Bath Life – issue 367

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @BathLifeMag

NEW LOOK

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY

RAYMOND BLANC

ON THE BRITISH FOOD REVOLUTION ISSUE 367/ 8 – 22 JUNE 2018/ LIVE LARGE

HIP TO BE SQUARE

THE KINGSMEAD SQUARE SKINNY

Issue 367/8 – 22 June 2018/£3

HERE TO STAY

HOTEL LUXURY AT HOME

THE GIG IS UP

BATH’S BEST INDIE MUSIC VENUES

CLEAN LIVING

THE INSIDE STORY OF A BEAUTIFUL BATH RESIDENCE

OPEN Saw Close Bath BA1 1EY 01225 308 990 Know your limits! For more information go to: BeGambleAware.org – DrinkAware.co.uk

www.cnty.com/bath

NOW

Come for the Action, Stay for the Fun!

© CHRIS WAKEFIELD

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE Take a look inside

a mansion in miniature (page 126); LEFT Elegant hotel-inspired accessories (page 32)

P

lanning to revamp your home in the coming months? On the lookout for interiors inspiration? Then you’re going to enjoy this issue of Bath Life. As our city is bursting with luxury hotels which have been meticulously designed to delight – and as we can’t spend our lives checking into hotels just so that we can experience the pleasures of Egyptian cotton sheets and lavish décor – we’ve asked the experts for the hotel design secrets which could help you turn your own home into a five-star retreat (page 32).

And for yet more glorious ideas to introduce into your abode, flip to page 126 where you’ll find our new Residence section. This week, we’re invited into a miniature mansion in Bathford that is home to designer Georgia Fendley. Her John Wood the Elderdesigned property is alive with people, dogs and art, including pieces by some of the best painters and photographers of our time.

We’ve also covered a whole host of other topics in this issue, of course: on page 74, we chat with celebrated chef Raymond Blanc; on page 94 we gaze affectionately at the buzzy, effervescent Kingsmead Square; and on page 60 we let our hair down at the city’s independent music venues. And there’s plenty more besides…

Enjoy!

LISA EVANS Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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Issue 367/ 8 – 22 June 2018 COVER Photography by Chris Wakefield

THE ARTS

047 ARTS INTRO Drama actor turned gravelly singer

Kiefer Sutherland plays the city some heartfelt tunes

048 WHAT’S ON Time to update the events diary 060 INDIE VENUES Get gigging at local music spaces 063 THEATRE In a brand-new column, discover the

best in show this summer from the Theatre Royal

FOOD&DRINK

070 RESTAURANT We learn to share our patatas –

thanks to the side of Spanish hospitality at Olé Tapas

74

94

074 THE BIG INTERVIEW French restaurateur and

chef Raymond Blanc on the Brit food revolution, and why his Bath brasserie has the feel of an independent 081 TAKE 5 The Wolf Kitchen floats around Bath, serving veggie noms from a narrowboat window 082 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Celebs judge at the Bath and West show, supper clubs at the Italian Food Hall and a light summer menu at The Bath Brew House

SHOPPING

085 INTRO Fancy pheasant feather headpieces – sure to

turn heads on your next special occassion

© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

© JESPER MAT TIAS

065 BOOKS Tiny tales of travel for your holidays 067 FILM Psychedelic pop and musical numbers aplenty

086 EDITOR’S CHOICE We bring you a hot collection

of wares inspired by a spicy orange Pantone shade

090 FASHION Ditch the pastels and deck yourself from

head to toe in bright paintbox colours

094 KINGSMEAD SQUARE Fall back in love with one

of the city’s busiest spots for retail and café therapy

86

32

70

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Issue 367/8 – 22 June 2018

LIFESTYLE

032 HOTELS Discover the design secrets guaranteed to

turn your own home into a five-star retreat

138 LIVES Jon Wheatley talks gardening with the stars

BUSINESS

105 BUSINESS INSIDER Who’s moving, shaking,

inventing and innovating this issue?

PROPERTY

119 SHOWCASE A five-bed family home in Lansdown –

complete with artist’s studio and a kitchen garden

126 RESIDENCE Sleek and sensibility (and fine modern

art) meet at this Bathford mansion in miniature

134 GARDENS Highlights and triumphs from Bath-

based designers at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show

© CHRIS WAKEFIELD

DEPARTMENTS 017 SPOTLIGHT 020 SOCIETY 029 A MAN’S WORLD

119

126

60 Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Editor Lauren Scott Lauren.Scott@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Editor’s Photo Bonnie Rose Contributors David Flatman, Anna O’Callaghan, Sophie-ClaireMcLeod,NickWoodhouse,MattBielbyandNicBottomleyGroupAdvertisingManagerPatWhitepat.white@mediaclash.co.ukDeputyAdvertisingManagerJustine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Account Manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Polly Jackson polly.jackson@mediaclash.co.uk Production/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 Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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

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© SIMON TAYLOR

SPOTLIGHT Art contest

COLOUR THE COACH

Is this just fantasy?

Photography festival

IS THIS THE REAL LIFE? Every day we’re bombarded with imagery – on social media, posters and even product labels – that inspires and influences us. But are these images portraying the truth, and does this matter? That’s what Bath’s first-ever photography festival – displayed at venues across the city – hopes to answer. The festival, which ends on 10 June, is running in association with the city’s Fringe Arts Bath festival and its debut theme is Real/Unreal.

Bath has a rich photographic heritage – home of the Royal Photographic Society and only 15 miles from the Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock Abbey – but the new festival supports modern-day photographers in the area.

“This is our debut event, and our aim is to promote and encourage creative photography,” says festie organiser and photographer Simon Taylor. “Thanks are extended to the venues that have kindly allowed us space to exhibit work.” You can take in these curated images for yourself on the walls of Society Café, Green Park Brasserie and Boston Tea Party in Kingsmead Square.

For more: www.bathphotographyfestival.co.uk

Meet the farmers, sheep, pigs and cows

National Express is asking the kids of Bath to get creative and design an advert for the city – which will be printed billboard-style on the side of one of its coaches. A nationwide competition called Colour the Coach is challenging young’uns to come up with a summer-themed poster that promotes their home and encourages others to visit the locations on the operator’s coach network (Bath is a popular one).

“I’m calling on kids in Bath to prepare their palettes this summer and produce a poster that really blows us away,” says National

Express’s coach managing director Chris Hardy, who is on the judging panel. “Our services travel to hundreds of destinations, so the winning designs will be on display all over the country.”

Colour the Coach is open to children aged five – 15 years.

Entrants need to draw up their poster promoting Bath on a landscape A4 sheet of paper, using whatever drawing materials they can get their paws on. The closing date is 12 June, so get doodling quickly.

For more: www.nationalexpress.com

Up brushes and promote Bath

In the country

FAMILY FARM FEST

Bath might be a beautiful city to grow up in, but we all know how important it is for children to connect with nature and the countryside, too. Several local farmers across the area will be flinging open their gates as part of the LEAF Open Farm Sunday on 10 June, and it’s an ideal way for the whole family to discover what happens beyond the farm gates.

LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is an organisation that delivers sustainable food and farming, and the day will shine a light on the amazing producers surrounding Bath.

“Farmers play a vital part in our daily lives, and LEAF Open Farm Sunday is your chance to show your support,” says Annabel Shackleton, LEAF Open Farm Sunday manager. Most of the open events are free, and there’s a handy farm finder (which will also show what activities are on offer) on the Farm Sunday website. Kids are bound to love meeting the animals, learn where their fresh food comes from, hop on a tractor ride and experience the magic of farming and fresh air firsthand.

For more: www.farmingsunday.org

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SPOTLIGHT Eat, drink and be merry at the Boules

Sacré bleu

BOULES WEEK IS HERE

Thousands of people, hundreds of businesses, and dozens of charities will be partying hard in Queen Square this month in aid of local good causes. The whole Bath Boules (more-than-a) week event is running from 10 – 18 June, and on 15 – 17 June a massive free party will be open to everyone, featuring bars, food, face-painting and a festival vibe, complete with cool summery French music and drinks.

For the only time this year, two sides of Queen Square will also be closed off to traffic for the street food festival, which has a record number of foodie stalls. And there’s even a Bath Boules Limited Edition cider from Midford Cider to enjoy.

There’s still time (just) to get tickets for the new events this year if they’re still available (see below).

For more: www.bathboules.com

Team Bath

BATH BOULES SPECIAL EVENTS

ROW FOR BLIGHTY

Once again, the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village is proving its dedication to athletes and inclusivity. Army veteran Kelly Ganfield, who trains at the Village, has recently been selected to represent the UK at her second Invictus Games. Kelly wowed everyone at the trials last month, which were staged at the University and attended by the Games’ Foundation Patron Prince Harry and his (now) wife Meghan Markle.

Kelly, who is visually impaired due to a rare blood condition, will compete in the 100m, 200m and long jump, as well as indoor rowing.

“It is an honour and privilege to represent my country again,” she says. “I want to use my journey as a platform to raise awareness of visual impairment, brain injuries and hidden disabilities.”

Kelly works with talented Team Bath strength and conditioning coach George Studd and sprint guide runner Mikail Huggins at the Sports Training Village. She’s now part of a 72-strong team of athletes heading to this year’s Sydney Games in October.

For more: www.matchtight.co.uk

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Kelly and her sprinting guide Mikail

Sunday 10 June, from 6.30pm: Crumbs presents…

Menu Gordon Jones Surprise in the Square. From the Best Restaurant Winner at this year’s Bath Life Awards; only tickets left: 8.30-for-9pm sitting Monday 11, from 5.30pm: School of Boules practice session. Free Tuesday 12, from 6.30pm: Glasto’s Michael Eavis celebration. An exclusive conversation plus Glasto films and music, street food, bars and the full-length Glastonbury film screening Wednesday 13, from 5.30pm: Bath Boules Beer Garden. Cool vibes, street food, bars. Free Thursday 14, from 6pm: Creative Bath Awards and Summer Party Friday 15, from 7pm: Wildest Friday Dinner Night Party, exec chef’d by Bath Life columnist and rugby legend David Flatman Friday 15 – Sunday 17, 9am till late: The actual Bath Boules. Free to join the party Monday 18, from 5.30pm: World Cup England v Tunisia match on big screens. Free

SOCIETY

Champagne, anyone?

Kartini Sutoto and Craig Hoptrough

Councillor Ian Gilchrist and Megan Witty

Geraldine McNamara, Ella Carter, Tim Wills and Jodie Tyley

‘Miss Bath’ Summer Nicole Chalmers and Zara Perry Saffi Rabey, Amalia Hoptrough and Angie Barletta

Steph Dodd and Sarah Moon Philippa Dunn and Paola Cassoti

FULL HOUSE

A glam black-tie event marked the grand opening of Century Casino on Bath’s Saw Close on 25 May. Black ties may have been marked as optional, but the select guests (including councillor Ian Gilchrist, players from Bath Rugby and ‘Miss Bath’ herself) were looking suitably suave as they took in the three fabulous gaming floors, luxurious cocktail lounge – complete with balcony – and private Beau Nash gaming suite of the new casino. The chips certainly weren’t down during the event, and after a bit of bubbly, the (responsible) games began.

Photos by Philip Shone; www.philipshone.wixsite.com

Anthony Watson, Henry Thomas, Matt Garvey and Ross Batty

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Victoria White, Rhiannon Copland, Laura Cook and Indiana White

SOCIETY

Rita Lazaro mingles with festi patrons and Pimm’s Well-wishing bakes celebrate the Bath Festivals’ 70th birthday

Brian Woodford

The Foxwell-Collins Project

FESTIVAL FRIENDS

Nicholas Wylde and Wendy Stockley

An exclusive party was held on 19 May in the glorious gardens of Widcombe Manor, to say thanks to the generous patrons of this year’s (special 70th) Bath Festival. During the afternoon, guests enjoyed slices of some beautiful birthday cakes, with live musical accompaniments from The Foxwell-Collins Project setting the background ambiance.

The community of festival patrons are passionate about the Bath Festivals, and this was the perfect opportunity for them to meet, mingle and talk festival programming in the grounds of a grand Georgian house.

Sally Bowman, Richard Bowman, Carol Baines, John Cullum, Rupert Baines and Ian Stockley

Ian Tarr, Richard Hall and Yasemin Hall Ian Stockley

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Rupert Baines

John Cullum, Denise Rogers and Monique Bamford

SOCIETY

Paula Church and Debs Miller

Stonewood Builders

LAUGH OUT LOUD

A side-splitting charity comedy night of three acts was recently held at Bath’s Walcot House to raise money for Bath Rugby Foundation. The fun event was hosted by Loakes shoemakers and organised by former Bath Rugby player Matt Powell. The first 130 people to donate were the lucky ones to guarantee themselves a night of laughter, not least when Powell was forced on stage for a five-minute spot himself. The laughs paid off, and ticket funds and money donated for an auction on the night amounted to more than £5,500 for the local charity.

Lynne Fernquest and Tanya Hitchcox

Photos by Mervyn Clingan; www.takingpictures.com

Tom Forsyth and Tom Collins Brett Thompson, Amanda Graver, Stephen Graver and Matt Powell

Kirsten Hayward, Phil Dunning, Joc Dunning, Lee Tattersall and Gareth Hayward Anita Powell, Helen and Andy Wylie, Quentin and Sam Kidner

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Adam Legg, Hannah Mosettig and Chris Simmons

Guests get seated for the laughs

SOCIETY

Simon Parr, Sarah Stenning, Michelle Aitken and Charlie Digney

Stephanie Hill, Michelle Aitken and Jacqui Edmiston

ABOVE PARR

A jolly drinks party was held at Verve Living to launch the debut show of the local, talented and well-connected artist Simon Parr. Simon’s modern drawings and limited edition prints were hung on the walls of the interiors store on London Road, and displayed in a contemporary home setting. As a former Bath Spa University student, Simon has spent 25 years working in the area. On the night, he was on hand to impart insight into his graphic pieces – inspired by Bath’s streets and the sublime natural landscapes surrounding the Kennet and Avon canal.

Suzie Warner, Claire Spreadbury and Jo Lutschenkow

Photos by Pete Helme www.petehelme.co.uk

Julie Horner and Caroline James

IDLES perform

Crowds queue for the free gig

Joe Talbot, Lee Kiernan, Mark Bowen, Adam Devonshire and Jon Beavis Diverse local indies and artists enjoyed a brew or two

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HOT TO TROT

Dr. Martens have just arrived in Bath, and officially launched their highly anticipated opening with a free in-store music gig from IDLES (and a night of raucous celebration).

During the evening, the five-piece band – who hail from Bristol – paid homage to Dr. Martens’ long-time commitment to music, showcasing their visceral brand of punk rock. Refreshments from craft beer company BrewDog were flowing track after track, making it a night to remember for Bath’s local indie lovers. Plans are afoot for more community-based events and meet-ups in the shoe store soon.

Photos by Khris Cowley for Here & Now fb.com/wearehereandnow

Mark Bowen, Joe Talbot, Jon Beavis (IDLES) Stella Perryman, Brenna Cliff, Jess Baker, JessParker, Lee Kiernan (IDLES), Maria Matthews; across the front: Jonny Santos, store manager

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A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

Wheel love

“I just like toys and I like cruising, so let’s have a go”

I

refuse to concede that taking my motorcycle test, with the ultimate aim of getting and riding a motorcycle, is tantamount to a midlife crisis.

More a midlife epiphany, I say.

Admittedly, when combined with a gym membership and some new, slightly more fitted jeans, there might be an argument for the prosecution. However, I have my case prepared.

I’ve always liked toys. As a boy, I would sit on the back seat of Dad’s trusty estate, peering out the back while on my knees (no seat belts in those days), and could name the make and model of every car that came into view. Before school, as a four-year-old, I would take in the staff car park, noting who drove what and, presumably, then making assumptions on their respective characters.

To this day, my alone internet time is not spent being particularly seedy, but perusing tragically uncool websites that show me videos and pictures of cars and lawn mowers and chainsaws and robot vacuums and, yes, motorcycles. It’s a disease, actually.

Think about it – these things bleed money, take a huge amount of maintenance, and make one socially undesirable. I mean, dinner parties with me are awful, unless you want to talk about robot mowers or the difference between petrol and diesel engines. I also turned up at the children’s school the other day sporting a brolly with ‘Range Rover’ written all over it. I felt like Alan Partridge at the funeral in the black ‘Castrol GTX’ bomber jacket.

But the bikes. Since we followed a man (who turned out to be Billy Ray Cyrus, as it happens) on his big, laid-back, loud Triumph hog through the hills of Provence on a family holiday in 1990, I’ve been besotted. Being a sportsman, though, kind of made it seem silly to travel in anything other than four-wheeled vehicles. Also, my mum heard from my super-grass

sister that I was planning to get one when I was 21 and swiftly forbade it. So that was that... except that now it’s not.

I don’t want to commute on it, dressed all practically and head butting lashing rain. I don’t want to use it as a time-saver, whipping through traffic. I don’t even want to do long journeys on it. I just want to cruise – quite slowly – around Somerset in the blazing sun, taking it easy and enjoying the slick throb of a beautifully engineered machine.

I’ll likely avoid town altogether, mainly as I’m confident I’ll stack it reasonably often as I attempt either to park or pull away. I know the risks generally involve other drivers, but I reckon that doing about 12 miles per hour everywhere should be safe enough.

So I’m doing it, and I’m excited.

I’m being taught by some excellent instructors, and I do not have within me a lust for adrenaline.

I just like toys and I like cruising, so let’s have a go. Naturally, this mission has led to me being mocked mercilessly by friends and enemies alike, but I gave up worrying overly about how I might be seen in the eyes of unknowing others roughly around the time I punched an opposing player in a game of Under-12 rugby. He turned out to be both a choirboy and the headmaster’s son, and I was hated by all staff from that day. Anyway, he was offside, so I’m afraid he took his life in his hands.

Right, must dash, I’m off to have my teeth whitened before visiting the tattoo parlour.

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on Twitter @davidflatman Flats is also the exec chef (yes) and host of the Legendary Friday Night Dinner Party at the Bath Boules, on 15 June.

Tickets on the site: www.bathboules.com

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Get the look The hotel design secrets which could help you turn your own home into a five-star retreat‌

Indigo Hotel has been designed to reflect elements of Bath; think romance, mischief and a nod towards literature

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HOTELS

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HOTELS

The interior of The Pig Near Bath is inspired by its own kitchen garden and the views outside the windows

H

ave you ever returned from a weekend in a magnificent hotel and longed for your own home to exude the same relaxed-yet-refined chic? Luckily, it’s possible to inject some five-star style into any space; here’s how to do it…

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN

Bradford on Avon’s Woolley Grange Hotel team use flowers from the garden around the hotel, which complement the style of this English country manor. The Gainsborough – YTL’s first hotel in the United Kingdom – uses local floral experts Flowers by Passion for all of the hotel’s blooms, and the hotel’s Gary Redmond says it makes such a difference to the look, feel and smell of a room. “I’d definitely recommend keeping small bunches of fresh flowers in the living room, bathroom and bedroom,” he says. “Even if they’ve been picked straight from the garden, they introduce a little colour and they show that the space is cared for.”

The Pig’s design is inspired by its own kitchen garden and the views outside the windows. “I use natural fabrics and textures for upholstery, carpets and curtains with pops of colour,” says designer Judy Hutson.

“Often, the garden influences show through within the fabric designs, artwork and the muted colour palette. We also try to use as many

“We like to keep it simple and uncontrived” 34 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

vintage and upcycled pieces as possible; the last thing that I want is for The Pig to look like something that has been born on an interior design studio desk. We like to keep it simple and uncontrived.”

Investing in a conservatory will bring the outdoors in further (especially if you happen to have 500 acres of parkland, lavender gardens, horses grazing in paddocks and deer wandering through the woodland to look at, as you do at Lucknam Park).

“The conservatory at the back of the hotel is wonderful,” says Country Living hotel’s Vince Flower. “It faces the garden so has the feel of bringing the outside indoors. It is full of light during the day and is atmospheric at dusk.”

Or, if the weather’s behaving, just go outside – especially if you have beautiful gardens tended by Chelsea Flower Show medal-winning gardener Jane Moore, like The Bath Priory on Weston Road does. Ok, wishful thinking, but there’s so much inspiration to be taken from The Priory’s grounds, like a walled kitchen garden, a sunken rose area, an outdoor pool hidden beyond discrete planting, and a quaint terrace on which to enjoy an al fresco cocktail.

I DREAMED A THEME

If you’ve had afternoon tea in the The Gainsborough Bath Spa’s Canvas Room, you’ll have noticed the Gatsby theme – what with the gold-edged mirrors and art deco teacups – which radiates a cool society buzz, and if you’ve even stepped through the door of No.15 Great Pulteney, the idiosyncratic fun and vibrancy will have hit you square in the face. If, in your own home, you want to create the ‘feel’ of being in a hotel, then start by imitating elements of styles and themes you’ve seen locally.

ARCHITECTS

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa offer a luxurious homely feel that exudes modern elegance

36 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

HOTELS “If you’re looking for the classic country-style home, then you could replicate elements of our lovely cottage,” says Silmiya Hendricks, director of sales and marketing at Colerne-based Lucknam Park – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. “The rustic, refined, antique furniture and features are great at creating a country cottage feel. If you use really high-quality fabrics for the soft furnishings this will add a luxury element. The design of our impressive Palladian mansion, dating from 1720, is traditionally English with all those contemporary touches you would expect from a five-star hotel in the 21st century.”

Size doesn’t necessarily matter, though; take The Pig Near Bath’s ‘apple store bedroom’; originally a gardener’s store, with a tiny footprint, it has ended up as a cosy, romantic upstairs-downstairs arrangement. Judy Hutson, designer at Home Grown Hotels, who designed The Pig with her husband, Robin, says it was a real challenge to shoehorn everything in to make it a functioning guest bedroom, but the intimate result, opening right onto the kitchen garden, is utterly charming. “We are very protective of our design details, as we spend hours searching for all the elements,” she says. “I guess that is a good start for someone at home: begin collecting things over a period of time, rather than all at once, and be confident about them going together.”

“Dim the lights, run a bath and don’t forget to hang the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door”

SPA DAYS

Moving from the bedroom into the bathroom, you should enter an equally serene and swish décor. Think of the best hotel that you have ever stayed in – what amenities did the bathroom have? Ok, so, if your answer to that is ‘in-room access to natural thermal water’, like you can experience at The Gainsborough, then that’s probably not going to happen, but there are other luxuries that you can introduce.

So what’s caught your eye lately? Was it the private sybaritic sanctuary at No.15’s The Hideout Suite with its in-room hot tub, steam room rainfall shower? Or how about the cloud-like fluffy towels and the soft, cosy bathrobes and slippers to hand at Lucknam Park? Or the luxurious Elemis toiletries at Woolley Grange Hotel and Apex?

Or maybe the spas have inspired you. One of the most recent updates at The Bath Priory was the launch of The Garden Spa by L’Occitane, the only L’Occitane spa in the UK. You may not fit their four treatment rooms, indoor pool, sauna and elliptical steam pod into your home, but you can permeate your bathroom with an air of Provence and a sense of complete tranquility. Dim the lights, run a bubble bath and don’t forget to hang the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.

ACCESSORIZE ALL AREAS

Marcus Whittington, managing director of Bath Boutique Stays – a holiday rentals company – says his top advice when it comes to creating a space you adore being in is to collect art, objects or furniture that catch your eye and tell a tale. And, as Bath brimming with creative artisans and independent emporiums full with trinkets, furnishings and objet d’art, it should prove easy to come across finds that will inject personality into your rooms.

The curious collections throughout No.15 Great Pulteney – gained

The traditionally English Lucknam Park has all the contemporary touches you would expect from a five-star hotel

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 37

HOTELS favourite spaces,” he says. “The combination of wall colours, fabrics, and furniture and the proportion of the room have so much appeal. I’d describe the hotel as a whole as quirky, stylish, eclectic, but most of all welcoming and comfortable.”

There are spaces in hotels, and homes, however, that work best when completely pared back, as Gary Redmond, general manager at The Gainsborough, on Beau Street, Bath, explains, “Our lobby is strikingly clear of clutter; this allows the wide marble floor to take centre stage and allows the Roman coins on display to catch the eye. To get this look, I’d start with removing any non-essential furnishings and general clutter. Then, over time, I’d invest in a few very high-quality items in every room: a luxe fabric chair, a mirror to add light and the illusion of space, a beautiful antique cabinet and, of course, flowers.”

THE BEAUTY OF BATH

The Gainsborough Bath Spa is the only hotel in Britain to have access to natural thermal waters

from months scouring antique fairs and graduate degree shows as well as sourcing and commissioning everything from vast pieces of art to bespoke wallpaper – act as a reminder to be brave and display those quirky things you really love. “Don’t be too serious, it’s an opportunity to have some fun,” says Jonathan Walker, No.15’s managing director.

“If you’re feeling crafty, making your own upcycled piece of furniture will add some pizazz to your living room; our jewellery-filled tables are some of the most admired pieces in the hotel.”

Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel – a collaboration between Coast & Country Hotels and Country Living magazine – which opened a few weeks ago, on Lansdown Road, Bath, is currently looking at ways to make it possible for guests to buy many of the items used in the rooms.

“The hotel – set in a Grade-II listed building (one of the oldest in the city) – aims to bring Country Living magazine to life,” says Vince Flower, managing director at Shearings Leisure Group which owns Coast & Country Hotels. “It’s all about escapism from everyday life, bringing the country to the city with the chance to relax and escape the everyday, yet with the excitement of the city of Bath on the doorstep. Inside, the experts at Country Living have handpicked every detail – including beautifully designed bedrooms, mustread books to curl up with, and inspiring design touches to the hotel’s cosy drawing rooms and libraries.”

Ultimately, says Laurence Beere, owner of The Queensberry Hotel & Olive Tree Restaurant on Russel Street, Bath, it’s the skill of interior designers and their confidence to choose colours and fabrics that brings out the very best in a room. But his foolproof DIY tip is to balance an expensive luxury lamp or chair – that becomes a feature of the room – with more practical items to offset the costs.

“Right now, the drawing room of the hotel is one of my

Almost every local hotel we can think of showcases Bath’s history or ‘essence’ within their walls. With its Georgian glamour and literary hero appellation, Mr Darcy’s Abode – one of the properties offered by Bath Boutique Stays – is an obvious one that’s been inspired by Bath.

And Hotel Indigo – a mammoth project amalgamating the former Pratt’s Hotel and a number of neighbouring Georgian townhouses into one luxury 166-bedroom boutique hotel – on South Parade, has been designed with the city in mind.

“The rooms are modern, yet they reflect the influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous for its storytelling and passionate social scene,” says Hotel Indigo’s general manager Simon Hall. “The hotel has been designed to reflect Bath and all it has to offer; think architectural beauty with a touch of romance and mischief, not forgetting a nod towards the modern day literary Mecca. Shortly after we open, we will have the addition of our vault rooms. Bath is famous for its underground vaults – they were a common feature of 18th-century buildings in the area. We have restored these vaults and will convert them into bedrooms.

Aerolene Stephenson, sales and marketing manager at Ston Easton Park says that the design aesthetic at Ston features all the modern comforts a guest could desire while still reflecting historic roots. “The hotel is Georgian and this influenced much of the interior design,” she says. “When guests first walk in, we want them to feel like a modern day Duke or Duchess, so we made sure to pick furnishings which reflected

The conservatory at Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel is full of light during the day and is atmospheric at dusk

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HOTELS this. Our state rooms even have stunning four-poster beds.

“To recreate a similar look for yourself, I’d suggest visiting antique stores and find an amazing mahogany table or order some rich patterned fabrics and incorporate these into your room,” she adds.

“Once you have these key pieces, it’s much easier to design the rest.”

Even something as simple as a piece of art can introduce Bath into your home, as Gary at The Gainsborough explains. “Appropriately, considering our namesake, artwork is a very important aspect of our interior design. Our name pays homage to the famed artist Sir Thomas Gainsborough, who was a central figure in Bath society. Art can add so much to a room.”

LET THERE BE LIGHT

A hotel is never dark or dreary. Rather, it is always well-lit with sparkling chandeliers, side lamps, wall sconces, art lights, and mood lighting in every nook. At Apex City of Bath Hotel on James Street West, for example, there are fun, stand-out bright orange, artichoke-style light fittings throughout the restaurant; at The Gainsborough, a former lift shaft features dramatic hanging lights spanning several storeys; and at No.15, statement chandeliers and light fixtures – including their ‘lost earring chandelier’ – make brilliant focal points, and are the perfect addition to high-ceilinged Georgian homes.

Lighting’s not all about electricity, though; sometimes natural illumination can be just as effective, as Sarah Moon, marketing manger at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa explains, “Something that really emphasises and complements the design of our hotel is the amount of natural daylight that floods through the windows, thanks to the original Georgian architecture. To anyone who is looking to achieve a modern, elegant look, I would suggest to plan, plan, plan; use mood boards to plan your project and speak to a great interior designer. The hotel was designed to offer a luxurious homely feel that exudes modern elegance in each and every area; but we’re always on a path of continuous improvement. It’s all in the detail.”

SHOW YOUR COLOURS

Sue Williams, general manager at Whatley Manor, says the hotel has opted for a soft Farrow & Ball colour palette that creates a feeling of warmth and calm. “Our scheme would sit really well in period or modern properties,” she says. “When the current owners purchased the

EXPERT CHOICE If you were to add just one element of a luxury hotel to your own home, what would it be?

Silmiya Hendricks of Lucknam Park “I would love to add more paintings around the house – it really adds a homely and personal touch.”

Gary Redmond of The Gainsborough Bath Spa “At the hotel, we always ensure that music is playing when guests enter their rooms. I love classical music, so I’d like to add a sound system, with speakers in the rooms where I spend the most time.”

Vince Flower of Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel “I love a quality hand soap – something that smells amazing and reminds you of a stay at a hotel every time you use it.”

Simon Hall of Hotel Indigo Bath “After learning so much during the design and development of Hotel Indigo, I’d probably introduce a subtle feature wall, add some classy bed linen or use a more stylish headboard. Also, ‘less clutter, more focus’ would be my best advice.”

Jonathan Walker of No.15 Great Pulteney “I’d buy a Hypnos bed – they have the Royal Warrant. The only problem is, you might not want to get up in the mornings.”

property in 2000, they wanted to restore a sense of its former country house grandeur – opulent but ultimately relaxing – and this is ideal at home, too.”

At No.15 – which was collaboratively designed by No.15’s owners, Ian and Christa Taylor, together with Martin Hulbert Design – you’ll see Edward Bulmer heritage paints in restful shades such as lavender, turquoise and verdigris. “Don’t be afraid to get creative with your paint finishes,” says Jonathan Walker. “Stipple paler colours together or frame blocks of colour with artfully shabby-chic, unfinished walls.”

SLEEP ON IT

“xxxxxxxxx” The sparkling ‘lost earring’ chandelier at No.15 is a real showstopper

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Whether you invest in Egyptian cotton sheets – like the ones you’ll find at Lucknam Park – or plush pillows such as those at The Queensberry Hotel which cost £115 each, the bed should take centre stage when you are going for a luxe hotel style. “Nothing compares to a great night’s sleep,” says Marcus at Bath Boutique Stays. “Our beds and mattresses are always the finest and the roomiest. Experience tells us that they are what our guests remember the most about staying with us.”

Laurence at The Queensberry adds, “We have always said that we did not want to look or feel like a hotel; rather, we want the rooms to feel as if they are comfortable bedrooms in a friend’s rather nice house.”

At Apex, soft throws and oversized cushions help make the bed a focal point, and creating a headboard also frames the bed and breaks up the wall space. “The bedrooms look cosy and inviting, which we created by setting the beds into darker recesses with narrow partitions between them for a feeling of privacy,” says Emma Franks, head of interior design at ISA – architects and designers for Apex Hotels.

“From the bedroom design, people may want to look at richly textured throws and lighting that create a cosy feel as opposed to anything too brash and bright.”

Woolley Grange’s refurbishments co-ordinator, Sarah Cleave, adds, “Nothing is as important as a good-quality mattress with luxury linen bedding and feather duvets and pillows. “We strive for a comfortable, warm, welcoming, relaxing atmosphere for families to get away from the stress of everyday life and unwind. We liken it to visiting your Great Aunt Agatha in the country.”

IDEAS TO STEAL We’ve hunted through Bath’s homeware stores to find items that will help create the luxe hotel look at home

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Rimadesio Self shelving and Sail Glass sliding doors, from hobsons|choice, London Road, Bath, www.hobsonschoice.uk.com; drop lights, £1,248, from Etons of Bath, 108 Walcot Street, Bath, www.etonsofbath.com; Eicholtz Nova chandelier, £2,255, from Woodhouse & Law, 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, www.woodhouseandlaw. co.uk; vintage tea strainer, £34, from Brissi, 38 Milsom Street, Bath, www.brissi.com; Palissade lounge chair, £349, from Hay, 36-38 Milsom Street, Bath, www.madeindesign.co.uk

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Patterned tile, £7.50 each, from Ripples, Ripples Chelsea House, London Road, Bath, www.ripplesbathrooms. com; Bumble floor lamp £1,020, from Etons of Bath, 108 Walcot Street, Bath, www.etonsofbath.com; L&B deco gold cushion, £69, from Verve Living, 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath, www.verveliving.uk; Georg bar stool, £385, from Salcombe Trading 9 Broad Street, Bath, www.salcombetrading.co.uk; Pols Trading, Potten multicolour glasses, £135 for six, from Woodhouse & Law, 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, www.woodhouseandlaw. co.uk; Byron chair, £325, from Brissi, 38 Milsom Street, Bath, www.brissi.com; John Sankey Evita sofa, £2,300, from Rossiters Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com of Bath,

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Nestled in 36 acres of beautiful West Country parkland, Ston Easton Park is unique; the hotel is adorned with original antique furniture, sumptuous fabrics and glistening chandeliers, yet the warm welcome and homely atmosphere prevails, creating an idyllic home-away-from-home.

One of the most luxurious pet-friendly country house Hotels in Somerset with an award-winning fine dining restaurant and kitchen garden. Our Head Chef is passionate about developing menus that use fresh, locally-sourced ingredients; he works closely with local suppliers and the hotel garden team, sourcing almost 60% of the fresh produce used in the menus from the hotel’s Victorian kitchen gardens. As well as offering the perfect destination for a luxury hotel break, the house is open daily to non-residents for morning coffee, lunch and light snacks, traditional afternoon tea and dinner. Located just 12 miles from Bristol and 11.9 miles from Bath.

Ston Easton, Nr Bath, Somerset BA3 4DF To book, call 01761 241631 or email reception@stoneaston.co.uk

www.stoneaston.co.uk

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

Kiefer Sutherland will be at Komedia at 7pm on 26 June. For more: www.komedia.co.uk

GRAVELLY GREATNESS Actor Kiefer Sutherland is best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on dramatic American drama 24, and so – even if you’ve never seen the show – you wouldn’t expect the action star to perform an unvarnished (in a good way) one-man gig as a singer and songwriter.

Kiefer released his country-rock debut album Down In A Hole last year, and shortly after this embarked on a sell-out tour of North America and Europe. He played more than120 shows and even performed at Glastonbury Festival, but now he’s back on the road for a more intimate round of venues. Kiefer is making a few select appearances across the UK, including – lucky for us – one night only at Komedia Bath.

This is more than a side project, though, and you can expect Kiefer’s husky, gravelly voice to bring passion to his storytelling lyrics. Sutherland described his first album as “the closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal or diary”. All of these songs are pulled from my own personal experiences. There is something very satisfying about being able to look back on my own life, good times and bad, and express those sentiments in music.”

As much as he might have enjoyed the writing and recording process, he’s now experiencing great joy in being able to play his songs to a live audience. In this case, it’ll be a special one-off performance in one of the city’s favourite indie venues.

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WHAT’S ON 9 June – 8 July

View winners from the Royal Photographic Society's 160th International competition at the RUH Central Gallery

EXHIBITIONS Until 9 June

LIFE IN COLOUR A colour-popping show that brings together works from three renowned abstract artists Sir Terry Frost, Sandra Blow and Bruce McLean.

As the name suggests, expect a collection of the painters’ most vibrant and eye-catching works.

Rostra Gallery; www.rostragallery.co.uk

Until 14 June

LAND + SEA Art at the Heart have teamed up with Action on Hearing Loss in Bath to display a new exhibition of ceramics, created in workshops by adults who are deaf with additional needs. The work looks at shells and fossils, the natural and built environment, as

48 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

well as animals and plant life. Central Gallery, Royal United Hospitals; www.artatruh.org

Until 16 June

COLLECTED SHADOWS A Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition from Southbank Centre, showing 200 photographs drawn from the extensive collection of The Archive of Modern Conflict. It spans the history of the photographic medium from the mid-1850s to present day. The Edge, University of Bath; www.edgearts.org

Until 29 June

MODERN MASTER PRINTS A fantastic show of works by some very influential 20th-century artists, including Joan Miro and Henry Moore. The monochromatic works

of Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida are a stark contrast against the bright abstracts of Bridget Riley.

Adam Gallery; www.adamgallery.com

Until 30 June

WALTER LINDNER A retrospective showing of 35 paintings and monotype prints of the enigmatic, late Berlin artist.

Over four decades, Lindner created graphic, embellished pieces using oils and inks. This exhibition includes his best original monotype artworks.

David Simon Contemporary; www.davidsimoncontemporary.com

Until 31 June

CORINNA BUTTON The renowned painter-printmaker explores themes of feminine identity, using her distinct application of

texture and patterning. Corinna creates female portraits with layers of paint and mixed media and employs a strong, confident use of line to give her studies form.

Axle Arts; www.axlearts.com

Until 1 July

MADE FOR THE TABLE Contemporary silver pieces are displayed from the world-renowned Goldsmiths’ Company silver collection, alongside modern glass, ceramics and textiles by leading UK artisans, in a colourful display.

Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 2 September

A CELEBRATION OF FLOWERS Fabric designer Kaffe Fassett returns to Bath with a vibrant exhibition inspired by his love of flowers.

WHAT’S ON With a bespoke and dazzling colour scheme, his installation transforms the gallery using 40 vibrant coloured quilts and needlepoints. Expect large-scale works, which extend the floral theme into three dimensions.

Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 28 October

SIDE BY SIDE: AMERICA AND WORLD WAR I 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of America’s first major military engagement in the Great War 1914 – 1918, with this exhibition uncovering the relationship between the US and Europe, as well as reflecting on those who went into battle, and those who stayed at home. Various prices; The American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org ABOVE, Andy Hamilton makes change a funny thing at Komedia LEFT, Untitled by Sara Cuce is on show at the RPS' annual exhibition BELOW, Corinna Button's monoprints at Axle Arts

Until 28 October

THE BECKFORD WOMEN An exhibition exploring the lives, loves and loss of the women who influenced – and were influenced by – Beckford. Various times and prices; Beckford’s Tower; www.beckfordstower.org.uk

Until 12 November

A QUEST FOR WELLNESS Beijing-based artist Zhang Yanzi takes a look at healing and wellbeing from the Chinese tradition, with large-scale installations, paintings and more. It should appeal to those with a curiosity about the human body, the human condition, medicine and healing.

The Museum of East Asian Art; www.meaa.org.uk

Until 1 January 2019

THE WONDER WOMEN OF SPACE A free exhibition celebrating the wonder women who are changing the way we see the world and beyond. The museum talks to leading female astrophysicists, astronomers and engineers to find out what inspires them.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy; wwwherschelmuseum.org.uk

16 – 22 June

ASH + SUN Georgie Mason exhibits a new series of around 30 mixed-media paintings inspired by her recent travels around India. Works are based on memories of light and colour from the country, and are abstracted in nature. See them at Georgie’s mother’s home off London Road. 30 Upper East Hayes, Somerton House; www.georgiemason.co.uk

18 – 24 June

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Contemporary artist Diane Taylor displays her latest works. Diane studied sculpture at Bath College, but here uses acrylics and oils to create abstract paintings with a mixture of bold and muted colours.

She draws inspiration from the great masters, and mother nature.

44ad artspace; www.44ad.net

20 June – 2 August

RPS INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Winning and short-listed images on show from the Royal Photographic Society’s 160th annual photography competition. A whole variety of genres will be covered, with cuttingedge prints being shown alongside traditional work – from the artistic to documentary, and portraiture to natural history. Art at the Heart of the RUH, Central Gallery; www.artatruh.org

10 June – 31 August

SUMMER EXHIBITION An annual showcase of works from Rostra Gallery’s most talented artists, including Helen Burgess, Clare Halifax and Glynn Macey. The exhibition includes limited edition prints, original paintings, sculpture, ceramics, papercut and jewellery – to suit all budgets. Rostra Gallery; www.rostragallery.co.uk

PLAYS/SHOWS Until 7 July

DUSTY A new musical, premiering in Bath, which charts the life of one of Britain’s most successful and enduringly popular singers.

The script comes from BAFTA nominated writer Jonathan Harvey, and West End star Katherine Kingsley plays the lead role. Various times and prices; Main House; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

9 June

GREAT EXPECTATIONS Peopled by some of Dickens’ most colourful and memorable characters, this stunning new version promises a powerful telling of Dickens’ masterpiece. Award-winning actress Nichola McAuliffe leads the cast as the iconic Miss Havisham. Various times and prices; Main House; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

10 June

ANDY HAMILTON The award-winning comedian and comedy writer is back with a

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WHAT’S ON brand-new solo stage show, Change Management. If you’re feeling flustered because of flux, Andy will teach you how to cope with changes seen and yet to come. Contains mild peril. A limited number of meal deal tickets are also available 8pm; £20; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

12 – 16 June

IOLANTHE Universally regarded as Sullivan’s most beautiful score, this is a topsyturvy love story between the most unlikely of companions – fairies and members of the House of Lords. Sasha Regan’s inimitable inventiveness combine with Gilbert and Sullivan’s inherent barminess.

Various times and prices; Main House; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

21 June – 21 July

HENRY V Bristol’s most innovative and highly acclaimed theatre company, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, launch their brand new production. The intimate theatre space will make a thrilling venue in which to experience the drama of the Battle of Agincourt.

Ben Hall stars as Henry V, the king who emerges from his wild youth to wage war on France. Various times and prices; Ustinov Studio; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

MUSIC 17 June

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN The Lawley Wade Quintet will be performing music from the American Songbook and raising money for Dorothy House Hospice Care at the same time. Enjoy easy-listening jazz – accompanied by a bowl of strawberries and cream – in the stunning garden of Rowley Grange. A great Father’s Day treat for Dads who love jazz.

3 – 6pm; £16; Rowley Grange, Farleigh Hungerford; www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

21 June

BACKBEAT SOUNDSYSTEM This eight-piece funk reggae outfit are a band laden with groove, their up-tempo song craft drawing from numerous musical influences. They formed in the Cornish idyll of St Austell, and have been smashing up stages across the UK since. This is a standing show, and you can expect plenty of on-stage energy. 7.30pm; £12; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

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23 June

BAROQUE SUMMER Bath’s Bach choir will be performing two iconic baroque works at this summer concert; the popular Gloria

by Vivaldi, bursting with joyous melodies, and Handel's uplifting psalm Dixit Dominus. Conducted

by Nigel Perrin, three soloists will open the concert with a Suite from Handel's all-time favourite Water Music. 7.30pm; £10 – £28; Bath Abbey; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

24 June

STEVE KILBEY AND AMANDA KRAMER Lead singer and principal songwriter of Australian band The Church (who have sold nearly two million records worldwide) teams up with keyboardist Amanda Kramer. The two have a love of Dylan, Lou Reed, David Bowie and Burt Bacharach, so expect musical performances to match these mutual tastes. 7.30pm; £16; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

26 June

KEIFER SUTHERLAND The actor turned recording artist has been catapulted into the vocal limelight, thanks to his bonafide guitar skills and passionate music.

After releasing his country-rock album Down In A Hole last year, Sutherland embarked on a sold out European tour. Now he’s back on the road, and ready to rock Bath for the evening. 7pm; £27.50; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk. For more, see previous.

29 June

MAGIC OF THE BREATH This concert and workshop is in two parts, with the first half performed by students on flute, recorder, saxophone, piano, guitar and voice.

Flutist and tutor Alexandra Bass will then be performing with friends in various combos, followed by a demonstration of circular breathing.

6pm; £12; The New Oriel Hall; atokenichols@gmail.com

FAMILY 10 June

LEAF OPEN FARM DAY Local farmers will be opening their gates for this Sunday showcase, which is farming’s national open day, and a great opportunity to see what happens beyond the farm gate. Enjoy tractor rides, meet the animals, or follow a nature trail with the family.

Various local farms; www.farmsunday.org

ABOVE, Ben Hall stars as Henry V at the Ustinov LEFT, take in the mixed-media paintings of Georgie Mason off the London Road BELOW, get set and go to Team Bath's Family Fun Day

nick cudworth gallery

The Boxroom Oil on Linen Original and Prints

JUNE EXHIBITION 1 – 30 June

An exhibition of paintings and prints by Nick that reflect his interests in a variety of subjects including portraits, still life and landscape

5 London Street (top end of Walcot Street), Bath BA1 5BU tel 01225 445221 / 07968 047639 gallery@nickcudworth.com www.nickcudworth.com

WHAT’S ON 14 June

WILD WOODLAND MORNING Sing songs, play games, and go on mini woodland adventures. There’s also the opportunity for crafting and cooking something yummy over the fire. For ages two – four. Booking essential; 10.30am – 12pm; £5; Dyrham Park; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

bringing respected master blacksmiths from across Europe to forge a musical-themed balustrade for the Parade Gardens’ bandstand.

There's also blacksmithing demos, have-a-go forging and storytelling. £1.50 (free to Discovery Card holders); 10am – 6pm. Parade Gardens; www.bathiron.org.uk

16 June

16 June

TEAM BATH FAMILY FUN DAY Try new sports and get active for free in the same world-renowned facilities used by Olympic and Commonwealth champions. Sports aside, other activities include a climbing wall and inflatables. 5km and 3km runs will also be held to celebrate Olympic Day. 11am – 3pm, University of Bath Sports Training Village; www.teambath.com

17 June

FATHER’S DAY TEA Take afternoon tea – replace the tea for whiskey or local ale – in an 18th-century Palladian mansion. This is a real treat for fathers on their special day. Various times and prices; Lucknam Park; www.lucknampark.co.uk

OTHER

LADIES' DAY One of the stand-out days on the Bath social calendar. Join fellow racegoers for a show of stylish outfits, ornate hats, fantastic food and drink and exciting racing combined.

11.30am; £25 – £125; Bath Racecourse; www.bath-racecourse.co.uk

17 June

INDEPENDENT BATH MARKET Cakes, bakes (and other foods), jewellery, home accessories and beautiful hand-bound books are waiting to be found. Support selected family businesses, traders, makers, growers, crafters, artisans and producers from Bath or Somerset.

10am – 4pm; Abbey Green; www.independentbathmarket.com

19 June

BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL An eclectic festival of all the arts – with few rules as to what should be in or out. Spanning over 25 venues, the fringe includes theatre and cabaret, circus and dance, film, live music, spoken word, kids’ events and plenty of free family happenings. Various times and prices; www.bathfringe.co.uk

ISABELLA TREE ON WILDING The author and travel journalist talks through her new book Wilding, a story of a daring wildlife and farming experiment. Covering the restoration of nature and the recovery of flora and fauna, expect a hopeful tale and fascinating account of our countryside’s ecology. £20 (includes book); 8pm; Topping & Company Booksellers; www.toppingbooks.co.uk

10 – 17 June

22 – 24 June

Until 10 June

BOULES WEEK A whole week of fundraising fun, held every day in the heart of Bath. Expect parties, a street food market, drinks, networking, films, talks and of course, Boules – all in the aid of raising money for local causes.

Queen Square; www.bathboules.com

14 – 15 June

HOLISTIC HEALING OPEN DAYS Find out more about your hearing and the latest hearing technologies from an experienced team, completely free of charge. Those wishing to attend must book a slot. 9am–5pm; Spaces, Northgate House; info@hearingexcellence.co.uk

14 – 17 June

FESTIVAL OF IRONWORK A brand-new four-day festival

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THE HANDMADE FAIR Kirstie Allsopp presents this creative affair. Craft enthusiasts can experience an array of expert talks and hands-on workshops in felting, calligraphy, wirework and Indian block printing, to name a few. £12; Bowood House, Chippenham; www.thehandmadefair.com/bowood

16 – 28 August

TORCHLIT SUMMMER EVES The historic Roman Baths will be staying open late (until 10pm) during the summer months. Expect the site to take on a magical atmosphere once the daylight fades and the flickering torches are lit around the Great Bath.

Various times and prices (free to Discovery Card Holders); The Roman Baths; www.romanbaths.co.uk n

ABOVE, dress to impress on Ladies' Day at the racecourse LEFT, learn to craft all sorts with Kirstie Allsopp at The Handmade Fair, Bowood BELOW, admire the splendour of The Roman Baths by torchlight

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The Food Feast, Hidden Gardens, Exhibitions, Open Studios, Small Publishers Fair, Children’s Festival, Films, Drama, Poetry, Literary events, Classical concerts, Workshops, Walks, Talks and much much more.

BADLY DRAWN BOY / BLAZIN’ FIDDLES JOHN COOPER CLARKE / LEO SAYER ASTON MERRYGOLD / CLARE HAMMOND THE BUSQUITOS & PEE WEE ELLIS / MOZART’S BASTIEN AND BASTIENNE & BACH’S COFFEE CANTATA ILLYRIA THEATRE CO / PROF MICHAEL WOOD COMEDIANS:

TOM ALLEN

VIV GROSKOP / GEORGE EGG -ANARCHIST CHEF

fromefestival.co.uk

FREE PARKING www.corsham.gov.uk/visit towncouncil@corsham.gov.uk

Beautiful in the evening: Unwind in the evening at Thermae Bath Spa with Twilight packages from 4pm Monday – Friday

Thursday 21 June

COME AND ENJOY BATH AT TWILIGHT Thursday evenings in Bath this summer:

Thursday 19 July Thursday 23 August Thursday 20 September Thursday 25 October

• Discover Bath's vibrant evening scene • Unwind with live entertainment, great food and drink and late-night shopping across the city • Explore the best of Bath at your own pace

Bespoke Street market Late-night shopping Happy Hours Twilight Spa Sessions Tastings

www.visitbath.co.uk/twilight

Explore, discover and enjoy all that Bath has to offer during the evening

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The winner of the window dressing competition was Blue Women's Clothing for their interpretation of the 'Festival' theme. The judges were impressed by the scale of the window display, and the linking to a red, white and blue royalty theme. For the display the Blue team used examples of Rundholz and Lurdes Bergada, some of their most popular brands.

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Fringe benefits

Cancel your flights. Call off the seven-hour road trip.

This year, the Edinburgh Fringe comes to Bath

T

hroughout July, Komedia presents the very best in stand-up comedy, impressions, and sketches, a whole month before they hit the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Featuring a whopping 28 acts including the likes of Tony Law, Phil Nichol, Jayde Adams and Angela Barnes, Komedia have hand-picked their favourite contemporary comedians exclusively for Bath audiences across 13 unique, surprising, and hilarious shows this July.

All shows will take place in the unique space that is the Komedia Bath Arts Café and, at pocket money prices (just £8 per ticket), the Edinburgh Previews Season is the very best of the Fringe for a fraction of the price, with none of the stress and hassle. But be quick – with each comedian performing for one night only, and with spaces limited to just 70 seats per show, each night is almost guaranteed to sell out.

Highlights at this year’s Edinburgh Previews

season include Tony Law, a stupendously surreal stand-up comic who performed to a sold-out crowd at Komedia in March, Phil Nichol, a skilled improviser and musical comic with countless TV credits to his name, and comedian/writer/rapper and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown star Jayde Adams.

In recent years, these acts have all won major UK comedy awards and have performed across the world. Now they’re back in Bath, ready to unleash brand new shows and fine-tune their tried and tested material for Komedia audiences.

The Edinburgh Previews Season promises to be an unmissable opportunity for comedy fans of Bath and the surrounding area to watch oodles of incredibly talented up-and-coming comedians, as well as established stars, in a series of intimate shows unlike any other.

And with every comedian bringing their absolute A-Game ahead of the world’s biggest comedy festival, there’s never been a better time to head on 22-23 Westgate Street, BathBA1 1EP down and discover your new favourite comedian in 01225 489070 www.komedia.co.uk/bath/ Bath’s unique comedy venue. ■

High quality • Bespoke • Built to order Features include: Belfast sinks, cast iron exterior lights, Farrow and Ball painted panelling, fold away table and chairs, built in storage space, plug in cooking hobs and TV points, LPG gas boiler, fully functioning bathroom with walk-in shower.

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© SOUL MEDIA

FACE THE MUSIC

ABOVE, Moles’ wild relaunch;

OPPOSITE TOP, Komedia by night;

OPPOSITE BOTTOM, live locals at The Bell Inn

Independent music venues are the stepping stone for many a young band or artist. For the good of ourselves (and the community) we should all be indulging more at music venues rather than sitting in the house. So here’s to getting yourself off the sofa to enjoy the best of Bath’s nightlife...

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ENTERTAINMENT MOLES

KOMEDIA

Since opening in 1978 (happy 40th birthday) Moles has earned itself legendary status for hosting and championing live music in the heart of Bath. The tiny underground venue and nightclub can be found in cellar vaults on George Street, with events running six nights a week.

Moles is small but mighty, supporting up-andcoming artists – the stage has been graced with The Smiths, Oasis and Ed Sheeran – as well as dance acts and DJs. “There is always magic in the air at a live Moles gig,” says Liam Baker, operations and programming manager. “A love of music is something we almost all have in common and music played live is as good as it gets. Get out there and soak up some great sounds while supporting local creativity.”

In 2013 Moles suffered a devastating fire, but the team powered on through the fallout and victoriously reopened with a wild relaunch in 2015. The support of locals is important to Moles, and they take part in the UK Independent Venue Week each year. “Bath has a strong local scene as well as some fantastic music-based courses at the universities,” say Liam. “Having accessible venues is essential.” www.moles.co.uk

Bath’s Komedia formed in 2008 (following in the footsteps of Komedia Brighton), when the founders took on the abandoned old Beau Nash cinema building and turned it into a multi-arts venue for the people of the city.

“Since then, we’ve hosted thousands of music gigs, comedy shows, cabaret nights, film screenings – you name it, we’ve held it,” says marketing officer Oli Cliffe.

Music and comedy are at the forefront of the programme here, though you’ll find anything under the sun as long as it’s creative and entertaining – there’s a bi-monthly Ministry of Burlesque night, spoken-word poetry, familyfriendly raves, film screenings, club nights and mayhem bingo. “If the people of Bath want to see it, we’ll programme it.”

Oli knows the benefit of indie venues, as both the starting point for almost all musicians and a chance for the rest of us to hear something new.

“The atmosphere can change so much from show to show depending on who’s on stage, but the common theme is a feeling of community.” www.komedia.co.uk/bath

ST JAMES WINE VAULTS

“Get out there and soak up some great sounds while supporting local creativity”

TRY 5 BATH INDIE VENUES The Bell Inn Situated in the artisan quarter of Walcot Street, you’ll find a vibrant mix of music three times a week, from jazz to blues to folk... to some things The Bell still isn’t sure what to call. With an “always free” entry policy and no ticketing, there’s no excuse for not heading down and washing down a performance with a real ale.

Chapel Arts Centre This alternative cabaret and arts venue stages all kinds of music (except, because of its locality near residential properties, the very loud). Found on Lower Borough Walls, expect regular theatre, dance and burlesque shows, for up to 200 people.

The adjoining vegan café hosts acoustic sessions on Fridays.

The team at St. James’ wine vaults gallery and cellar spaces have played host to many young bands and musicians wanting to showcase their work to an audience and gain performance experience. “We have seen so many talented musicians perform on our stage, and we get a real buzz when we hear guests leave talking about what a great night they have had,” says manager Mandy Connor.

“There are so many venues across the UK closing; however, in Bath we are extremely fortunate to have a small vibrant music scene.”

The Wine Vaults were honoured to be part of this year’s Independent Venue Week in January, and locals aged between 18 to 80 enjoyed the sellout events. At the Vaults, you’ll find all musical styles, from jazz to doom, and the diverse venue also plays host to theatre, poetry, comedy, art exhibitions and even yoga. Music is very much at the heart of the space, however, and owner Neil Whiting is still hoping to see Paul McCartney turn up at one of his monthly open-mic nights to play a couple of tunes. You never know… www.stjameswinevaults.co.uk

Walcot House On Fridays and Saturdays this converted bakery turns into a club and live music space.

Walcot House (on Walcot Street) throws parties in fabulous style, showcasing live jazz, salsa, DJs and Latin American music – to name a few.

The Nest Near George Street, the nightclub is home to three bars, energetic club nights and live music events.

With a strong DIY ethos, local bands are encouraged to present their own shows. Royal Blood, Funeral For a Friend and JP Cooper have all appeared here.

Green Park Brasserie Bath’s tasty music restaurant hosts live jazz, acoustic sets and local musicians on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings – all dished up in the roomy red interior of the former 1870s railway station hall.

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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

ANNA O’CALLAGHAN THEATRE LEFT:

Dusty the musical RIGHT: Frances Barber in An Ideal Husband BELOW: An Ideal Husband

Centre stage

F

rom world premieres, to one of the starriest casts ever seen on stage, here’s what’s coming up this summer at the Theatre Royal Bath...

With three contrasting auditoria open throughout the year – the beautiful Main House, the sleek Ustinov Studio and the exuberant egg theatre – Bath’s world-renowned Theatre Royal offers an extravaganza of entertainment for all tastes and all ages. At the moment, we’re selling tickets for over 40 diverse events, and around 450 different performances.

June brings as eclectic a mix as ever, including a hilarious all-male production of a Gilbert and Sullivan favourite; the world premiere of a musical charting the life of iconic singer Dusty Springfield, written by one of the UK’s hottest talents of the moment; an award-winning children’s show called Whatever the Weather; and an amazing opportunity to experience the Battle of Agincourt from the comfort of your cushy theatre seat.

Anyone who remembers the impact made on the world of dance by the arrival of Matthew Bourne’s all-male Swan Lake, or the thrill of Joe Papp’s ground-breaking Pirates of Penzance when it transformed the world of operetta some 30 years ago, will appreciate the sheer refreshing joyousness of Sasha Regan’s Gilbert and Sullivan company. Hilarious, camp and full of fun, the chaps, who boast an impressive vocal

range between them, have become firm favourites in Bath, and return with Iolanthe, a revival of their most critically-acclaimed production to date. Set in the magical surroundings of an old theatre, a party of naughty schoolboys discovers a Narnia-like wardrobe and a dusty copy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe – a madcap story of love between the most unlikely of couples: fairies and members of the House of Lords.

Did you know, when it first opened at the Savoy Theatre in 1882, Iolanthe was the first new theatre production in the world to be lit entirely with electric lights? The principal fairies wore battery-operated star-lights on top of their heads, and the term ‘fairy lights’ has been in common usage ever since.

The Theatre Royal has proudly hosted musical world premieres from Tim Rice’s Blondel in 1983, to Terry Johnson and Don Black’s Mrs Henderson Presents in 2015.

Now, Bath audiences will be the first to enjoy Dusty, a new musical about the life of the incomparable Dusty Springfield. Based on the memories of those who knew her best, Dusty has been written by award-winning playwright Jonathan Harvey (one of the hottest writers in the UK following a much-praised recent storyline in Coronation Street). Dusty herself will be played by three-times Olivier Award nominee Katherine Kingsley in what promises to be a career-defining performance, with Rufus Hound as her manager and Roberta Taylor as her mother. Hailed as

Britain’s “best ever pop singer” by Rolling Stone, Dusty’s hits spanned four decades and include the unforgettable classics I Only Want to be with You, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and Son of a Preacher Man. One of Bristol’s most innovative and acclaimed companies, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, will be relocating to Bath this summer to open its brand new production of Shakespeare’s epic history play, Henry V in the Ustinov Studio. Ben Hall, grandson of the late Sir Peter Hall, will be playing Henry in this thrilling examination of the nature of power. As Henry prepares to lead his ‘band of brothers’ at the Battle of Agincourt, your ringside seat will give you a unique perspective.

Henry V is part of this year’s Summer Season which also includes, in the Main House, An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde’s comedy about corruption, blackmail and honour, which is packed with all those witty one-liners the great man is famous for. Reallife father and son Edward and Freddie Fox, national treasure Susan Hampshire and Sally Bretton (who co-stars with Lee Mack in BBC’s Not Going Out), are among one of the starriest casts ever seen at the Theatre Royal. Publicity photographs from the show, which has been playing in the West End, show exquisite costumes and a gorgeous set. ■ Anna O’Callaghan, Marketing Manager, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose; 01225 448844; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

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OF LAND and SEA

by Frances Doherty with Linda Franklin

13 June 2018 to 11 July 2018 21 Broad Street, Bath, BA1 5LN artsalon.co.uk

NIC BOTTOMLEY BOOKS I want to get away

J

“Everything feels languid; the southern heat sweats off the page”

ust recently, I’ve enjoyed three tiny books that are perfect for exciting the senses in preparation for holiday season. Each one has been written by an author not normally associated with travel writing. These are novelists or essayists that have turned their talents to describing cities or journeys, and with great success.

South and West by Joan Didion (Harper Collins, £8.99) is, in truth, mostly south. The ‘west’ part is a very short San Francisco piece that acts as a contrast to the southern road trip that takes up the bulk of the book. The book is not a fully formed entity, in that it is made up of the notes that Didion wrote on her monthlong tour of the southern states back in 1970.

Somehow, though, the peripatetic nature of the writing is its very charm. At times it feels you have a direct time-machine line into the raw but very sophisticated thoughts of Didion as she experienced the newly emancipated, but still traditional, south.

Throughout her trip, everything feels languid; the southern heat sweats off the page. On countless occasions, Didion washes away the day’s travel by swimming in a motel pool, drawing the attention of local folk as yet unfamiliar with the bikini.

Indeed, even Didion’s hair seems out of place: “Long straight hair, which is not seen in the south among respectable women past the age of 14”. These little mismatches seem to keep Didion to the smaller towns, even when her journalistic instincts suggest a city trip would be fruitful. She turns down the opportunity to go and meet legendary novelist Eudora Welty in Jackson, Mississippi, because she doesn’t trust herself to resist the temptation to flee home if she ends up in a city with direct flights out of the region.

Over the course of the book, the reader learns many things, but two stand out. The first is that, in 1970, the American South was a place rich in hospitality and community but also a place that wasn’t always easy to understand from an outsider perspective. The second is that Didion has an incredible ability to conjure up a place or a person and if, like me, you haven’t read her before, south and west feels like it’s serving as a perfectly-formed entry-point to the work of an intoxicating and essential writer.

Didion is renowned as one of the finest

proponents of the subjective ‘new journalism’ and one of the crucial voices in describing shifts in American society in the second half of the 20th century.

There is a wealth of other narrative non-fiction writing for us all to work our way through, as well as novels and her crucial and deeply personal book on grief, The Year of Magical Thinking (Harper Collins, £8.99).

In sharp contrast, one of our favourite crime writers of recent times is the French noir maestro Jean-Claude Izzo. His trilogy, which begins with Total Chaos (Europa, £12.99), is a hard-edged portrayal of lawlessness, corruption and fast-lived, easily-lost lives on the streets of Marseilles. For some reason, though, we had failed until recently to notice his one piece of non-fiction that has been translated into English – a heady cocktail of Mediterranean travel, street tales and food obsession. In Garlic, Mint and Sweet Basil (Europa, £11.99), Izzo gets to grips with his beloved Marseille, waxing lyrical about its food and about the people that make the city a genuinely beautiful place even when it doesn’t appear so on the surface.

Javier Marias, like Izzo, is a writer usually associated with the fiction form. Recently, though, a collection of his shorter nonfiction pieces was published. In advance, his publishers released a slim volume called Venice, An Interior (Penguin, £5) in which Marias explored the beautiful watery city to which he has travelled for decades and which he made his home for a number of years.

Marias’ ode to Venice feels more like an insider’s guide than a travelogue. His approach is to reveal what Venice is like for the residents rather than the tourists – how do they enjoy their unique city, what are their traditions and customs and what do they think of the limitless visiting hordes. One conclusion that comes through loud and clear is that it’s the Venetians – always keen to don their finery – who more readily embody the grand façades of the palaces than the unruly gaudy tourist gaggle.

But, then, locals always better reflect a place than the visitors – except if those visitors are extremely handy with a pen.

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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SOPHIE-CLAIRE MCLEOD FILMS

Make a change

T

he common theme among the films showing at the Little this summer is change.

First up we have Yellow Submarine, a true icon of psychedelic pop culture. This colourful musical spectacle is the hallucinogenic dream from The Beatles, set in an otherworldly paradise called Pepperland; it’s a blend of beauty and happiness, with music being a major factor of daily life. But the peace is disrupted when the Blue Meanies invade with their armies of apple bonkers and the menacing flying glove, attempting to drain the music from Pepperland.

The Beatles come to the rescue in this beautiful and magical animated masterpiece by spreading a message of love to the world. It’s only back on the big screen for one day (8 July), so it’s definitely worth booking your tickets soon.

Next, we have The Happy Prince, directed, written and starring the fantastic Rupert Everett. This gripping drama is about the marvellous Oscar Wilde’s final years; it follows his release from prison after being convicted for ‘gross indecency’ because of his affair with Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas. The film skilfully intersperses flashbacks to Wilde’s great days and his initial optimism, with scenes of him living and dying in squalor. Unlike previous Oscar Wilde films, such as Stephen Fry’s Wilde, The Happy Prince doesn’t shy away from Wilde’s

post-prison ordeals, such as being spat on by members of the public, and having his children taken away. These darker moments allow the audience to see Everett’s portrayal of Wilde in another light, making this film a must-see.

Also coming up, we have Book Club, a film about how 50 Shades of Grey changes the lives of four older women for the better.

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen make for a wonderful star-studded cast in this light-hearted comedy.

Whether it’s spicing up a marriage, starting a new love or rekindling an old flame, the four women embrace the excitement from the 50 Shades phenomenon. This film perfectly highlights the craze from the books with witty, and also gentle, moments. This one is definitely one to watch with some great friends for a good laugh.

Moving on to a more serious tone, we have the new flick from the director of Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik, called Leave No Trace. Based on the novel My Abandonment, by Peter Rock, this film is a great analysis of a father-daughter bond.

Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie play Will and Tom; Will’s an army veteran that struggles to adjust after returning home, and Tom’s his young teenage daughter that he’s single-handedly raised.

Living in a public park in Portland, Oregon, they have built a secret camp and live guerilla-like to remain undercover from society. After one of their routine visits to the city to get painkillers for Will, Tom is accidentally spotted by a hiker and things start to go wrong. After being picked up

by authorities and being subjected to psychiatric tests to assess their wellbeing, the pair agree to accept the help that is being given to them – or so it seems. They plan their escape back into their tranquil life in the forest but expertly pretend to blend in with the community they have been placed into. The love shared between Tom and Will is truly beautiful and definitely something that will stay with you for a long time after.

Lastly, we have another special event: the live-streaming of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, on 5 July. Based on the reallife story of Jamie Campbell, this witty, fizzy and colourful musical is heart-warming and inspirational. Jamie, played by John McCrea, is a teen who is teased at school for being gay, and is asked by his career’s teacher what he wants to be when he grows up. He reveals to the audience that he has ambitions to become a drag queen, but tells the teacher he wants to be a performer, and is promptly told to get real. For his 16th birthday, Jamie receives a pair of high heels from his mother, who fully supports him in every way. Long story short, he wants to go to the school prom in a frock.

With amazing musical numbers, a fantastic cast and an inspiring story about stepping out of the darkness and into the spotlight, it’s easy to understand why everyone’s talking about Jamie.

Sophie-Claire McLeod, duty and marketing manager, The Little Theatre, 1–2 St Michael’s Place; 01225 466822; www.picturehouses.co.uk

TOP LEFT:

Rupert Everett in The Happy Prince Everybody’s Talking About Jamie RIGHT: Family bonding in Leave No Trace TOP RIGHT:

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OLÉ TAPAS

Lisa Evans visits an independent venture serving up a lively, sparkling explosion of Spanish hospitality, with a side of tapas

T

apas usually makes me querulous; I don’t enjoy sharing – hands off my patatas, please.

But there’s something about Olé Tapas that gets me in the spirit of generosity; maybe it’s the Spanish music, maybe it’s the relaxed, happy setting. No, it’s definitely the staff.

When you’re in a good mood, you naturally become a little less selfish and a little more giving, and the positive team here make you smile and laugh. They don’t do it in a forced, mechanical way that eccedentesiast waiters sometimes have to do as part of their job (cue cringing memories of being sang ‘happy birthday’ to by staff, in a restaurant I shan’t name, who clapped like robots which still had enough emotion to want the ground to swallow them whole). No, here, it’s effortless, natural, and it makes you feel like you’re on holiday.

Transported to a summer’s day in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the charming, friendly team – made up of

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Spaniards – offer menu advice and banter. Our waiter, Luis, who comes from Galicia, takes the time to give us a light Spanish lesson, including telling us his favourite word – one which we cannot repeat on these pages, not because it’s rude* but because we literally can’t spell it.

One of the dishes he recommends is the one that’s “most popular with women, for some reason”: berenjenas fritas.

Hot and crispy on the outside, and silky in the middle, the tempura aubergine, in the lightest suggestion of batter, is drizzled with an incredibly moreish honey from Málaga.

The first sweet, sticky forkful makes my pupils dilate and I know I’m hooked; it’s love at first bite.

There are also triple-cooked patatas, which come with ali-oli and spicy sauce; marinated salmon with grapefruit and cucumber; and that old Spanish restaurant favourite: the inches-thick, amber-edged tortilla – which, in earshot of the waiter, I mistakenly describe as “buttery”, and am playfully, but hastily, corrected. I now know that it is in fact

RESTAURANT

olive oil, not butter, that oozes sexily from the alluringly baveuse middle.

But we don’t stop there. Oh no. Why would we when it’s all this tasty? Next is a fat-grained paella-for-two, topped with jewel-coloured vegetables, which we’re advised to eat straight from the pan. Actually, it’s not paella. We’re told that there’s only one true paella: the Paella Valenciana – made with chicken, rabbit and green beans (plus optional snails) – everything else is just a version. No one else in the city is serving this authentic dish, they say.

Olé’s recipes have been passed down by the team’s grandmothers (or ‘abuelas’) and all of the morsels you’ll find on the menu are traditional and come from Spanish homes. There’s plenty on there to tempt – including 12-hour slow-roast Iberian pork belly, crunchy chicken strips with paprika mayonnaise, grilled chorizo, and on-the-bone sirloin steak – but all of this will be familiar to those who have already discovered similar delights at the tiny Olé Tapas on John Street. The Saw Close version is the original Olé’s bigger sibling.

The Saw Close restaurant – nestled in the space formerly occupied by Gascoyne Place – opened in February, and borders the new cool, contemporary casino development.

If you’ve wandered through the historic square in the past few years, you would have been pressed not to have noticed the cranes and high-vis-clad folk dominating the area – all because of the gleaming development, which will boast a 147-bed hotel, new restaurants and a casino. As I type, it’s the day before the black-tie grand opening evening of the £19m Century Casino, and I’m currently trying not to panic about what outfit I’ll wear, but glamour and gambling, for me, are no match for a skillful plate of food, so let’s get back to talking about Olé, shall we?

I’m not much of a sweet person, but the puddings here are a must; we share crema Catalana – a classic crème brûlée. Then, something happened, which just may have changed my outlook on life as I know it. I looked away for a second and my friend began tucking into my side of the dessert, but, instead of pouting and only-childing as I normally would (I don’t enjoy sharing, as you know), I let it go, because there’s something about Olé, this sparkly lovely independent restaurant, that brings out the generous side of you. It seems that the restaurant has made me a more rounded person – both personality-wise, and literally (carbs will do that unfortunately) – and I’m looking forward to bettering myself again there very soon. *it is n

Image courtesy of Pixie. Download the Pixie app and explore independent Bath

“The first sweet, sticky forkful makes my pupils dilate; it’s love at first bite”

DINING DETAILS Olé Tapas, 1 Saw Close, BA1 1EY; 01225 424274; www.oletapas.co.uk Prices Nibbles 3.95 – £5.95; tapas £3.50 – £17.95; dessert £4.95 Vegetarian choice Everything from the ‘nibbles’ section is veggie, and there’s a dedicated plant-based section on the main menu, with eight choices Drinks Expect sherries, sangrias and Spanish wines aplenty Service/atmosphere Fun-loving, convivial and welcoming

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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 Road, Bath; 01225 331922; www.thebathpriory.co.uk Delicious fine dining overlooking the hotel's award-winning gardens CIRCUS RESTAURANT 34 Brock Street, Bath; 01225 466020; www.thecircusrestaurant.co.uk Voted number four in the UK in The Times's “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, plus a beautiful terrace CORKAGE 132 Walcot St, Bath; 01225 422577 Chapel Row, Bath; 01225 423417 www.corkagebath.com Award-winning small plates restaurant and wine specialist 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 a 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 72 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

WOODS 9-13 Alfred St, Bath; 01225 314812 www.woodsrestaurant.com Legendary Bath dining institution serving French influenced British cuisine

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

CAFÉS & COFFEE SHOPS

THE GARRICKS HEAD 7-8 St John's Rd, Bath; 01225 318368; www.garricksheadpub.com City centre pub and dining room next to the Theatre Royal Bath

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 DARCY’S 34 Gay St, Bath; 01225 425308 www.facebook.com/darcysbath Independent café/newsagent in Bath. Serving breakfast and lunch, coffee and cake daily GREEN BIRD CAFÉ 11 Margaret's Buildings, Bath; 01225 487846; www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk Independently-run café located between the Circus and Royal Crescent THE KINGSMEAD KITCHEN 1 Kingsmead St, Kingsmead Square, Bath; 01225 329002; www.fieldfireandfeast.co.uk Laid-back, modern café-bar open daily from 8am until 6pm for breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea using farm produce

CALIFORNIAN 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

GASTROPUBS GPT SMOKEHOUSE 44-45 Lower Bristol Rd, Bath; 01225 429509; www.gptbath.com 'Dude Food' menu cooked with an authentic handmade American hot smoker 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 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 THE LOCKSBROOK INN 103 Locksbrook Rd, Bath; 01225 427119; www.thelocksbrookinn.com Canalside 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 RICHMOND ARMS 7 Richmond Place, Bath; 01225 316725; www.therichmondarmsbath.com Hearty dishes with menu changing on a daily basis

INDIAN THE EASTERN EYE 8a Quiet St, Bath; 01225 422323; www.easterneye.com Classic traditional Bengali cuisine in a grand Georgian interior space THE MINT ROOM Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Rd, Bath; 01225 446656; www.themintroom.co.uk Award-winning contemporary Indian fine dining

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ITALIAN CAFFÈ CARUSO 3 Trim Bridge, Bath; 01225 426735 www.caffecarusobath.co.uk Independent restaurant with authentic Italian dishes SOTTO SOTTO 10 North Parade, Bath 01225 330236; www.sottosotto.co.uk Classic Italian menu with a contemporary twist in candlelit vaulted cellars

PIZZA THE OVEN 21 Westgate St, Bath 01225 311181; www.theovenpizzeria.co.uk Neapolitan artisan pizza using local and Italian imported produce

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

STEAKHOUSES

THAI

THE HERD 12a Argyle St, Bath; 01225 316583; www.theherdrestaurant.co.uk Locally sourced meat of the finest provenance alongside a simple, seasonal menu

KOH THAI TAPAS 36 Broad St, Bath 01225 311232; www.koh-thai.co.uk Award-winning small Thai tapas plates and delicious cocktails

HUDSON STEAKHOUSE 14 London St, Bath; 01225 332323; www.hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk Award-winning steakhouse in a listed building specialising in prime aged steaks and delicious starters with a fusion twist

TAPAS REVOLUTION 20A St Lawrence St, Bath; 01225 312917 www.tapasrevolution.com/bath Authentic Spanish tapas plus an outside terrace

THAI BY THE WEIR 16 Argyle St, Bath 01225 444834; www.thaibytheweir.co.uk Restaurant overlooking the weir, serving a classic Thai menu

OUTSIDE OF BATH BRITISH NO. 10 TEA GARDENS Avoncliff, Westwood, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2HD; 01225 853361 www.avonclifftea.com An independent tea garden located next to the picturesque aqueduct at Avoncliff 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-starred fine dining at the renowned Park restaurant, and more informal dining at the stylish contemporary brasserie at this five star country house hotel WIDBROOK GRANGE HOTEL Trowbridge Road, Bradford on Avon BA15 1UH; 01225 864750; www.widbrookgrange.co.uk

Modern farmhouse cuisine, locally sourced and freshly prepared

GASTROPUBS TIMBRELL'S YARD 49 St Margaret's St, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1DE; 01225 869492 timbrellsyard.com Timbrell's Yard is a rejuvenated Coaching Inn, in beautiful Bradford-On-Avon, Wiltshire, with excellent dining and luxurious accommodation THE GEORGE AT WOOLLEY 67 Woolley St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1AQ; 01225 865650; www.thegeorgebradfordonavon.co.uk Lovingly refurbished gastropub from awardwinning 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 Award-winning modern British food and cask ales in country inn 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 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 ■

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

We’ve a lot to thank Raymond Blanc for – many of our greatest chefs have come up through his kitchens, after all – but for years he railed against the standards of British food.

No more: “Now I’m 150 per cent a Frenchman,” he says, “and that extra 50 per cent has come from my British friends” Words by Matt Bielby Portraits by Jesper Mattias MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 75

THE BIG INTERVIEW

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e’ve heard that Raymond Blanc can be late, and – indeed – it’s a good 20 minutes after we said we’d meet that he rocks up at Brasserie Blanc, on the corner of Queen Square in Bath, and another 20 before he sits down to talk to us, so many people does he have to greet. So often does he wander off, disappear, come back, disappear again… But it’s fine: when he does finally settle, he’s charming, willing to pose for our photographer, and does everything with a twinkle in his eye. Plus, he can talk. Boy, can he talk. So much so, in fact, that our carefully prepared question sheet is all but useless as he trots off, twenty to the dozen, in whatever direction the muse takes him.

Raymond Blanc is, of course, one of the important figures in British cooking, though he’s an entirely self-taught chef. His father was a watchmaker where France butts up against Switzerland, and though he learnt food from his mother, he only settled on a kitchen career after trying many alternative jobs, coming to Britain in the early ’70s in pursuit, he’s said, of English girls. He started as a waiter at the Rose Revived, a pub in Oxfordshire, fell for the boss’s daughter, started helping in the kitchen, and soon the new couple were running the place. They opened their first restaurant in an unappealing Oxford site, and it was soon one of the best restaurants in Britain. Then came Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire – now a two Michelin star hotel-restaurant, but back in the early ’80s a knackered 15th century pile most others had given up on – where, over the years, Blanc has employed the leading lights of modern British cuisine, from Michael Caines to Marco Pierre White.

Though Blanc and the boss’s daughter, Jenny, divorced in 1985, Le Manoir has gone from strength to strength, and there are now a number of spin-offs, including the lower priced Brasserie Blanc chain, a collection of bistros owned by the Loch Fyne Group. Blanc retains an interest, though, both financially and – it turns out – in terms of the food…

It seems you know fair few people here. How often do you visit this particular Brasserie Blanc?

In reality? Once every two or three months. For me, Oxford and Bath are the two best cities in Britain; they’ve got the most character, the best museums, the best shops… It’s easy for anyone who loves beauty to enjoy life here. In fact, there’s only one thing missing, so I’d love to give a challenge to all Bath people: please, we need a big pétanque game in the square.

But we already have one – the Bath Boules tournament. You should come and take part.

When is it? [Bath Boules, of course, runs 10 – 18 June this year – more or less as you’re reading this.] Ah, no time, no time. But next year, call me and I will come. Definitely. I love a challenge, but – let me tell you – I’m a very bad loser.

There’s a guy from another of the brasseries whose team often wins, I believe.

Really, which one? [I tell him.] Ah, they should spend less time practising boules, and more making good food. No no, I’m just teasing, of course.

“We’re one of the few bistros to change things four times a year”

Brasserie Blanc has been here for a few years now, hasn’t it?

Yes, seven. But I already knew Bath very well. Peter Gabriel was a good friend, and I used to visit his studio nearby. In fact, he helped me with my first business. I always wanted a Brasserie Blanc here, but I knew I wanted it on this very square, and it took five years to find a suitable property.

It’s been a good home for us: the Francis Hotel is a great partner, so it was a very good move.

You don’t ever cook here, I suppose?

No, but I do something better – I make the menus. It’s very simple, the way we work, and it’s a lovely story. I sit down with my executive chef, Clive Fretwell, and we plan a new menu every three months. Believe me, we’re one of the few bistros to change things four times a year. But to me that’s normal, it’s what my parents taught me. And it makes sense – it means the ingredients are seasonal, and we can

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THE BIG INTERVIEW find them closer to home, so they have better taste, better texture. It’s also it’s better for the farmer. It means he can keep his farm, his crops, his staff.

And that matters to you?

It matters very much. When you buy local, you help a farmer, yes, but you also help a village keep its post office, its community and its flavour. And when you buy seasonally, there’s always a glut – of the first strawberries, the first cherries, the first peas. So the price collapses, you get a good deal, and everybody wins.

And it’s good for the environment too…

Yes. This is a serious topic that we are now, finally, treating seriously. And we have the media to thank for this – not the government. Now we – as consumers – know the impact of chemicals, of pesticides, of fertilisers. I almost feel a small revolution going on, but instead of a French one it’s a British revolution, created by consumers who are more knowledgeable, more responsible, more aware. But the worst thing… Can we turn this off for a minute?

[I turn off the recorder, and he seems about to say something scurrilous, then thinks better of it. I’m still not sure what it was, if anything, or whether this was just a little piece of theatre.]

Where were we? Ah yes, people who eat badly are suffering real misery, real problems, real illnesses, all adding pressure to the Health Service – and we can escape all this if we avoid bad food. And if we eat better, we all become more responsible, and government is forced to legislate to support the new sensibility. Everybody gains.

100 per cent has always been me – because I know where I come from, I know what my mama taught me – but the other 50 has come from my British friends and my travels.

They haven’t devalued me, they haven’t confused me – they have enriched me.

Phew. And where do chefs come into all this?

Whether you work at a great hotel or a little street food place, there’s an enormous impact our industry has on people’s health. In the past we’ve been very polluting, very careless of the impact we can have, and highly selfharming. But now, I think, British chefs are amazing – and I’ve trained a few hundred of them, including about 14 Michelin star chefs – and they’re doing surprising things, the things we hadn’t thought of before. In the past, our industry didn’t train enough people, it didn’t self-regulate enough, and it didn’t have enough structure. But now we are paying better, are more aware of the providence of our food, and are closer with our suppliers. Like I say, it’s a very British food revolution.

And how does this apply to what you’re serving at Brasserie Blanc?

Through the menus. Like I say, for the last 21 years I’ve been sitting down with Clive to sketch them out, then we go to the kitchen for four days to create them all. It’s hugely demanding, because we do this every three months, and we have to train the kitchen staff to make the new dishes. But I can’t help myself – it’s part of my DNA. But you don’t change everything, right?

Oh no. That would be foolish. You need to keep the classics – the soufflé, the moules marinière, the beautiful beef bourguignon. They are your backbone, and why guests keep coming back. But you also need to keep things fresh, so this year many of the new dishes have been inspired by my travels. The modern guest has become very sophisticated, so we’ve included dishes from across the world. Some are from Italy, some are from – oh my God – Chile, some are from South East Asia. I’m lucky to have travelled a lot, to the point where I am now 150 per cent a Frenchman.

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What sort of thing are you talking about?

Take our cod with a confit of salted lemon. You would never have seen that on the menu before, but it’s wonderful.

The tagine is also marvellous, with salty, herby flavours melting into each other.

In the past you’ve complained about the quality of British food, but no longer, it seems…

For years, one of my dreams was for Britain to have local restaurants – like in France, Italy, Spain – where local boys and girls cook local cuisine and the local waiters serve it.

And now we have quite a lot of that.

“We may be a group of restaurants, but each has the spirit of an independent”

But those are independent restaurants. How can you compete with that as a chain?

We may be a group of restaurants, but each has the spirit of an independent. Really, it does. Take our chef in Bath, for instance – he’s been with us since we opened, six years ago.

The manager has been here for six years, and six or seven of the other team members, too. Ask me how many are from Bath. You’d be surprised – it’s more than half. In this industry, and especially with a restaurant group, that’s rare.

So where does everything go from here?

I tell you, young people today don’t want to work 15 hours a day, as I used to – and I understand that. We live in a different era. The young still want to enjoy their work, and they’re just as passionate as we used to be, but they demand a life-work balance. It’s up to us, as restaurateurs, to provide it. That is the challenge now.

Indian summer dining couldn’t be better than dining at Mint Room Bath and the re-opening of our Piper Heidsieck Rooftop Champagne Bar

Sunday brunch coming soon!

Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EB Tel: 01225 446656 12-16 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AF Tel: 01173 291300 Email: info@themintroom.co.uk www.themintroom.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK When we noticed The Wolf Kitchen moored on the banks of Bath’s riverside, we couldn’t resist poking our head in for a chat (and a wrap). Whether you’re after a sweet snack or a superfood salad, Laura Darling is the lady to provide you with healthy homemade food...

© TERRY HEWLET T ARPS

Hi Laura. Tell us more about The Wolf Kitchen…

We’re a vegan/vegetarian floating café on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

We move location every 14 days, and serve the food from the hatch in our kitchen.

TAKE 5 Fancy brownies and bhajis from

What’s on the menu?

Currently, we have a falafel wrap with a smoked paprika hummus and a superfood salad, and an onion bhaji wrap with mango chutney and crunchy salad. To satisfy a sweeth tooth, we also have a vegan chocolate and roasted almond brownie.

What’s your foodie ethos?

I am vegetarian and eat vegan food a lot of the time, so I don’t have meat on the menu and use very limited dairy products. Currently, we only offer cows milk in hot drinks (for those who want it) and a yogurt and mint sauce, but I’m experimenting with a dairy-free version of that, too.

© TERRY HEWLET T ARPS

a canal boat kitchen hatch?

Meet Laura Darling, owner of The Wolf Kitchen – Bath’s unique and fresh floating café

Size isn’t everything, and Laura wraps up a spicy lunch menu from her tiny kitchen space

How big is your team?

I am a lone wolf (sorry I couldn’t help that), but sometimes when I do floating markets I employ my amazing mum to help. She has owned two cafes and worked in catering her whole life. She’s been a great help and taught me a lot of what I know about cooking.

Do you make it all yourself?

The Wolf Kitchen is all about providing healthy homemade food, so I always aim to make everything myself where I can. I am excited about when the colder months come, so I can get the tarka dal back on the menu and do dinner clubs on the towpath.

It’s a unique concept – where did the idea come from?

As soon as we had our offer accepted on the boat with its sliding kitchen window, I bought some catering equipment. I’ve always wanted to do it, but my last boat didn’t have the right kitchen.

How long have you been floating, so to speak?

I’ve been on the water for nearly five years. WOLF is our second boat – our first was only 50ft long, and after we had our son, Floyd, we needed more space.

How can customers keep up to date of your location?

I update our location and opening times on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @wolf_boatcafe What’s the feedback been like so far?

I have been overwhelmed with the lovely reviews that I have had. A lot of people have said the roasted almond brownie is the best cake they’ve eaten, and that’s quite a compliment. I’ve got a few returning customers, and it really is a nice feeling knowing that my food is being enjoyed.

Your falafel wraps have been getting a lot of praise – what’s your secret?

It’s a secret.

The best thing about being in Bath (or thereabouts)?

I am so lucky to live on the Kennet & Avon Canal. It’s full of history, stunning countryside and there’s an amazing community. We always look forward to getting into the Bath area, and I enjoy searching for new places to eat and drink.

Will we see any new additions coming on the menu soon?

I plan to roll out my dark chocolate and walnut energy bites soon, as well as a gluten- and dairy-free salad box.

What are your future plans for the Kitchen?

We will be trading at the floating market in Bradford-on-Avon in July and at the Bath mayday floating market next year. We also have plans to give WOLF a shiny new paint job this year and get her traditionally sign-written (which I am very excited about).

And, surprise us…

My kitchen is only 6ft by 8ft. That is small, even for a narrow boat…

www.facebook.com/thewolfkitchen

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FOOD & DRINK NEWS

PARK LIFE

Forget making a picnic, food delivery company

Deliveroo has just announced that its riders in Bath will be transporting restaurant-quality meals to public parks across the city this summer. Wherever you choose to lounge in the sun, the app-based service will happily deliver, lunch, dinner or snacking options from local restaurants from across the city directly to you – great news if you get peckish while sunbathing.

Using the mobile app, you’ll simply enter your location, drop a pin at the nearest park entrance, and then head over once you get the delivery notification to meet your rider (and dinner). “Deliveroo is determined to make this summer as relaxing and enjoyable for customers as possible,” says Joe Groves, spokesman for the company. “Now you don’t have to sacrifice your spot in the sun to enjoy some of the best summer food and drink.”

Enjoy fare from local eateries – such as The Bath Brew House, Bath Pizza Co. and Swoon – al fresco, in one of Bath’s beautiful parks (and in under 30 minutes).

For more: www.deliveroo.co.uk

Lighter dishes, lighter crockery, lighter months

NUTRITIOUS DELICIOUS There’s always going to be demand for hearty beer-food at The Bath Brew House, but the pub is in full health mode to suit the summer months ahead. “We like to keep our menu seasonal, and we’ve made it lighter, whilst also sticking to our brewery roots.” says Lucas Van Rensburg, general manager. The new menu showcases fresh, homemade pub food, with plenty of options for coeliacs, vegetarians and vegans. One new addition that’s sure to be a popular sunshine lunch is the Gardener’s Sharing Board – a veritable harvest of fresh veggies, fromage and warm sourdough.

“We’ve worked hard to produce a menu that offers great quality pub food that complements the warmer weather,” adds head chef Gareth Burgess. You can expect food to come served on white crockery – as opposed to the patterned plates that were previously used – to allow the colours and textures of the new dishes to stand out. The Brew House’s suntrap beer garden is now open, and it’s the ideal spot to enjoy these new bites, alongside a home-brewed beer (or alternative).

For more: www.thebathbrewhouse.com

SAVOUR OF SICILY

Ice creams and pizza will be delivered to you while you sunbathe

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Language supper clubs at Bath’s Italian Food Hall are proving popular, but now the deli is taking things up a notch and bringing the city a monthly evening cookery demonstration, pairing up with Giacomo Carreca, head chef at indie Italian restaurant Amarone.

“Italian food is full of fresh flavours and different Mr Carreca will be demonstrating the textures. Every month Giacomo will choose a region or ingredient and create mouth-watering recipes for pupils dishes of antipasti, risotto and more to learn how make,” says Laura Doria, co-owner.

For starters, on the 20 June, he’ll be dishing up the distinct flavours of Sicily – think arancini and risotto funghi. The session will combine an intro to the region with an interactive cooking tutorial, so that guests can make the dishes themselves alongside the chef. There will be plenty of time to tuck in to the recipes created, as well as taste five wines showcasing the Island of Sicily with vino expert Vito Scaduto MCA. The first event runs from 6.15pm – 8.15pm. Spaces are limited, and tickets (£35 per person) include the cookery demonstration, wine tasting and final dinner.

For more: email info@theitalianfoodhall.com

Open on the ground floor from 9am everyday until late.

Serving sumptuousServing brunches, fantastic coffee excellent food.

Open on the sumptuous Liveand Music & DJ events ground floor from brunches, fantastic throughout the week Live Music & DJ eventscoffee throughout the weekinina aunique unique&&funky funky 9am everyday and setting full of character. until late. excellent food. setting full of character.

Great Cocktails, Timeless Music Hits, Friendly & Warm Service.

Great Cocktails, Timeless Music Hits, Friendly & Warm Service.

| Monday - Friday: HAPPYHAPPY HOURHOUR | Monday - Friday: 5-7pm5-7pm

HALF PRICE on selected cocktails, spirits and wines.

HALF PRICE on selected cocktails, spirits and wines.

TEA | Monday7pm - Saturday: LADIESAFTERNOON NIGHT | Every Thursday: onwards3-5pm

Variety of teas, scones & cakes, dainty sandwiches and champagne.

Half price Prosecco & selected Cocktails. DJ playing 80s & 90s music

SUNDAY ROAST A OF TRIO OF MUSIC LIVE MUSIC SUNDAY ROAST WITH WITH A TRIO LIVE (JAZZ, BLUES AND MORE) (JAZZ, BLUES AND MORE) Enjoy half price wine by the glass or a draft beer with your roast.

Enjoy half price wine by the glass or a draft beer with your roast.

LAST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH: IT'S A SUNDAY TING! LAST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH: IT'S A SUNDAY TING! Enjoy your Sunday roast to sweet reggae beats by our DJ. Enjoy your Sunday roast to sweet reggae beats by our DJ.

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

Feather headband, £285, from V V Rouleaux, 9 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath; www.vvrouleaux.com

FEATHER PERMITTING

Special-occasion dressing can be a minefield, but, during the sunnier season, there’ll likely be a whole array of reasons to dress up. A wedding or a day at the races (bearing in mind that Ladies’ Day at Bath Racecourse is on 16 June) offer the perfect opportunities to wear colours and styles outside your comfort zone, so we took a wander over to independent specialist haberdasher V V Rouleaux to browse their firstever hat collection, which launched earlier this year.

The beguiling headpieces integrate the components found in their treasure-trove shop; there’s vintage lace, ornate embellishments, French artisan accessories, hand-painted silk flowers and trims in 100 colours, ensuring that each handcrafted design is one-of-a-kind. A whimsical wide brim or an extravagant button hat may be more your thing, but we were drawn to this headband, which is adorned with hand-painted silk Lady Amherst pheasant feathers.

Either pop into the shop, where the millinery gurus will help you design an entirely new creation, or book into one of the Hats & Headdresses workshops (the next one is on 27 July) to design your own.

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ABSTRACT CUSHION COVER, FROM £21 From her home in Camden, Bath, Debbie Picken makes homeware accessories – such as these bold cushion covers made from fabric dating back to the 50s – from her vintage material collection. She mainly sells online, but you’ll sometimes find her work at local independent shops From Blue Lizard Textiles, Camden, Bath; www.bluelizardtextiles.etsy.com

PINEAPPLE WASHBAG, £11.99 Bath-based charity Neema Crafts imports and sells products, such as this screen-printed, sewn washbag, made by people with disabilities living in Tanzania. All profits go back to the makers From Neema Crafts, Prior Park Road, Bath; www.neemacrafts.com

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

We’ve got summer on the mind, but in the design world things are just heating up for autumn. One of Pantone’s spicier shades for the upcoming season is Russet Orange; we’ve hunted through local shops to find treasures in the warm hue…

SIMON HARRISON RING, £125 Tactile surface and craftsmanship make the Transformation Cloisonné enamel and pearl ring a unique statement.

Attention has been paid to every detail, and the surfaces are inlayed with translucent enamelling to resemble flowing water From Alexandra May, 23 Brock Street, Bath; www.alexandramay.com

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ORANGERY ROOM SPRAY, £26 Presented in softly smoked glass, this home scent aims to capture the essence of a Victorian orangery shielding precious citrus trees from the English weather; think orange blossom blended with deeper rose and jasmine perfumes From True Grace, 19 Milsom Place, Bath; www.truegrace.co.uk

ART GLASS JUG, FROM £45 With a design that almost looks like flames lapping up from the ground, or like cracking lava, this individually handmade Georgianstyle jug would make for a bold housewarming gift From Bath Aqua Glass, 14 Cheap Street / 15 Abbey Churchyard, Bath; www.bathaquaglass.com

ED’S CHOICE

ORIGINAL FASHION ILLUSTRATION, £4,000 This month, an international fashion and textile gallery opened in Bath. Gray M.C.A uncovers rare works from private collections and brings these lost treasures back into the light. One of those treasures is this original 1970s marker pen and pastel on paper by the renowned American 20th-century fashion artist Kenneth Paul Block, for a Halston Beauty story From Gray M.C.A, 5 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.graymca.com

CORAL TABLE LAMP, £125 Bring the excitement and beauty of the seaside home with this vibrant lamp. Its base, which resembles exotic coral, contrasts fabulously with the clean, white shade. A statement home accessory, destined to make an impact From Graham and Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

CONTEMPORARY ARTWORK, £50 This acrylic and oil on board, named Sparrow, by local artist O. Olive, is just one of the homeware accessories you’ll find at Mebyl – an eclectic muddle of salvaged, reclaimed and original items From Mebyl, 4 Cleveland Terrace, Bath; www.mebyl.co.uk

TIME HOURGLASS, £17 Bring classic elegance to your home with this sophisticated hourglass in burnt-orange tones. It offers a contemporary, curvaceous twist on the classic timer and makes a stunning addition to the kitchen From COS, 24-26 Union Street, Bath; www.cosstores.com

RITZ SOFA, £2,095 A comfortable seat on which to enjoy reading a good book and drinking a glass of red will never get old. Our choice is this classy two-seater with its simple lines and duck feather and down cushions From Etons of Bath, 108 Walcot Street, Bath; www. etonsofbath.com

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T H E FIN EST IN L I NG E R I E , BEAC H & N IGH TW E A R

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7 Quiet Street Bath BA1 2JU T: 01225 330563 E: info@dressingroombath.com www.dressingroombath.com

Affordable Bespoke tailoring for men and women in Bath, suited to your lifestyle, personality and budget. We specialise in suits, jackets, trousers, chinos, shirts, tweeds, coats and casual wear for both men and women.

Choose from a wide choice of fabrics, linings and finishing touches.

Private one-to-one measuring and styling service by appointment only.

Contact Mike Lane: 0800 011 2450 | mike@suitthecity.com www.suitthecity.com 1 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HA

FASHION

CRAYOLA CHIC Forget about pastels and neutrals, SS18 is all about bold, bright paintbox colours

By Lisa Evans

T

his season’s uplifting, colourful, joyous trend is a kaleidoscope of rainbow colour with luxurious texture and ruffles galore.

Designers have raided the Pantone chart for pulsating primary colours – there’s scarlet, cobalt, emerald and zesty yellow – and wearing them confidently, head-to-toe, is the best way to do it.

For the bold among you, pair a matching jacket and trousers with a clashing top and statement earrings (and the more your ear-wear resembles Pat Butcher’s, the better, right now, too). Alternatively, those who don’t want to get heads turning too much can test the water with accessories such as flowing scarves or pointed courts in punchy hues.

When it comes to frou frou frills – whether fluttering at shin-length from cropped trousers, or garnishing shoulders and waists – the rule seems to be ‘more is more’. The childlike, ethereal touch of draped and flowing ruffles has a soft aesthetic, and whether you’re a particularly feminine dresser or not, you’ll find you can embark upon this trend in a way to suit your style.

So, as the promise of warmer climes sets in, it’s time to deliver a hit of colour to your wardrobe; pack up and put away all things grey and bleak, and make way for courageous and daring Crayola chic.

Selected Femme cropped wide-leg jumpsuit, £120; Holi tasseled embroidered clutch, £125, from Anthropologie, 1-4 New Bond Street, Bath; www.anthropologie.com

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FRENCH CONNECTION JUMPSUIT £130, Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk WINSER LONDON SHIFT DRESS £139, Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www. rossitersofbath.com

VIRGINIE TROUSERS £98, Anthropologie, 1-4 New Bond Street, Bath; www.anthropologie.com

SCHERNING EARRINGS £39, Found, 17 Argyle Street, Bath; www.foundbath.co.uk

PARAIBA AND DIAMOND RING £9,600, Mallory, 1-5 Bridge Street, Bath; www.mallory-jewellers.com

ALBINA CLUTCH £119.95, Franchetti Bond, 5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.franchettibond.co.uk

PAINTED SCARF from £45, Waller & Wood, 4 Abbey Green, Bath; www. wallerandwood.co.uk

SARA TERRACOTTA DRESS £45, Bibico, 9A Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bibico.co.uk

L.K.BENNETT COURTS £130, Kilver Court, Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com

MUNTHE BLOUSE £179, Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 91

W W W. T H E S U I T E B AT H . C O . U K 01225

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With its constant buzz and energy, Kingsmead Square is one of the most dynamic public spaces in the city.

Here, we shine a spotlight on it...

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ou could easily spend an entire day and night exploring Kingsmead Square and its surrounding offshoots: coffee in the morning followed by a home interiors and fashion shopping spree, every kind of dish imaginable for lunch, then a beauty overhaul before heading out for cocktails. Read on to take a closer look at the area and discover why it’s such a buzzing hub in the city…

BY DAY

Jam-packed in and around every corner and crevice of the square are grab-and-go lunch spots, coffee shops and popular restaurants serving food from all over the world, including Mexican at Mission Burrito; Asian cuisine at the likes of Yum Yum Thai, Gong Fu, Thai Balcony and Peking Restaurant; Lebanese at Phat Yaks; British nosh at Seafoods; and vegetarian and vegan Indian street food at Chai Walla. We could go on; in fact, we will. There’s also Boston Tea Party, Bath Coffee Company, Society Café and The Stable, plus The Kingsmead Kitchen where each dish is made (with love) freshly on the premises – even down to the pesto and jam.

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© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

FAIR AND SQUARE

© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Kingsmead Square at a more peaceful time of day; Emma Savage at designer resale boutique Grace & Ted; al fresco lunch at Mission Burrito

© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

© BEATA COSGROVE PHOTOGR APHY

STREET LIFE

TOP: fresh fruit and veg is available at all times; ABOVE: Cameron Glossop at Swoon; Zenith’s Richard Hall

DID YOU KNOW? Alina Lucacela at Mission Burrito “The huge plane tree at the centre of the square was supposedly planted in the late 1700s, not long after the square was laid.”

Lindsay Holdoway at HPH “It seems Kingsmead has long been a place for recreation and food and drink. An account from 1687 refers to the ‘several little cake houses where you have fruit syllabubs and summer liquors’. Also, numbers five – 10 Kingsmead Square were proposed for demolition in 1969 but were saved.”

Pat Powell at Swoon “Our grandfather had an Italian ice cream business in the late 1940s, so what we do is in our blood. Also, every month, our ‘Swoonatics’ vote for one particular flavour, and we make it. Right now, we have a pineapple and basil sorbetto.”

Louis Lewis-Smith at The Dark Horse “I’ve been working with Nick Strangeway on a very exciting new project here. It’s nearly complete and, as much as I’d like to tell you all about it, it’s essentially a secret. However, those in the know, know...”

We’re also big fans of Swoon – the sophisticated gelato bar with a sprinkle of Italian swagger – and Kingsmead wouldn’t feel complete without the lively presence of the Bath Bus Station Fruiterers boys, who sell fresh produce from their stall all year round.

“The square is becoming more like a piazza, where both local and visiting people meet, eat delicious, independent street food on benches and just enjoy themselves,” says Pat Powell, founder of Swoon, which has just celebrated its first year in business in Bath. “At night, with the large protecting tree in the centre all lit up, it’s a magical place. There’s a lovely energy here, and it’s gaining serious momentum.”

Alina Lucacela, restaurant manager at Mission Burrito Bath, which has four other restaurants in total, says, when the sun is out, every chair outside every place has a person it in, and it makes for a laid-back area where the people-watching opportunities are plentiful.

“It’s becoming more of an attraction for tourists, particularly because it’s quirkier than the standard shopping and eating area,” she says. “Eight years ago, when we first moved in, it felt like it would be an up-and-coming area with potential for development; thankfully, we were right.”

Talking of food and drink, possibly the biggest tenant on the square – occupying four buildings and employing 40 people – is independent business Zenith Global.

It consults all over the world, advising food and drink companies – including their key clients such as global brand leaders Coca-Cola and Nestlé – about everything from market trends to cost-saving.

Zenith now also has an office in the United States, and its founder and chairman, Richard Hall, first came to the city as student at the University of Bath and was elected youngest-ever Bath city councillor while still an undergraduate.

“I love being in Kingsmead Square for its informal atmosphere,” says Richard. “There are beautiful buildings, a huge choice of places to eat, and we’re in a very central location.”

So the square might be a Mecca for all things thirst-quenching and craving-satiating, but it would be remiss to think it stopped there. It’s crammed with interiors expertise from the likes of Silcox Son & Wicks, Bath Contract Flooring – for all your commercial needs – and Avonvale Carpets; and it’s not just your home that can get a bit of prettification. Grace & Ted offer an incredible range of pre-loved designer clothing for men and women, and if you’re looking to feel even more beautiful, pop into one of the salons. The Orangery Laser & Beauty Clinic has been in Bath for decades and specialises in clinical and medical treatments;

“A ball pit and a trampoline park would make great additions” MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 95

STREET LIFE

© JESPER MAT TIAS

and Frontlinestyle, which is based just outside the square on Monmouth Street, is a popular boutique hair salon, beauty spa and wig specialist.

“Kingsmead Square is one of the only parts of the city where independent businesses outweigh chains – that’s pretty impressive these days,” says Emma Savage, co-owner of Grace & Ted. “The retail businesses here are all family-owned and offer a unique experience; that’s pretty special.

We wouldn’t move anywhere else, but, with Brexit looming, we’re very aware of the importance of being able to target overseas customers, and we’re hoping to reach a new market in the US.” Kingsmead has always been surrounded by entertainment venues that draw in the big crowds, with the Theatre Royal, the Ustinov, Komedia, the Odeon complex and pubs such as The Trinity Inn and Flan O’Briens in close proximity, as Lindsay Holdoway, managing director at HPH Commercial Property, based on the square, explains. “Kingsmead is the most dynamic public space in the city, due to the fact that it’s nestled in the centre of the ‘entertainment quarter’ of Bath,” he says. “It’s close to the new casino development – along with its restaurants and Z Hotel – as well as entertainment venues and several other hotels including the Apex and The Gainsborough.”

And there’s a very special bar in the middle of the square, too; one that, last year, was voted among the 10 best bars in the world next to the big hitters in the likes of London, New York and Singapore.

“It’s so cool that we have one of the best cocktail bars in the world: The Dark Horse,” says Emma at Grace & Ted “When it arrived in Kingsmead, it definitely changed the dynamic of the square.”

The cocktail bar may have a commanding, square-altering presence, but managing director of the bar Louis Lewis-Smith says there’s another dominant voice in the area.

“All of us in the square just do what Emma Savage at Grace & Ted says, and so far it seems to work,” laughs Louis, who, with the help of a few friends and family, pretty much built the relaxed and unpretentious bar himself over two years.

“She’d want me to say something like ‘The square is made up of a tight-knit group of businesses who all like to help each other out’, or something to that effect; I’ll just go with that.”

Anna-Louise Ivory of family business Avonvale Carpets, which has been in Bath since the ’70s, says, whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, the square will have something for you, “It always has an active atmosphere. It’s an up-and-comer in terms of leisure, with lots of development going on at the moment.”

“Our historic lease is handwritten on goatskin vellum” 96 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

© JESPER MAT TIAS

BY NIGHT

TOP: The Kingsmead Kitchen’s menu wall; ABOVE: when the sun’s out, every chair on the square is filled

TOP SPOTS These are the favourite spots of business owners in and around Kingsmead Square…

Anna-Louise Ivory of Avonvale Carpets “We enjoy The Kingsmead Kitchen because of its relaxed feel and friendly staff. They have a great breakfast menu which we make the most of on birthdays or for relaxed company meetings.”

Pat Powell of Swoon “We love Emma at Grace & Ted who works tirelessly for the square. The food at

Chai Walla and Phat Yaks is phenomenal, and early evening cocktails at The Dark Horse are a must!

Boston Tea Party is great for a light lunch, as is the fish and chip shop next to us, then onto desert at Swoon.”

Emma Savage of Grace & Ted “Bath Bus Station Fruiterers are a huge asset to the square – their fresh fruit and

veg is much cheaper than you’ll find in supermarkets.

We also love Swoon; we managed to build up £10 worth of loyalty points within weeks of them opening – the staff agreed that was impressive. Bath Contract Flooring is another favourite; if ever I need cheering up, I head over there for a chat – they never fail to make me laugh.”

Winner of Best Hair Salon and Best Day Spa in Somerset 2016

Frontlinestyle welcomes both Men & Women and caters for all your Hair and Beauty needs.

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Male Waxing (including intimate) • Clarins or Caudalie Facials • CACI Synergy Non Surgical Facelift Spray Tanning • Permanent Hair Removal • Massages • Footlogics orthotics medical pedicure

Gift Vouchers available www.frontlinestyle.co.uk 4/5 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2AJ • 01225 478478 11 Broad Street, Wells BA5 2DJ • 01749 672225

PICTURE COURTESY OF HPH COMMERCIAL PROPERT Y

STREET LIFE LIKE FAMILY

According to Geraldine Rosic of The Kinsgmead Kitchen, the community spirit in the area is much like that of a village in which people help each other when needed. And the team at Bath Contract Flooring – which collectively has 100 years of experience in the trade – says only friendly, helpful vibes exist here, helped in part by the Kingsmead Traders’ Association, which enables traders to work as a collective to organise events and regenerate the square.

“Everyone pops in and out of each other’s businesses to see what’s going on,” says Alina at Mission Burrito. “And, even though there are a lot of coffee shops and lunch options, there’s no bad feeling as the square does very well and there are plenty of customers to go around.”

WHAT’S MISSING?

If business owners in and around the square could add something to the area, what would that be?

For a number of years, HPH has been working with B&NES to make the area an al fresco dining quarter. They believe a road closure around the square would enable the already-popular foodie outlets to expand their offering and attract more visitors. “To some people, Kingsmead is just somewhere you walk through, but we want to make it a destination: an area of Bath that people know they can go, relax and enjoy top-quality food and drink throughout the day and early evening,” says Lindsay Holdoway.

Also, being a huge cycling enthusiast, Lindsay thinks a cycle shop would be a great addition to the area and says the company is currently encouraging the council to locate electric charging points for e-bikes near the square.

Alina at Mission Burrito would be pleased to see an independent local produce shop in the area – maybe a deli or local butchers. And Louis from The Dark Horse jokes that he’d like more cafés to be introduced, “Only kidding, I think Bath has the highest concentration of coffee shops and pizza places in the known universe. I think there’s scope for more night-time trade here, though. A French

WHAT CAME BEFORE? Here’s what the shop spaces in and around the square used to be…

Mission Burrito Alina Lucacela “Our building has a long history – spanning several centuries – as a supplier of vittles and a rooming house.

Our original, historic lease document is a handwritten and illustrated page of goatskin vellum.”

Frontlinestyle Abi Beszant “Our Grade-II listed building used to be a micro museum.

The whole building was black, and we had to renovate it and start from scratch.”

The Kinsgmead Kitchen Geraldine Rosic “Rosewell House, where we are, is one of the most beautiful buildings in Bath. It

© JESPER MAT TIAS

TOP: a look back in time; BELOW: Society Café is among the myriad foodie gems

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has its fans who love taking photos of it. It feels good to meet people who, like us, think that the building has an incredible beauty. It was once the home of a bishop.”

The Dark Horse Louis Lewis-Smith “There was a pub in this building that closed over 100 years ago. It was called the Black Horse, hence the name we chose.”

Avonvale Carpets Anna-Louise Ivory “We believe it was a bakery at one point, as well as a garden centre, a saddlery and an outdoors activity shop.”

Grace & Ted Emma Savage

“Our shop space has been home to a greengrocer, a boot-maker and fish monger.

The Rideout family occupied all three floors of the building for many years and we were once visited by a great granddaughter of Frank Rideout who wanted to look around her old home. When we took over the shop, the previous owners mentioned a naughty ghost with a habit of moving things around.”

Chai Walla Niraj Gadher “Our shop has had a difficult past. Despite its great location, it's small size is suitable for very few businesses. Previously, it’s been a soup kitchen and florist.”

restaurant would be nice. Failing that a ballpit, German beer hall and a trampoline park would make great additions.”

We’re very much on board with these suggestions. “Oh, and if I had the power, I’d rotate the square so that we’d get all-day sun,” he adds.

While Steve White, director at Bath Contract Flooring, would welcome more retail shops, all The Kingsmead Kitchen wants is new, inviting benches.

Emma at Grace & Ted agrees that a few simple changes like this would be refreshing.

“I’d love better-looking street furniture and some permanent planters that we could use as a community garden,” she says. “The Kingsmead Traders’ Association and our landlord HPH has been rallying the council to make improvements for about five years. It’s a slow process that was made slower when the new casino got bumped ahead of us on the list of redevelopments.” We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this most eclectic of spaces.

Carpets

Rugs

Vinyls

Image shows Kingsmead Carpets

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Heatstroke and our furry friends You’ll find useful advice, tips and support at BATH VET SURGERIES

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Quote of the issue

“THE ARROW REPRESENTS OBSTACLES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR OUTCOME” Andy Cartmell's unique workshop coaching techniques, page 107

The Big Number Sue and Malachi Bogdanov covet a painting by artist Ta Thimkaeo

ART FOR ALL

Cool Ventures helps Apple Gallery take a bite out of the international art market

B

ath-based film and theatre director Malachi Bogdanov has just launched an exciting online gallery to make great art accessible to all – albeit with a little help from business growth consultancy Cool Ventures.

Malachi (former associate director of the English Shakespeare Company) has set up The Apple Gallery to represent both up-andcoming artists and established painters, giving them more commission than most online galleries do. The online gallery

portfolio is set to champion the unsung heroes of the art world.

Even the best business ideas can need a little boost, and Malachi has been receiving specialist advice from Sue Marchant and the team at Cool Ventures, who deliver something called the Bath Business Support Programme – free intensive support to small and mediumsized businesses in the area. This includes one-to-one coaching from experienced advisers, as well as access to workshops on key topics including strategy and business

planning, finance, marketing and management skills.

“My ethos is to make quality art accessible to all. We'll do this by taking a low commission and offering some of the best original paintings from around the world at affordable prices,” says Malachi.

“It feels like a real partnership with Cool Ventures, and it’s good to know that they are looking out for me,” Malachi adds. “The free advice I have received through the Bath Business Support Programme has been fantastic. Sue put me in

£1.1M

The hefty sum paid for a (not) priceless Titanic violin, page 110

touch with their SEO specialist, and then was able to introduce me to the export team at the Department for International Trade.”

Sue Marchant has also been able to introduce Malachi (and other similar businesses) to extensive contacts in the business world. “We work closely with a wide range of organisations that we have good relationships with, and can introduce our businesses clients to those that can help them. We wish Malachi every success with The Apple Gallery and his mission to make great art affordable for all.”

The Apple Gallery features work by artists from around the world.

You can catch some of their unique paintings on display at a temporary exhibition in Bath’s Guildhall.

For more: www.theapplegallery.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIDER

ONE TO WATCH

Meet auctioneer, antique expert and TV host Andrew Aldridge

What sets you apart from the competition?

We differ from similar sized companies with our profile. Items we auction regularly feature in the national and international media, and only a few months ago I was interviewed by CBS for their morning television show which is shown coast to coast in the United States.

What do you do behind the scenes?

After an initial phone call or email, I’ll inspect an item in the flesh, then, if suitable, research it, catalogue it, prepare it for sale and then take it to auction. The sale itself probably takes the least amount of time, and the preparation the longest. Of course, if an item is of special interest we may well also promote it in the national or international media.

Any recent items of intrigue?

An archive of World War I memorabilia, including a spectacular diary featuring first-person accounts of the Somme and Ypres. This was featured on the Mail Online and Fox News prior to the auction, which contributed to it selling for £41,000.

Henry Aldridge and Son are local auctioneers with a worldwide reputation, and the familyrun business is operated by father and son team Alan and Andrew Aldridge. We caught up with Andrew to talk Titanic memorabilia, mismatched valuations and managing the media…

Hi there, Andrew. Tell us more about Henry Aldridge and Son We’re a family business, based in Devizes, which specialises in the auction of antiques, collectables, Titanic and iconic memorabilia.

Andrew with the famous Molly Brown Arthur Rostron Carpathia Loving Cup

“ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES ARE IN THE BLOOD FOR ME”

How did you learn the craft?

Antiques and collectables are in the blood for me – both my father and grandfather were in the trade.

This meant that I was immersed in the subject from a young age, and I completed an honours degree in Southampton in Fine Arts Valuation.

What happened next?

After that, a career in antiques was a certainty and I joined the family business. I’m now a consultant to Henry Aldridge and Son, and also work as a host for an American TV channel and the world’s largest Titanic museum based in the US.

What’s the most interesting part of the job?

I love being able to maximise the value of an item for a client. Plus, the thrill of researching and promoting interesting items in the media is second to none.

What’s it like being an auctioneer in Bath (or thereabouts)?

Bath is a special place. On a personal level, I met my wife there, but then as a city, it has everything. You just have to walk around the centre and you are immersed in history. As my job revolves around historical events, it’s a natural fit.

What auction areas do you specialise in? Why? We are best known for the sale of Titanic memorabilia, and are now regarded as the world’s leaders, holding every world record for the sale of this genre – from the highest value object at over £1m to the most valuable archive at nearly half a million pounds.

Crikey. What was the highest value object? The Wallace Hartley Violin, the instrument that was played as the Titanic sank. We sold this in 2013 for £1.1m.

Do you sell general items, too?

We hold monthly auctions of antiques and collectors’ items such as jewellery, fine art, ephemera, and antiques.

Share an intriguing story…

We were once entertaining a wellknown antiques programme and received the consignments to auction after their experts had appraised them. The expert’s original estimate of £50-£100 turned out to be a little inaccurate, and we sold the Hayman Younghusband Tibetan archive for £140,000. www.henry-aldridge.co.uk

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 117

BUSINESS INSIDER

BATH RUGBY NEWS The latest from Bath Rugby HQ

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

Courses and classes to help your business flourish 11 JUNE NETWORKING EVENT Mingle and meet in a stunning location, enjoy drinks and canapés, and build and nurture relationships among event professionals. Run

by The Event Organisers Network (EON), a voluntary network of event professionals from across the region.

From £25; 5.30 – 7.30pm; Bailbrook House Hotel; www. eventorganisersnetwork.co.uk

Kieran and Jade have been prepped with a bike mechanic course

Bath Rugby Foundation’s annual cycling fundraiser has seen riders pedal across Ireland, throughout the Normandy countryside and from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Their latest escapade, however, is a threeday cycle around Tuscany.

Fortunately for the 100 cyclists taking part, they’ll be supported all the way by two young superstar students Jade Whale and Kieran Cunningham, who were asked to take part in the Giro di Toscana after shining on the Hitz programme, an education and sporting course for 16-19 year olds that’s delivered by the Foundation.

The chance to take part was a reward for the hard work that both students have put in since joining Hitz. The Foundation’s employment officer, Joe Aygul, says, “Kieran has shown commitment and a great attitude, volunteering with the Foundation’s inclusion projects. He is a great ambassador for Hitz. Jade initially had no clarity in what she wanted to do with her life. Now she is

exploring avenues with the army and also pursuing apprenticeships within sports coaching.”

The dependable pair will be a vital support for the event team, assisting at pit stops, lunch stops, at the resort, and in many other ways that haven’t been thought up. They’ll also be sent on a bike mechanic course before the trip, to fix any issues along the way.

Neither Kieran nor Jade (both 17) has been to Italy before. “I feel like it is an amazing opportunity – we’re getting a special life experience,” says Jade, who even had to get her first passport to take part in the trip.

“It is really exciting to be going to a different country and to get the chance to try new things.”

The Giro Di Toscana takes place on 6 – 10 June, and, every day, each cyclist will complete an 80- or 50-mile loop of the Italian countryside. Last year’s continental adventure, the French 400, saw 70 riders raise more than £50,000 for the Foundation. This year’s venture – with the help of Keiran and Jade – looks set to be even more successful.

For more: www.bathrugby.com

13 JUNE VISUALISING THE FUTURE An evening of conversation organised by RIBA South West, about emerging new technologies in the built environment. To start, expect a glass of fizz and canapés in the atrium, followed by talks on why, where and how new technology can save clients time and money. £6; 5.30 – 8pm; ARUP; www.eventbrite.co.uk 26 JUNE STRATEGY AND BUSINESS Are you an established local business looking for ways to grow? This free planning workshop will cover turnover, staff, number of outlets and other variables you might want to increase. If you know how you want your business to look in several years’ time, find out how to map the right changes now; 9am – 5pm; Bath and County Club; www.coolventures.co.uk 27 JUNE ETHICS IN ARCHITECTURE A seminar for architects delivered by RIBA South West (Bath), to provide an awareness of the threats faced by you and your clients. Topics will include architecture for social purpose, health, safety and well-being, and design, constructions and technology.

Professor Jacqueline Glass is a key speaker. £18; 2pm – 4.30pm; Bath Cricket Club;; The Guild; www.architecture.com

Natalia, Robert and Alice

STRENGTHENING THRINGS

A new partner, Alice Altounyan, has been appointed to law firm Thrings’ leadership team in Bath.

Alice is a member of Thrings’ private property team, and the go-to specialist for all residential property transactions, including listed buildings (handy for Bath), leasehold purchases and remortgages.

Her new promotion coincides with associates Natalia Sokolov, Robert Barnes and Rebecca Balmforth, who becomes the firm’s fifth legal director.

The newly promoted workers have shown their commitment to the law firm, and now see their hard work rewarded. Simon Holdsworth, managing partner of Thrings, says, “While we continue to attract industry-leading legal experts from outside the firm, we also believe in harnessing the skills of our own talented lawyers.”

STEPS TO THE TOP

Matthew Rutter – star employee of Pearson May Chartered Accountants on Great Pulteney Street – has been promoted to partner. His rise to the top has been impressive yet steady; he joined the practice in 2004 after a Maths degree at Bristol University, and passed his taxation exams in 2011.

“Matthew’s promotion follows our strong tradition of growing and developing our staff, and we can congratulate him for all his special work and success,” says Nick Oliver, existing partner at the firm.

Matthew is delighted, too. “I am becoming a partner in one of the best respected firms of Chartered Accountants in the country. I’m particularly looking forward to getting even more involved in the local business community.”

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BUSINESS INSIDER

FANTASTIC FOUR Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories right now Bath’s business scene features plenty of insightful workshops, but a recent episode hosted by Edit at their new ‘Editorium’ took a very practical approach to goal-setting.

Sponsored by FWD Thinking Recruitment and led by positive change agency 91 Untold, individuals from seven Bath-based businesses had to come up with something that they want to bring into being this year, and then put some energy behind making it a reality. More specifically, they were asked to break an arrow with their necks – to empower their goal.

Why? “This is a powerful metaphor experience,” says Andy Cartmell, director of coaching, 91 Untold. “The arrow represents obstacles between you and your outcome, and it’s amazing how real this feels for people. How much could your organisation achieve if you were able to push beyond what’s in the way?”

Part of 91 Untold’s mission is to support the local community and local businesses, so they were delighted to work with FWD Thinking Recruitment on this quirky self-empowerment project.

For more: www.91untold.com

BELOW Donovan construct a

contemporary new home, Carisbrooke, on Bathampton Lane

BUILD A BIRTHDAY

Donovan Construction has worked on many prominent sites in our city, and the local firm is now celebrating 25 years of building with a big birthday bash. They’re also launching a new website very soon, to showcase their recent renovations.

The business has developed plenty of professional relationships with local customers, and they’re regarded for their meticulous work. “In the beautiful and historic city of Bath there is a specific focus on delivering quality construction solutions and exacting building standards,” says director James Johnson. “Donovan Construction has an illustrious portfolio of work ranging from listed building conversions and eco home constructions, to the most traditional

Travellers choose the Roman Bath’s as the UKs seventh-best landmark

of building forms.”

The company is celebrating their major milestone with an anniversary dinner at the Bailbrook House Hotel, for past and present clients, architects, engineers and, of course, their employees, who have made the last quarter of a century successful.

For more: www.donovanconstruction.co.uk

RAVE REVIEWS

People come from far and wide to enjoy one of the city’s finest historic sites, the Roman Baths. It’s not surprising, then, that the baths have been given another touristy honor and been named the seventh-best UK landmark in TripAdvisor’s 2018 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Millions of TripAdvisor users rated the ancient bathing site in the top 10 of Great British places to visit. More specifically, these best landmarks were determined using nifty algorithms, which took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and opinions gathered for each and every landmark on the site over a 12-month period.

“It’s fantastic to see the Roman Baths – one of Bath’s iconic sights – holding its own alongside some of the UK’s world-renowned sights, like Big Ben and the Tower of London,” says TripAdvisor spokewoman, Hayley Coleman.

Demand for our well-preserved Roman remains looks set to soar during the upcoming summer months, and special torch-lit evenings are planned at the historic site every evening between 16 June to 31 August until 10pm.

For more: www.tripadvisor.co.uk

LOVELY LOGGIA Breaking through obstacles, literally…

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© DAVID GRANDORGE

BROKEN ARROW

We’re spoilt for beautiful buildings in our city, and it’s pleasing when others recognise this, too. A development on the northern slopes of Bath has

Old and new is juxtaposed at Duncan Cottage

just won prestigious architectural RIBA South West Award at this year’s ceremony – which was held at the Apex Hotel on 16 May. Duncan Cottage by James Grayley Architects won the RIBA South West Small Project of the Year. Inspired by the original plans for the dwelling, a loggia was added to the east elevation of the cottage, which opens it up to the rest of the garden. “The reordering of Duncan Cottage has transformed this listed building,” says awards chairperson Jo Wright, “which will serve as an exemplar of the successful juxtaposition of old and new.”

The remodelling of the cottage shows how architecture can add value to even the most modest development; the updated abode is now an 18th-century home that meets 21st-century requirements.”

The RIBA South West Awards recognise examples of innovative and outstanding new architecture within the region, and Duncan Cottage – along with the rest of the winners – will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award, which will be announced on 22 June.

For more: www.architecture.com

BUSINESS INSIDER

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2018 Partners of Forest to Home Sam Baker and William Hibbert look back on their win So tell us... how did it feel to win your Bath Life Award?

It really was incredible. To be recognised among such an incredible group of finalists, in a city that’s very close to our hearts, and for something we are so passionate about, really is an amazing thing.

EVENT WINNER SPONSORED BY

Where is your award now?

Displayed proudly in our new Lacockbased workshop and showroom.

Tell us more about what you do at Forest to Home?

We specialise in crafting bespoke furniture for residential and commercial projects. Our ethos is centred around being a business that gives back more than it takes.

What do you love about being based near Bath?

The city holds a special place in our hearts. We both grew up locally, and Sam actually went to school here, so it’s great to be able to to Bath’s growing creative community.

Tell us more about your Forest Preservation Project...

We will only ever purchase wood from British, well-managed, sustainable or independent sources. We also pledge to plant five trees for every furniture item we sell.

What aims do you both have for Forest to Home?

Sam: I’d really like to see FTH commissioning more works within the city. With the opening of our new Lacock showroom, we look forward to welcoming the people of Bath and surrounding areas over to meet us.

What do you love most about your job?

The majority of the work we undertake is bespoke. As craftsmen we really enjoy creating unique pieces that have a story to tell – pieces that become the centrepiece of the environment they will soon inhabit.

© JENI MEADE

Do you also make pieces that haven’t been commissioned?

We do have a small collection of furniture and home accessories, such as wooden serving boards, benches and shelves. All of these are on show on our website.

Sam and Will leave their wood-crafting workshop for a night of city glamour

What’s your most memorable business moment so far?

We recently produced a number of pieces for Nando’s head office in London. In particular, we were able to produce a stunning 18-seat boardroom table out of some spectacular pieces of Walnut wood.

It was certainly a challenging piece to put together and also our largest individual piece to date.

Will: This year we will be aiming to continue the evolution of our Forest Preservation Project. We aim to set a benchmark for responsible sourcing within the timber industry, and will look to give back as much as we can as we continue to grow.

Any exciting announcements or projects in the pipeline?

We have projects ranging from dining tables through to feature pieces for some of the country’s largest restaurant chains and offices.

For more: www.foresttohome.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the PR expert

The shining stars who cut through the noise to deliver meaningful client content SARAH WOODHOUSE

KELLY PEPWORTH

AMBITIOUS PR

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SPEED COMMUNICATIONS

01179051177; sarah@ambitiouspr.co.uk www.ambitiouspr.co.uk What sets you apart from other PR agencies?

Every client who works with AMBITIOUS works with a director who has a stake in the company. Hands-on senior counsel comes as standard. We’ve just won a national award for Best PR Agency based on client service and delivery of results.

Which clients are you working with at the moment?

Our clients include commercial property specialists, CBRE; management consultants, Procorre; prominent South West law firm, Barcan + Kirby; education charity, ASDAN and a leading pharmaceutical company. We’re creating a third business hub in Bristol with the launch of Origin Workspace. We are behind global conference, Social Media Week which will return to Bristol for the third time in 2019.

What bespoke services do you offer your clients?

We determine the most effective routes to reach a client’s target audiences. We ensure the chosen toolkit of tactics is based on a solid strategy and fuelled by insight, creativity and clever ideas. We’re experienced in media, influencer & blogger relations, digital PR, content marketing, copywriting, stakeholder mapping & engagement, social media management and issues & crisis management.

0117 973 3300; www.speedcommunications.com What sets you apart from other PR agencies?

We combine Business Brains with Creative Muscle™ to produce impactful campaigns and stories that genuinely win audience’s hearts and minds. We don’t believe in PR for PR’s sake – it’s about delivering communications solutions that deliver real brand awareness and commercial impact. On top of that, our passionate team love what they do and it shows in our work and client relationships.

Sarah Woodhouse

Kelly Pepworth

PAUL MACKENZIE-CUMMINS

MANAGING DIRECTOR TRANSFORM COMMUNICATIONS LTD

0333 207 9477; www.clearlypr.co.uk What sets you apart from other PR agencies?

In addition to providing traditional PR services, we are one of the biggest producers of Content Marketing solutions in the region. To put this into context, over the last 12 months we have produced in excess of 1,200 original articles for clients and posted over 10,000 Tweets.

What is the oddest thing you have done in your job?

A few years ago, I lived and worked as the head of communications for a scientific publisher in Croatia.

The morning after the staff party, I arrived at the office at 7.30am and was met by a film crew from the national TV station. They wanted to interview me for a story to be aired on the national news that evening.

Fair to say, it was not my best performance.

How has PR changed over the last 10 years?

Every day we’re bombarded with news, reports, data, insight and opinion from all kind of outlets and this can be overwhelming. The pace of change is faster than ever, so the challenge is cutting through the noise and delivering genuinely meaningful content for clients on the channels that count – above and beyond just coverage in mainstream media.

VERONICA HANNON

CLEARLY PR

How has PR changed over the last 10 years?

Customer purchasing decisions are no longer driven by creative marketing campaigns, or beautifully crafted press releases that ‘sell’ a company as being best in class. Their choices are increasingly influenced by what they read, see and hear, and the experience they have of dealing with a business.

Which clients are you working with at the moment?

Our three divisions Business & Corporate, Food & Hospitality and Consumer & Lifestyle work with a wideranging client base including fintechs like Tungsten Network, professional services firm Grant Thornton, food service operators such as Nestlé Professional, as well as consumer brands including Pro Plus, Olbas and Eukanuba.

01225 863846; www.transformcommunications.co.uk What does PR mean to you?

I used to hate the term PR. It conjured up images of nefarious manipulators spinning the truth, Ab Fab and long lunches.

We’ve redefined PR. For us, it means understanding the brand and its beliefs, building messages that resonate with the market, having a killer strategy and deliverable plan. We create campaigns that tell a great story.

Paul MacKenzie-Cummins

Veronica Hannon

What sets you apart from other PR agencies?

We find the essence of the story. We bring intelligence, creativity and great headline writing skills.

We have an unrelenting focus on what our clients want to achieve. Our clients have sold their businesses and raised investments. They’ve launched new businesses and carved out a niche in a crowded market. Our business book authors have reached Amazon best-seller charts.

What’s the most frustrating aspect of your work?

Complex clients. Definitely. It can be frustrating to get to the nub of the story. To uncover what really stands out. To articulate it clearly and push it through.

But that’s what’s also rewarding. We deliver work that we’re really proud of and campaigns that make a measurable difference to our clients.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Tax and financial changes for 2018/19 Jacqui Bowden of PEARSON MAY summarises the changes affecting most taxpayers

I

t is usually the case around this time of year that various tax changes hit the headlines, with the new “Sugar Tax” seeming to be flavour of the tax year this time round. The start of the new financial year on 6 April does indeed usually bring with it a number of changes in various thresholds. But what are the main changes which you need to be aware of? I have summarised five key changes below which will affect most taxpayers and employers.

INCOME TAX The personal allowance is rising to £11,850 across the UK, meaning any individual with taxable income up to that amount in the tax year ending 5 April 2019 will not pay any income tax at all. This allowance has increased by over 3% from the 2017/18 threshold.

At the same time, the basic rate tax band (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) is increasing to £34,500, meaning that individuals will be able to have total income of up to £46,350 before they pay income tax at the higher rate. From 6 April 2018 Scottish taxpayers will be subject to different rules, with the introduction of a five-tiered income tax system.

DIVIDEND ALLOWANCE The tax-free dividend allowance (which has now been in place for two years) is reducing from £5,000 to £2,000 per annum, with effect from 6 April 2018.

Individuals will therefore not have to pay tax on the first £2,000 of dividend income they

Date

Employer Minimum contribution

Staff contribution

Total minimum contribution

Until 5 April 2018

1%

1%

2%

6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019

2%

3%

5%

6 April 2019 onwards

3%

5%

8%

Table of Pension automatic enrolment contributions 2018-2019 receive in the tax year. Beyond this, dividends are taxed at 7.5% if you pay tax at the basic rate, 32.5% for higher rate and 38.1% for additional rate taxpayers. The reduction in the allowance means higher and additional rate taxpayers could be worse off by approximately £1,000.

RESIDENCE NIL-RATE BAND Whilst the Inheritance Tax threshold (‘Nil-Rate Band’) remains unchanged at £325,000, the Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB) is rising from £100,000 to £125,000 for deaths on or after 6 April 2018. We have written about the RNRB in detail previously (most recently in Summer last year) but in broad terms, it provides an additional nil-rate band on death but can only be applied to the value of residential property inherited by direct descendants on an individual’s death (the precise rules are complex). The RNRB will eventually be set at a level of £175,000 per individual (from 2020/21 onwards) but is being ‘phased in’ over four years. It was first introduced last year, starting at £100,000 for deaths on or after 6 April 2017. Like the ‘normal’ Nil-Rate Band, the RNRB can be transferred between spouses if it is not used in whole or in part when the first spouse dies, even if the first death occurred before 6 April 2017.

different rates. For those aged 21-24 it is £7.38 per hour, 18-20 year olds must be paid £5.90 or more and the rate for those aged under 18 is £4.20 per hour. There is a special rate of £3.70 per hour for apprentices aged under 19 and those aged 19 and over but who are in their first year of apprenticeship.

PENSION AUTOMATIC ENROLMENT CONTRIBUTIONS With effect from 6 April 2018, the minimum contributions payable under the Automatic Enrolment legislation will increase, both for employers and for employees who are members of an Automatic Enrolment pension scheme.

All employers have a legal obligation to make sure that these increases are implemented, to ensure that minimum contributions are paid. The minimum employer contribution is doubling and the employee contribution is tripled from 1% to 3%. The table above sets out the current position and the increases in more detail (including further increases which will be implemented next year).

This information is for general guidance only and no action should be taken without obtaining specific advice. n

NATIONAL LIVING AND MINIMUM WAGE

Jacqui Bowden Bsc(Hons) ACA

The start of the new tax year also sees increases to the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The NLW applies to workers aged 25 and above and is increased to £7.83 per hour. The NMW applies to those workers aged under 25 and is set at four

37 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DA 01225 460491 mail@pearsonmay.co.uk www.pearsonmay.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 117

A PLACETO CALL HOME

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

LONGFIELD Take in the views of this de-light-full family home in Lansdown – complete with an artist’s studio and kitchen garden

By James Enys MEDIACLASH.CO.UK MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 141 119

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PROPERTY

W

hen you stroll around the heart of Georgian Bath, it can be easy to forget that other periods of architecture not only exist, but also offer exceptional living.

Longfield is one such exceptional property; a detached five-bedroom family home found in one of the city’s most sought-after address. Positioned on the southern side of Sion Road, just a mile away from the city centre, this stone building is set in a peaceful, leafy setting, well away from the buzz of Lansdown Road.

The original house dates from the 1950s, but it’s been tastefully extended since then, and now offers five (or potentially six) bedrooms, along with 0.47 acres of outside space. You can’t fail to be impressed by the expansive glass wall at the rear of the property, which spans the drawing room and master bedroom to provide a spectacular

panorama over the city and greenery beyond.

Step inside Longfield, and you’ll find sensibly arranged accommodation on two floors. Sensible doesn’t mean boring, though. On the ground level, there are two reception rooms for relaxing and dining in. A floating feature fireplace adorns the dining room wall, along with French doors that lead on to the gardens.

The recently refitted kitchen includes all the shiny mod cons you’d expect from a modern family home – three integrated ovens, anyone?

This chef’s paradise leads on to a rear hall, handy utility room (or workshop), and a vast double garage – although there’s on-street parking aplenty outside the property, too. Off the entrance hall, a downstairs bedroom with en suite shower room is the seemingly perfect place to host visiting guests.

Heading upstairs, an expansive master bedroom (roughly 20 by 20 feet) is served by an en suite bathroom and separate shower. Just imagine waking up slowly with a warm brew and a book, as you soak up the great outdoors, from the comfort of indoors, through that glass wall...

Moving aside from that reverie, the second floor has three further double bedrooms and a shower room. The smallest bedroom (10 by 10 feet) leads through to the pièce de résistance – an art studio that could easily become very large bedroom number six, or a library or games room. Eaves storage corners this studio space, ideal for stowing

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PROPERTY

away the clutter of family life or artists’ materials.

Topping things off – literally – is a large loft space with the potential for conversion. What a wonderful aspect this would add given the right imagination (and planning consent).

Moving outside the property, the south-facing rear garden promises plenty of sunshine. It has a tiered lawn, elevated views, a pond for entertaining wildlife-curious children (with supervision), paving that sweeps the lawn to a seating area, and an array of mature trees and shrubs. One standout feature is the glazed summerhouse-cum-conservatory, plus a walled kitchen garden complete with fruit cages and assorted veggies – picture dishing up wholesome home-grown dishes at mealtimes.

Longfield might be without the floor-to-ceiling sash windows of a Georgian dwelling, but it’s characterised by a feeling of light and space throughout – did we mention that wonderful windowed wall? On the market for £1.85m, it’s in fine cosmetic condition, but there’s also plenty of scope to make it your own (we know you’ve already got plans for that loft space).

So, if you’re looking for a peaceful family-orientated property, a mature garden to dig into and pleasing views, all within walking distance of the city centre and the best schools Bath can offer. We can pretty much guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Knight Frank; 4 Wood Street, Queen Square, BA1 2JQ ; 01225 288 677; www.knightfrank.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Property buyers encouraged to find out how they can…

Those looking to trade up the property ladder, first time buyers and those just looking for a new home are being advised to visit Bath’s leading new property development where they will be able to find out how they really can make their house buying dream a reality

A

PHOTO: HUNDVEN CLEMENTS

nyone who wants advice on how to go about buying a new home are being openly invited to Bath Riverside where the team of property advisors are on hand to show that moving isn’t perhaps as daunting as some might believe.

“Contrary to what many believe, living by the river in Bath is much more affordable than what many think,” says Danielle Simpson from Crest Nicholson.

“Popping in and exploring the options in terms of buying will, I’m sure, open up the eyes and minds of many who have considered a move. We have access to professionals from all aspects of the property sector available to us, who can really give the best advice.

“There’s no obligation, just a chance to have a chat and find out more. There’s no harm in asking and you never know where it might lead.”

Danielle is particularly keen to highlight the Help to Buy scheme, which is available at the development to any buyer. “It’s widely perceived that Help to Buy is only for first time buyers but this is not the case. Anyone can utilise the scheme to move into a new property and is great for those in particular looking to move up the property ladder.

“Through the scheme, house hunters can secure a property with a five per cent deposit.

This means they could soon find themselves lapping up a way of life that can only be found at the world heritage city’s most prominent new property development.”

Open to anyone buying a new property, under Help to Buy the Government will lend up to 20 per cent of the value of the property through an interest-free equity loan. This means the purchaser will have to pay 80 per cent of the cost of the property – made up of a 75 per cent mortgage and five per cent deposit. For example when purchased under Help-to-Buy, one of the apartments currently available at the development will cost £280,000 (a 20 per cent reduction off the £350,000 list price) with purchasers needing a deposit of £17,500.

Danielle added: “There are a number of factors that set Bath Riverside apart, and this is why it appeals to people wanting to live here.

It’s very close to the city centre, so residents can easily walk to work, the shops or to catch a train.

“Developer Crest Nicholson also has a range

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of offers in place that makes the moving process that much easier.

“We now hope to see as many would-be property owners here over the coming weeks, when they really will find out how they can.” n

For further information please call 01225 463 517 or visit www. crestnicholson.com/bathriverside The marketing suite on Victoria Bridge Road is open daily from 10 am to 5pm.

RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Peace of mind for landlords

Reside are easily the best letting agents that I've ever dealt with, they have shown me what a letting agent can be, and set a standard in service that I will be desperate to seek out in the future.

01225 445777 | www.residebath.co.uk | @ResideBath

RESIDENCE

ART HOUSE Words by Matt Bielby Photography by Chris Wakefield

Graphic designer Georgia Fendley’s Bathford home is a mansion in miniature, alive with people, dogs and art, including pieces by some of the best painters and photographers of our time…

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J

ohn Wood the Elder didn’t just design and build much of what’s most celebrated about Bath – the Circus, Queen Square, Prior Park and both the North and South Parades, among others – but also plenty of the area’s fancier country houses, including both Eagle House and Titan Barrow in Bathford. Tucked away not far from the High Street, Titan Barrow was built in 1748, early for Wood, for a rich local bachelor – one Southwell Pigott, Esq – known for his debauched parties. You can still see evidence of his taste if you look hard enough, not least in the dining room, where beautiful, complicated and somewhat saucy ceiling mouldings include many a topless wench, their kettle drums (authentic Georgian slang, don’t cha know) staring down at you as you eat.

These days, Titan Barrow is owned by graphic designer Georgia Fendley and her husband, Tim, and lived in by a seemingly ever-changing crew that includes three kids and three dogs, one a Great Dane the size of a small horse. Very much “a mansion in miniature,” as Georgia describes it – though with 13 bedrooms, it’s hardy small – Titan Barrow is a Palladian villa on an intimate scale, somehow managing to be both grand and homely at the same time. It’s been many things over the years – a school, offices, the home base of an antiques dealer, the local Home Guard HQ in World War II – and was bought, in a fairly run-down state, by Georgia and Tim

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RESIDENCE from the church, who’d maintained it as Whitehaven Christian Science House. “It’s been expanded twice,” says Georgia. “Once in 1800 and again in 1936, when the original dairy next door was attached to the main house by a new wing. A greenhouse was built at the turn of the century, too. We mostly use the newest part of the building, which can either be opened up to the rest of the house or closed off and separate, as a guest house. There always seem to be friends staying.”

There’s art everywhere, isn’t there?

Tim and I are both graphic designers. He specialises in wayfinding, a fancy way of describing the business of creating maps, and I am founder and creative director of the design agency Construct, which has a London office – and a new Bath office, too. We create brands and brand communications for clients like Aman, Claridge’s, Harvey Nichols, The Cultivist and Carolina Bucci. I’m also co-founder of the handbag brand Hill and Friends, a business created with my friend (and partner in crime) Emma Hill. We met when we were both directors of Mulberry. As a creative couple, Tim and I have lots of great friends who are designers and artists, and our collection is a mixed bunch of properly grown-up art (there are pictures by Tim Flach, Terry Frost, Antony

You want art books? You’ve got it. It’s like the very back room at Topping Company Booksellers of Bath in here…

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Gormley, Ben Nicholson and more) and things friends have made for us – including, of course, our children’s work. (Naturally, they’re the most treasured pieces.) We’re natural collectors, and our passion for type sometimes gets closer to hoarding, so there are books and oversize antique letters everywhere. And Mickey? Yep, I do have quite a soft spot for the mouse. There’s a five foot-high, black gloss Mickey Mouse in the kitchen, and elsewhere there’s an original Mickey phone, too – perfect for important business calls.

We also spotted a large early German monoplane model guarding the way out to the garden, and a giant wicker sphere out there, like a ball of wool for Kitten Kong…

But maybe the most intriguing thing in the garden is the old ice house, where they used to keep giant blocks of ice in the days before refrigeration. It’s got a very deep, dark well in it, and has been there so long that a huge tree has grown over the top, with the entrance now hidden in the roots. The house used to have much more extensive grounds, but most of them were sold off over the years.

There’s a cul de sac housing development on part of them nearby, and the church once gave another section to the village, which became the local rugby pitch.

RESIDENCE

Giant dogs, giant Disney characters, giant brass instruments and a giant dressing room. What’s small about this house?

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RESIDENCE

Muted colours palettes can be both serene and lively at the same time – just check out all the detail in this room for proof

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What was Titan Barrow like when you moved in?

I actually bought it seven years ago while Tim was out of the country, so he never actually saw it – a bit of a risk. It was in a fairly sorry state: the original fireplaces had all been panelled over, and threadbare carpets covered the lovely old stone floors. We ripped all that out, not quite knowing what we were going to find underneath. Luckily, there were plenty of original features left and intriguing details. There are Adam fireplaces, secret bedrooms, and a small ballroom – but still a ballroom – which once had a domed ceiling. When we first moved in, our friends Dom and Ali Beavan owned part of the house – the section that’s currently the guest house and part of the kitchen – but we bought it from them a few years ago, while they were starting their wedding gift list business, Prezola.

One section of the house we’re particularly envious of, of course, is your dressing room…

I was at Mulberry from 2008-2012, and originally did some brand work for the business when Roger Saul, the inspirational founder, was still at the helm. That’s where I first met Emma Hill, of course – and, at Construct, we now work with lots of fashion brands, like Net-aPorter, Le Kasha, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Jigsaw, Cos and Etre Cecile. It’s fair to say, then, that I quite like my fashion! Our walk-in wardrobe is almost like a little boutique, with the jumpers folded in glass cabinets, and a really good display for shoes. And, of course, there are mirrors everywhere – after all, you need to see what an outfit looks like when you’ve put it on.

Most of all, we love the way you’ve combined all of Titan Barrow’s original features with a very sleek, modern sensibility.

But not too sleek, I hope. Our motto is that we want to have a really nice time here all the time, so we’re not very precious about anything. The basement has a big room for the dogs, and lots of play space for the two little ones and our teenager. Things get bashed by people running about, or sat on by dogs, and that’s fine. This is a house for living in, after all.

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS… What are we talking about? Only Hill and Friends at Home, an exclusive, private shopping event hosted at the very house you see here. Shop the current season, and exclusively preview and pre-order future seasons, with up to 40 per cent discount – and 10 per cent of all sales will be donated to Cancer Research, in honour of some very brave customers and friends When is it? 29 June And how do I get to come? It’s simple! Bath Life readers are invited to email grace@hillandfriends.com to receive an invitation

Got an amazing Bath home? Want it to feature in Residence?

Contact lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk

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GARDENS

GooD AS GolD There’s always something to take away from the Chelsea Flower Show. Despite a tricky start to the horticultural year, Bath’s garden designers planted their feet firmly among the most exquisite entries

By Nick Woodhouse

I

t was a slightly overcast afternoon when we headed to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The spirits of those exhibiting seemed undampened, though. They had succeeded in fending off two ‘Beasts from the East,’ followed by a spell of unseasonably hot weather in the lead up to the highlight of the horticultural calendar, so a bit of cloud was hardly likely to cause concern.

While there was, as always, plenty to inspire and get hearts racing, there was just as much to get us thinking. Gardens highlighted the challenging and the little-understood subjects, such as the ingenuity of refugees at the Domiz camp in northern Iraq. It was uplifting, too, to see Bath being represented so well by the wealth of talent our city has to offer. Bathbased husband and wife team Andrew and Hannah Downey had worked tirelessly to create a welcoming stand for their company Agriframes. With the help of local plantsman and gardener Jonny East and artist Paul Jackson of Cleveland Terrace’s Pencil Tree, climbing roses and perennials in tones of blue, magenta and purple meandered effortlessly through the display of garden structures and their supports.

Heading to the other side of the Great Pavillion, Bath-based garden designer Rosie Nottage had once again worked her magic as part of an all-female team supporting Jo Thompson on her garden for Wedgwood.

This is the seventh year Rosie has worked with Thompson; each year the same core team fly

in from as far afield as New Zealand and Japan to turn her plans into reality. Having worked together over the course of years, the team’s approach is honed and organised. A crew of helpers pass plants and compost into the garden to the core team planting the plants, all placed by Thompson. So that they don’t need to move around too much, those planting then hand back empty pots to the support crew. Very few plants suffer damage in this intricate process. Unlike other show gardens, they always plant out of the pots rather than leaving the pots in the ground and covering with compost. Although this is more labourintensive, the team finds this helps the plants grow and settle in during show week. And the results speak for themselves. Despite a difficult site and the initial loss of 400 plants due to unusual weather conditions and supplier issues, the garden won a much-deserved gold medal.

The show itself has often come under criticism for creating a collection of spaces that are unrealistic and impractical to recreate in our own back yards. Reservations aside, there is always something to take away from Chelsea – be it in the planting choices, colour trends or material finishes – and this year was no exception.

Whether in hard landscaping or in the planting itself, copper and bronze hues were ever-present. This was more obvious in the use of Cor-Ten steel wall panels and sculpture, but also more subtly in the rammed earth walls of Sarah Price’s M&G garden – for me, the highlight of the show. The walls seemed to take on a chameleon-like form depending on light conditions. Hazy pinks would turn later in the

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day to an opulent terracotta, especially if there had been a rain shower. Combined with a light touch to the planting, including exquisite pomegranate trees, the result was intoxicating.

Elsewhere, these very rusty, orange tones were also to pop up in the form of plants such as the iris. Just as with interiors at the minute, the use of such vibrant colour was welcome and ubiquitous. Chartreuse blended seamlessly with purples and burgundies on some gardens, while others may have reassured the more timid planters among us that perhaps yellow-flowering plants aren’t so bad after all.

Take for example the garden by Hay-Joung Hwang for lG Electronics; almost every plant in this indoor/outdoor garden was flowering in yellow tones or those of its complementary neighbour, orange. This was picked up perfectly in the fabric choices of the cushions invitingly scattered through the centrepiece sunken seating area.

This year, it was the lupin, however, that took centre stage throughout the garden, adding spire-like height and an opportunity to add those bold bursts of colour. In some gardens, this may have been partly down to the plant’s growing success in the weeks leading up to the show. original plant choices had to be ditched as they fell foul to the weather extremes, with the lupin coming to the rescue.

In other gardens, the choice of lupin was more specific to the family it belonged to: the pea family. The Seedlip garden by Catherine MacDonald featured several varieties of the perennial, mixed solely with other planting from that very family. No wonder we’d forgotten the sun wasn’t shining.

Nick Woodhouse is the co-director of interior and garden design company Woodhouse & Law on 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

ABOVE, The LG Eco-City Garden, designed by Hay-Joung Hwang RIGHT, The M&G Investments Garden, designed by Sarah Price

ALL PHOTOS: RHS/NEIL HEPWORTH

BELOW, The Wedgwood Garden, designed by Jo Thompson

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“I had the opportunity to take Her Majesty the Queen around the garden”

LOCAL LIVES JON WHEATLEY Chelsea comes to Bath with the first ever Festival of Flowers. Here, the festival’s choreographer talks playing tour guide to the Queen, and designing a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show with Mary Berry…

Jon Wheatley, a member of the elite Council of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), has won 26 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show as well as the Diamond Jubilee Award.

He’s also the chairman of South West in Bloom and manages a garden design and landscape company. Here, ahead of Bath’s first ever Festival of Flowers – which Jon is choreographing – he talks to us about his experiences of gardening with Mary Berry and Chris Evans, and one of his proudest moments: meeting the Queen

I first fell in love with gardening when… my grandfather introduced me to growing dahlias when I was young.

I love the power of flowers and growing – I believe that gardening has a lot to offer people.

138 MEDIACLASH.CO.UK

Milsom Place is staging a spectacular Festival of Flowers this month… It’s a brand-new, innovative event for Bath, and I will be choreographing head-turning displays – which will showcase flowers, fruits and veggies. You can also browse our plant sale, and there’s lots more going on at Milsom Place throughout the weekend [including: a wine masterclass at Le Vignoble; mosaic, bouquet and aromatherapy workshops; as well as sales at the shops and restaurants].

We want to show the public not to be afraid of colour… including the current favourite: Pantone purple – from the National Dahlia Collection, and there’ll be new releases for 2019 on show for the first time.

I’m keen to reintroduce Bath’s floral heritage… which has

always made the city a special place for visitors. This festival is all about urban greening – it’s regenerative and fun.

If I could design a garden for anyone, it would be for… myself. I never have time to do it.

My day job involves…

organising exhibits for the Chelsea Flower Show, and running a local landscape management company.

I’m also chairman of RHS South West in Bloom – I look after a region from Wiltshire to Cornwall – and I volunteer in the biggest horticultural campaign in Europe: Britain in Bloom. It’s been helping people to improve their local environment since 1964.

Bath was the first ever winner of the national competition in 1964…It took the title again in 1968. Since then, Bath has won the Britain in Bloom best city category 10 times and won the regional South West in Bloom title more than 20 times.

I lived and worked in Bath in the 70s… and although I’m constantly back and fore (I orchestrate the planting throughout the year at Milsom Place), I’m mostly based in Chew Magna. But

Bath is in Somerset, and I love the land of the Summer People.

On a day off, you’ll find me… eating at Carluccio’s restaurant or visiting the Botanical Garden at Royal Victoria Park, which the city can take so much pride in. Bath has so many spectacular parks and formal gardens.

If I was king of Bath, I would… regenerate and restore the great horticultural tradition Bath had in the past.

Something people may not know about me is…

When we were awarded the Diamond Jubilee Award for the best display in the Great Pavilion at Chelsea, I had the opportunity to take Her Majesty the Queen around the garden. And, last year, I designed the The Chris Evans Taste Garden at Chelsea with Mary Berry, to help celebrate the tastiest plants growing in UK gardens. You’d be surprised at the number of fascinating people you meet through horticulture.

Milsom Place’s Festival of Flowers takes place on 16 and 17 June; for more, visit www.milsomplace.co.uk