporary, 35 Gay Street, Bath; www.bathcontemporary.com
Plays/Shows
6 – 8 S E P T E M B ER
U N TI L 2 SE PT EMBER
ART RESIDENCY Artist Angus Joseph is holding the BUØY Residency at Walcot Chapel, Bath. The residency will host a selection of creative workshops including a life drawing session and collage workshop, plus an exhibition of Angus’s paintings. Angus has organised this event in aid of CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably. Thue charity supports those struggling with depression and is close to Angus’s heart as he has lost two friends to suicide. All events are free to attend but any donations will go to CALM. www.eventbrite.co.uk 7 S E P T E M B E R – 1 OCTOBE R
AUTUMN EXHIBITION One Two Five Gallery’s autumn exhibition features a new body of
work from Gary Wood on the theme of TORSO; 4 Abbey Green, Bath; www.onetwofivegallery.co.uk
THE LADY IN THE VAN Starring acclaimed actress Sara Kestelman comes to Bath. In 1974, homeless woman Mary Shepherd, temporarily moved her clapped out Bedford van into Alan Bennett’s front garden in Clapham. However, she remained parked there for 15 years. Tickets from £15; Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk U N TI L 7 SE PT EMBER
LOOKING AT LUCIAN When Lucian Freud died in 2011 aged 88, he was widely considered the greatest portrait painter of our time. This mesmerising flyon-the-wall drama in the Ustinov, we look at Lucian as he works in his Kensington studio, painting across a period of 10 months. Tickets from £17.50; www.theatreroyal.org.uk
24 – 27 AUG UST
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW Celebrate 30 years of youth theatre with the Summer Company’s production at the egg. This spooky story of the New York village supposedly haunted by the ghostly figure of the Headless Horseman will see the theatre transformed into the haunting forest of Sleepy Hollow. Tickets from £8, various times; www.theatreroyal.org.uk
29 AUG U S T
LANGHORNE SLIM Pennsylvanian guitarist and singer Langhorne Slim brings a masterful mix of folk, country and blues to Bath. Tickets £14; 7pm; www.komedia.co.uk 1 SEP T EM B ER
Music
WASUREMONO Four piece indie band Wasuremono and singer Jamie Cruickshank play at Komedia. Wasuremono’s music has had rave reviews from BBC6 Music’s listeners. Tickets £3; 7pm www.komedia.co.uk
UNTIL 20 AUG UST
BATH FOLK FESTIVAL Get your feet tapping with artists including Sid Goldsmith and Jimmy Aldridge, Pons Aelius and The Drystones. A variety of venues; www.bathfolkfestival.org 25 AUG UST – 26 AUG UST
world premiere performance of violin concerto Forest Dances at the Wiltshire Music Centre; from £15; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
Family fun
WEST OF ENGLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA WITH SIMON BLENDIS ON VIOLIN Outstanding regional musicians present Russian classics and a
UNTIL 2 0 AU G U S T
CARTERS STEAM FAIR This vintage travelling fair has been described as ‘an antidote to the modern world’. The fair has a collection of rides and stalls w
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 39
ARTS
W H AT ’ S O N
dating from the late 1870s to the 1960s, with attractions including traditional favourites the dodgems and a chairoplane. For more: www.carterssteamfair.co.uk U N TI L 8 O C TO B E R
HERE BE DRAGONS Dragons have taken over the Victoria Art Gallery for familyorientated show, Here Be Dragons. Visitors to this aweinspiring exhibition can expect to encounter a veritable dragon’s den – in two and three dimensions – crammed with creatures that have leapt out of their favourite books. Events, workshops and storytelling sessions will take place at the gallery suitable for the whole family. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk U N TI L 1 7 D E C E M BE R
SOUNDING THE WOOD Let your imagination run wild at musical playground Sounding the Wood, at Prior Park Landscape Garden in Bath. Find four instruments set within the woodland of Prior Park and explore how sound is created. Free with normal admission; www.nationaltrust.org.uk 24 AUG US T
CREATIVE FUN The Makery is holding a school holiday workshop with children with them making a hairband. £15; www.themakery.co.uk
Endre Roders’s work is at Bath Contemporary
21 – 2 6 AUG US T
TEXTILE SCHOOL Summer Textile School at both the Holburne Museum and BRLSI. Choice from a two-day or four-day workshop; from £210; www.bathtextilesummerschool. co.uk 26 AUG US T
COMEDY CLUB Krater Comedy Club at Komedia. Watch stand-up from three comedians and the best comperes in the business. Tickets from £9; 8pm; www.komedia.co.uk 27 AUG US T
CURFEST THE Curfew at 11 Cleveland Walk, Bath has been raising money for Dorothy House with its’ final event Curfest, seeing a mix of bands, DJs, BBQ, Corkage pop-up wine bar, and Hideout
Bar to enjoy the summer sun. For more: www.thecurfewbath.co.uk 2 7 AU GU ST
FARMERS AND ARTISAN MARKET Bradford on Avon hosts this popular market in Lamb Yard, Kingston Road, with locally grown and artisanal goods from 10.30am – 2.30pm; www.bradfordonavon.co.uk 2 7 AU GU ST
TIMBRELL’S GATHERING Enjoy Balearic beats, smoked meats and vegan treats from 4.30pm until late at Timbrell’s Yard, 49 St Margaret’s Street, Bradford on Avon. For more 01225 869492 2 8 AU GU ST
FUN DAY AND DOG SHOW Bath Cats and Dogs Home is
40 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
holding its annual event from 11am – 4pm. There will also be dancing and gymnastic shows, Avon Fire and Rescue, a kids’ zone and more. Tickets from £2.50; www.bcdh.org.uk/funday 28 AUG UST
KELSTON VILLAGE FETE Come rain or shine there’ll be plenty to do at this annual fete, with activities including stalls, skittles, a coconut shy, a fun dog show and cream teas; 2pm – 5.30pm 28 AUG UST
ST STEPHEN’S MILLENNIUM GREEN SUMMER FAIR AND PRODUCE SALE See the beautiful community garden and stock up with fruit, vegetables and flowers. Also stalls, tombola, Punch and Judy
and cakes. www.milleniumgreen.org.uk 28 AUG U S T
OPEN DAY AT NEWTON FARM Free event with tractor-trailer rides around the farm, children’s attractions, stalls, food and drink and music. Plenty of parking, Newton Farm, Newton St Loe, Bath; www.newtonfarmfoods. co.uk 2 SEP TE M B ER
THE NATIONAL VINTAGE GAMES The over 50s will prove they’re not over the hill by competing in this multi-sport games, register to take part in your chosen sport. The event includes track athletics, swimming, tennis and badminton. For more: www.nationalvintagegames.com w
ARTS
W H AT ’ S O N
Top: The Bathscape Walking Festival; below: An Evening With Anthony Horowitz 1 3 SE PTE MBE R 2 SEPTEMBER
MOVIE BY MOONLIGHT Enjoy Moulin Rouge in the open air in Royal Victoria Park and raise money for the RUH. Free, but donations appreciated; entry from 5pm with the film starting at 8.30pm.
AN EVENING WITH ANTHONY HOROWITZ Listen to the best-selling author at Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath, BA1 2RH; 8pm; £20 to include a copy of his new book The Word is Murder; www.toppingbooks.co.uk 1 4 SE PTE MBE R
4 SEPTEMBER
AN EVENING WITH ROBERT WEBB The former Peep Show funnyman Robert Webb talks about his book How Not to be a Boy. 7.30pm; Komedia; from £10; www.toppingbooks.co.uk
BATH BOULES BUSINESS BREAKFAST A business breakfast at Hall & Woodhouse will reveal the total raised for local charities and future plans from this year’s Bath Boules. The event is open to sponsors, charities and participating teams and starts at 8am. www.bathboules.com
10 S E P T E M B E R
DRAGON BOAT RACE The popular race comes to Bath and starts from Bath Riverside. The competition will involve 14 boats, each crewed by up to 10 rowers. Free for spectators; 01225 824103; www.designability.org.uk 12 S E P T E M B E R
ARUN GANDHI COMES TO BATH Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, comes to Topping in Bath to discuss his book The Gift of Anger based on Gandhi’s teachings. Details being finalised as we went to press; www.toppingbooks.co.uk
1 6 SE PTE MBE R
POP-UP PUB See the summer out in style with Hartley Farm’s pop-up pub. Located in a giant tipi, the night will feature a variety of local music acts, allowing you to soak up the last of those summer vibes. Tickets cost £25 to include food and a drink; 01225 864948; Winsley, Bradford on Avon; www.hartley-farm.co.uk 1 6 SE PTE MBE R
BATHSCAPE WALKING FESTIVAL Celebrate Bath’s unique landscape with this festival comprising of 20 different walks. Free; www. bathscapewalkingfestival.co.uk
42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
COME AND MEET Frederick Augustus the cat..............at
OLD BANK ANTIQUES CENTRE 16-17 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD
Tel. 01225 338813
The largest antiques retailer in Bath & voted in the top 50 antiques shops in Britain, by the Independent on Sunday
No, he’s not stuffed... Maybe even find time to look at some antiques... we’ve got everything from 17th century furniture to 1970s retro and kitchenalia, spread through lots of showrooms. We’re on the A4, London Road, near Morrisons. About 15 minutes walk from the bottom of Walcot Street. We’re open 10-6 Monday to Saturday. 11-5 on Sunday. We have our own parking at the rear, accessed via Bedford Street.
alexatmontague@aol.com / www.oldbankantiquescentre.com
The Framing Workshop has been trading as an independent family run business on Walcot Street for over 28 years. We treasure you, our client, and spend time helping you to find the best way to display and protect your cherished objects, artworks and memorabilia. Creativity and respect for each artwork are core to what we do. Every picture tells a story. Come and share yours.
80 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BD | Tel: 01225 482748 www.theframingworkshop.com framing@theframingworkshop.com
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E B E A U T Y
BEAUTY IS SKIN DEEP CHARLOTTE HURD BEAUTY is the first salon in Bath to introduce the much-loved celebrity favourite – Dermaplaning
D
ermaplaning, also known as blading, is one of the newest and most effective, non-invasive beauty treatments available right now. A huge favourite amongst celebrities, actresses and models, who have to be close-up ready at all times, it is a gentle method of exfoliation removing a very fine layer of dead skin cells from the face. This is done with a 10 gauge scalpel scraping across the surface of the skin. Along with those
“ALMOST MIRACULOUSLY, AND LITERALLY WITHIN MINUTES, A FLAWLESS AND PERFECT CANVAS IS REVEALED”
dulling and greying cells, it also removes the fuzzy down peach hair that accumulates over the years, with wrinkles and fine lines instantly looking less prominent. Almost miraculously, and literally within minutes, a flawless and perfect canvas is revealed. Aside from the obvious and immediate beauty benefits of a glowing, healthy, clean complexion, which means make-up glides on and comes off smoothly, the skin is also now ready to drink in all those nutrients from your day and night creams, so it benefits in the long term too. Best of all the whole process is chemicalfree and there is no down time involved. After 40 minutes of a surprisingly calming and totally painless procedure – I’ve had clients so relaxed they’ve fallen asleep during the treatment – you’re good to go, with your new dramatically improved skin. Dermaplaning is one of the most incredible and satisfying, yet affordable treatments I have ever seen in my 12 years as a trained beauty/
holistic therapist. For the past five and a half years I have had my own salon within Oldfield Surgery, where I carry out everything from Biosculpture gel nails to luxurious facials to spray tans, I am currently the only trained Dermaplanist in Bath. If you have rough and/or dry skin, hyper pigmentation, mild acne scarring, downy facial hair, fine lines, tiny wrinkles then Dermaplaning is for you. If you need anymore convincing, you can check out real people and their end results, all carried out in the Charlotte Hurd Beauty salon, on my website or my Facebook page, simply call or email me to go through your options.
Charlotte Hurd Beauty at Oldfield Surgery, 45 Upper Oldfield Park, Bath BA2 3HT 07725 369965 charbeauty1@gmail.com www.charlottehurdbeauty.com
Digger & Mojo WOODBOROUGH
ANTIQUES, INTERIORS & GIFTS
BATH
NOW OPEN Not happy with your dentures? Are your dentures loose, too big or painful? Can’t eat or don’t like your smile?
Jaime Brain: Dip CDT RCS (Eng)
We also restore antiques and update your furniture to order in our new Woodborough workshop
MENDING • PAINTING • REUPHOLSTERY
We can help you regain your confidence and get you smiling again.
Offering: FREE Consultation • New Dentures direct Flexible Dentures • Denture repairs
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11am – 5pm Digger & Mojo, Woodborough Yard SN9 5PF (Behind the wonderful sticks & stones café)
Call us to book a free consultation on 01225 311 681
01672 851510 www.diggerandmojo.com
www.jbdentureclinic.co.uk
AT WHITEHALL WOODBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE
Saturday appointments available upon request 27 Walcot Buildings (The Old Pet Shop), Bath, BA1 6AD
HORIZONTAL AD 60mm x 40mm
BATH RUGBY FIXTURES 2017/18
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Estab
HORIZONTAL AD 60mm x 40mm
For more information please call Liz today
01225 425232 Upper Weston Farm, Weston, BATH BA1 4HL
DATE
COMPETITION
OPPONENT
HOME/AWAY
K.O.
25 Aug
Pre-Season Friendly
Leinster Rugby
Away
19:45
3 Sept
Aviva Premiership
Leicester Tigers
Away
15:00
9 Sept
Aviva Premiership
Saracens
Home
14:00
15 Sept
Aviva Premiership
Northampton Saints
Away
19:45
23 Sept
Aviva Premiership
Newcastle Falcons
Home
15:00
2 Hilly Fields, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9WG
1 Oct
Aviva Premiership
Wasps
Away
15:00
Office: 01225 839988 Mob: 7960 047767
7 Oct
Aviva Premiership
Worcester Warriors
Home
15:00
29 Oct
Aviva Premiership
Gloucester Rugby
Home
15:00
19 Nov
Aviva Premiership
London Irish
Away
15:00
25 Nov
Aviva Premiership
Harlequins
Home
12:15
2 Dec
Aviva Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
Away
14:00
22-24 Dec
Aviva Premiership
Sale Sharks
Away
TBC
29-31 Dec
Aviva Premiership
Wasps
Home
TBC
drvowlesandson.co.uk
E: tom@smart-renovations.co.uk www.smart-renovations.co.uk
Traditional Pub Sky and BT sports Pool table and dartboard Live music every Friday and Saturday
*Fixtures are subject to change.
www.trinityinn.co.uk James Street West, BA1 2DA
Specialist Painting All paintwork undertaken including paint effects; wash, patina, faux finish, marbling – £9/m2, murals
your complete signage solution 01225 421 629 info@freestyledesigns.co.uk
Stephen Wintershaw
o Vehicle livery
o office interior graphics
o a-boards
o window graphics
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o banners
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o magentics & more!
7 Southcot Place, Bath, BA2 4PE 07922 487543 | worldmural@excite.com
• Covers bath and the surrounding areas • Free valuations
☎ 01225 904904
WE’VE HAD A FACELIFT! Swing by for a good,
honest pint and HORIZONTAL check AD out our new menu from Friday 60mm x 40mm 25th August.
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The Pig and Fiddle, 2 Saracen Street, Bath, BA1 5BR
Finding inner strength through movement
See www.bathrugby.com for latest information or email info@bathrugby.com The Recreation Ground Spring Gardens, Bath, BA2 4DS
DATE
COMPETITION
OPPONENT
HOME/AWAY
K.O.
2018 5-7 Jan
Aviva Premiership
Worcester Warriors
Away
TBC
9-11 Feb
Aviva Premiership
Northampton Saints
Home
TBC
16-18 Feb
Aviva Premiership
Newcastle Falcons
Away
TBC
23-25 Feb
Aviva Premiership
Sale Sharks
Home
TBC
2-4 Mar
Aviva Premiership
Harlequins
Away
TBC
23-25 Mar
Aviva Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
Home
TBC
6-8 Apr
Aviva Premiership
Leicester Tigers
Twickenham
TBC
13-15 Apr
Aviva Premiership
Saracens
Away
TBC
27-29 Apr
Aviva Premiership
Gloucester Rugby
Away
TBC
4-6 May
Aviva Premiership
London Irish
Home
TBC
18-19 May
Aviva Premiership
TBC
TBC
TBC
26 May
Aviva Premiership
TBC
Twickenham
TBC
FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE CALL
01225 332181
www.romanskylifts.co.uk
ADAMS of Bath
Electrical Plumbing Heating Security Property Maintenance & Development
*Fixtures are subject to change.
THE OLD HAM TREE, HAM GREEN, HOLT, WILTS, BA14 6PY
TEL: 01225 782 581 WWW.THEOLDHAMTREE.COM
C O C K TA I L B A R & T E R R A C E
Bath’s leading marble & Granite co. for over 30 years Free no obligation site survey for quotation purposes
• Sinks and taps now available at competitive prices • Kitchen worktops • Bathrooms • Fireplaces • Flooring • Natural stone tiles & memorials • Bespoke templating and fitting service Office and Showroom open 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 9am - 1pm Tel: 01761 412934 • Fax: 01761 417068 • info@hobbsmarbleandgranite.co.uk Radstock Road, Midsomer Norton, Bath, BA3 2AA • www.hobbsmarbleandgranite.co.uk
T H E C U R TA I N E X C H A N G E For the best dressed windows
IN BATH
11 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT | Tel: 01225 422078 | Email: curtainexchange@live.co.uk www.curtainexchangebath.co.uk
Quality flooring and carpets at competitive prices
Showroom in Chelsea Road, Bath info@interiorharmony.co.uk | 01225 483818 www.interiorharmony.co.uk
Nº Twelve Queen Street Bath, Somerset BA1 1HE
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ONE TO ONE
HEART to HART Ahead of her visit to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, comedian and actor Miranda Hart opens up about being an introvert, why her debut book for kids, The Girl with The Lost Smile, is based on her, and why she’s looking forward to returning to Bath after 20 years away
hen you hear the name Miranda Hart, you think of a laugh-a-minute, carefree, clownish comedian. Yet, the awkward, accident-prone BBC character who millions fell in love with during her eponymous sitcom is not the same woman as Miranda is off-screen. By her own admission, she’s a shy, serious, anxious introvert at heart who has experienced some unhappy times. This has been the inspiration for her debut children’s book, The Girl with The Lost Smile, which she’s soon to present at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. She says the story’s aim is to express just how vital it is to seek happiness, embrace imagination, appreciate true friendship and chase adventure. “Last September, after a particularly lovely summer that I didn’t want to end, I had a ‘back to school’ feeling,” says that the instantly recognisable comedian who had an affluent upbringing and is the fourth cousin of Diana, Princess of Wales. “I noticed after a few days I hadn’t smiled much, if at all. Not a good thing. Laughter is such an essential part of life. And if you aren’t even smiling, well that’s no good. And so this idea for a story about a girl with a lost smile began to emerge. I started writing and, unusually, it all sort of unfolded as I typed. It took me to places I never thought my imagination could go. It was very exciting. “The main character, Chloe, is based a little on me in terms of being a slightly scruffy tomboy, but she’s also based a little on the person we should all in some ways try to be,” she adds. “Chloe’s imagination is key to her character and her story, so it’s also tapping into the importance of imagination generally.” She’s looking forward to heading back to Bath, a place she visited plenty of times as a student, and says a Gene Kelly moment may be on the cards, weather permitting. “I was at university in Bristol, and so we would visit Bath from there – mainly, at that time in my life, for the shopping, I have to admit,” she says. “Now I will be returning 20 years later and I will ditch the shopping and really look forward to seeing the springs and the baths, and I wish to potter along one of those iconic curved crescents (if it rains I might do the dance from Singin’ in the Rain) and admire your classic and beautiful Bath stone.” She’ll be coming to The Forum, Bath, to crack jokes and talk about her book with her young readers in October and hopes that the audience members can whip up an itinerary for the rest of her time in the city. “I don’t have any plans yet, so people can suggest away,” she says. “I am really looking forward to the trip. It’s one of the lovely things about touring with stand-up, or, in this case, with a book, having the chance to 50 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
explore the cities of our wonderful country.” They say never to work with children (or animals), but Miranda, who played Nurse Chummy in Call the Midwife, says that kids bring out her enthusiasm – another reason she’s so looking forward to coming to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. “I am a bit of an introvert in that, although I love socialising, it’s not something I can do all the time; I am not a chatty-chatty person,” she says. “So I have bursts of energy where I love to engage with kids. I think they like me because, when hanging out with them, it gives me the chance to bring out my silly, cheeky side. I like being the naughty aunty! And I also like to try and give them advice and have grown-up chats with them about how they are feeling. It’s good to give kids the chance to share their feelings. I am normally just very protective and feel emotional, especially with babies, that I am around this new life.” Writing a book for children is no easy feat as the writer must carefully consider the messages and morals they are conveying to developing minds, but Miranda says she felt surprisingly calm penning the story and says it flowed unexpectedly naturally. “It came after working on a lot of other writing projects, particularly television scripts which I often find painful to storyline,” says Miranda, whose taste in comedy was shaped by the likes of Morecambe and Wise and Fawlty Towers. “But the characters in the book came to life on the page as I wrote, and it slowly became clear to me what I wanted for each of them. The main thread of the importance of a smile in life was something I knew would resonate with young and old. The hard and surprising thing was Chloe’s journey and all the magical adventures I wasn’t expecting! I’d love to write more of these if I am allowed. I genuinely think writing this book has been the most enjoyable project in my writing career so far.” Writing for children is just another string to her bow as, unlike her hapless sitcom persona, Miranda has slowly conquered much of British culture, moving from radio to television comedy and drama, A-list Hollywood film and currently the West End stage. Previews began in May on the musical Annie, which sees Miranda fulfil a lifetime dream of treading the boards in the West End where she’ll play an alcoholic, sexually repressed caretaker of an orphanage. “I like to focus on one thing at a time work-wise so that I can give that piece of work the best I can give it,” she says. “So, at the moment I am playing Miss Hannigan in Annie, and after that I will be talking about this book. In the Autumn I have some TV shows in the pipeline, but nothing I can tell you about yet. Sorry! What a tease.” PHOTO CREDIT: ALISA CONNAN, HODDER & STOUGHTON
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By L I SA E VA NS
See Miranda Hart on 7 October at The Forum, Bath. For more, visit www.bathfestivals.org.uk
I WISH TO
POTTER
ALONG ONE OF THOSE
ICONIC CURVED CRESCENTS AND ADMIRE YOUR
CLASSIC AND BEAUTIFUL BATH STONE
Miranda’s new book is based, in part, on herself
PHOTO CREDIT: RACHELL SMITH
QUICK FIRE ROUND WITH MIRANDA Your favourite childhood book? Anything to do with outdoor adventures or animals. So Swallows and Amazons was always top of my list, as was The Famous Five.
made for him. I remember feeling sorry for the lovely letterbox who had been on his own so much and just wanted to be with friends. And as a lover of picnics and tea, well, obviously, I was entranced.
Don’t worry what anyone thinks of you. Just be yourself without any fear.
What’s your first memory of being read to as a child? I can remember my mother reading me The Friendly Letter-Box, which I was obsessed with. It was about a letterbox being bored of just eating letters and being all on his own on the pavement, so he took off on a trip through the forest and went on a number of picnics and ate wonderful teas that woodland creatures
Of all the books in the world, which do you wish you wrote? Good question! Anything Beatrix Potter wrote. Beautiful, sweet, endearing, escapist stories, stunning illustrations and, well, what a legacy.
Let us in on your life motto… There’s only one of you in this world, therefore you are uniquely gifted and beautiful.
If you could go back and give your seven-year-old self some words of wisdom, what would they be?
What is your best party trick? I might gallop if I get very excited!
Do you have any connections in the Bath area? Only you and the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Who needs any more?!
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BOOKS
THE BATH VOLUME BRINGS OFF-BEAT ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO THE FORE
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK NIC BOTTOMLEY discusses the reinvention of travel guides, and how one of the newest Bath guides will appeal to the more curious visitor
T
he decline of the book at the expense of the e-book was much heralded five years ago, even if some of us chose to pay no heed to it. Fortunately, those of us who thought the book might add to the 500+ years it has enjoyed in its current form, were proven correct. Readers have decided that, while reading on screen is a handy option to have, they don’t want to do away with the real thing entirely. However, some genres seemed more likely to fall victim to the rise in e-books and, to my mind, travel guides were particularly under threat. In our interconnected, multiplatform world, it seemed plausible that bulky travel guides might lose their grams in the baggage limit and be replaced by an app or an e-book. But guides have survived and are now bouncing back after a few lean years. Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, DK and Bath’s very own Footprint Guides have all taken stock and refreshed their feel and design. Outside of these big players, other
series have appeared that are reinventing the travel guide in different ways to stay relevant and exciting for travellers. The Curves: Soulful Driving series is a publication that straddles the ambiguous territory lying between coffee table book and high-end magazine. Each book-zine in the series lies beneath matt-finished covers depicting a tempting winding strip of asphalt carving its way through an otherwise immaculate natural landscape. Inside, the photography continues – image after image makes you want to plot your road trip immediately, regardless of whether your preferred mode of transport is two or fourwheeled, motorised or leg-powered. Each set of images spans around 20 pages and depicts a different route that is first mapped out and then introduced in an essay (in both English and the native-German of the Curves creators). After seven issues focusing mainly on Continental Europe, Curves Scotland (Delius, £12.50) has brought the series to the left-side of the road. A series of sequential routes of extreme beauty
ARTS
take you from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye, around Skye itself, onto Ullapool, Inverness and then hurtling back down to Edinburgh (though Curves has little or no time for the urban – it’s all about the journey rather than the destination). If Curves is the visuals and the aspiration of the open road, then the 111 Places series is more about maximum content than look. In fact, their cover designs are, for me, the one thing that lets them down. This fastexpanding series covers many European and UK cities as well as places further afield and if you want to try one for size then look no further than the brand new 111 Places in Bath That You Shouldn’t Miss by Justin Postlethwaite (Emons Verlag, £11.99). The Bath volume follows all the principles of the series in bringing slightly off-beat attractions and activities to the fore and giving them more airtime than the landmark sights; the aim being to appeal both to folk who live in the city and more curious visitors. The 111 places featured are each given a full-page essay and a full-colour photograph, regardless of their prominence. I couldn’t help notice that it even gives a hearty recommendation to a nifty little bookshop tucked away somewhere between Queen Square and Milsom Street! Very astute. Finally, a word about the CITIx60 City Guides (Victionary, £9.99) which are simply brilliant pocket guides to accompany you on a city break. Again, the focus is ‘off the beaten path’, but with an eye here on culture, urban life and creativity. The ‘x60’ in the title refers to the 60 local creative types who have been tasked with playing ‘guide’ to each city, feeding in their recommendations for the very best art, architecture, shopping, eating and drinking, with a nod (albeit a secondary nod) to the history and traditions of the destination too. Many of the ‘big’ city-break destinations are covered by the series, and somehow, to me, the guides seem best fitted to destinations like Barcelona, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Berlin – places where life effortlessly combines the old and the new. If only we had a long summer holiday stretching out ahead of us so we could roadtest all of these guides. Oh well, it’s never too early to start planning for next year!
Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com
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R E S TA U R A N T
FOOD
Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen For anyone who likes their dinner scattered with novel surprises, and enjoys a contemporary twist, this plant-based restaurant in one of Bath’s most historic locations is well worth a visit By L I SA E VA NS
B
e honest, if you were cooking to impress at home, would you dare to pair chocolate and pink peppercorns, or beetroot and white chocolate? Would you have the confidence to whip up lime gel and foam from scratch? And, truthfully, would you be brave enough to serve it all without a trace of meat? Even if you’re a whiz in the kitchen, there’s little chance you would be able to put in the same effort and skill that Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen does, no offence. I’ve been a vegetarian for a while now, so I was most eager to make my way through a three-course meal at the highly acclaimed eatery where vegetables and innovation are key; my devotedly carnivorous dining partner on the other hand, wasn’t so enthusiastic. Determined to change his mind, I insisted he come along. Now, I’ve attempted to sway him in the past – in my amateur veggie days – with meat substitutes made using a fermented fungus (AKA Quorn) which attempts to impersonate the muscularity of something which once had a face. Ever since that day, he vowed never to trust meat-free food, or me, again. But as soon as the cucumber and pickled fennel amusebouche arrives at the table, although still cautious, his interests are piqued and his taste buds are awaked to what could be; he lets his vegetable guard down ever so slightly, and I pretend not to notice so as not to scare him away. He gets all doe-eyed again when the fluffy hunks of Bertinet sourdough are delivered along with little pots of oil and Egyptian dukkah, and by the time his starter appears, his tentativeness has all but disappeared. And I don’t blame him, as his first course is heavenly. The Chioggia beetroot slivers are paired with aged cashew purée and beetroot vierge, and the dish is presented with bubbly green foam on top, as pretty as a painting. I needn’t be jealous, though, because my choice from the sensibly small menu is the delectable pine nut tortellini complete with Jersey Royals, asparagus, garden peas, broad beans and a delicate Pernod and saffron consummé. From the impressive array of mains, my selection is the Wye Valley asparagus with mushroom parfait,
IT DOESN’T
PRETEND TO BE UNCOMPLICATED; IT’S PROUDLY
LABYRINTHINE IN THAT
IMAGINATIVE, ORIGINAL KIND OF WAY
dill, hazelnut, pickle, and potato galette – the perfect combination of hot and cold, sweet and sour, crunch and satin-smoothness. The softness on the plate comes from the velvety nut butter and cool mushroom parfait, which both act as the comfortable bed of the dish. So luxurious and thick are these two components that they slow the mouth down, so a sharp, zingy demi-glace made with caramel and vinegar adds a welcome edge to cut through the richness. I expected this diverse assortment of flavours and textures, as chef Richard Buckley is a master of them (last time I visited, I had the fire-charred donkey carrot with cashew purée and seeded spelt grain, so I knew what gloriousness I was in for). Richard took over from Demuths, a restaurant with a venerable past which was run by vegetable pioneer Rachel Demuth for 26 years (her dynamic Vegetarian Cookery School on Terrace Walk is one of the longest running in the UK). My comrade’s main is an artwork of charred leeks with Mélusine cheese dauphinoise, the plate dusted with a crescent moon of decorative leek ash. The star of the dish is a tall, open-topped potato brik pastry cylinder filled with creamy leek and garlic sauce which has complexity and a smoky savouriness. The dish, and the offering overall for that matter, doesn’t pretend to be uncomplicated; it’s proudly labyrinthine in that imaginative, original kind of way. All of this deliciousness is heightened by the low-key chic surrounds of the bistro. It’s a charming spot with different levels and hidden alcoves giving it snug and intimate feel. We’re also sat next to a window that allows for a glimpse of one Bath’s secret architectural gems, the façade of Ralph Allen’s Townhouse, and our waitress tells us that tour guides often bring their inquisitive groups here just so they can sneak a peek of it. To bring the curtain down, for me it’s a cheeseboard consisting of Godminster cheddar, Wyfe of Bath, goats’ cheese and blue vinny served with chutney and mini digestives. For him, it’s a glossy chocolate and coffee espresso parfait with a bar of chocolate ganache, cold brew and rapadura gel, with a surprisingly moreish floral yet spicy pink peppercorn crumb. This, on the tongue, resembles the sensation of chilli chocolate in the way that the heat simply accentuates the flavour and leaves a pleasing after-tingle. So, did my meat-eating companion enjoy the meal? He’s not a plant convert just yet, but the fact he said “Everything is made better by a hunk of meat, but, to be honest, I hadn’t noticed it was missing,” is a good start.
DINING DETAILS Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen, 2 North Parade Passage, Bath, BA1 1NX; 01225 446059; www.acornvegetariankitchen.co.uk Prices Two courses for £26.95, or three for £34.95 Drinks With over 20 fine wines and champagnes to choose from, as well as seasonal cocktails (we highly recommend the rhubarb martini), beers and spirits on offer, the drinks menu will suit the majority of tastes Service/ atmosphere Convivial, relaxed, cosy and modern
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 59
D I N I N G A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
DINING in BATH Bath Life’s selection of the best places to eat out in Bath and the surrounding area BRITISH THE BATH PRIORY Weston Rd, Bath; 01225 331922; www.thebathpriory.co.uk Michelin-starred fine dining overlooking hotels award-winning gardens THE BEAUFORT 1 Beaufort, London Road, Bath; 01225 422033; www.thebeaufortbath.com Family-run restaurant in the heart of Larkhall cooking creative, seasonal food CIRCUS RESTAURANT 34 Brock Street, Bath; 01225 466020; www.thecircusrestaurant.co.uk Voted number four in the UK in The Times “20 secret restaurants that foodies love” CLIFTON SAUSAGE 5 Bladud Buildings, Bath; 01225 433633; www.cliftonsausage.co.uk Upmarket sausage and mash restaurant and bar newly opened in Bath THE DOWER HOUSE, ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL 16 Royal Crescent, Bath; 01225 823333; www.royalcrescent.co.uk/dining AA 3 rosette fine dining at one of Bath’s most iconic locations HENRY'S 4 Saville Row, Bath; 01225 780055; www.henrysrestaurantbath.com Imaginative modern dining offering a classic menu and also full vegetarian and vegan menus DAN MOON AT THE GAINSBOROUGH RESTAURANT Beau St, Bath; 01225 358888; www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk Creativity meets delicious food with this talented chef MENU GORDON JONES 2 Wellsway, Bath; 01225 480871; www.menugordonjones.co.uk Multi award-winning fine dining with constantly changing surprise tasting menu THE OLIVE TREE RESTAURANT, THE QUEENSBERRY HOTEL Russell St, Bath; 01225 447928; www.thequeensberry.co.uk One of Bath’s longest established restaurants, overseen by Chris Cleghorn with 3 AA rosettes 60 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
WOODS 9-13 Alfred St, Bath; 01225 314812 www.woodsrestaurant.com legendary Bath dining institution serving French influenced British cuisine
THE GARRICKS HEAD 7-8 St John's Rd, Bath; 01225 318368; www.garricksheadpub.com City centre pub and dining room next to Theatre Royal
CAFÉS & COFFEE SHOPS
THE HARE AND HOUNDS Lansdown Road, Avon, Bath; 01225 482682; www.hareandhoundsbath.com Airy, relaxed spot with modern British gastropub menu, extensive wine list and scenic outdoor area
CAFÉ LUCCA 1-2 Bartlett Street, Bath; 01225 335394; www.cafelucca.co.uk Stylish contemporary café situated at The Loft on Bartlett Street offering a Mediterranean inspired menu with barista coffee and sumptuous homemade cakes GREEN BIRD CAFÉ 11 Margaret's Buildings, Bath; 01225 487846; www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk Independently run cafe located between the Circus & Royal Crescent THE KINGSMEAD KITCHEN 1 Kingsmead St, Kingsmead Square, Bath; 01225 329002; www.fieldfireandfeast.co.uk Laid-back, modern cafe-bar open daily from 8am until 6pm for breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea using own farm produce
CALIFORNIAN
THE LOCKSBROOK INN 103 Locksbrook Rd, Bath; 01225 427119; www.thelocksbrookinn.com Recently opened canal side gastropub in Bath, open every day for drinks, brunch, coffee, lunch, evening meals and grazing in between THE MARLBOROUGH TAVERN 35 Marlborough Buildings; 01225 423731; www.marlborough-tavern.com Award winning gastropub using seasonal local produce THE NEW INN 24 Monmouth Place, Bath; 01225 442944; www.newinnbath.co.uk Burgers and bar snacks with cask and craft ale and beers
THE FIREHOUSE ROTISSERIE 2 John St, Bath; 01225 482070; www.firehouserotisserie.co.uk Californian and Tex-Mex dishes, prepared over a wood-fired grill in a rustic setting
THE RICHMOND ARMS 7 Richmond Place, Bath; 01225 316725; www.therichmondarmsbath.com Hearty dishes with menu changing on a daily basis
GASTROPUBS
INDIAN
GPT SMOKEHOUSE 44-45 Lower Bristol Rd, Bath; 01225 429509; www.gptbath.com 'Dude Food' menu cooked with an authentic handmade American hot smoker
THE EASTERN EYE 8a Quiet St, Bath; 01225 422323; www.easterneye.com Classic traditional Bengali cuisine in grand Georgian interior space
KING WILLIAM 36 Thomas St, Bath; 01225 428096; www.kingwilliampub.com Pub with an upstairs dining room serving a modern British menu based on west country produce
THE MINT ROOM Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Rd, Bath; 01225 446656; www.themintroom.co.uk Award winning contemporary Indian fine dining
THE CHEQUERS 50 Rivers St, Bath; 01225 360017; www.thechequersbath.com Inventive British food served in a welcoming pub atmosphere close to the Royal Crescent
MARTINI RESTAURANT 8-9 George St, Bath; 01225 460818; www.martinirestaurant.co.uk Traditional Italian food served in a cosy atmosphere
ITALIAN
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E D I N I N G
SOTTO SOTTO 10 North Parade, Bath 01225 330236; www.sottosotto.co.uk Classic Italian menu with a contemporary twist in candlelit vaulted cellars
STEAKHOUSES
OLÉ TAPAS 1 John Street, Bath 01225 466440; www.oletapas.co.uk Charming, authentic Spanish tapas – one of Bath’s best kept secrets
PIZZA
THE HERD 12a Argyle St, Bath; 01225 316583; www.theherdrestaurant.co.uk Locally sourced meat of the finest provenance alongside a simple, seasonal menu
THE OVEN 21 Westgate St, Bath 01225 311181; www.theovenpizzeria.co.uk Neapolitan artisan pizza using local and Italian imported produce
HUDSON STEAKHOUSE 14 London St, Bath; 01225 332323; www.hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk Award-winning steakhouse in listed building specialising in prime aged steaks and delicious starters with a fusion twist
KOH THAI TAPAS 36 Broad St, Bath 01225 311232; www.koh-thai.co.uk Award winning small Thai tapas plates and cocktails
REAL ITALIAN PIZZA CO 16 York St, Bath 01225 330121; www.realitalianpizza.co.uk Family owned pizzeria. Wood fired pizza with fresh authentic ingredients
TAPAS
THAI BY THE WEIR 16 Argyle St, Bath 01225 444834; www.thaibytheweir.co.uk Restaurant overlooking the weir, serving a classic Thai menu
TAPAS REVOLUTION 20A St Lawrence St, Bath; 01225 312917 www.tapasrevolution.com/bath Newly opened authentic Spanish Tapas
THAI
OUTSIDE of BATH BRITISH THE GREENHOUSE RESTAURANT The Pavilion, Wadswick Green, Corsham SN13 9RD; 01225 585880; www.thegreenhousewg.co.uk Smart, stylish and relaxed new dining destination THE GARDEN 15-17 The Bridge, Chippenham, SN15 1HA 01249 465672; www.thegardenuk.co.uk Relaxed dining using British produce
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS LUCKNAM PARK Colerne, Wilts, SN14 8AZ 01225 742777; www.lucknampark.co.uk Michelin Star fine dining at the renowned Park restaurant and more informal dining at the stylish contemporary brasserie at 5 star country house hotel WIDBROOK GRANGE HOTEL Trowbridge Rd, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1UH; 01225 864750; www.widbrookgrange.co.uk
Modern farmhouse cuisine, locally sourced and freshly prepared
Award winning modern British food and cask ales in country inn
GASTROPUBS
THE PEAR TREE INN Top Lane, Whitely, Wilts, SN12 8QX; 01225 704966; www.peartreewhitley.co.uk An elegant revamped country inn with an acclaimed restaurant and contemporary rustic-chic bedrooms
BUNCH OF GRAPES 14 Silver St, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1JY; 01225 938088; www.thebunchofgrapes.com Bar and restaurant inspired by the village bistros of South West France THE GEORGE AT WOOLLEY 67 Woolley St, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1AQ; 01225 865650; www.thegeorgebradfordonavon.co.uk Recently refurbished gastropub from award winning team HOMEWOOD PARK Abbey Lane, Freshford, Bath BA2 7TB 01225 723731; www.homewoodpark.co.uk Luxury hotel with two rosette restaurant and spa THE LONGS ARMS Upper South Wraxall, Wilts, BA15 2SB; 01225 864450; www.thelongsarms.com
THE WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS Church Lane, Monkton Combe, BA2 7HB 01225 722287; www.wheelwrightsarms.co.uk Pub featuring modern takes on British classics, plus understated, individually decorated guestrooms
FARM SHOPS ALLINGTON FARM SHOP Allington Bar Farm, Allington, Chippenham SN14 6LJ; 01249 658112; www.allingtonfarmshop.co.uk Shop and Café selling local produce
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 61
DRINKS
DRINK EXPERT
GIN-TASTIC
FAST FORWARD, AND GIN IS ABOUT AS COOL AS IT GETS IN THE SPIRITS WORLD
It’s a hard job, but someone had to do it. ANGELA MOUNT has sipped, shaken and mixed her way through a whole platoon of gins to bring you the very best on the market
G
in. Twenty years ago, it was a drink that anyone under 40 would probably have sneered at; it was the tipple of the older generation, the least hip of all spirits. Vodka was the flavour of the day with rum also on the radar. Fast forward, and gin is about as cool as it gets in the spirits world, with over 43 million bottles sold last year in the UK, helping spirits overtake beer sales, and a plethora of new distilleries popping up everywhere – double the number from 2010. I bucked the trend in my youth; I worked as brand manager for Smirnoff for a year in my early career, but never really ‘got’ vodka. My spirit of choice was always gin, although, in those days, choice was far more limited. But the scent, the botanicals and the flavours fascinated me, in a similar way to wine. The best news for me this month is that Great Western Wine, already well-known for their extensive range, have increased their number of gins to 101. But this in itself starts to make choosing a gin even more complicated than selecting a wine. With a plethora of styles from all over the world, from the big brands to tiny craft distilleries, where do you start? 101 gins is a bit of a challenge, even for me, so I decided to take things slowly and test about a dozen of them. Here are my top tips... As well as the myriad herb and spice botanicals that are used in gins all over the world, gins are now infused with fruit, leading to a totally different taste experience. If you like your gin fruity, in cocktails or even neat, then Brockmans Premium Gin (£29) with its intense aromas and sweet flavours of blackberries, blueberries and pink grapefruit would be the perfect summer choice. Prefer the tropical style? Then try the super-hip Hoxton gin, a sweeter style, dominated by coconut, pineapple and pink grapefruit. Personally, I’m a classic G&T girl, but, just like wine, I love the stories and the difference in styles of every gin I taste. If you like your tipple pure and simple, you
won’t go far wrong with the memorably named Death’s Door Gin (£40), produced on the 22-square-mile Washington Island, Wisconsin, named due to the reinvigoration of the island’s farming culture from 2005, after its economical decline in the late 90s. With a local story at its heart, it’s a very pure style – savoury and clean with coriander and fennel at its core, and hints of citrus. Chase Elegant Gin (£37), in its strikingly etched bottle, has been gracing the shelves of cocktail bars around the country for a while now, and is another soft, citrusy style, with hints of peach, grapefruit and angelica. Distilled from apples from Herefordshire orchards, and mingled with fragrant elderflower, it’s deliciously fruity and silkily smooth. Staying with gins on the fragrant and fruity spectrum, Silent Pool gin (£34), produced in the Surrey countryside, seduces with the bottle alone, and has a delightful fruity femininity, in tune with the eye-catching packaging. If you
like it fruity, fragrant and delicate, this is a very pretty one, full of citrus, kaffir lime, lavender and a gentle hint of honey. This one comes into its own with Fevertree’s floral Mediterranean tonic, lemon and a sprig of thyme. Another gin with a lavender and citrus edge is the whistle-sharp Sipsmith London dry gin (£32), super-clean and zesty, with a lipsmackingly fresh, bold citrus and wild herb aroma, with candied lemon and orange to the fore. A lovely classic. Gins cover botanicals and flavours from all over the spectrum. Whilst tangy and citrusfresh styles are great summer gins, as we approach autumn, if more warming, spiceinfused gins are more the order of the day, here are a couple, which could fit the bill. Bertha’s Revenge (£36) is a warm, soft, almost creamy style of gin distilled from whey in Ballyvolane, near Cork. With cardamom, cumin, orange peel and coriander at its heart, as well as local botanicals, it has hints of liquorice, and clove, with a waft of vanilla and tonka bean. Try this with classic tonic, or in a warming, gingerbased cocktail. On a similarly spicy spectrum is Bathtub Gin (£42), a robust navy strength at 57 per cent alcohol, in its stubby, paper and twine-wrapped bottle. Despite the strength, it’s a remarkably fresh, crisp gin, with a strong juniper element and a herbal, almost salty tang, combining with the richer elements of coriander, clove, cinnamon and orange peel. Gin and food matching? Well it’s not a mainstream idea yet, but when you look at the botanicals, a lot of it makes sense, particularly with spiced foods, such as Indian and Thai, with the warmth of coriander and cardamom to the fore in many. Try it. You won’t be disappointed. Or just explore; I’m constantly learning. All drinks featured are available at Great Western Wine, Wells Road, Bath. Angela Mount is a Bathbased wine writer, presenter and international judge who had her taste buds insured for £10million during her tenure as one of the country’s leading supermarket wine buyers. She works with wine producers, chefs and distributors. For more, visit www.greatwesternwine.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 63
FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N B AT H
Corkage co-owners Marty Grant and Richard Knighting
Sharing food at mealtimes is a Thai tradition
TWICE AS NICE
fresh Thai food,” says Pranee. “We wanted a menu that people could eat like they do at home. In Thailand, mealtimes are all about lots of dishes that everyone shares.” The menu will consist of tapas, curries, salads, rice and noodles, with food freshly prepared on site by Thai chefs. It also has a children’s menu offering ‘little tapas for little people’. Bluecoat House can seat 150 guests, with an additional 40 seats in an al fresco area.
Corkage has opened its second eatery in the city. Co-owners Marty Grant and Richard Knighting’s new venture at Chapel Row follows on from the success of their Walcot Street wine shop-cum-wine bar and small plates venue. Marty explains, “Our ethos is simple – make great wine and food accessible at the best price we can in a convivial atmosphere. This has proved so popular that most days we were turning people away because we couldn’t accommodate them. We soon realised it was time to develop the Corkage brand and when the site on Chapel Row became available we knew it was too good an opportunity to miss.” Guests can enjoy small plates of food whilst enjoying expertly matched wines chosen from Marty’s extensive knowledge. Dishes are seasonal and may change daily according to what is best on the day from local suppliers. The new site has 48 covers with seating for a further 30 al fresco. A parquet-topped bar area is flanked by hundreds of wine bottles and there’s a cosy fireside seating area in the window. Mâté Andrasko is the head chef and will work alongside Richard. Mâté has worked as head chef at the Fox in Broughton Gifford, sous chef at the Beaujolais and head chef at The Circus.
For more: www.gigglingsquid.com
For more: www.corkagebath.com
THAI TAPAS Thai restaurant Giggling Squid is due to open on 28 September at Bluecoat House in Saw Close. The eatery will be in premises previously occupied by Tex Mex restaurant Chimichanga, and will form part of the newly developed dining district. Giggling Squid is owned by husbandand-wife team Andrew and Pranee Laurillard, and takes its name from the nickname for one of their children. It will serve bold Thai flavours and will open for lunch through to dinner. “Our idea was to cook simple, rustic,
DINING REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
Fine dining at 100 feet 64 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Two Bath restaurants are taking their menus to another level in September for a new culinary experience. Menu Gordon Jones and Henry’s are taking part in Bristol in the Sky, with the chefs cooking at a sky table suspended at 100 feet. Menu Gordon Jones is known for its modern English cuisine, while Henry’s offers imaginative dining. There are breakfast, lunch and dinner sittings, with Swoon Gelato, which has a shop in Kingsmead Square, also offering a menu.
“The table seats 22 guests, with a guest chef, sommelier and waiting team serving from the pop-up kitchen in the centre of the table in the sky,” explain the Bristol in the Sky organisers. “Guests are securely fastened into their seats before the table is raised to the dining height of 100 feet and their gourmet experience begins.” The event also includes Cocktails in the Sky and the aptly named Pie in the Sky from Lovett Pies. Bristol in the Sky runs from 7 – 12 September at Waterfront Square, Canons Way; tickets from £50; www.eventsinthesky.co.uk
Quality food • Great location • Free delivery
Our new website is now LIVE! Please use the code: ILOVESUSHI to get 10% discount. www.bathsushi.co.uk 01225 330508
Fashion/gifts/stores/more
PICTURE THIS We spotted Chloe Williams’ work last month at The Independent Bath Market – which is filled with other local crafters, makers, growers and producers – in Abbey Green. Her Photograph Bath business specialises, as you might have guessed, in beautiful prints of city in which she has lived for the past five years while at university. Chloe has kept up her passion for photography by snapping away at the stand-out landmarks, such as Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey, and the Roman Baths which bring so many tourists to the area, as well as the tucked-away crevices and minute details – from the petals of a rose in the botanical gardens to a gilded street sign – which may often go unnoticed. She says she could never tire of the city’s beauty as there would always be something new to photograph every day in every season, whether it’s an early evening sunset over North Parade Bridge, an emerging
spring blossom in Queen Square, or glimmering reflections in the River Avon. “I realised I had accumulated quite a lot of photos of Bath, so I created my Instagram page to share the images, and the business progressed from there,” she says. “I’m now selling my photos of Bath as wall art, in the form of large prints and canvases. Bath is one of the prettiest cities in the world; love everything about it – the buildings and the architecture, but also that you can look down the streets in the centre and still see the surrounding green countryside keeping the city in its little bubble. The only problem is that seagulls are forever photobombing my shots.” The next Independent Bath Market takes place on 20 August, 17 September and 15 October. For more information about Chloe’s shots, visit www.photographbath.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 67
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FEAST your EYES CELEBRATING ITS FIFTH BIRTHDAY WITH A SUPER-ENHANCED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS ACROSS THE CITY, THE GREAT BATH FEAST WILL DOMINATE BATH’S FOODIE CALENDAR FROM 23 SEPTEMBER – 8 OCTOBER. INSPIRED BY THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL, WE DISCOVER THE INDULGENT FLAVOURS AND ECCENTRIC DINING ACCESSORIES BATH SHOPS HAVE TO OFFER…
5
1. GIN AND BEAR IT
2. HOT STUFF
3. SWEET TOOTH
4. IN FOR A TREAT
5. CLEAN EATS
Rhubarb Bath Gin, £38.50 The newest addition to the Bath Gin range, this Hopped Rhubarb Edition is made through an infusion of locally sourced rhubarb and whole hop flowers From The Canary Gin Bar, 3 Queen Street, Bath; www.thebathgincompany. co.uk
Madagascan drinking chocolate, £18.95 Made with the finest organic chocolate, sip this and pick up notes of blueberry, liquorice and coffee From Charlotte Brunswick, 3 Church Street, Bath; www.charlottebrunswick. co.uk
Chocolate Truffles, £5.95 From Bath company Härth Truffles, come these beautifully rich, vegan truffles flavoured with Himalayan sea salt From Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen, 2 North Parade Passage; www.acornvegetariankitchen. co.uk
Biscotti tin, £69 The luxury version of your favourite sweet tin. You don’t have to limit the contents of this sturdy, silver-plated tin to biscotti; why not fill it with homemade fairy cakes as a lovely surprise gift? From Brissi, 38 Milsom Street, Bath; www.brissi.com
Wheatgrass, £7 per tray If, after indulging at The Great Bath Feast, you’re looking to detox, organic wheatgrass may be the perfect kick-start From Teeny Greeny Farm, 1 Gundy Grove, Trowbridge; www.teenygreeny.co.uk
68 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
6
ED’S CHOICE
SHOPPING
8
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6. SAY CHEESE
7. SILLY SEASON
8.EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR
9. TO THE LETTER
10. IN GOOD SPIRITS
Olive wood platter, £32.50 The wood grain and shape of each attractive, handcrafted cheese board from Paxton & Whitfield is unique in its styling From Paxton & Whitfield, 1 John Street, Bath; www.paxtonandwhitfield. co.uk
Flamingo salt and pepper pots, £24 These charming seasoning pots are beautifully designed, and painted with vibrant colouring. They perfectly combine quirky and super style From Graham and Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
A RIESLING
Glorious Mud mugs, £15 each With a caption to describe everyone you know, these bone china mugs are designed and made by people, not machines From Verve Living, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath; www.verveliving.uk
Cocktail shaker, £35 There’s no reason a barware essential has to look basic. Glamourise your collection with this contoured gold version of a classic French-style shaker From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com
Serica wine glass, £36 Made from hand-blown full lead crystal, and based on an Old English tavern glass, the special feature of this design is the heavyweight rounded stem detail From Robert Welch, 6 Broad Street, Bath; www.robertwelch.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE LIFE II 69 www.mediaclash.co.uk I CLIFTON 69
PROPERTY
BIG-DAY NERVES We’ve discovered brides’ ultimate fears, so we got to work on finding local experts who could put these worries to rest By E V E LY N GR E E N 70 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
CHRIS DAW PHOTOGRAPHY; WWW.CHRISDAWPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The model wears: a Hayley Paige gown from Ellie Rose Bridal Venue: No.15 Great Pulteney Hair stylist: Abigail Constanza Accessories: Grace & Ted Veil: Jessica Charleston Makeup: Leanna Biggs
BETTY BHANDARI; WWW.BETTYBHANDARI.COM
WEDDINGS
Weddings at The Holburne Museum allow for fantastic photography opportunities overlooking one of the grandest streets in Bath – Great Pulteney Street
A
side from being stood up at the altar, worrying the photographer won’t get her best angles and the best man misbehaving, according to a recent survey from www. gettingpersonal.co.uk, three of the most stressful aspects in the lead-up to a wedding for a bride are: whether the dress will be special enough, if the venue will be perfect, and if their makeup will stay put all day. Here we ask for local experts’ advice on how to overcome these issues for a stress-free day to remember...
GORGEOUS GOWNS
With autumn around the corner, the new-season wedding dress trends are here. If you are looking for a standout gown for your 2017 or 2018 big day, then you may like to consider some of the key bridal looks of the moment, such as 3D blooms, bows, capes, feathers and Bardot necklines. But rules are sometimes meant to be broken, as Bath wedding dress designer and maker Catherine Miller explains, “When a bride wants a bespoke gown, it’s because she doesn’t necessarily want what is on trend because the shops are full of that; she is after something unique. The joy is, bespoke attracts those women who want to be a little different and say something about who they are – they want to make their own mark. “Fashion is fickle and my clients are not so
THE BIGGEST
FEAR
IS THAT SOMETHING WILL GO
WRONG
ON THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF
THEIR
LIVES
drawn to what is in style,” adds Catherine who set up her business in 1983. “Having said that, I have noticed that my brides want to move away from the strapless look and go for more cover.” She says that lace is definitely ‘in’, as far as what her brides are asking for, and she is being asked to use it as an illusion – so the bodice, for example, may be strapless underneath, but lace will lie over the chest, shoulders and arms. “I am still seeing both draped silk and the more sculpted duchesse satin married with see-throughs,” she says. “That is all a little dependent on the figure type and how many curves there are to negotiate. Ivory, cream and oyster still come top with the odd injection of red, lime and silver, believe it or not.” For Eleanor Rose Witton, who owns Ellie Rose Bridal boutique on Margaret’s Buildings in Bath, soft, floral designs are leading the way at the moment, and whites are competing with many ethereal colours. “Lilac, berry pink, light blues and champagnes are popular,” she says. “We are expecting more sleeve designs and a lot more volume in the skirts soon too.” She also comments that unique, fabulously detailed statement back designs are coming to the fore, which is a perfect style if you want to surprise your wedding guests as you walk down the aisle. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 71
WEDDINGS
A SENSE OF PLACE
Choosing your wedding venue will undoubtedly be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as an engaged couple, so it’s good to start considering your options right away. Factors to consider include: how many guests it can accommodate, what sort of location you want, and of course the theme and styling too. No.15 on Great Pulteney Street, Bath, lends itself well to intimate and relaxed wedding celebrations, as photographer Chris Daw explains, “The beautiful soft natural light and jewel-like details in the hotel give the kind of atmosphere I’m always looking for on a wedding day. Natural light is crucial in my documentary-style approach to weddings.” At The Holburne Museum on the same street, the event team encourages its couples to be as adventurous as possible. “Our themes this summer have included, festival flavours, and a taste of the Mediterranean with paella pits and outdoor pizza ovens,” says Spencer Hancock, head of visitor and commercial operations. “We love it when the bride and groom get creative. Our gardens and terrace make for a magical evening reception; we work closely with our external lighting designers to ensure that each couple is able to achieve the mood and atmosphere that’s right for them.” A reoccurring theme at Radstock’s Centurion Hotel, according to its general manager Mark Manley, is multicolours, as he explains, “A lot of couples are choosing to have the chair cover sashes all in alternate colours around the tables and in the ceremony, or having each table coloured in a different theme. Also, the wooden memory hearts that get written on by guests then dropped into a frame have proven very popular so far this year.” Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel’s events manager Chris Edwards says, from his professional perspective, confidence is key when delivering a wedding that the bride and groom will love, and it’s that quality a couple should search for when seeking a venue. “The biggest fear for the couple is that something will go wrong on the most important day of their lives,” he says. “If you, as a co-ordinator are oozing confidence, they have no reason to feel worried or stressed, and this ultimately results in fewer errors. “We’ve got to ‘be’ the people getting married,” he adds. “Not literally, but we have to put ourselves in their shoes. What would you expect? How would you like it? Even if you’re a venue that can host two or three weddings per day, that bride and groom are still the most important people in the building, and each and every one of them should feel that way. It is essential that everyone, from the porter to the general manager, knows everything about that wedding. That’s what we strive for.” 72 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Top to bottom: Catherine Miller’s bespoke gown designs appeal to brides who want something out of the ordinary; MUA Evie Smith creating her signature fresh and dewy look; wedding breakfasts at Centurion Hotel are made to impress
BEAUTY BLITZ
Having met our fair share of professional makeup artists at Bath Life, the majority say that, if it were their own wedding day, they would hire a different makeup artist to do their makeup. Bath and Bristol MUA Evie Smith agrees, “I consider myself good at doing my own makeup, but even I would hire someone in to help get me ready on my big day. Having last-minute nerves, mixed with shaky hands, does not equal perfectly straight eyeliner. Makeup artists will all have different tricks for keeping the makeup looking fresh, as well as how to layer properly and what will look great for the cameras. Not to mention, creating a kiss-proof pout that will last the whole day through.” As for makeup trends of the moment, Evie says they lean towards fresh and dewy, and she wouldn’t recommend a matte look. “Having matte foundation can make your face look very flat and without dimension,” she says. “If it’s oily skin that you’re worried about, then investing in a good oilcontrol moisturiser and a sturdy primer will be a great idea. “Skin should, without a doubt, look like skin,” she adds. “To prep, I will cleanse the skin with a micellar water such as Avène Cleanance, then I will spritz Caudalie Beauty Elixir from an arm’s distance away. I will use an appropriate moisturiser depending on skin type, and I’ll then proceed to primer and allow that to set before beginning the makeup.” And, voilà, you’re ready to get married!
ALISON MILES
www.mandp-photography.co.uk
co u t u r e
Contemporary and Traditional Wedding Gowns individually designed and made to measure in the most beautiful silks Bespoke Vintage Brooch Bouquets Enquiries/appointments 01225 336805 Email: alison@alisonmiles.co.uk www.alisonmiles.com
B
ased in the Cotswolds, Brookman Greene has quickly established a reputation for producing high-end elegant events. We produce celebrations ranging from stunning weddings to private celebrations in your residence, on fields and lawns or in venues of your choice. We also offer a service where we can help style your venue, using our eclectic mix of prop hire, or we can provide a set up service, and management on the day. We focus on the timeless values of fairness, generosity and trust to ensure that you receive the best possible service, all delivered with the warmth, style and elegance that Brookman Greene is known for.
We care about each occasion as if it was our own Brookman Greene West Kington, Wiltshire SN14 7JJ +44 (0)1249 782906 | info@brookmangreene.co.uk www.brookmangreene.co.uk
Please contact us on
01373 472550 for our Late Availability Packages for 2018
A DAY TO REMEMBER Weddings at Macdonald Bath Spa
Whether it’s 2 guests or 140, Macdonald Bath Spa is the venue for you. Whatever your inspiration, we will add that touch of magic to make your dream wedding become a reality.
For information, packages and prices, please contact our dedicated special events co-ordinator on; specialevents.bathspa@macdonald-hotels.co.uk or Tel: 01225 476892 Macdonald Bath Spa, Sydney Road, Bath BA2 6NS
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
Weddings at the Centurion Hotel At the Centurion Hotel we are here to help make your Wedding Day dreams come true. We can tailor a bespoke package to suit your needs and our dedicated and professional team will be able to help you every step of the way, whether it is a small intimate gathering or a large celebration.
Glass Slipper Package Civil Ceremony room Wedding Breakfast (3 course menu for 50 guests) Drinks package Evening buffet (100 guests) Bridal Suite for the night of the Wedding Wedding dress Groom suit hire
Photographer Wedding car Wedding cake Flowers Balloons Place setting and table plan DJ (for evening reception) Chair covers with sash Optional bolt on Honeymoon
Total Cost for the package £6,000
The perfect package for the perfect price
Glass Slipper Deluxe Package 65 × day guests included Gold drinks package 3 Course Wedding Breakfast 100 × evening guests – butties or pasties Bridal Suite for the night of the Wedding No extra venue hire Chair covers and sash Printing of place cards and table plan Photography Coverage from brides preparations to the first dance. 10×10” 30 page album of your choice Copyright to all edited Hi Res images put onto Disc/USB Private online gallery for photos to be viewed by guests Funky nights evening photos to include 50 8x6” mounted free prints
Total cost for the package £9,975
Flowers 2 × Column pedestal arrangements 1 × Cascading waterfall arrangement 6 × Bespoke table centres 1 × Bridal bouquet 6 × Buttonholes 2 × Corsages
Solitaire Brides Bridal dress (to keep) and groom suit hire
Wedding Car Elite Balloons Disco and DJ 3 Tier Cake £500 towards a honeymoon specialist
Charlton Lane | Midsomer Norton | Nr BATH | Somerset | BA3 4BD www.centurionhotel.co.uk | E: enquiries@centurionhotel.co.uk T: (0)1761 417711 | F: (0)1761 418357 | Club Tel: (0)1761 412214
BEAUTY
MAKEUP your MIND Even the biggest makeup buff might be intimidated by the prospect of giving themselves a wedding-day makeover. But have no fear, we’ve asked a Bath Academy of Media Makeup professional how it’s done
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By L I SA E VA NS
s a bride-to-be, I’ve been mulling over the decision of whether to have my makeup done professionally on the big day, or to do it myself. I have fears about both: if I do my own, will it last? Will it look good enough? And if I hire a makeup artist, I may look like a totally different person on the day and feel uncomfortable about that. I’m sure other brides out there have been in a similar predicament, so I decided to have a bridal makeup trial and, at the same time, ask the makeup artist for all their top tips on how to do it myself. I thought I knew quite a bit makeup, but that was before I met with Georgia Stamp. She’s a TV hair and makeup artist who has worked behind the scenes on This Morning, and trained with Bath Academy of Media Makeup (BAMM) – a renowned private school for makeup artistry at which you’ll find Oscar-winning creative director Peter Swords King who created the character-looks on the likes of Star Wars, The Hobbit, and Pirates of the Caribbean. And it was at BAMM on Julian Road that I met with Georgia for my makeover. Georgia instructed me on how to DIY a bridal look, and she gave utmost confidence that I could, if I wanted to, create a look I would love. On first glance of my own makeup attempt (pictured in the ‘before’ image), she advised that, to bring this up to scratch, she would have added a soft, smoky shadow to my lid (something I always avoid because it always seems to look muddy), she would want to bronze me up a little more, and add a colour corrector. Of course, on the big day, the ‘safe’ bet is probably to go with an artist who’s had year of practise, and to relieve yourself of the stress that comes with having to do your own makeup, but if DIY’s your option, read on to pick up Georgia’s best tips for a flawless face...
HOW TO PREPARE
Before
Nars Radiance Enhancing Light Optimizing Primer (all over the face) Mac Studio Conceal and Correct Palette (under the eyes and to cover any spots) Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (all over the face) 78 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
While more and more brides are requesting dramatic, ‘Instagram-style’ makeup for their wedding day, many still prefer the natural, no-makeup makeup look. But Georgia warns that natural isn’t what it seems, “A minimalist look won’t be picked up on camera, so you may end up looking washed-out if you wear the bare minimum on your face. You need to wear more than you think.”
WHAT TO AVOID
Stay away from products containing SPF as, particles in the products will act as mirrors and reflect the camera’s flash, leaving you with a ghostly pale face. Also, the trend for contouring is out, and harsh lines are a no-no (make sure to blend your foundation past your jawline and down onto your neck to avoid this). After
Before the big day, invest in regular facials, or, if you’re on budget, pick up a good exfoliator (Georgia swears by St. Ives Apricot Scrub), and invest in a trusted moisturiser (her favourite brand is Laura Mercier). Wash all your makeup brushes with baby shampoo, practise your desired look plenty of times before the wedding, and take photos of yourself (or ask a friend to help) under different kinds of lighting. PRODUCTS GEORGIA USED, IN ORDER:
THE NATURAL LOOK
WHAT TO DO
Assess what your skin’s undertone is (mine is warm according to Georgia) before selecting your makeup shades. Always set your ‘wet’ products with translucent (never coloured) powder, and use a setting spray before you apply foundation, and after you apply your finishing powder. Waterproof mascara and silicone-free primer are essential too, and Georgia suggests using individual false lashes – applied using black lash glue – to accentuate your eyes.
WHAT I LEARNT
The biggest piece of advice I picked up was how to colour-correct. On blueish tones (such as under the eyes) a peach colour-correcting cream balanced out my skin tone, and it covered the odd pimple. There are plenty of other correcting shades out there too (such as purple for cancelling out yellow tones and orange for dark spots). Also, always blend upwards to give your face a lifted appearance. As for the part I dread, eye shadow, Georgia’s top tip is to use a transition shade – never to start with too dark a tone – and blend, blend, blend (keep a fluffy brush free of makeup just for this purpose), then highlight the brow bone and the inner corners to really make the eyes ‘pop’. For more about BAMM, visit www.bammakeup.com, and to contact Georgia, email georgia_stamp@hotmail.co.uk
Mac Pro Longwear Concealer (under the eyes) Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Kit (hollows of the cheeks) Mac ‘Give Me Sun’ Mineralize Skinfinish (areas the sun would hit) Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (lids) Mac ‘Wedge’ and ‘Coquette’ eyeshadows (brows)
Morphe palette eyeshadows (lids) Mac ‘Blacktrack’ gel liner (eyes) Bobbi Brown ‘Italian Rose’ lipstick Mac ‘Honeylove’ lipstick Bobbi Brown No Smudge mascara Mac ‘Soft & Gentle’ highlighter (cheekbones, bridge of nose, brow bones and inner corners of eyes)
Advert Designer & Production Coordinator MediaClash are currently looking for an advert designer and production coordinator, who will be responsible for the advert design and production on a number of our city-based magazines. The role will involve advert setting, proofing, page layout, liaising with advertisers and working closely with our sales teams. You will be highly organised and able to work to multiple deadlines in an efficient manner. Other duties will include checking the flatplans and liaising with the printers on a daily basis. Along with being creative and having a keen eye for detail you will be vigilant at keeping an organised database. You will be used to dealing with high volumes of work and capable of working to deadlines in a fast-paced environment. You will have worked in a similar role and must be trained in InDesign and Photoshop. If you think you have the qualities and experience for this role, please send your CV to: sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk
Call (01225) 666 226 | Email: info@minimis.co.uk | Web: www.minimis.co.uk
Designer clothes for Boys and Girls
FURNITURE SPECIAL
GOING with the GRAIN From classic kitchens to harnessing industrial chic, we talk to the artisans who design for life By SA M A N T H A WA L K E R
80 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
W
hen it comes to the ultimate handme-downs, you’d have to go a long way to better bespoke pieces for the home. They’re painstakingly built to last and, depending on the materials used, can look wonderfully comforting and traditional or modern and quirky. Locally, we’re blessed with artisan craftsmen – and women – all prepared to spend hours sanding and putting up with the inevitable splinters to create beautiful bespoke pieces.
WOOD WORKS
“We constantly document our builds through Instagram as this enables our clients to follow along with us and check in on our progress,” say the social media-savvy Jamie Smith and Rhiannon Adkins from J Smith Woodwork who offer their services in Bath. “We have our own YouTube channel and, to date, we are the only male and female cabinet makers in the UK on that platform.” The pair craft beautiful kitchens and bespoke furniture, with Rhiannon’s gender sometimes raising eyebrows in what is still a maledominated world.
FURNITURE SPECIAL continue to turn heads providing practical solutions for generations to come. “More than 75 per cent of our business is to overseas, sales in the UK and the rest of Europe is steadily growing as the results of our marketing takes effect, particularly with the use of social media platforms, especially Pinterest and Instagram.” www.indyfurniture.co.uk
CRISP, COOL AND VERY CHIC
“Women makers are hard to come by and sometimes people find it hard to believe that Rhiannon also makes the kitchens alongside me as well as handling the design work,” says Jamie. “But this makes her a real asset to the team.” The pair prefer to work with new wood but say there is a character and well-worn look to reclaimed wood that you just can’t quite replicate with new. “Our favourite woods to work with are ash and sycamore,” says Jamie. “Ash has a lovely grain and great colour, which makes it ideal for items of furniture. Sycamore is a stunning buttery pale wood that I adore for simple interiors.” www.jsmithwoodwork.co.uk
INDUSTRIAL STYLE
Justin Pocock’s love of woodwork at school led to him studying yacht design and boatyard management, and later rebuilding a classic gaff rigged wooden workboat. “I then moved on to delivering yachts all around the world, ending up sailing professionally in the Caribbean for five years,” Justin says. “When I returned to the UK, I fell into renovating and developing period property in Bath, using capital raised from a property sale to start a furniture manufacturing business to allow a craving for creativity to flourish. “Wood, metal and leather have a particularly pleasing aesthetic,” adds Justin who now runs Indy Furniture in Marshfield. “More recently we have been working a lot with oak and iroko (African hardwood) which not only look great, are stable and extremely durable. “Our flagship product is the Indy Swing Arm Stool, based on a classic turn-of-the-century, industrial design. “These timeless, iconic designs make a statement wherever they are used and will
Above: The Indy Swing Arm Stool; below: a J Smith Woodwork kitchen; opposite page: CoucouManou’s Loop Cabinet
AS A KID I
LOVED THOSE PADS WHERE
Nell Beale launched her collection under the name of CoucouManou in 2012 at the London Design Festival, having previously made commissioned pieces for private clients and many architects. “I mainly work with sheet materials these days, meaning veneered plywoods and a material called Valchromat, but my favourite wood is oak,” says Nell, whose business is based in Bradford on Avon. “It’s classic, beautiful and is always current. “I only use new timbers. I’ve only ever used reclaimed timber for one job in the past at the client’s request. I don’t really like that look. I like my pieces to be crisp and new.” Nell did a government-funded City & Guilds in her early 20s in 1990 in women’s woodwork. It seems even back then, there was a move to inspire more female furniture makers. That led to her gaining a place on a HND course at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology. “I loved this course and it guided me in the path that I took,” says Nell. “There were three women, myself one of them, compared to 12 men. “I’m the only one who has continued in the field of furniture which is a shame. There are many women designer/makers in craft but a real lack in the furniture sector. I believe that this is changing but there is still a disparity between the amount of men versus women in this field, something that I hope changes in the future as w
YOU SCRATCHED OFF
BLACK WAX TO REVEAL COLOURS BELOW
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81
FURNITURE SPECIAL there is absolutely no reason why that should be.” Nell’s designs are unashamedly decorative and often mix colour, black and timber. “I’ve been thinking recently about what influences my work,” says Nell. “For the concept behind a piece, that comes from loads of places, everyday observations, but for the colours, as a kid I loved those scratch pads where you scratched off black wax to reveal colours below, and also those sequin art kits that often had a black velvet background with beautiful coloured sequins. I think this is apparent in my work. I like a bold statement but people need to be able to live with these pieces too so I don’t want them to be too outrageous either.” www.coucoumanou.com
DESIGNS FOR LIFE
Charlie Caffyn founded his Bradford on Avonbased furniture-making business in 2007 and has developed a reputation for beautifully designed contemporary pieces, all handmade of course. His favourite woods to work with are oak, cherry and walnut. “I design and make a piece, think ‘that’s amazing, it can’t get much better,’ then a new idea comes along and the joy starts again,” he says. “At the moment my favourite piece is my Iford Step Chair which is a modern take on an old French 18th century chair that the bourgeois used in their Paris apartments.” Charlie hopes that more people will appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of his pieces. “People are getting used to the price of mass produced pieces of furniture, and we are starting to see furniture as disposable, which it shouldn’t be,” he says. “It should be bought to last, and to leave for future generations.”
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL
Geoff Collard moved to Bath in 1984 and mainly worked on renovations of the city’s Georgian houses. He turned to old books about furniture making for authenticity and uses these historic methods in his commissions. “I was an apprentice at 16 in an old traditional joinery shop in Newbury called Hedges (now a housing estate) where all the work undertaken was bespoke and involved a lot curved work,” says Geoff, whose business is based in Peasedown St John, Bath. “Although I may not have gone to a typical furniture college, Hedges gave me the raw basics, the different timber joints and the way wood behaves, which is at the heart of all furniture once you strip away the embellishments. “I do love cocabola, a tropical hardwood, but don’t get much chance to use it so I would have to say oak is a favourite; it’s so versatile, has a beautiful grain and is reasonably priced and lovely to work with. “I tend to put that extra little unusualness in the mix, I would say 80 per cent of the time, the design is up to me and sometimes the client knows exactly what they want, but I can usually add something they may not have thought about.” 82 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Striking: a Charlie Caffyn table
PEOPLE
ARE STARTING TO SEE FURNITURE AS DISPOSABLE, WHICH IT SHOULDN’T BE, IT
SHOULD BE BOUGHT TO LAST, AND TO LEAVE FOR
FUTURE
GENERATIONS
It’s this attention to detail that sees Geoff also make precise scale models of fine buildings – including one of Sarah Beeney’s Georgian mansion Rise Hall for Channel 4’s Restoration Nightmares.” www.geoffcollard.co.uk
ENHANCING NATURE
What started out as a hobby for Samuel Baker and William Hibbert has led to 22 years of furniture making for Forest to Home in Melksham. “We like wood that’s full of character, we love to preserve and accentuate these naturally designed parts but it has to be sustainably sourced,” says William. “Our pieces are inspired by nature. We recognise just how much wastage there is in the furniture industry, and how the naturally designed, beautiful parts of the wood are often removed and discarded. At Forest to Home, we instead aim to preserve the wood’s live edge and enhance its splits, checks and knots.” This love can sometimes make it hard to part with their pieces. “The first Forest to Home table has always held a place in our hearts,” William says. “To see it sold at the Royal Bath & West show actually brought mixed emotions, such is our passion for our work. But to see it leave with a customer who shared our connection with the design was incredible. “People can’t help but touch our pieces. From the naturally preserved shapes of our live-edge tables to our incorporation of alternative metals such as pewter, people are often amazed at the finish we are able to achieve.” www.foresttohome.com
Bookcase with secret door
BATH FURNITURE MAKERS BESPOKE FURNITURE | CARPENTRY | JOINERY | ANTIQUE RESTORATION T: 01761 433857 M: 07720 887318 E: geoffcollard@gmail.com
www.bathfurnituremakers.co.uk | www.geoffcollard.co.uk
J Smith Woodwork Ltd Staffords Green, Corton Denham, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LY 01963 220147 | 07773 701812 | jamie@jsmithwoodwork.co.uk jsmithwoodwork.co.uk
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QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
How Holburne Park will look
BUILDING
HOLBURNE PARK APPEALS TO BUYERS More than half of the first homes at Holburne Park have been sold, with people attracted to the classically-styled new homes on the edge of the city Professionals, downsizers and young families are among those who have bought homes in the initial phase of the Holburne Park development. There are 32 homes in the first phase with 18 already sold on the development which backs onto the canal. Francis Firmstone, the director of Hardrock Developments, says, “It’s great to see our vision for Holburne Park start to come to life and you can really begin to get a feel for what we’re creating here now, as the houses take shape. The first time we saw this site, we knew it was in a very special location and it seems that others share our view. It was always our intention to create a balanced neighbourhood here, with a strong community feel and it’s heartening to see the range of people who have decided to make this their home.” The development’s architect is Robert Adam and his firm also designed the Duchy of Cornwall’s Poundbury in Dorset. Holburne Park, on the Warminster Road in Bath, was
formerly an MOD site. The homes have Bath stone walls, cut from Hartham Park Quarry in Corsham. Vicky Dudbridge, director at Savills, which is marketing Holburne Park, says, “What seems to appeal to people is the location, which is within walking distance from the centre of Bath yet with the countryside on your doorstep, so you don’t need to travel everywhere by car. Some people are moving in from villages in the countryside so they can be closer to the cultural and social life that Bath offers, while others want to come out of the city centre so they can walk their dogs by the canal and take advantage of the outdoor life on offer.” The first phase of the development consists of a mixture of two to four-bedroomed terraced houses and apartments set among landscaped grounds. Prices start from £545,000. www.holburnepark.co.uk
“LISTENING TO OTHERS IS HOW WE LEARN AND GROW. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT SECTOR – YOU CAN LEARN FROM ANYONE” Maths app creator Nicola Chilman on how community benefits business. Turn to page 90 to find out more
£200k THE BIG NUMBER
The cost of equipment used by Bath Rugby to enhance players’ performance. For more page 87
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 85
BUSINESS INSIDER
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MICHELE PHILLIPS CircleBath’s specialist nurse explains why cosmetic surgery is so much more than a nip and a tuck
M
ichele was born and brought up in Pembrokeshire, before training as a nurse at the West Glamorgan School of Nursing. After several years as a general surgical nurse in the NHS in Berkshire, she specialised in cosmetic surgery in 2006 and has worked in this field ever since. She has two daughters and lives in Wiltshire with her husband and springer spaniel.
Michele’s caring manner is appreciated by patients
What did you want to be when you were little? When I was little, I wanted to be a vet. What was your first job? A Saturday assistant in a delicatessen’s in Haverfordwest when I was sixteen. Tell us about Circle Bath Hospital’s relaunched cosmetic surgery service… My role as a specialist nurse is a varied one – no two days are the same. I work with consultant surgeons who perform breast, abdominal, facial and varicose vein surgery, and we are soon launching our nonsurgical cosmetic treatments’ service. My primary role is to manage the cosmetic surgery patients’ journey, from their initial enquiry and consultation right through to surgery, post-operative checks and beyond. I see all patients coming in for surgery for their pre-assessment, on the ward when they have their operation and at their post-operative appointments. I pride myself on caring for each patient individually – ensuring they receive the highest quality care and patient experience. What are the best aspects of your job? Seeing the positive impact that surgery has on our patients – they become more confident, their selfesteem improves and to be part of that life changing journey is a privilege. 86 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
IT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR PATIENTS – THEY BECOME MORE CONFIDENT AND THEIR SELFESTEEM IMPROVES
How do you and CircleBath’s staff keep up-todate with best practice and staff development? As a registered nurse, I have to revalidate every three years with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This process requires the submission of evidence that my practice is current and relevant. At Circle Bath Hospital we have a comprehensive staff training and development programme and, combined with an excellent quality team, we can ensure that all staff are up-to-date with best practice within their speciality. What makes CircleBath stand out? Circle Bath Hospital’s credo and culture make it a fantastic place to work and combined with unrivalled hospitality, it is a hospital dedicated to patients where ‘good enough never is’. We have a Good Care Quality Commission rating, with an Outstanding rating for caring. What feedback do you get from patients? They appreciate having that one ‘go-to’ person who they can contact whenever they need to. What was CircleBath’s proudest moment? On a personal level, when my colleague and I collected the Bath Life Awards trophy for Health and Beauty in 2013. Tell us something about you that might surprise us… As a schoolgirl I played tennis for Wales. For more: www.circlebath.co.uk michele.phillips@circlebath.co.uk
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MOVERS, SHAKERS, ETC
Simon Hall
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS Simon Hall has been appointed general manager for Hotel Indigo Bath. He has over 25 years experience in the hospitality industry and will oversee the day-to-day running of the new hotel, due to launch next spring. “My priorities include developing my team so that we have a successful launch and deliver a ‘best in class’ guest experience at Hotel Indigo Bath,” says Simon. Five town houses have been connected to create the 166-bedroom boutique hotel. www.ihg.com
MATERIAL WORLD
A couple from Bath have launched a non-profit organisation called CQWIN to help improve the lives of people in west Africa. The NGO, set up by Alice Pittman and Tom Cracknell, will raise funds from T-shirt sales, with garments always including a traditional piece of African fabric. Tom says, “The idea is that the T-shirt will be a casual piece of clothing to British (and western) people. We intend to have locally sustainable cotton T-shirts made in Mali (in the future) with greater design range. For the moment, it is the pocket that is special to the tribe from whence it came.” www.cqwin.co.uk.
ON THEIR BIKES
Staff at housing association and house builder Curo have raised £700 for the Children’s Hospice South West with a cycling challenge and dress-down day. The event also saw staff donating books and clothes to be sold in CHSW’s charity shops and further increase the money raised. www.curo-group.co.uk
BATH RUGBY NEWS Bringing you the latest from the Bath Rugby headquarters
Todd Blackadder, Darren Edwards and Tabai Matson
Science met muscle at a training session designed to improve Bath Rugby’s performance on the pitch. The club teamed up with Cardiff Metropolitan University and used biomechanical equipment to assess players’ movement. The session for the first team saw specialist Vicon cameras, worth around £200,000, used outdoors instead of the normal indoor setting. Biomechanics is the study of human motion and can determine what causes injuries as well as how to prevent them. Coach Darren Edwards says, “(The equipment) has never been taken outside before, it’s always been done inside the lab so it was really good to try something new and unique to us and those who are coaching. “It’s really good to put a bit of science to the rugby in, these cameras pick up all the skeletal movement.”
The cameras worked in conjunction with sensors worn by the players for the session at Farleigh House, with resulting images used for analysis. The movement patterns were then made into visuals, explained the coach to Bath Rugby TV. “It’s good for a player because looking at himself every day (in a training session) is quite difficult so this is pretty good for visualisation,” says Darren. “It’s really important because the mechanics of the game is massive, collisions are getting more and more powerful now. “Repetitions of kicks and passes is massive, so the way the body moves and the understanding on how your body moves is vital.” www.bathrugby.com
BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY From city centre conferences to networking breakfasts, make a note of these dates and make them work for you 2 2 AU GU ST
7 SEP TEMBER
Networking in the Great Outdoors: meet like-minded business people and forge links. Meet in front of the Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon; 11am; £6.95; www.rfmcoaching.com
Networking Coffee Morning with guest speaker Simon Parrett, education facilitator at Dorothy House. Simon will be discussing how to support staff at challenging moments in their lives. Free, 10.30am – 12pm; Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford on Avon; www.eventbrite.co.uk
5 SE PTE MBE R
Networking and Nibbles at the Apex City of Bath Hotel, in conjunction with Bath Chamber of Commerce and Visit Bath. Tickets from £12.60; 6pm – 8pm; www.eventbrite.co.uk
11 SEP TEMBER
Bath Life Business Club at the
Royal Crescent Hotel. Fresh thinking over a fine lunch with guest speakers Andrew and Mel Taylor, founders of the Bath Half. Tickets £50; 12pm – 2.30pm; www.bathlifebusinessclub.com 19 SEP TEM B ER
Business Breakfast – The Future of Work at Bath Function Rooms, Green Park Station, Bath; 8am – 10am; free; www.eventbrite.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 87
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NEWS STORIES Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories right now
Bill Vasilieff, David James and Nic Amor
GOING UP A new balloon is taking to the skies following a partnership from Novia Financial, Visit Bath and Bath Balloons. Bill Vasilieff, CEO at Novia Financial, says, ‘‘Ballooning provides a unique opportunity to view the surrounding area from a totally different perspective with launches planned across the stunning countryside over the magnificent Georgian city of Bath.” Bath Balloons has been flying since 1988 and over the years have built up a strong reputation for quality of service. The balloon will fly regular trips until 2020. ‘‘This hot air balloon is an icon for the city – a stunning physical representation of the power and synergies created by strong organisations co-operating and working together for the benefit of our beautiful city and surrounds,” says Leslie Redwood, head of business development and partnerships at Visit Bath. For more: www.novia-financial.co.uk
BATH BOULES BENEFIT The total raised for local charities by this year’s Bath Boules is to be revealed at a special breakfast reception on 14 September. Held at Hall & Woodhouse from 8am, it will also feature the first tranche of grants to charities, made by the Boules Trust. The event is open to sponsors, charities and participating teams. Event manager Annie Miekus says, “In 2016, we had an exceptional record-breaking outcome of £41,424. It’ll be really tough even to get close to that – and tougher still to reach our 2017-20 target of raising £250,000. “Every year there’s superb support from Bath businesses, residents and visitors. We look forward to seeing many of the Boules supporters next month and setting out our plans for next year.” The much-loved Bath Boules is headline sponsored by Royds Withy King and organised by MediaClash. For more: www.bathboules.com
How much did Bath Boules raise?
This year’s Bath Life Awards
TICKETS RESTRICTED AS BATH LIFE AWARDS BOOM The unprecedented number of sponsors for the Bath Life Awards means tickets have had to be restricted for next year’s event on 1 March. The Assembly Rooms hosts the awards in its Tea and Ball Rooms, but this year no tickets will be on open sale for the Ball Room. A strictly limited number of Silver Sponsorships, including special tables for eight, in either the Ball Room or Tea Room will go on sale on 23 September. All remaining Ball Room tickets will be available only to finalists when they are announced in January. “Every year there is more support from businesses across Bath and that means that there is yet more of a juggle for tickets. We’ve already had so many enquiries – and the awards are over six months away,” says MediaClash’s event manager Steph Dodd. “So we have decided to withdraw single tickets in the Ball Room to free up space for more finalists on the night. There will only be a few available in the Tea Room for a limited period. “Silver Sponsorships will be strictly first come, first served, which is the fairest way. There are a few other sponsorship packages available: we’ll do what we can to accommodate all the requests.” The current roster of sponsors is led by headline sponsor, the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, together with its brand partner Taittinger. Platinum Sponsor is Bristol Airport and the other main sponsors are Bath BID, Savills, Novia, Bath Rugby, Apex Hotels, Bluefin, Minuteman, Tile & Flooring, First Bus, Kersfield, Bryers, Clifton Marquee Company, SoVision, Fidelius, Bath Audi, Hawker Joinery, Stone King, Homelets, Bath VW, Circo and Enlightened. For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk
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BATH LIFE BUSINESS CLUB
NIGEL HUXLEY The former manager of Waitrose in Bath and the outgoing chair of the Bath BID talks business with Greg Ingham at the BLBC at the Royal Crescent Hotel How and why did you get into retail? Almost by accident. Waitrose was my first proper job, I had just left school after my A levels. I wasn’t clever enough to go to university and I wanted to earn some cash, drive a car and buy a house. I had an interview and was offered a job; 34 years and 18 branches later and I’m still working for Waitrose, now at a branch in Bristol. Does Waitrose like to rotate its managers or have you moved through choice? It’s a bit of a mixture. It’s deemed relatively unhealthy to spend three or four years in the same position. The business is always looking to freshen things up and get ideas from a new perspective. What were the challenges and surprises of running Waitrose Bath? It was pretty tired to some degree but Bath benefitted from the fact we were keen to grow our market share. The new guys were coming to town in Lidl and Aldi, foreign discounters who from our perspective were ruining the patch as it was. That was very disruptive, so we had to think on our feet and do something really dramatic so we didn’t lose all of our market share. Is Bath a higher index spend than the average? In terms of market share, we do particularly well in Bath because we are so well located in the city centre, and it is easy for locals and tourists to find.
NIGEL’S CAREER IN NUMBERS 34 years working for Waitrose so far 18 different branches 2010 when he took up the reins at Waitrose Bath
The Bath Life Business Club is sponsored by Bishop Fleming www.bathlifebusinessclub.com
90 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Nigel Huxley
The John Lewis model sees partners (Waitrose’s staff) benefiting from a profit share. How easy is it to tell staff when the bonus is lower? It’s a difficult message but the key thing is keeping your team informed all the time, and through the year we work really hard at keeping the team informed about key results. When it’s tough it’s tough for all of us. The bonus is measured in terms of your contribution to business and is the same for everyone.
IF A TOWN IS MADE UP OF MAJOR RETAILERS THEN YOU DON’T GET THE UNIQUENESS, BUT IF IT IS JUST INDEPENDENTS THEN YOU DON’T GET THE FOOTFALL FROM MAJOR RETAILERS As a branch manager, how easy is it to get a cool product you’ve seen into the store? About four years ago I met Jo and Richard Bertinet, we needed some bread and my wife came back with a sourdough costing £4.20 and I thought that had better be really good. It was, it was incredible. After lengthy introductions and lots of compliance (to work though) we now sell Bertinet bread. With Marshfield Ice Cream a lot of customers asked why we didn’t sell it because it was great and local. It has taken a year and a half, maybe longer. It takes time to get products in and you have to be determined and passionate. Why did you get involved in the Bath BID? It was sold to me in a way that Bath would benefit (from having a BID). There is a ranger service so the city can be kept really clean and tidy, and a rapid response –it would be unreasonable to expect that level of response
from the council. There are things that happen that people take for granted that the BID makes happen, including a trade waste scheme that lets businesses benefit from a cheaper contractor. Should independents be treated differently? I think we have to protect and support the independents because they make Bath unique but treat them no differently. If a town is made up of just big retailers then you don’t get the uniqueness, but if it is just independents then you don’t get the drive of footfall from having major retailers. Working together is the best way forward and the BID does that so well. Bath BID boarded up some unoccupied retail premises for aesthetic retail reasons but that was then positioned as an attack on the homeless who would have used those areas. How would you respond to that? I can see from a retail perspective it would be desirable to ensure that our streets are well maintained and clean and there’s nothing that would cause anyone who is visiting, particularly for the first time, to create an impression which doesn’t fit with a World Heritage site. But what is really important is that any statements that go out are appropriate and any work that we do with the homeless is done in a multi-functional way and we work together. If we just treat people badly, you’ll never get a good outcome but if you respect people and find a way to work together it’s much more likely you’ll get a good outcome. How has Bath changed during your time here? There has been lots of investment and we have a city that has predominantly got buildings that are occupied. There are also improvements from the BID all the time. The next Bath Life Business Club is on September 11 when the speakers will be Mel and Andrew Taylor who run the Bath Half.
BUSINESS INSIDER
BATH LIFE AWARDS 2017
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION WINNER Sponsored by
DOODLEMATHS Education app co-founder Nicola Chilman has helped countless children improve their maths and developed a successful business, recognised with a Bath Life Award So how did it feel to win a Bath Life Award? How did you celebrate? And where is your award now? We were totally surprised and utterly delighted. We closed up DoodleMaths early and went for a team lunch at Cote Brasserie. Well, the award survived the night out, dancing in Sub 13 and the walk home but was somewhat unprepared for the hands of my three-year-old son who dropped it on the kitchen floor. It has now been glued back together and stands in pride of place on our trophy wall at DoodleMaths HQ! What do you think makes your business stand out from its competitors? Firstly, our programme is adaptive and relies on our algorithms to understand each child’s individual ability and pace at which they learn. Secondly, we built for mobile so we make use of the intuitive features you get with apps – most serious maths tutoring tools are built for web and the other maths apps tend to be much more recreational and gamey. How did you get into doing what you do? My co-founder (my husband Tom Minor) and I were each secondary school teachers for over ten years. We left the classroom to set up education centres in Bath to specifically support maths and English. We could see the rapid progress our tutees made in maths and felt that we needed to take what we understood about how children learned maths and create an affordable and convenient way to motivate and engage learners – without the cost and time/travel commitment of a tutor. Has setting up your business met or exceeded your initial plans, and your expectations? It’s so much more than we ever imagined. We knew nothing about start-ups, incubators, raising investment, building a minimum viable product – we just wanted to make maths tuition 92 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Nicola Chilman and Rebecca Hill
affordable and accessible for people in Bath. We’ve had over a million home user downloads, DoodleMaths has reached home users and schools globally, we have been nominated for numerous awards and have lots of new products in the pipeline. Do you think being an active part of the community is important in business? Listening to others is how we learn and grow. It doesn’t matter what sector – you can learn from
MY CO-FOUNDER IS MY HUSBAND SO WE’VE HAD TO WORK OUT OUR STRENGTHS AND NOT CROSS OVER INTO EACH OTHER’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE anyone. Just the other day I was at a breakfast organised by Deep Blue Sky and I met someone who works as a marketing consultant – my current challenge is finding a great sales person and she gave me lots of useful advice. I feel really indebted to her but it’s part of the cycle in a business community – sometimes I have the questions and occasionally I have the answers. What do you love most about your job? Without doubt the people I work with. We have the best team ever – our business support manager, developers, teachers, mathematicians and wonderful interns. They all care about what we are doing and have fun along the way. Have there been some tricky times for your business? Well, my co-founder is my husband so what do
you think? We’ve worked together for over ten years now so it’s pretty good but it was definitely difficult to work out our strengths and not to cross over into each other’s areas of expertise. We also have to recognise where there are gaping holes in our skills and ensure our team complements us. What do you aim to achieve in the next couple of years? We are working with partners in China, South America and the Middle East – it will be great to see DoodleMaths translated into multiple languages. What do you love most about being in Bath? It’s the perfect balance of city and country. The centre offers restaurants, theatre, rugby and it’s well connected to London and Bristol, yet where I live, just three miles from the city centre, we are surrounded by rolling hills. What do you do when you’re not working? I have three kids so they pretty much take up most of my free time but travel and food are my personal interests. I love taking courses and learning from others – I recently took a one-day photography course and am doing a chef skills course and a photography evening class in the autumn. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? “People do business with people they like.” (You have to say it with an Australian drawl to get the full impact). It was repeated many times by an Aussie sales trainer I worked with. It’s so true. Whether it’s customer service, accounts, sales, marketing, project management – people buy from us if they like us. For more: www.doodlemaths.com
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Richard Penny
Ripe Digital 01225 815033 www.ripedigital.co.uk
What sets you apart from other print companies? In short, exceptional quality and incredible service. We promise a quick response and fast turnaround on all jobs. What are the misconceptions about digital printing? Unlike most high street ‘digital’ printers who are using a powder-based process, we are the only company in the region to offer liquid ink digital printing which delivers phenomenal colour results for the short run, high-end service that we offer. And, unlike litho printing, we can print the smallest job and still offer a huge range of materials, processes and finishing. What new innovations will you see over the next few years? We’ve been in the business for over 25 years and know that marketing and sales increasingly require very targeted communications, which can be efficiently achieved using digital print techniques. We love to advise our customers on new developments in digital print, such as foil printing and printing white ink, so we can all achieve the very best print possible.
94 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Jayson Godridge
Freestyle Designs 01225 421629 www.freestyledesigns.co.uk What sets you apart from other print companies? We are the only company in Bath to have the ability to print direct to substrates on our UV Flatbed printer – it was a large investment, but it has enabled us to provide an unbeatable turnaround at very competitive prices What are the most rewarding aspects of the job? Seeing a job develop from just an idea to the finished product is very satisfying. Some of the projects we work on can be complete re-brands so a considerable amount of signage; the way it transforms the look and feel of an organisation makes us feel very proud. Which individual project have you most enjoyed working on? We work very closely with a great Bath-based interior fit out company called Interaction, including on a fantastic project to transform an office inside a castle! This was a really challenging and creative project with lots of digital wallpapers, unusual themed rooms – even a Star Wars cinema room!
phil sudwell
Park Lane Press 01225 815010 www.parklanepress.co.uk What sets you apart from other print companies? Park Lane Press invested in the Japanese invented, waterless (dry offset) process technique, back in the late 90s. Renowned across the world for its ability to deliver vibrant colour, clear sharp imagery and to print with equal ease on coated and uncoated stocks, it has propelled the company to the forefront of waterless print production, with tip-top environmental accreditation in the UK. As a printer, what are your green and sustainable credentials? Our entire production has been accredited to EMAS since 2006. The Eco Management Audit Scheme recognises the establishment of the highest environmental standards. Which individual project have you most enjoyed working on? These are numerous but perhaps our most interesting ongoing project is our longterm supplier relationship with the National Trust, for whom we print a large amount of their national and regional requirements.
a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e p r i n t e r s
Dave dixon
Minuteman Press 45 Walcot Street, Bath 01225 442000 www.minutemanbath.co.uk What sets you apart from other print companies? Let’s take an example of what has been a week at Minuteman Press, It is Monday morning and you have been notified that you have to attend a conference in Germany last minute on Wednesday. You need a range of materials, business cards, name badges, flyers, a company brochure and a couple of bannerstands. There is nowhere else in the city where you can walk in and spend an hour or two with a designer, get printed proofs for a range of items and walk out knowing that everything will be delivered before 9.30am to your hotel in Germany two days later, ready to set up for your show starting at 10am. We will also send any new artwork to your web designer for them to update your website and send an email shot to potential visitors to your stand. Meanwhile we have helped 50+ students get their final dissertations printed in time for hand in, helped an elderly chap with his wartime photos in the copy shop and sent out a mailshot to 1,500 contacts for one of our agencies. Any misconceptions about printing? I came into print 12 years ago when a standard turnaround time was a week. People expect things instantly now; so we have worked tirelessly to address that, invested in upto-date and more reliable kit and well-trained staff.
jason hindle
Ralph Allen Press 01225 461888 www.ralphallenpress.co.uk What sets you apart from other print companies? What sets Ralph Allen Press apart is our longevity, nobody in the area can boast almost 100 years of service to Bath and surrounding areas. A tradition we are proud to continue. What areas of printing do you specialise in? We consider ourselves to be a general commercial printer, who can offer everything from business cards and general stationery to larger, more involved projects such as brochures and annual reports. What are the most rewarding aspects of the job? The most rewarding aspect of commercial print is being able to furnish businesses, and the public with a piece of bespoke printed material which will either help them become more efficient or publicise their business or event. What new innovations will printing see over the next few years? Print will continue its evolution into a more digital based industry, although we are confident that high quality conventional printed matter will always have a place. Our industry has invested in producing environmentally friendly inks and papers which, together with efficient modern machinery, will help to cement its future.
felix walsh
Patsy taylor
Digiprint Bath 01225 424821 www.digiprintgroup.com
Emtoneprint 01225 330894 www.emtone.co.uk
What sets Digiprint apart from other printing companies? We are the largest independent in Bath, producing print, signs, and website design, and our Gogreenprinting service is famous locally.
What sets you apart from other print companies? Our latest technology and eco-friendly press. Our H-UV technology uses 60 per cent less energy and water than non-H-UV presses. Our inks are solvent free, so no nasty chemical smell either. This is what gives us beautiful print.
How long has Digiprint been established? We’ve enjoyed 30 years in business, from wet ink and Letraset to digital dry ink and wide format, computer to direct output with the additional sign-making. You name it, we print it. Which project have you most enjoyed doing? We produced signage for the Falkland’s airport and have handled many displays for Bath schools showing successful young people. Advice to customers? Before you request design for promotions consult widely so you can be as clear as possible in what you want from your campaign, and collect all of the details you need to include. New businesses should plan budgets to include regular promotions, to keep their names in front of their target audience. Are you involved with online trading? Yes, with the renewal of our website we’ve set up an online shop where all our products are available to purchase, which provides flexibility for our customers.
What are the misconceptions about printing ? That all print is the same. Depending on what you want, we can deliver a quick digital job in two hours, or we spend a little time working on your brochure that deserves more care and attention, meanwhile coming up with ideas that suit your budget and brand. What advice would you give to a new business? Beautifully printed marketing material makes for a strong brand, customers often need to buy into your brand before they want your product or service. What are the most rewarding aspects of the job? Working with clients and understanding what they need. If they want beautiful paper from Italy, detailed antique gold foil or delicate thread sewing, we can make it happen. Which projects have you most enjoyed working on? Bath Rugby are always fun, they have some great marketing ideas. It’s always lovely working with Bath Festivals and Visit Bath on the amazing events we have in this city, we love that they keep it local.
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PROPERTY
SHOWCASE
12 THE PARAGON A few doors away from a Jane Austen family abode lies a Grade-I listed Georgian townhouse that balances nostalgia with modernity By E V E LY N GR E E N
96 LIFE LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk 112I I BATH CLIFTON I www.mediaclash.co.uk
SHOWCASE
PROPERTY
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATHLIFE LIFE I I 113 97 www.mediaclash.co.uk I CLIFTON
PROPERTY
SHOWCASE
I
t’s difficult to avoid Jane Austen in Bath, from artisan gin to popular festivals, she’s referenced frequently – and, as 2017 is the bicentenary of her death, she’s at the forefront of our minds right now. There are rumours that she disliked her time in the city, but, however she felt about it, what we know is that she channelled her experiences and used them in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Jane’s family had strong links to the city, and her sister lived on The Paragon. It was within this row of Georgian townhouses – in number 1, The Paragon – that Jane’s aunt and uncle, the Leigh-Perrotts, lived, and where Jane initially stayed when she first moved to Bath in 1801. 11 doors down from this, you’ll find the latest Grade-I listed townhouse on the history-rich street which is ready to welcome new owners. The row of dominating structures is described by Walter Ison in The Georgian Buildings of Bath as “a narrow strip of land sloping between two roads having a difference of some 40 feet in their levels, and while the main front towards London Road presents a normal appearance, at the rear is a great substructure of vaults supporting the hanging gardens entered from the basements of the houses.” 12 The Paragon is a magnificent example of a Georgian home which has been renovated to accommodate modern-day living in a period setting. On entering the house, there is an immediate air of nostalgia with a beautifully elegant drawing room leading from the entrance hall which has large sash windows letting light flood in. French doors lead from the drawing room onto a 98 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Clockwise, from top left: the view from the property is pretty spectacular; the open-plan living space has an industrial edge, you’ll find a more traditional aspect to the kitchen; décor is kept sleek and neutral throughout
HOUSE NUMBERS
5,294
square foot of space
6
bedrooms
£1.75M price
1
Quaint courtyard
balcony with views over the city and beyond, and adjacent to the drawing room is the library. Stairs from the entrance hall lead down to a generous open-plan kitchen/breakfast/family room with doors leading out onto a large sunny deck area which is ideal for al fresco dining and has spectacular views across Bath and beyond. Also on the lower ground floor is the dining room which has retained many of the period features of what would have originally been the kitchen, and adjacent to this is a courtyard and two vaults. On the first floor there is a master bedroom with an en suite shower room, and a study. Four further bedrooms are arranged over the two top floors, with a bathroom on the second floor and a shower room and kitchenette on the third floor. Arguably, the pièce de résistance of the house lies in the basement – where you’ll also find a store room and a workshop – and that is the contemporary cinema room which has been designed so that it can be used as an additional light and airy reception room when not in use as an entertainment zone. So not only do we think that we may have discovered the perfect modern-meets-traditional home, but we’ve also found a property for prospective buyers that’s within striking distance of the boutiques, restaurants and cultural highlights this city is so renowned for. No compromises necessary – we’d like to believe if Jane could see the property now, she would be impressed. Knight Frank, 4 Wood Street, Bath BA1 2JQ; 01225 685186; www.knightfrank.co.uk
A Stunning Georgian Maisonette A stylishly presented three bedroom maisonette set in one of Baths superb crescents. Stunning views and an excellent address this property is sure to impress.
Lansdown Crescent
Offers In Excess of
£660,000
Situated in the highly sought after Lansdown Crescent this Georgian apartment occupies the upper two floors of this superb Grade I listed building. Boasting three bedrooms, one with en-suite, a large drawing room, modern kitchen, the added bonus of a study and a separate utility room. With its south facing position and views across Bath this apartment makes a fabulous family home or base in the city. This property is highly recommended and early viewing is essential. Grade I Listed · Upper Maisonette · Stunning views · Approx 1,756 Sq ft Georgian apartment · Prime crescent location · Parapet balcony
SALES
01225 471 14 4
LETTINGS
01225 303 870
sales@theapartmentcompany.co.uk
Spacious and stylish apartment in a most prestigious address. Well proportioned three bedroom apartment. Centrally located, a short walk to local shops, restaurants and adjacent to Royal Crescent and Royal Victoria Park.
Marlborough buildings
Per Calendar Month
£1,800
A truly beautifully presented laterally converted apartment adjacent to The Royal Crescent offering spacious accommodation including a large reception hall, drawing room with dining area, well equipped fitted kitchen-breakfast room, three large double bedrooms and two luxury bathrooms. Outside there is permit parking. Views can be enjoyed from this spectacular apartment.
Unfurnished · Three large double bedrooms · Parking – on street permit · No pets · Well presented · Two luxury bathrooms · Prime location · Available 7th August 2017
www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk
P R O P E R T Y A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
IS YOUR APARTMENT RENTAL-READY?
I
Peter Greatorex from THE APARTMENT COMPANY explains how keeping properties up-to-date leads to better yields
’ve spoken a lot recently about the financial rewards associated with being a landlord. According to a new report by ARLA (May 2017), rents have risen to the highest level since July 2016. RICS Residential Market Survey (May 2017) also noted rental values have increased across the country. For Bath landlords, the figures are just as encouraging. Rightmove’s Rental Price Tracker for Q1 notes Bath as being the second highest rental growth area outside Greater London. Its Q2 report states Bath is the second best choice for renters. Our first ever landlord seminar in March was a full house, and we are seeing increased demand year on year for all sorts of reasons. Being where we are, our apartments are popular with the likes of downsizers, second home owners, local young professionals and buy-to-let investors. However, it’s important that landlords are aware that the tastes and requirements of tenants have changed a lot over the last few years, now expecting a high standard of living. Therefore, to attract good quality tenants and maximise your rental potential, an apartment needs to be rental-ready.
Here are my Top 10 Tips… 1. Think about location, location, location! 2. We’re practically asked at every viewing; ‘How fast is the internet?’ followed by; ‘Is Sky available here?’ Take that into account, ensuring good mobile phone reception too. 3. Make sure the building has a good security set up, as well as the apartment itself. 4. Tenants require a potential new home to be clean, well-maintained and ready to move in. Nobody likes to see dust, mould, damp, peeling wallpaper and so on. Decorate where necessary and ensure a professional clean in between tenancies. 5. Modern fixtures and fittings are essential. Pay particular attention to the bathroom and the kitchen. 6. Tenants want to be warm, especially in the older buildings which Bath is notorious for. Ensure a good central heating system is in place, as well as double glazing (if you can) and suitable insulation. 7. Unless student accommodation, offer an unfurnished home - most people have furniture.
8. Allow pets (if the freeholder accepts them). See our blog for the advantages of letting petfriendly homes. 9. Make sure there is parking, and include a permit in the rent. Parking is invaluable to most people today. 10. Choose a good letting agent to manage the property. Tenants like to feel they are in safe hands should any problems arise. If you prefer to manage yourself, make sure you maintain good communication with them.
For more advice visit our blog at www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk/blog.html Sales: 01225 471144 Lettings: 01225 303870 www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk
Over 20 years experience All garden construction undertaken including: All types of walling
Decking
Patios
Fencing
Block paving/ driveways
Astro turf
Please call Tom for a free quotation on 07725 354 207 email: tomhill@trhlandscaping.co.uk
SERVICES GUIDE
CONTRACTOR
GUIDE to SERVICES in the CITY
2
d 197
lishe
Estab
D R Vowles & Son Ltd are highly reputable roofing contractors based in Bath, Somerset. We provide premier roofing services for residential, commercial and industrial clients with properties throughout the south west.
TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL THE BATH LIFE TEAM ON 01225 475800
For more information please call Liz today
01225 425232
Upper Weston Farm, Weston, BATH BA1 4HL
drvowlesandson.co.uk
STONE SPECIALISTS
NORTON MASONRY LTD Stonework Specialists & General Builders
Repairs, Restoration Alteration of Stone Buildings New Build Stone Cleaning Stone Carving Fireplaces
38 LONG BARNABY, MIDSOMER NORTON, RADSTOCK BA3 2TZ
Tel/Fax: 01761 419422 Fax: 01761 232480 Mobile: 07901 712232 / 07899 927276
Email: nortonmasonryltd@hotmail.co.uk
www.nortonmasonryltd.co.uk
Tel: 01225 462688 / 07968 697091 Email: Julian@bathstonemasons.co.uk
Over 30 Years Experience
HOUSEKEEPING
Sparkling Matters Distinctive Housekeeping www.bathhousekeeping.com 01225 292141 | 07977 563167 info@sparklingmatters.com
CONTRACTOR
www.bathstonemasons.co.uk
Paul Swift Nigel Dando
Local family run business • installation and repairs • Maintenance • Sockets • Lighting Security Systems • CCTV & Entry Systems Kitchens & Bathrooms • Services • Installs Boilers • Fires • Appliances Safety Certificates Plumbing • No job too small
45 Old Fosse Road Odd Down, Bath BA2 2SP
Nigel Dando
Tel: 01225 352437 07894 210446 Fax: 01225 350429
11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk
Member of Painting, Decorating Association
GARDEN SERVICES
To advertise here call ✆ For Special Gardens Quality Garden Care and Development (by M.A.C. Gardening Services)
Office: 01225 460460 Mobile: 07968 424037 Email: sda@adamsofbath.co.uk www.adamsofbath.co.uk
Painting and Decorating
WE BUY Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition.
ADAMS of Bath Electrical • Plumbing • Heating • Security Property Maintenance & Development
DECORATING
JEWELLERY
Established 20 years Bath based company 01225 336556 or 07833 351568 email: michael.cuff25@btinternet.com www.macgardeningbath.co.uk
01225 475800
B AT H L I V E S
Q&A
B
ath-based illustrator and design powerhouse Alice is well known for her Alice Tait London range of gifts, but, behind the scenes, she’s also designed for the likes of Vogue, Chanel, The Times and Jamie Oliver. She’s now added children’s picture book author to her impressive CV with No, Nancy, No! Here she tells us about her new venture which will soon bring her to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival... Life as an illustrator is extremely varied… One week I’ll be drawing leopard print jackets for The Wall Street Journal in New York, the next I’ll be sketching teapots for Waitrose café’s wallpaper (spot it in the Bath branch). A Londoner by birth, I first came to Bath for my artistic training at Bath Spa University…. After graduating, I moved back to London and got my first big break for Penguin Books, closely followed by a big foodie brief for The Times. After that, I secured a series of book covers for Nigel Slater, and then some drawings for Jamie Oliver. I was fortunate to get picked up by Vogue, who got me drawing maps, which are now my speciality. My maps have been Habitat’s bestselling wall art, used by Chanel for party invites and even papped going into Gwyneth Paltrow’s LA home. After years of graft in London, I could not ignore the lure of the West Country… Bath is now very much my home. I’m in love with this city, and couldn’t be more proud or excited after 15 years as an illustrator to have my very first book featured in the Bath Children’s Literature Festival programme this October. We live in Larkhall, which feels like a buzzing village in its own right… On a deadline day, when stress levels are high, I love popping to Goodies Deli, Langbridge Home Hardware, or Larkhall Butchers. No, Nancy, No! is my first children’s book… It’s an adventurous chase through London as we follow the mischievous Nancy and her faithful sausage dog, Roger, through the most famous sights of the city. Children can lift the flaps to discover what cheeky little Nancy has been up to, and there are lots of hidden surprises and characters to spot.
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ALICE TAIT
The illustrator and children’s author on collaborating with Vogue and Chanel, and why her sausage dog, Roger, has hit the big time I can’t wait to feature at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival this year… At my event, there will be plenty of interaction as I read the story, and we will all be creating our own London buses with spinning wheels. Creating this book has been the most challenging job of my career, but also the most rewarding… Some of the spreads took over a month each to do, as there is so much detail and action. Having full window displays in Waterstones Piccadilly, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square has been a career-high. The icing on the cake has been creating a giant dinosaur display for the awesome independent bookshop Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath. I love that bookshop so much that I’d have been over the moon just to have one copy for sale in there, but to do the window as well is a huge privilege. Other career highs have come this year… I’ve just created the cover artwork for the Adrian Mole series, and I’ve also found out that my Alice Tait London range of branded gift products is the number one best-selling London range in the city, in stores from John Lewis to the Tower of London. Closer to home, you can spot my Alice Tait Bath range in places such as the Visit Bath centre and The Roman Baths Shop.
My favourite places to shop in Bath are… Article, for British gifts and fresh flowers (and it’s right next door to some artistic inspiration at David Simon Contemporary). Rossiters is one of the best places on earth, and I can’t get over that after years of loving everything on its shelves, it’s now selling my Alice Tait Bath range! And My Small World in SouthGate is an absolute dream of a toyshop. My most treasured possession is my little sausage dog Roger… He’s my constant companion in my studio, and the perfect muse. I have been sneaking him into my illustration commissions for years but now he’s hit the big time with a leading role in my new children’s book, as Nancy’s despairing sidekick. If I owned Bath for a day and could change anything about it… I would make the London Road traffic problem magically disappear.
Alice Tait’s No, Nancy, No!, published by Walker Books, is available locally at Mr B’s Emporium Of Reading Delights and My Small World. See Nancy at the BCURC on 3 October
Bathrooms at
No.
5
your local Villeroy & Boch stockists
NEW SHOwroom OPEN in trim street | 12a Trim Street, Bath BA1 1HB 5 The Shambles, Bradford on Avon BA15 1JS | 01225 309110 | www.bathroomsatno5.co.uk