Bath Life – Issue 380

@BathLifeMag

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Christmas in a glass at Sub 13. See more festive libations on page 66; BELOW: Step on it! The big day is not far away, see our gift guide for ideas (page 34)

W

elcome to our second – and final – fizzy, fabulous festive issue of the year, in which we hand you a selection box of Christmas treats. Try not to devour them all before lunchtime.

For starters, there’s a seven-page haul of great Christmas gift ideas for all ages, budgets and fancies – and we’re proud to say that every single item in it is from a local trader in Bath and the surrounding area (page 34).

We’ve also spent some cosy kitchen time with those culinary wizards at Riverford Home Delivery, Bath, who have been whipping up some creative recipes for you to enjoy this winter – one of them using ingredients that may well be left over from your Christmas Day feast (page 73). And if you have room left over for a drink or two, then turn to page 66, where we ask the mixologists of some of our favourite nearby bars to showcase their festive cocktail offerings.

See you back here in two weeks when we’ll be looking ahead to the new year…

LISA EVANS Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 3

Issue 380 / 7 – 21 December 2018 COVER Looking fabulous in fir, styled by Electric Daisy Flower Farm in Bradford on Avon

THE ARTS

49 ARTS INTRO Going for gold with ceramics artist

Yuta Segawa

50 WHAT’S ON Music, theatre, art, family fun and

much more

59 FILM Christmas cheer and merriment on the

big screen at the Little Theatre

61 BOOKS Coffee table books that deserve more than a

© MEL YATES

cursory glance

FOOD&DRINK

62 RESTAURANT We find out why the Olive Tree has

34

49

been awarded a Michelin star

66 COCKTAILS Mixing up something festive to sip 73 RECIPES A winter warmer and a Boxing Day treat 77 FOOD & DRINK NEWS A new vegan spot in the

city, an independent delivery service, and a Thai Christmas lunch

SHOPPING

34 CHRISTMAS GIFTS Make yourself really popular

with friends and family this year

73 50

62

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Issue 380 / 7 – 21 December 2018

LIFESTYLE

81 GO WEST The editors of our sister mags become

tour guides for the day

106 LIVES One of the stars of this year’s panto talks

Christmas in Bath

BUSINESS

95 BUSINESS INSIDER Who’s making a mark on the

corporate scene in the city?

DEPARTMENTS 9 SPOTLIGHT 12 SOCIETY 25 A MAN’S WORLD

95

81

9 Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Editor Harriet Noble harriet.noble@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, SophieClaire McLeod, Nic Bottomley, Emma Dance, Deri Robins, Sarah Moolla and Anna Britten Group Advertising Manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Account Manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Polly Jackson polly.jackson@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Dan Nichols dan.nichols@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). 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

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

BATH’S BEST BUTCHER Bath Good Food Awards: Best Butcher Winner 2013-Present Crumbs Awards: Best Retailer Winner 2017 & Finalist 2018 Bath Life Awards: Environmental Finalist 2018

L

arkhall Butchers combines passionate, traditional butchery with a modern take on the profession. We strive to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to customers.

Our friendly staff can provide you with invaluable knowledge and ideas to bring to the table this Christmas.

From free-range turkeys to grass-fed beef, all reared on local farms, our range of meat is sourced both humanely and ethically, and is of the best quality.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN

Larkhall Butchers just continues to live up to its name of being the best butcher in Bath for consecutive years. The produce is always of the highest quality, and the shop just gets better every year!

Ping Coombes, MasterChef 2014 winner

1 Lambridge Buildings, Bath BA1 6RS | 01225 313 987 larkhallbutchers.co.uk | info@larkhallbutchers.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT Volunteering

HOST WITH THe mOST Professor Olivette Otele of Bath Spa University

Education

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Bath Spa University academic professor Olivette Otele has become the UK’s first female black professor of history. Olivette has also become the first black female to be awarded a personal chair position, in recognition for her high levels of achievement within the field.

“I’m delighted to have been awarded a professorship and a chair in history by Bath Spa University, and thank them for their support,” says Professor Otele, who holds a PhD in history from Universite La Sorbonne in France.

“There are many hard-working women, especially women of colour, in academia, and I hope this will open the door to more of them receiving the recognition they deserve.”

Vice-chancellor at Bath Spa University professor Sue Rigby says, “Olivette is a world-class and internationally known academic, and Bath Spa University is delighted to provide recognition for her outstanding scholarship through the award of a professorship. If this well-merited promotion also plays a small part in correcting the underrepresentation of women and people of colour in UK universities, then we are delighted to be able to do this, it is not before time.”

Professor Otele’s current research is focused on transnational history, in particular the links between history, collective memory and geopolitics in relation to British and French colonial pasts.

For more www.bathspa.co.uk

The common sight of the visitor in Bath wandering around looking lost could be a thing of the past, as new to the streets this winter are the Bath Welcome Ambassadors. This team are the friendly faces of the city, here to provide all visitors with a warm and informed welcome to the city.

This is a brand-new programme, organised by Bath BID, which aims to provide a professional meet and greet service for all city users, giving a lasting impression of friendliness and vibrancy. Their role is similar to that of games makers at the Olympics, to help visitors in a kind and helpful manner to find their way around the city, whether it is directing them to the Roman Baths or telling them when the rugby game starts. Dressed in their bright blue jackets, emblazoned with ‘Welcome to Bath’ and ‘Ask me’, the team will be on hand around the city from Thursday to Sunday each week.

For more: www.bathbid.co.uk

The ambassadors of Bath striking the classic over-the-shoulder pose

Awards

© NICK WILLIAMS

GOLD STAR

ABOVE:

Phil de Glanville, Katie Smith, Stephen Bird, Georgia Aubrey and Bethan Pritchard LEFT: The award-winning Roman Baths in all its splendour

The Roman Baths and Pump Room has won three gold awards at the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards: Large Attraction of the Year, International/ Inbound Visitor experience of the Year, and the Business Tourism and Venue Award.

The Roman Baths and Pump Room was also highly commended in the Age-Friendly Tourism Business of the Year category, following a particular emphasis on helping older and vulnerable visitors. This has included dementia awareness training for staff – who give assistance to those with dementia and offer help and aids for those with visual, hearing and mobility impairments – and

well-being sessions run with the Stroke Association, for people who have had strokes. more than 1.3 million people visited the Roman Baths and Pump Room in 2017, and approximately 40 per cent of these came from overseas. Audio guides are available free of charge in 12 different languages plus a British sign language tour, and printed information leaflets are also provided in more than 30 world languages.

Gold award winners will automatically be considered for matching categories in the South West excellence Awards, which will be announced on 7 February 2019 at Aerospace Bristol.

For more: www.romanbaths.co.uk

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SCENE T H E L AT E S T A DV E N T U R E S I N PA R T Y- GO I N G AC ROSS BAT H Rupert Bendell and Euan Woodman

Amy Thrower and Jessica White Lauren Prince, Martha O’Connell, Issi Judlin and Katherine Bayley

Andy Furse and Les Redwood

Hana Whittington and Marcus Whittington Mark Evitts, William Brenner and Karen Brenner

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Lauren Peacock, Rob Arber and Scarlett Marshfield

New bar and restaurant Beckford Bottle Shop held its launch recently, with hordes of Bathonians enjoying an array of charcuterie and cheese platters, along with bubbly and lashings of wine. Guests perused the walls adorned with international wines, with some venturing down to the cellar lounge for subterranean drinks.

Photos by Betty Bhandari

Matt Greenlees, Casey Rider, Dan Brod and Tim Gardener

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Kathleen Kaye and Max Kaye

Emily Sleath, Helen Fripp and Cat Maclean

SOCIETY

Jessica Westbrook, Lindsey Garvey and Sabrina Catt

Caroline Elliott and Lauren Webber

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Tatiana Kim and Jackie Woods

The Mum Club (TMC) held a jolly breakfast event at Framptons recently, which was hosted by local resident, event organiser and mum, Luisa Fisher. The gathering saw mums, babes in arms and mums-to-be get together and put the worlds to right over delicious food and caffeinated drinks. The Mum Club runs a blog as well as regular events for ‘honest women who keep Sudocrem in their Chanel, and Pampers in their Prada.’

Photos by Jessie Myers at Soul Media

Lauren Webber, Luisa Fisher and Jessica Lawes Mums seated and tucking into some hearty nosh

Framptons in full flow

Lisa Turner and Charlotte Dooley

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Oh-so-pretty breakfasts were laid on

Jade Ryan, Emily McKenzie, Jessica Westbrook and Lindsey Garvey

© SIMON WHITEHEAD

SOCIETY

Owners Neil Edwards and Emma Edwards with Dexter

Lauren Savage and Penny Jake Travis and Elizabeth Travis

PAW-FECT

The Widdows family with Tinkerbell

Neil and Emma Edwards hosted a ‘furbulous’ opening event at their Bath Country Pets exclusive boutique hotel for dogs. Dog lovers were invited to experience the luxury of under-floor heating and bespoke dog bedrooms and receive some free gifts for their favourite four-legged friends.

There was a treasure hunt for treats, a fun dog show, and a Christmas gift market, as well as champagne, cupcakes and pupcakes for all to enjoy.

Photos by Emma Edwards

Ben Jones and Natalie Jones with Claudie

Helen Hood and Matthew Hood with Violet

Lauren Ismail and Wendy Ismail with Archie

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Samantha French with Dave

Ellie Woodley and Jack Woodley with Whisper

SOCIETY

Lucas Shaylor, Lana Shaylor and Anil Khanna

Chris Cleghorn and Hywel Jones

Amy Williams Pierre Koffmann and Richard Bertinet

LIFT OFF

Bath’s most high-profile residents were out in force to celebrate the launch of Koffmann & Mr. White’s at the Abbey Hotel. Guests were treated to a magnificent fire show and given the opportunity to try delicious canapés adapted from the restaurant’s new menu, which celebrates the best of French and English cuisine. The seemingly never-ending tray of exquisite food included starters of brandade of Scottish salmon and croustade of eggs maxim’s followed by fish and chips and ox cheek mains and indulgent desserts of pain perdu and mini trifles.

Pierre Koffmann, one of the legendary chefs behind the new brasserie, was on hand to put finishing touches to the menu and celebrate with guests including Bath Rugby’s Jamie Roberts and Jacques van Rooyen, Olympian Amy Williams, and baker Richard Bertinet.

Photos by Derryn Vranch

Jamie Roberts, Nicole Ramson, Lois Jackson, Ed Jackson and Rosie Scott Olly Morris and Kate Parkinson

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Emma Tjolle and Alexis Tjolle

Charlotte Stephens, Sophie Erin Cooper, Lloyd Evans and Emily MaKay

Jack Horner, Jess Parkhouse and Ross Wilson Sandie Hopkins and Lindsey Swarbick

SOCIETY

Iestyn Lewis presents the trophy to Team Bath Rugby

Stuart Doughty, Alicia John and Sarah Mansfield

TRUE BLUE

Ruth Bwanya and Iestyn Lewis

The University of Bath hosted the BUCS Super Rugby Anniversary Game at The Rec recently, with the great and the good the rugby world turning out en masse to support the guys in blue and gold.

Over 4,000 people came to watch the match and supporters were elated when team Uni of Bath were victorious, beating Leeds Beckett 29-27. University of Bath captain Tom Doughty says, “I am immensely proud of the boys. We said that we would stick in there for 80 minutes and stick to all our messages. We did exactly that and we came out on top.”

Andrew McLaughlin and Neil Rankin

Photos by Clare Green

Mike Church, Stephen Baddeley and Vince Mayme

Elizabeth Dowler and Emma Page Alex Bell, Sam Bailey and Richard Fulker

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Jeremy Guscott, Chris Goodenough and Matthew Jones

SOCIETY

Nicola Bubb and Kim Woodall

Ellie Rogers

DECADE OF DECADENCE

Komedia was in full celebration mode as they partied joyously to crown their 10-year birthday. Friends old and new, customers, comics and staff and crew enjoyed a special pale ale in celebration of the ‘big 10’ with help from the team at The Bath Brew House. The beer was called ‘Punchline’ and, rather appropriately, was made using Jester Hops. Guests also enjoyed a huge celebration cake and 200 cupcakes from Rebel Bakes. Managing director Richard Daws gave a speech to welcome everyone and thank the city for a fabulous 10 years of music, comedy and good times. Comedian Jarrd Christmas then took to the stage to entertain the crowd, followed by one-man beat-boxing legend Son of Dave, Ska heavyweights Train to Skaville, and then a DJ set from club Motorcity. To top things off, there was a 100-person conga line which snaked round the venue and up to the balcony.

Photos by Greg Ewar

Adrian Boreham and Eleanor Household

Train to Skaville belting out the hits

Nick Steel and Sian Swift

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Philip White and Aoiffe Murnin

ANTIQUE AND MODERN CARPETS BOUGHT, SOLD REPAIRED AND CLEANED NOW IN OUR 30TH YEAR IN BATH LARGEST SELECTION IN THE SOUTH WEST

9 8 Wa l c o t S t r e e t , B a t h B A 1 5 B G Te l 0 1 2 2 5 4 6 9 2 4 0 E m a i l c o n t a c t @ h a l i d e n . c o m w w w. h a l i d e n . c o m

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A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

Christmas spirits In his rugby days, Flats was careful with alcohol consumption around December, but he’s vowed to make this year’s Christmas his drunkest ever

© TAKING PICTURES

B

“I have set an actual reminder on my phone’s calendar that it’s Christmas and I’m allowed to drink from breakfast onwards”

oozing at Christmas isn’t something that comes naturally to me, and it seems this makes me an anomaly, certainly in Britain. We Brits seem to subscribe en masse to the theory that any special occasion must and will be marked by getting totalled. Birthdays, anniversaries, football matches, Saturdays, Fridays, pets’ funerals. Sloshed. It’s what we do.

It was the time I spent with French rugby teammates over the years that confirmed this to be a British phenomenon (in fairness, Australians are the same, only with a cooler accent). The French lads would come out to the bars and clubs with us, and they would have a great time. Looking back, though, I cannot recall a single example of one of them getting sufficiently drunk to make a poor life decision.

Instead, they enjoyed themselves, went home, and afforded themselves an air of superiority the following morning, as the rest of us were avoiding eye contact and flinching in the shadows. As we got loose, they stayed classy.

The only time we natives would not drink as all around us drunk was Christmas. This wasn’t a decision made in light of The Lord, but one surrounding the match that came on Boxing Day, there being little quite like the promise of imminent violence and aerobic explosion to deter one from arriving half-baked.

We wouldn’t even eat as much as we really wanted to, for fear of feeling half a chipolata heavier than was ideal with regards athletic performance. No, a modest lunch, a mince pie, a few crazy coffees, and Christmas was done.

Not anymore, though. This Christmas I intend to drink more

than I ever have before. That’s not to say I want to get plastered – I’m actually a grown-up – but it is to say that I want to at least feel tipsy. From memory, last year I took two glasses of Rioja on the big day, only not having more because I forgot that I could. Years of relentless festive alcohol avoidance have left me as institutionalised as a squaddie with a pot of boot polish.

I have – and this is a real thing – set an actual reminder on my phone’s calendar that it’s Christmas and I’m allowed to drink from breakfast onwards. I mean, I won’t take any alcohol with my croissants but I might, after a champers or two, have a bottle of red with lunch.

And another with the cold turkey sandwiches later on. If I’m not asleep on the sofa by 9pm – thereby fulfilling the role of ‘Dad’ – I’ll call it a failure.

I recently read a great book about a man who decided to say yes to every question he was asked for a period, and this too has inspired me as Christmas approaches. I will not, I hereby promise myself, refuse a single mulled beverage before the New Year. I’m so used to hearing others’ tales of fireside drinkipoos and mince pies with sherry, and now I want to make some memories of my own. Except that I’ll be asleep.

But that’s half the fun. If my kids have got anything about them, they’ll paint boobies on my face as I sleep, just like I did to my old grandad. That was every weekend, though. Mind you, he was indeed an Englishman in excelsis.

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 25

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BATH AFTER DARK

THAT’S A WRAP

SMART BOOK LAMPS, FROM £35 From Graham & Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

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© MEL YATES

Don’t panic, there’s still time to pick up the perfect Christmas present or two. Here are some of our favourites, from local shops of course…

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

FOR THE HOME

KATIE LEAMON NOTEBOOK, £8 From The Bath Framer, 6 & 7 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath; www.thebathpictureframer.co.uk

FLOWER BOX, FROM £69 From Mystic Flowers Bath, 12 James Street West, Bath; www.mystic-flowers.com

ROSE BY CHRIS KEEGAN, £75 From Modern ArtBuyer, 1 Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke, Bath; www.modernartbuyer.com

HAND-THROWN HOLDER WITH SCENTED SOY CANDLE, £30 From Kara Leigh Ford Ceramics, Bath; www.karaleighfordceramics.com

FLUTTERFLIES CUT-OUT ARTWORK, £195 From Bertie & Jack, market stall, based on Burton Street, Bath; www.bertieandjack.co.uk

SCREEN-PRINTED DECORATIVE HOUSE TRIO, £10 From Leak, 3 Larkhall Square, Bath

LIFE-SIZE SEDUM JACK RUSSELL, £165 From Electric Daisy Flower Farm, 11a Wine Street, Bradford on Avon; www.electricdaisyflowerfarm.co.uk

LAMBSWOOL HOT WATER BOTTLE, £32 From Noctu, Bath; www.noctu.co.uk

MIRRORED JEWELLERY BOX, £24 From Brissi, 38 Milsom Street, Bath; www.brissi.com

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

BEAUTY AND GROOMING

MAKE-UP BAGS, £19, WASH BAGS, £24 From Article, 3 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.articlebath.com

THE LUNA COLLECTION FRAGRANCE SET, £80 From Penhaligon’s, 14 New Bond Street, Bath; www.penhaligons.com

ORBIT OF INTENTION SKINCARE GIFT SET, £75 From Aesop, 16 Old Bond Street, Bath; www.aesop.com

BATH AND BODY PRODUCTS, £12 EACH From Limelight Bath, Radstock; www. limelightlimited.com

FILL-YOUR-OWN GEORGIAN HOUSE BEAUTY GIFT BOX, FROM £12.50 From Natural Spa Factory, Bath Business Park, Foxcote Avenue, Bath; www. naturalspafactory.com

SLEEP TIGHT GIFT BAUBLE, £13 From Space NK, 10 New Bond Street Place, Bath; www.spacenk.com

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CLARINS FESTIVE TREATS, FACE & LIPS, £10 From FrontlineStyle, 4-5 Monmouth Street, Bath; www.frontlinestyle.co.uk

FLORIS LONDON EAU DU TOILETTE SET, £70 From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

Dower and Hall pendants, Sterling Silver and white Topaz from £85

DESIGNER COLLECTIONS • HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY REPAIRS AND REMODELLING 18ct white gold Aquamarine and Diamond ring. £1870

ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY • REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

FASHION AND ACCESSORIES

LEATHER MINI WALLET AND CARD PROTECTOR, £49.95 From Quadri of Bath,16 Milsom Place, Milsom Street, Bath; www.quadri.co.uk

ITALIAN HANDBAG, FROM £105 From Blue Women and Home at The Loft, 1-2 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.theloftbath.com

MEN’S MERINO KNITTED GLOVES, £19 From Cos, 24-26 Union Street, Bath; www.cosstores.com

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MEN’S CASHMERE RIBBED JUMPER, £395 From Brora, 6 Bridge Street, Bath; www.brora.co.uk

METALLIC SHOPPER, £30 From Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.homefrontinteriors.co.uk

FAUX FUR POM POM, £15 From Brora, 6 Bridge Street, Bath; www.brora.co.uk

FALLING LEAVES FAIRISLE JUMPER, £54.99 From Mistral, 20 New Bond Street, Bath; www.mistral-online.com

HIMMELI EARRINGS, £17.50 From GeoAttic, Bathford, www.geoattic.etsy.com

MEN’S ROLL-TOP BAG, £125 From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk

HAND-KNITTED SOCKS, £20 From Bibico, 9A Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bibico.co.uk

GLITTER-EMBELLISHED LOAFERS, £125 From Anthropologie, 1-4 New Bond Street, Bath; www.anthropologie.com

MULTICOLOURED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING, £2,595 From Coppins of Corsham, Church Street, Corsham; www.coppinsofcorsham.co.uk

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© Mel Yates

Animal lights, from £12.95 From Graham & Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

FOR THE KIDS

MEDITATION TABLET FOR KIDS, £50 From om:gom, Bradford on Avon; www.om-gom.com

POPPI LOVES ANIMAL RUCKSACK, £39.99 From Santoro London, 32 Milsom Street, Bath; www.santoro-london.com

GRACIE BABY DRESS, £24.50, AND SADIE BABY HAT, £9.50 From Happyology, 6 Cheap Street, Bath; www.happyology.uk

FELT PURSE, £15 From Bibico, 9A Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bibico.co.uk

ALLIGATOR SCARF, £32 From Spotty Herberts, 5 Queen Street, Bath; www.spottyherberts.com

LE TOY VAN ALEX’S WORK BENCH, £119.95 From My Small World, 19-21 St Lawrence Street, SouthGate, Bath; www.mysmallworld.co.uk

LAVA LAMP, FROM £77 From Graham & Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

FOX SOFT SHOES, £19.50 From Up To Seven, 6 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; www.uptoseven.co.uk

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Osborne’s Christmas Trees Rode, near Frome, BA11 6PE Open from Saturday 1st December daily 9.30am until 5.30pm

On the Fosse Way near Colerne SN14 8AH Open 1st & 2nd December then Wednesday to Sunday every week 9am until dark

Fresh from the Forest Traditional trees • Potted Large trees • Nordman Fir Fraser Fir • Wreaths Mistletoe and holly • Logs in bags FREE REINDEER DUST

www.o-christmas.co.uk Tel: 07870 466179

The Silver Shop of Bath

Established in 1952 and fully independent, visit one of Bath's favourite shops for the city's largest selection of silver jewellery and a wonderful range of Christmas gifts.

Find us in Union Passage, 50m from the Abbey & Roman Baths, behind Nationwide and Oasis

www.thesilvershopofbath.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE A handful of ideas guaranteed to put a smile on someone’s face

RAPHAEL’S GOLD LABEL EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (CONTACT FOR PRICE)

FLOWER BOX (PRICE DEPENDENT ON SIZE)

Raphael’s Mediterranean Deli Products, 19 Marshfield Way, Bath BA1 6HA; info@meddelifood.co.uk If you are looking for the perfect gift for your foodie friends, look no further. Introducing Raphael’s – Gold Label – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it’s exceptionally smooth and delicious and hails from Kolymvari, Crete.

Paired with not one, but two choices of marinated pitted mixed Greek olives for all those lovely festive days ahead. Available from LEAK gift shop in Larkhall.

Mystic Flowers, 12 James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BX; 07845 584078; office@mystic-flowers.com Mystic Flowers Bath is a unique florist, offering modern, exclusive bouquets in the form of stunning flower boxes. Thanks to this exceptional design, the flowers will last longer than classic well-known flowers. A wide range of colors and sizes guarantee that you will find the perfect flower box for yourself or beloved person.

www.meddelifood.co.uk

www.mystic-flowers.com

PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE BY JAN CONSTANTINE, £145

Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath, BA1 2AA; 01225 571711; info@homefrontinteriors.co.uk Homefront Interiors is a small independent stocking a range of homewares, interior pieces, gifts, cards and prints. With its simple ethos for sustainability, the shop is full of fairtrade items, local artists’ work, small-scale British makers’ products, as well as reclaimed and vintage pieces. Now available on www.trouva.com. www.homefrontinteriors.co.uk

STAR EARRINGS, £14

Silver Bear Jewellery & Gifts; 34 Wellsway, Bath BA2 2AA; 01225 422225 Silver Bear is an independent gift shop packed full of gorgeous gifts, including a large range of greeting cards, sterling silver jewellery, sparkly lights to decorate your home, gin-making kits and, finally back in stock, fair trade coffee mugs (they also sell bamboo mugs) trying to do their little bit to help the planet. Have a look at the website or, better still, go and visit them in Bear Flat, where you can enjoy relaxed shopping including lovely eateries and free parking for two hours.

The Italian Food Hall, 8 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2EE; 01225 334127 A little piece of Italy in Bath. For Christmas food and gift ideas, visit The Italian Food Hall – an authentic, independent food store selling the very best Italian produce from small artisan companies. Choose from a huge array of traditional delicacies, including gluten-free and vegan options, create your own hamper or just pick up a festive Italian treat.

Sisi & May, 9a Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ 01225 442250 Sisi and May’s own brand is launched with the arrival of Candles. Choose between eight fabulous scents, that will fill your home with delicious aromas, which consist of Wild Fig and Grape, Rose Geranium, Black Oud, Unique, Tahitian Vanilla and Chilli Pepper, Lime Basil and Mandarin, Moroccan Rose and Black Pomegranate.

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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

Yuta Segawa’s Gold Mountain pieces will be on display at David Simon Contemporary, 3-4 Bartlett Street, Bath, until 24 December.

For more: www.davidsimoncontemporary.com

GOLD MOULD Japanese artist Yuta Segawa is famed for his individual miniature hand-thrown porcelain ceramics which are finished in a choice of more than 500 original glazes.

“Miniature pottery relates to the issue of the relationship between artists’ bodies and their works,” he says. “It is a challenge to test the

limits of what a human body can make on such a small scale.”

Two of his sculptural pieces – Matt Gold Mountain, which is10cm tall, and Gloss Gold Mountain, 15.5cm – are currently on display at David Simon Contemporary, Bath. They are constructed of individual gold vases, which he

built up through the repetitive physical act of throwing individual pots on top of one another and then coating them in a single, unifying glaze of gold.

These sculptures are part of a series of 36 unique ceramics by him in the gallery’s Mixed Winter exhibition. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 49

WHAT’S ON 8 November -5 January

Balcony Scene II by Frans Wesselman can be seen at Axle Arts Gallery

EXHIBITIONS Until 9 December

WINTER SHOW OPENHOUSE WEEKEND An exhibition of artworks that have been hung sympathetically in conjunction with the normal clutter of a domestic environment, alongside larger sculpture and ceramics sited in an ordinary suburban garden. There are new paintings by Derek Balmer PPRWA, Lynne Cartlidge RCA and Jeannette Hayes PPS, A glass of mulled wine will be on offer to celebrate the festivities of the season, too.

Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am6pm; Axle Arts; www.axlearts.com

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

Until 21 December

NICK MACKMAN 2015 British wildlife artist of the year Nick Mackman’s collection of sculptures includes a family group of elephants and a pack of African wild dogs. Ceramics on display will also include the beautiful porcelain works of Chris Keenan; and the gallery will be exhibiting a group of painters and sculptors, including Anna Gillespie, Beth Carter, Ruth Stage and Dawnne McGeachy.

Mon-Sat; 10am-5pm, by appointment; Beaux Arts; www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

Until 1 January

WONDER WOMEN OF SPACE A free exhibition celebrating the

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 truly inspires them.

1-5pm weekdays, 10am-5pm, weekends; various prices; Herschel Museum of Astronomy; www.herschelmuseum.org.uk

Until 20 January

GAINSBOROUGH AND THE THEATRE Celebrity, naturalism, performance and friendship are the themes in this exhibition, which showcases Gainsborough’s portraits of actors, managers, musicians, playwrights, designers, dancers and critics of the 1760s-80s.

Open daily 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am5pm; general admission £12.50; The Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 17 February

NICK CUDWORTH: BATH NIGHT PAINTINGS Nick presents over 20 of his Bath night paintings in the form of giclée prints on stretched canvas. The artist’s eye for the effect of light on colour ensures visitors will want to explore the city’s beautiful buildings after dark.

10.30am-5pm; Victoria Art gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 17 February

ON PAPER All the artworks in this fascinating

WHAT’S ON exhibition are made from paper, used as a material in its own right rather than merely a surface to be painted or drawn upon. Among the leading artists featured are Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, Bridget Riley, Gillian Ayres and Eduardo Paolozzi.

10.30am-5pm; Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

© SAMMIE PALMER

3 – 24 December

ABOVE:

The Walcot Lantern Parade on Walcot Street LEFT: Walcot Parade, by Nick Cudwoth can be seen at Victoria Art Gallery BELOW: The Scarlet Pimpernel is being performed at the egg theatre

MIXED WINTER EXHIBITION A packed show of paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics by gallery artists and new faces, including John Croft CBE, Steven Hubbard, Parastoo Ganjei, Hugo Grenville, Sara Ingleby-MacKenzie, Honor Jolliffe, Alex Lowery, Mike Service, and a selection of miniature ceramics

by Yuta Segawa.

Monday- Saturday; 10am-6pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday); David Simon Contemporary; www.davidsimoncontemporary.com

15 – 20 December

PROLOGUE EXHIBITION This exhibition will showcase four rising British artists: Ben Reader, Miranda Carins, Jess Power and Luke Samuel, with the artists’ styles complementing and contrasting with one another in harmony.

11am-6pm; 44AD Artspace; www.44ad.net

PLAYS/SHOWS Until 8 December

MACBETH Following its sold-out London run, the National Theatre tours the Scottish play. Directed by NT artistic director Rufus Norris and designed

by Rae Smith, this production propels Shakespeare’s classic title into a post-apocalyptic world of anarchy and uncertainty.

Various times and prices; Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Until 22 December

THE MODEL APARTMENT Max and Lola are two elderly Holocaust survivors, who, in the early 1980s, retire to Florida. Their plan is to sit back and relax, but their new life in the sunshine state turns dark very quickly. The UK premiere of this black comedy comes from Donald Margulies, one of America’s most respected and renowned playwrights, and is directed by the Ustinov’s Olivier Award-winning artistic director, Laurence Boswell.

Various times and prices; Ustinov Studio; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

FAMILY

Until 24 December

JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE EXPERIENCE Your big adventure to the North Pole will see you meet Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and lots of friendly elves.

Various times and prices; Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park; www.christmas.avonvalley.co.uk

Until 1 January

A CYCLE OF LIGHTS An interactive, pedal-powered light display in front of Russell & Bromley, Old Bond Street, Bath.

Various times; BathBid; www.bathbid.co.uk

Until 1 January

CHRISTMAS TREE CAROL TRAIL Festive trees at welcome points around the city. Spot all 10 trees and identify the musical theme at each one.

Various times; www.bathbid.co.uk

Until 6 January

BATH ON ICE The whopping ice rink this year is the biggest yet, measuring in at 1000m2, so there will be plenty of space for those keen to glide. On site is Moguls Alpine Bar, serving hot mulled wine, wood-fired pizzas, deluxe hot chocolates, and a range of beers and wines.

11.45am-10pm weekdays, 10.30am10pm weekends; various prices; Royal Victoria Park; www.bathonice.com

Until 6 January

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MINI-GOLF The 18-hole course will be lit up in full splendour, with glowin-the-dark balls, mist and atmospheric lighting.

11.45am-10pm weekdays, 10.30am10pm weekends; various prices; Royal Victoria Park; www.bathonice.com

Until 13 January

THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL It’s 1792 and the French Revolution is in full swing. Expect witty wordplay, brave women, notso-brave men, hysterical double disguises, elaborate hoaxes, poodles aplenty and very, very high wigs in this classic tale.

Various times and prices; the egg; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

9 December

THE SNOWMAN WITH

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

WHAT’S ON Jon Monie as Smee in Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal

15 December

YULE TALES OF BRITAIN Brother and sister Bernard and Sal return home to Bath, all in preparation for the January 2019 release of Tales of Britain, the first British folk-tale collection to be published in over 30 years. In this Yuletide special, they will perform an hour of seasonal folk-tales from all over Britain. For all ages.

4.30pm; The Bell Inn; www.talesofbritain.com

13 – 23 December

ONWARDS & UPWARDS With their signature blend of storytelling, puppetry and beautiful live music, Inkbloc ensemble will treat audiences with a wild and wintery story about digging deep, for explorers of all ages.

Various times; £10-14; ages 6+; Rondo Theatre; www.rondotheatre.co.uk

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICES 8 December SHOPPERS’ CAROLS A popular, informal 20-minute service with traditional carols.

Ideal for weary shoppers. All welcome, no reserved seating or tickets required.

1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm; Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org 9 December NATIVITY SERVICE Weekly morning worship with the added bonus of a children’s nativity play. This is an all-age service which the whole family can enjoy. Followed by refreshments.

10.30am; St Michael’s Without; www.stmichaelsbath.org.uk www.stmichaelsbath.org.uk

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

13 December – 13 January

PETER PAN PANTO Don’t miss the classic tale of the boy who never grew up. Expect a swash-buckling and unmissable Christmas treat with flying, CGI special effects and all the traditional ingredients that make Bath pantomimes so special.

Various times and prices; Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

13 December – 20 January

SNOW MOUSE Winter has arrived and the woods are covered in white.

A child hurries to put on their winter clothes so they can run outside and play in a sparkly new world. An enchanting tale full of adventure the little ones will love.

Various times and prices; the egg theatre; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

14 – 30 December

VICTORIAN CAROUSEL Take a break from the Christmas shopping and enjoy a ride on the beautiful Victorian carousel.

Various times; Stall Street; www.visitbath.co.uk

© FREIA TURL AND

MICHAEL MORPURGO Join one of the UK’s most acclaimed children’s writers, Michael Morpurgo, to celebrate his retelling of the much-loved story

by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman.

Michael will read an extract from his magical new novel and everyone will get the chance to do a live drawalong with The Snowman illustrator, Robin Shaw.

5pm-6pm; £8; Bath Pavilion; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

OTHER

Until 9 December

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET

13 December FAMILY CAROL SERVICES Children are invited to come dressed as a shepherd, angel, wise man or citizen of Bethlehem to create a festive Christmas tableau. Features a real donkey.

All welcome, no reserved seating so we’d suggest arriving early to avoid disappointment.

3pm; and 4.15pm; Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org 16 December CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT An evening carol service, including songs of praise and Christmas carols, as well as performances by St. Michael’s Christmas Choir.

6.30pm at St Michael’s Without; www.stmichaelsbath.org.uk 15 December A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION CAROL CONCERT

Featuring the Abbey’s Girls’, Boys’ and Men’s Choirs.

Tickets £12-18 available from the Bath Box Office.

7pm; Bath Abbey; bathboxoffice.org.uk 24 December CHRISTMAS EVE An informal service with traditional carols. All welcome, no reserved seating or tickets required but the Abbey is normally packed for this service, so do arrive early.

4pm and 6pm; Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org CHRISTMAS DAY FAMILY COMMUNION Celebrate at this informal service, suitable for all ages. Music led by the Abbey Boys’ Choir.

9.30am; Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE Celebrate on Christmas morning, followed by refreshments.

10.30am; St Michael’s Without; www.stmichaelsbath.org.uk SUNG EUCHARIST FOR CHRISTMAS Celebrate using the traditional Christmas music and liturgy, with Abbey Choirs.

11.15am at Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org

WHAT’S ON Over 160 twinkling chalets where local makers and designers showcase their artisan gifts, while a range of foodie treats will be on offer.

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10am–7pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 10am-8:30pm, Sundays: 10am-6pm; Various spots around the city; www.visitbath.co.uk

Until 9 December

GUILDHALL CHRISTMAS MARKET Take a stroll through Bath Guildhall Market, the oldest shopping venue in the city. Seek out some treasures with a warming mulled wine and enjoy the festive atmosphere and live music. www.bathguildhallmarket.co.uk

Until 9 December

FESTIVE STREET FOOD MARKET Exceptional food from some of the region’s finest street food traders, plus live music and entertainment.

Foodie traders include Tasty Ragga, The Pickled Brisket and Wrap Shack.

11am-9pm; Kingsmead Square; @Kingsmeadmarket

Until 20 December

KRATER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Expect an all-star comedy line-up, an indulgent and festive threecourse meal, followed by dancing to cheesy floor-filler classics until the early hours with exclusive afterparties.

Various times and pricings; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

Until 22 December

APRÈS-SKI BAR AT ABBEY HOTEL The infamous Après-Ski Bar makes a welcome return, serving alpine appetisers, Christmassy cocktails and heaps of festive fun. The cosy cabin is the perfect place to snuggle up under blankets, sip on mulled wine with chums.

Open 10am-11pm daily; Abbey Hotel; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

9 December

WALCOT LANTERN PARADE Music from The Nutcracker Suite will accompany the visual treat that is the annual lantern procession, Also on the bill is Walcot Choir, street artists Cirq Delight, Little Big Horns brass and much more. The Parade will be followed by a special Christingle service at St Michael’s Church at 6.30pm, and The Little Big Horns will take to the stage at

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

The Bell Inn. 5pm; Walcot Street; www.bathfringe.co.uk

10 December

ELVES CHARITY SCREENING Bristol Bad Film Club return to Bath with everyone’s favourite Christmas classic, Elves. This 1989 festive horror treat has become a cult classic among fans of the ‘so bad it’s good’ movie. All profits going to Action for Children to support vulnerable young people this Christmas.

7.30pm; £8 (standard), £6 (concessions)www.komedia.co.uk

11 December

AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PALIN Michael Palin, Monty Python stalwart and much-loved television globetrotter brings to life the world and voyages of HMS Erebus.

Doors open 6.30pm; £20; The Forum, Bath; www.toppingbooks.co.uk

21 December

1984: OVER 40S(ISH) NIGHT Enter a time capsule of your youth with the greatest hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

Various prices (early-bird tickets available); Second Bridge; www. secondbridge.co.uk n

ABOVE: Check out the Christmas carols concerts at Bath Abbey LEFT: Birchwood Spring by Derek Balmer PPRWA will be exhibiting at Axle Arts Gallery BELOW: Snow Mouse will be on at the egg theatre

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the gallery owner

We talk to gallery owners who explain why art is at the heart of their expertise ASHLEY GRAY

GRAY M.C.A; 01225 422117; www.graymca.com

KAREN KING

What sort of work do you represent?

Fashion illustration and artist textiles are the core of our exhibitions. We represent artists who dominated the fashion pages alongside modern artists who worked with textiles as part of their repertoire.

01225 789298; www.castlegalleries.com

Who were these artists?

The illustrators were the fashion photographers of their day and dominated Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar with their incredibly beautiful drawings.

Why are these works so collectable?

Fashion illustration is a cultural record of the evolution of 20th-century fashion and an emerging market for collectors.

Why textiles?

We love the textiles of the 1950s and 60s, when great modern artists such as Picasso and Henry Moore produced textile designs for the likes of Ascher and Bloomcraft. The textiles were originally destined to be soft furnishings and a way of introducing modern art into people’s homes at an affordable level. Now these framed textiles make a sensational addition to a wall of any contemporary home.

MANAGER, CASTLE GALLERIES What sort of work do you represent?

As the UK’s leading limited edition art gallery, we also offer wonderful original artwork. We are privileged to represent world famous cultural and creative icons as well as hugely talented up-and-coming artists making their mark on today’s contemporary art scene.

What are the misconceptions about an art gallery?

Some people find art galleries intimidating based on the misconception that to collect any art of note you have to be rich and well versed in fine art and that only really expensive art is good art. We believe that there is no real way to define ‘good art’. Art speaks to us all differently based on our personal experiences and tastes. We offer a welcoming environment whether you wish to purchase or are simply here to enjoy a beautifully curated collection.

Ashley Gray

Karen King

Should I buy an original instead of a print?

Buy what you love and invest in your happiness. Our gallery showcases a diverse range of mediums and styles, but the common denominator is that each and every piece, original or limited edition, has earned its place in our collection because of its exceptional quality.

CHRIS STEPHENS

DIRECTOR, HOLBURNE MUSEUM

JENI WEINBERGER

01225 388569; www.holburne.org

What’s your background?

My Dad was an amateur painter and I came across art on family holidays to Cornwall. Somehow it seemed right to study history of art and one thing led to another.

01225 422220; www.artsalon.co.uk

Chris Stephens

Photo: Evoke Pictures

What’s on at the Holburne currently?

At the Holburne we aim to offer a number of special exhibitions alongside the collection. This season Gainsborough & the Theatre is complemented by a display focused around Rodin’s Thinker – one of the most iconic sculptures ever – and David Hockney’s Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, a popular favourite and successor to Gainsborough.

ART SALON

What’s the most important quality required to be successful?

Communication is the most important quality – to listen to both client and artist and successfully match the two.

What area do you specialise in?

We concentrate on British talent, both emerging and established, and I am keen to promote British talent around the world. To this end, we exhibit and sell in Hong Kong, Singapore and New York regularly. We also regularly exhibit in London and across the UK. This in turn brings many art patrons back to Bath.

Tell us about your art programme…

Our programme sets out to bring the very best art from any time or place, to Bath, and to celebrate local creativity. Gainsborough does both. We always plan a long way in advance with different audiences in mind.

What is the origin of the museum’s name?

The Museum is named after Sir William Holburne whose amazing, eclectic collection was given by his sister to Bath to form the city’s first museum of art.

How long have you been a gallery owner?

I have been in the art trade since 1995 and running my own business since 2005.

Jeni Weinberger

What are the misconceptions about an art gallery?

That it will be too expensive. We actually stock work from £10 – £20. At Christmas, we fill the gallery with work from young designers and artists whose work is naturally a lot less expensive. You never know what future diamond you might uncover.

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

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FILM

FROM FAR LEFT:

Festive flicks

Robert Redford stars in The Old Man and the Gun; Stan & Ollie is based on the lives of Laurel and Hardy; uplifting sequel Mary Poppins Returns; Home Alone, as well as other festive classics, will be spreading Christmas cheer

From family favourites to preview screenings of brand-new films, here’s what’s coming up at the Little Theatre for Christmas

A

s the season of cheer and merriness continues, we have some excellent films for everyone to enjoy with their loved ones.

There’s the latest film from the incomparable Robert Redford, a classic returns, and there will be 12 days of Christmas magic on the big screen.

First up, we have the potential swansong from Robert Redford, The Old Man and the Gun. The film feels like a homage to Redford, fitting his skills perfectly. Reported as his final film, it’s already rumoured his outstanding performance will earn him an Oscar nomination. It’s based on the real-life story of stickup artist Forrest Tucker (Redford) who could be described as a career criminal.

Tucker began his life of crime in his teens and could never bring himself to give it up, even in his old age. The film creates a wonderful montage showing him growing up with his criminal habits, and his spectacular 17 escapes from incarceration.

We first meet Tucker in early ’60’s Texas, where he meets Jewel (Sissy Spacek).

Initially, he uses her as a prop in his getaway from his latest crime, but soon realises that there’s a romantic spark between them, and, in the coming years, they periodically reunite whenever he’s there for ‘work’.

We next encounter Tucker two decades later, with his new accomplices, Walker (Tom Waits) and Teddy (Danny Glover), and we watch them

over the course of several bank robberies. The trio’s exploits don’t go unnoticed though, with detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck) excitedly trying to find the group and stop them.

Though Hunt is on the case, there never feels like a genuine threat to the team, but it’s nevertheless entertaining to watch it unfold.

Redford radiates class throughout the film and has beautiful chemistry with Spacek. This one is definitely worthy of a watch, especially if you’re after a gentle but entertaining crime/drama with a wonderful lead actor.

Next, we have the return of an iconic character in an incredible and uplifting sequel.

Mary Poppins Returns brings an impressive freshness to the story, but manages to keep the warm nostalgia we all know and love. With such pressure to uphold high expectations, it’s only right that Disney chose such a magnificent cast. Emily Blunt leads as the titular character, and there’s also the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep and many more. It’s an uplifting story and visually astonishing, with a fantastic range of new songs, joyous choreography and some remarkable animated scenes.

We return to Jane (Emily Mortimer) and Michael (Ben Whishaw), who are now grown up and are struggling in 1930’s London. Michael is now a father-of-three dealing with a loss, and Mary returns to help him and his sister rediscover the joy they knew as children. And Blunt’s Mary pays wonderful respect to Julie Andrews’ original

“We’re showing a selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer”

performance – just as eccentric and lovable.

The Little is also showing a selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer over the course of 12 days. From classics, like Home Alone and Die Hard, to a dazzling one-man production of A Christmas Carol, starring Simon Callow, and special showings of Cbeebies Christmas Show, there’s something for most ages to enjoy.

There’s also a preview screening of the fantastic new film Stan & Ollie, based on the lives of the iconic comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. There will be a showing of their classic short film The Music Box as part of the screening, which depicts the pair trying, and hilariously failing, to move a piano up a flight of stairs. Stan & Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly is a brilliant depiction of the legendary movie icons. It’s a touching story of what would become an epic and triumphant swansong of Hollywood’s greatest comedy duo. Trying to ignite their careers, they undertake the gruelling task of touring the UK. The duo reaffirms their love of performing, and each other, as they secure their place in the hearts of the public.

All of the 12 Days of Christmas showings are perfect for this time of year, but Stan and Ollie stands out, and is definitely worth seeing before general release next year.

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 59

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NIC BOTTOMLEY BOOKS

Get the picture?

NIC BOTTOMLEY suggests a handful of books in which the pictures do the talking – ideal as Christmas presents

“Even the gorgeous maps in this book mustn’t take away all the mystery and replace our imaginations”

C

offee-table books.

Bleurgh. What a phrase.

It makes the books sound so disposable – somehow seeming to suggest that a book with pictures is automatically only something to flick through in a cursory way. And yet, this year, as with most, there are so many superb visual books that will make perfect gifts for Christmas and that will stand up to actually being browsed, and, dare I say it, read – as well as looking alluring in the space between the chocolate orange and the mixed nuts.

My personal recent favourite is The Writer’s Map, edited by Huw Lewis-Jones (Thames & Hudson, £29.95), a simply stunning look at fictional and actual maps featured in books, from the classic to the contemporary. Certainly, the first thing you notice about this book are the beautiful fullcolour or facsimile images that are scattered throughout. Whether it’s Everett Henry’s kaleidoscopic imagining of the chase of Moby Dick, or Cressida Cowell’s full map of her own Barbaric Archipelago from the How to Train Your Dragon books, they’re all recreated in glorious quality ready, for you to pore over in great detail.

Beyond the pictures, though, there is enjoyable and enlightening text that will utterly absorb anyone who loves books and the idea of fully formed fictional worlds.

Essays appear from celebrated authors of non-fiction (Robert Macfarlane; Sandi Toksvig); fiction (David Mitchell; Joanne Harris) and books for young readers (Abi Elphinstone; Frances Hardinge). Collectively, these cartographic literati cover every imaginable angle of how worlds are created and how they are mapped in the authors’ minds, on their desks and then in the finished books. They tell us about their own work and about the works that inspired them, so we see Narnia, Neverland and even Walden’s Pond come to life.

The final word, appropriately, is left to one of the illustrator contributors. Chris Riddell considers the beauty of books and their power and influence – particularly on younger minds, and particularly where vivid mappable worlds are created. He sounds

one note of caution though, suggesting even the gorgeous maps in this book mustn’t take away all the mystery and replace our imaginations. “I’d love to map Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland some day,” he says. “But ought it be mapped?”

A slightly smaller but similarly attractive book is Taking to the Air, by Lily Ford (British Library, £25), which combines text and illustration to explore the history of flight. Beginning with images of Icarus and quickly advancing to the era of balloon flight and then the often comical and misguided first efforts at winged transport, Ford leads us through the many phases of the human obsession with being airborne. The text is full of interesting, sometimes barely believable, incidents and fiascos as well as those truly significant breakthrough moments in the history of flight.

I’m not sure what it is about flight that makes it such an effective muse for artists.

Whether the context is war, adventure or leisure travel, the art and poster designs that depict the skies and the aircraft that cross them are so often mesmerising. The secondhalf of Ford’s book, in particular, bears this out, with many breath-taking images punctuating the text.

Finally, a nod to one of Bath’s finest artistic sons. Pete “the Street” Brown has just published a second book dedicated to his paintings of his home city. The text in Bath: Paintings by Peter Brown (Sansom & Co., £30) is minimal. This is truly a book in which the pictures do the talking. In all elements you might catch Pete behind his easel on a street corner, capturing the pavements, roads, crescents and hills we know so well. As a result, this collection shows off the city in all elements so that we can appreciate the beauty of a sheen of spring rain on the flagstones, which we might normally overlook when hurrying by beneath our umbrellas.

Whether he’s right among the hustle of pedestrians or looking down serenely on snow-scattered rooftops, somehow Peter has developed a knack for perfectly reflecting the city’s many lights and shadows.

Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 61

OLIVE TREE Classic yet quirky, contemporary but with a nod to the past, the Olive Tree combines all that is best about British cuisine.

No wonder it’s just been awarded a Michelin star

By Harriet Noble

W

hen most of us imagine what a Michelin-star restaurant might be like, we envisage showstopper food, of course, but there are other things that may spring to mind, too: a sense of formality, fussy service, an intimidating, military line-up of cutlery, and old-school carpets as squishy as a sponge.

So it came as rather a surprise when my chum and I entered The Old Q Bar at the Olive Tree for a quick preprandial before our meal, and saw a pair of boxing gloves on the wall and a list of framed ‘rules’ telling us that indoor horse riding, stilts, pogo sticks and space hoppers were not allowed. This is clearly a place where the décor is tongue-in-cheek. Yet it is interwoven with the building’s rich history. A patron of sport known as ‘Old Q’, (hence the name of the bar), John Sholto Queensberry, the 9th marquess, was the originator of the code of rules that governs modern boxing, hence the boxing gloves. It was ‘Old Q’s father, the 8th marquess of Queensberry, who had the townhouses – now The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree restaurant – built back in 1771.

But, anyway, back to the bar. While the quirky Britishness shines through in the décor, this does by no

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

means diminish the service or the quality of our drinks, which were delicious. I had a daiquiri, and my pal had a margarita, and they were beautiful – sharp, sweet and with a decent amount of zing that peps you up to party mode.

Going into the restaurant, it is a million miles away from any whiff of stuffiness; the room is small, modest and intimate, with wooden floors, olive-green walls and muted lighting. There are a few menus, and staff are flexible about what you have, so you can pick and choose courses from any list.

Between the two of us, we had about 12 dishes, too many to discuss in great detail here, and one of my favourites was the first: the beetroot with Lanark blue, pecan, and crab apple. In the form of a bright, shiny, sorbet, the beetroot stole the show in this dish, yet it was the combination of the other ingredients on the plate that made this such a success – the crunchiness of the pecan, the salty tang of the cheese, and the light but sweet crab apple. As you take a mouthful, the different and surprising tastes and textures happily ricochet around your mouth.

After this, I had the tagliatelle with white truffle and 36-month-aged parmesan. Something I appreciate about the menu is that there is a mixture of unusual and quirky dishes, but they also sit alongside classics – such as my pasta

RESTAURANT

choice – so you never feel lost at sea with the menu. The tagliatelli, a comforting dish I have had a million times, was bathing in a dreamy sauce – all buttery and creamy, and seasoned to perfection. As I live for sauces, I got my spoon out and greedily scooped up the remaining liquid.

This was followed by the Woolley Park Farm duck, with cauliflower, sea beet, hazelnut and lemon. The duck, crimson pink and tender, was a delight, working harmoniously with the crunchy hazelnuts and tart lemon.

As for the pudding, well, do you ever feel that you need to be wearing a certain outfit for a dish that you eat? Such was the richness, the naughtiness, the wickedness of the baked milk chocolate, peanut, brown butter ice cream and salted caramel pud, I felt like I should have been in a gold, silk negligee from the 1940s, with a jewelled hair pin nestled in my locks, which perhaps doubled up as a dagger.

But maybe that’s just me.

We were served pretty and shimmering petit fours afterwards. I was pretty full by this stage, but, never one to waste food, stashed them away in my handbag to enjoy the next day, I could go on about the food, which was exquisite, but like so many other restaurant experiences, it is the little touches and the interaction that you have with the people who work there that make it a stand-out experience.

For example, one of the very friendly waiters who served us our drinks was not only really knowledgeable about the wine, but when my friend got excited about the coravin – she’d never seen one before – he, with grace and humour, gave her a special demonstration and let her have a go using it.

After our puddings, too, the head chef, Chris Cleghorn, came out to say hello. Down-to-earth and friendly as can be, he chatted about the food, the team in the kitchen and the years of hard work put in before getting a Michelin star, back in October.

Anyone put off the idea of visiting a Michelinstar restaurant, for fear of pretentious food and a lot of pomp and ceremony, need not fear the Olive Tree; it is a restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet is very serious about the food. n

“This is a place where quirky Britishness shines through” DINING DETAILS 4-7 Russell Street, Bath, BA1 2QF; 01225 447928; www.olivetreebath.co.uk In a nutshell Michelin-star food but in a quirky, yet classic setting Head chef Chris Cleghorn We ate Beetroot; celeriac; Jerusalem artichoke; tor, autumn truffle; tagliatelle; Woolley Park Farm duck; baked milk chocolate pudding; blueberry meringue pudding; dark chocolate yoghurt sorbet Wine Each dish has a recommended wine alongside it on the menu; there’s also an extensive drinks menu to choose from Prices A ‘Five’ tasting menu is £57; a vegetarian ‘Seven’ tasting menu is £58; Service/atmosphere Elegant, attentive and friendly What else Head chef, Chris Cleghorn was a protégé of a trio of Heston Blumenthal (Fat Duck at Bray), Michael Caines (Gidleigh Park) and Adam Simmonds (Danesfield House).

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

HALF PRICE PROSECCO NIGHTS! Bubbles are flowing on Thirsty Thursdays 5pm to 9pm at Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel Starting 13 Dec and every Thursday HALF PRICE PROSECCO, 2 FOR 1 GLASSES AND HALF PRICE ON BOTTLES

020 3504 2180 | www.countrylivinghotels.com

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS 2018 Christmas at Ston Easton Park is a feast for all the senses. Whether you are in need of a quiet, relaxing break, seeking a venue to entertain friends and colleagues or in search of a decadent treat, our gift to you is the very finest cuisine along with attentive yet unobtrusive service, wrapped up in a stunning 18th century Palladian mansion.

Ston Easton Park could have been purpose built for Christmas. The beautifully proportioned rooms, open log fires and spectacular festive decorations and Christmas trees come together to create the perfect atmosphere for a traditional Christmas house party. Join us for a two or three day festive break, we’ll take all the strain out of the arrangements and provide you with the relaxing escape you deserve.

VOUCHERS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE OR DIRECTLY. AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT!

CHRISTMAS LUNCHES

Throughout December we will be serving our Christmas Lunch menu starting from £27.50 per person for two courses or £32.00 per person for three course, with tea/coffee and miniature mince pies at £5.50 per person. (excludes 24th, 25th and 26th December. Please see our website for the full menu.

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEAS

Come and warm up, and enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea and be treated to a selection of festive treats. Our Festive Afternoon Teas include a selection of festive filled finger sandwiches, Scones with clotted cream & jam, a festive flavoured Tea Cakes. £25.00 per person.

Available from 1st December.

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

www.stoneaston.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The perfect espresso martini lands in Bath…

BELVEDERE VODKA has joined forces with Bath’s top drink pros to unveil an exciting new cocktail collection in the city…

C

reated more than 30 years ago in a British bar, the iconic Espresso Martini is shaken up by mixologists across the world. Fresh coffee, vodka and liqueur combine to create that distinctive crema-topped drink, with a velvety texture and caffeine kick.

Now, for the festive season, Belvedere Vodka is celebrating this classic cocktail in Bath, having joined forces with two of the best-known names in the city’s drink industry. Together with the award-winning baristas at Colonna & Small’s and the pro mixologists at Sub 13, the premium spirit brand has curated a limited edition menu of coffee-based concoctions, inspired by the classic ’80s-born sip.

The drinks are all created with the specially developed Colonna & Small’s x Sub 13 capsule – the first to ever have been developed specifically for use in Espresso Martinis. Rigorous testing was carried out on beans, roasts and packaging to come up with this one-of-a-kind, single-origin coffee pod that will sit perfectly with Belvedere’s spirit in a cocktail glass.

“MADE WITH POLISH DANKOWSKIE RYE AND WATER, BELVEDERE VODKA IS SOFT AND SUBTLY SWEET, WITH A SMOOTH, CLEAN FINISH” Belvedere Vodka was created in 1993, a time of resurgence for cocktail culture when mixologists were coming up with innovative new drinks that are now staples on drinks lists across the country. Vodka being the spirit of choice, this new premium product set out to raise the bar in the field, and become the first luxury

vodka. Made with Polish Dankowskie Rye and water, Belvedere Vodka is soft and subtly sweet, with a smooth, clean finish. This, along with the drinks’ integrity and all-natural character make it a favourite among vodka aficionados and drink industry pros – not to mention a perfect component in coffee-based cocktails…

Head to Sub 13 over the Christmas period and get your hands on this exclusive menu – choose a caffeine-infused drink served up from a vintage-style syphon, or an Espresso Art-ini, with a special image printed onto it, perhaps. Just get down there before the New Year, as these unique concoctions wont be sticking around for long. n

Sub 13, 4 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2E4 01225 466 667; www.sub13.net www.belvederevodka.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 65

CHRISTMAS PARTIES

“It’s in a starry woodland setting, dressed with real trees and giant baubles”

DRINK IT IN

Party season is here and the nightspots in Bath have shaken up their drinks menus, concocting some delicious, festive libations. It’s time to ditch the usual, and try one of these winter wonders…

By Harriet Noble 66 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The Merry Martini at The Ivy Bath Brasserie

CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS THE IVY BATH BRASSERIE Katja Kammerer, general manager What can people expect from your bar this Christmas?

We’ll have a series of festive cocktails available, as well as a limited-edition Christmasinspired dessert.

Tell us about your favourite Christmas drink that people can enjoy…

The Merry Martini, which features pumpkin spice syrup, vanilla vodka and Baileys, shaken and strained, and then topped with whipped cream and ground nutmeg.

Ginger Fizz at The Ivy Bath Brasserie

What else stands out on the drinks menu?

A Ginger Fizz, which contains Plymouth gin, ginger and lemongrass cordial, topped with Ivy champagne, and garnished with a lemongrass stalk.

© STEVE RUSSELL

Tell us a fun fact…

Fancy drinks at The Bird’s Winter Wonderland

We still have vaults in the basement from the building’s days as a bank. www.theivybathbrasserie.com

WINTER WONDERLAND AT THE BIRD, BATH Feliks Rahuoja, Winter Wonderland manager

How would you describe your bar?

New for 2018, it will be found in a starry

Gingerbread Martini at The Gainsborough Bath Spa

woodland setting, dressed with real trees, giant baubles and a whole host of life-size animals, from polar bears and penguins, to reindeer and camels. It’s the perfect seasonal spot for all the family to drop in for Christmas cocktails, a relaxed bite to eat and experience magical festive vibes.

What can people expect in terms of atmosphere?

Plenty to smile about and a warm and cosy feel inside and out. Outside, there’ll be a veranda with heaters, seating and faux fur rugs, while, inside, there’ll be a mix of seating centred around various festive scenes.

What’s on your Christmas drinks menu?

The Santa’s Tipple. It’s made with vodka, white chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, a dash of chocolate bitters, and chocolate snow (grated white chocolate) to garnish.

Tell us a fun fact…

We’ll have a singing reindeer, as well as cocktail sharing vessels shaped like Christmas puddings, disco balls and teapots. Bring friends and come and try it. www.thebirdbath.co.uk/winter-wonderland

THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA Mateusz Dulko, bar manager How would you describe the bar?

The ambience is an unusual but moreish cocktail: combine the opulent, settled atmosphere of a gentleman’s club with the friendly vibe of a hip London cocktail bar, and serve it up with the hushed whispering of the shoulder jets in the stunning Spa Village below you.

Tell us about one festive drink that people can enjoy…

The Gingerbread Martini, with Baileys, vodka, gingerbread syrup, Tia Maria, and vanilla syrup.

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CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS

Santa’s Tipple at The Bird’s Winter Wonderland

The Hideout is serving up hot toddie’s to keep everyone warm

A magical space awaits at The Bird

Tell us a fun fact...

The walls are adorned with Bath-inspired paintings by local students, and the window seat overlooks our beautiful Romanesque Spa Village. www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

THE DARK HORSE Louis Lewis-Smith, managing director

How would you describe your bar?

It’s full of weird stuff from my flat, and plays carefully curated playlists from my record collection, ranging from Frank Zappa to Franz Ferdinand, and nothing else inbetween.

What can people expect from your bar this Christmas?

We have events every Wednesday in our annex bar, Blackbird. These are typically spiritfocused, such as the whisky social or rum club, and we’ll have distillers and brand ambassadors hosting talks while we play records and knock out cocktails.

“We’ll have a singing reindeer.

There’ll be plenty to smile about” Tell us about a festive drink that you are selling this year...

One drink that will be available all through this winter is the Idle Hands – a heady mix of Wild Turkey Bourbon, Somerset Cider Brandy, Amaro, chocolate and Angostura bitters, stirred to perfect dilution and served over one of our signature distilled ice blocks with a twist of orange. www.darkhorsebar.co.uk

A warming Idle Hands is a heady mix on offer at The Dark Horse

THE HIDEOUT Ross Mullins, bar manager What’s on your Christmas drinks menu?

© TOM SOUTHCOT T

The Hideout Hot Toddy with Glenmorangie (single malt scotch whisky), ginger liqueur, honey, fresh lemon juice, and a homemade spice mix tea bag, with hot water.

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

Anything going on at the bar?

We are looking forward to having our hole-inthe-wall open all day to keep the shoppers of Bath on their toes

and warm. We won’t be having mulled wine, but we will have hot toddies, gin punch and, last year’s favourite, Chartreuse hot chocolate.

We’ll also be teaming up with brands, to give you a Christmas season peppered with great events, tastings and just downright good times.

Tell us a fun fact...

The bar is centred around an underground tradition, and folklore that says highwaymen traded smuggled goods for passage and sleeping quarters with the servants of Bath, eventually using a couple of places as nonofficial hideouts. www.hideoutbath.co.uk

APRÈS-SKI BAR Wayne Darnell, bar manager

What can people expect from your bar this Christmas?

A DJ will be playing music to keep spirits up over the long, cold nights, and we will be serving a selection of sweet and savoury treats.

What Christmas drink will you be serving?

A range of cocktails, including a Winter Bellini: Martin Miller’s gin is sweetened with rhubarb and vanilla, and is then topped with prosecco. Two or three of these and you can’t fail to start to get in the spirit. We are also offering two wintry frozen cocktails and

“Boozy hot chocolate served with marshmallows is what I am looking forward to the most”

A Christmas Negroni at Bar 15, No 15 Great Pultney

a gin-based hot toddy, perfect to warm up with. However, personally, it is the boozy hot chocolates served with a shot of brandy, rum or whisky, complete with marshmallows and whipped cream, which I am looking forward to most. www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

THE ROYAL CRESCENT Jean-Marc Leitao, head sommelier

What makes the Montague Bar special for Christmas?

The ambience, the service, the selection of drinks and, of course, the magnificent Crescent under the snow. The bar is bright and warm, with opulent furnishings and flourishes of colour on the walls.

Tell us about one specific Christmas drink that you are selling this year...

The Rudolph, which is made from Plantation Rum 3 Stars, brown cacao liqueur, orange juice and ginger cordial.

Tell us a fun fact...

I personally curate the wine list and know it off by heart – give me any number and I will be able to tell you the corresponding wine. www.royalcrescent.co.uk

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

Sub 13’s Christmas Mojitos looking ravishingly refreshing

CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS

A Christmas Prosecco Punch at Sub 13 Why not try a Fireside Flip at the ArtBar

ARTBAR Christopher Deakin, bar manager

How would you describe your bar?

We offer cocktails by candlelight in a welcoming relaxed atmosphere; think big armchairs, table service and lo-fi instrumental music.

Tell us about some of your Christmassy drinks that you are selling this year...

I think our Winter Spiced Gin served with Fever-Tree clementine tonic will be back due to popular demand, and expect a few other new A boozy hot chocolate at the Ski Bar looks tempting

infusions as well. Parma Violet gin may come into play very soon.

Fireside Flip is a great example of bringing these various styles of ingredients together; we combine Gautier VS Cognac with Williams Oak-Aged Sloe & Mulberry gin. The richness of the cognac plays really nicely against the light fruity notes of the gin; we then add a slosh of chocolate liqueur, vanilla syrup and finally, the star ingredient, a Butcombe ale and Pedro Ximénez sherry reduction. www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

BAR 15, NO.15 GREAT PULTENEY Steve Everall, mixologist

How would you describe your bar?

Quirky, decadent, classy, comfortable, eyecatching – there’s so much to look at.

Can you recommend a winter drink that you’ll be serving?

A Christmas Negroni, made with sloe gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and garnished with caramelised orange and rosemary.

The festive Rudolph will be served at the Montague Bar at The Royal Crescent

What else is on the menu?

Our cocktail menu is on a deck of playing cards, so there’s no shortage of choice, whether you’re in the mood for a Tiramisu Martini or a Fresh and Wild, with Hendrick’s, lillet, basil syrup and cucumber and watermelon tonic.

Tell us a fun fact...

The former Carfax Hotel, which was located on this site, operated as a temperance hotel after World War II and was run by the Salvation Army until 2013. It never had an alcohol licence until No.15 opened in December 2016. www.no15greatpulteney.co.uk

SUB 13 Tim Whelehan, director

Can you recommend some winter drinks that you’ll be serving?

White Christmas Mojito with Koko Kanu coconut rum, coconut cream, fresh mint leaves, sugar syrup and lime juice. You make it by muddling the mint, lime juice and sugar syrup. Add the rum over crushed ice, churn, and garnish with a mint sprig and some pomegranate seeds.

Another would be our Mince Pie Martini or our Christmas Prosecco Punch. www.sub13.net

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 71

GREAT BURGERS FRESH LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE DELICIOUS COCKTAILS

MEATBUSTERS Previously Burgers and Barrels

2 Victoria Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3EH www.meatbusters.co.uk

recipe

Christmas bubble and squeak Here’s a tasty way to use up Christmas Day leftovers, as suggested by Riverford Home Delivery, Bath Parsnip, Brussels sprout and bacon potato cakes Serves 4 Ingredients • 200g parsnips, peeled and cut into even-sized pieces (or you could use leftover boiled, steamed or roasted parsnips) • 3 tbsp olive oil • 300–400g potatoes, peeled and cut into evensized pieces • 200g Brussels sprouts, outer leaves removed • 8 rashers smoked streaky bacon, finely sliced • Polenta flour (or use ordinary plain flour), for dusting • Salt and black pepper

Method 1. Heat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Toss the parsnips with salt, pepper and a tablespoon of the oil. Spread over an oven tray and roast for about 40 minutes, until soft and beginning to caramelise.

Remove, allow to cool, then roughly chop.

2. While the parsnips are roasting, boil the potatoes in salted water until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain well and mash while warm. Keep your mash as dry as possible so that the cakes hold together; if it seems wet, stir it over a low heat for a few minutes.

3. Cook the sprouts in plenty of salted, boiling water until tender – about five minutes. Drain well and cut into quarters.

4. Fry the bacon over a medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan (preferably nonstick) until really crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Keep the oil left in the pan to fry the cakes.

5. Mix all the veg with the bacon and season with salt and pepper. Dust your hands with flour, then mould the mixture into burger-sized patties. Add the remaining oil to the frying pan, place over a medium heat and fry the cakes in batches until they are golden brown – about five minutes per side. Add more oil to the pan if you need it. If the first cakes have cooled down by the time you have fried the last, you can reheat them all in the oven for a few minutes. www.riverford.co.uk

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RECIPE

TuRKey TIme Turkey is a tasty and lean meat which is often readily available over the festive months; here’s a tried and tested turkey winter warmer from Riverford Home Delivery, Bath TURKEY MEATBALL BROTH WITH GREENS Serves 2

Ingredients • 50g white bread, blitzed into crumbs • 1 tbsp milk • 250g minced turkey • 1 large egg yolk • 1 tbsp finely chopped sage • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley • Sunflower or light olive oil, for frying • 1 large or 2 small onions, finely diced • 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced • 1 celery stick, finely diced

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

• 300g shredded green cabbage (e.g. Savoy or January King) • 1 litre chicken stock • Salt and black pepper • Small handful of finely grated parmesan, to serve Method 1. In a large bowl, stir the breadcrumbs into the milk. Add the turkey, egg yolk, sage and parsley.

Season with salt and pepper and use your hands to mix and squidge it together well. Roll into walnut-sized balls.

2. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large, deep frying pan and fry the meatballs to lightly brown them

all over (cook in batches if they don’t all fit).

Transfer to a plate.

3. Add the onion, carrot and celery to the same pan and cook for 15-20 minutes on a low heat, until tender but not coloured, stirring now and then. If the veg looks like it’s catching at any point, add a splash of water. Add the meatballs, cabbage and stock. Simmer for about five minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through (cut one open if you’re not sure) and the cabbage has wilted.

4. Check the seasoning and serve sprinkled with the parmesan. www.riverford.co.uk

EXQUISITE VIEWS • EXCELLENT FOOD • ACOUSTIC MUSIC NIGHTS

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR MENU AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. CHRISTMAS EVE DJ. Christmas Party menu available. CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCHEON accompanied by a two-piece band – lunch is served between 12pm and 4pm. Christmas Day lunch for children up to 12yrs £24.00 NEW YEARS EVE GALA with DJ, fireworks and a glass of bubbles to toast the New Year.

DRINKS

Look out for our special drinks offer on beers, spirits and selected cocktails from noon to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOURS

Exciting changes to our menu to bring the flavours and dishes of the Mediterranean to you. The menu will be enriched with influences from across the med and include heart-warming dishes such as Ossobuco and Moussaka to flavoursome seafood marianara and many more.

FUNCTION ROOM

With wonderful views across the Avon River and Bathampton meadows we have a large room available for hire. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding or Christmas Party we can cater for all your needs. Capacity: 30-50 sitting down dinner, or 70 for a buffet.

Looking to ďŹ nd that special someone?

Caroline Crowther is a truly local personal introduction agency helping you meet someone new in your area. We offer a long term personal service until you find your perfect match.

For a professional and personal service call

0800 180 4788

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Laundry and Ironing Services Tailored to your needs Domestic and Commercial

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FRE pick-up E an delivery d availab le

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES The local vegan food scene continues to flourish,

as Bath welcomes newly opened café Roots & Shoots in Brunel Square. The owners are Matt Craig and Andrew Mcmahon, school friends from the Bath area, who were keen to set up somewhere in the city centre which provided delicious vegan street food.

“Obviously it’s not technically street food, but the railway arch where we’re located is a nice middle ground. It’s somewhere between a café, coffee shop and a takeaway. It also has a cosy outside space so it keeps that informal feel,” says Matt.

“Bath has a steadily growing vegan and plant-based food scene, but there are not loads of quick and convenient options that cater for the health-conscious and people with dietary requirements,” he adds. “Our current menu features a variety of Indian and Moroccan bites and different types of seitan, served in wraps, hot salads and our special mezze fusion boxes.

We also have homemade soups and wholesome one-pot dishes from around the world.

“We want to disprove the myth that plantbased foods can’t be as delicious and wholesome as their dairy and meat counterparts. We want to add to Bath’s proud independent food scene and offer something a bit different in an area heavily populated by the usual chain eateries. We’re looking to start evening junk food nights in the near future and have lots more exciting plans in the pipeline. We’re lucky to have a really talented team working with us, all passionate foodies who share our ethical ideals and vision.”

For more: Instagram: rootsandshootscafe

All smiles with the gang at Harvest

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED An online platform named Good Sixty has just arrived in Bath, enabling users to get great food delivered from their local independent food retailers and artisan producers right to their door. They can purchase from a variety of retailers and producers in their area at once before picking a delivery slot that suits, then pay with a single check-out.

As the shops are local, there’s no need for diesel-guzzling vans, and groceries are delivered via eco-friendly cargo-bikes, as the company is working in partnership with Bath’s eco delivery service Three Bags Full.

“I’m amazed by the amount of great independent shops and small-scale producers in Bath, and I know many residents want to ‘shop local’ but simply don’t have the time to get to each separate shop or hunt out local, specialist producers,“ says Good Sixty co-founder Chris Edwards.

“Good Sixty is the answer, allowing people to browse and buy from Bath’s best indies, at their convenience, in every sense of the word.

“And the service we provide is also an essential tool for small food businesses in this digital age, helping Bath’s retailers and producers share their passion, reach new customers and therefore compete with the ‘big guys’. Consumer demand for better, ethical, convenient food is at an all-time high, and it has been proven time and again: shopping locally has a positive impact on our neighbourhoods, ploughing money back into the local economy and strengthening communities.”

For more www.goodsixty.co.uk

Not keen on turkey? Even less keen on the never-ending washing-up after a traditional Christmas meal? For the first time ever, Giggling Squid in Bath is opening on Christmas Day. Founder Pranee Laurillard says, “Guests can expect a stunning Thai feast with sharing dishes chosen by myself for such a special occasion. I have selected a few of my favourite dishes, which include giant prawn satay with exotic Thai rainbow salad; chive and black pepper squid; 12-hour slow-cooked beef rib; and red snapper with kang som curry.

There’s also a traditional spiced tom yum shot and a zingy fresh papaya salad palate cleaner.

“And because just one dessert is never enough this time of year, the Giggling Squid’s Christmas Day menu showcases a trio, including a coconut and pineapple finger; salted caramel soufflé, and the rich decadent chocolate melt.”

Ho ho yum yum For more: www.gigglingsquid.com

© HARRIET BIRT WISTLE

CHRISTMAS THAI

Roots & Shoots is now open

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

No problems = no worries, right?

A client of BRAD ABRAHAMS shares the result of her last eye examination with him and the importance of regular eye checks

I

work for Eye Health UK, a national Charity promoting eye health awareness, so understand the importance of regular eye checks.

My two-yearly examination was due and I was aware that Brad Abrahams Optometry is dedicated to advanced eye examinations, using equipment not found elsewhere in Bath, and decided to book my appointment, unaware of any changes in my vision.

An optical assistant carried out some initial tests before Brad conducted the eye exam. She used an OPTOMAP camera to take a digital image of my retina, stating this was the only one available in Bath, and also tested the pressure in my eyes and checked my peripheral vision.

The OPTOMAP imaging revealed a tear far into the periphery of my retina. To ensure this was correctly identified a second image was taken once my pupils were dilated with drops.

The diagnosis confirmed, I was informed that I needed to go to the Eye Department at the Royal United Hospital. The practice contacted the unit and an emergency appointment was made for the following day. The consultant ophthalmologist confirmed the retinal tear impressed it had been caught. I was scheduled for a non-invasive laser procedure, which was carried out within six days and took around 15 minutes. I had a follow-up appointment four weeks later when my consultant checked the tear had been repaired and I was discharged from hospital care.

This experience has only heightened my awareness that we cannot always sense, see or feel problems occurring within the eye.

Regular eye examinations are often the only way to identify a problem early enough to prevent a progression which in some cases can lead to permanent sight loss. The equipment used at Brad Abrahams is very sophisticated, and it is these advances in technology that enable practitioners to catch early signs of potential problems. Indeed, my problem would not have been spotted so early if the OPTOMAP image hadn’t been taken, as seen in the image the standard retinal photo alone would not have captured the tear. If it had

The retinal image captured with the OPTOMAP camera which, as shown, allows a much wider field of view of the eye, capturing about 80% of the eye in one photo, compared to the ordinary retinal camera, which only captures about 15%

“THE EQUIPMENT USED AT BRAD ABRAHAMS IS VERY SOPHISTICATED, AND IT IS THESE ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLE PRACTITIONERS TO CATCH EARLY SIGNS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS” been left untreated it could have led to a retinal detachment, which requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent sight loss.

You should visit your optometrist or A&E

straight away if you notice a rapid increase in the number of flashes or floaters in your vision or you have a dark “curtain” or shadow moving across your vision.

I hope my story encourages others to have regular eye examinations and if you would like to find out more about looking after your eyes please visit www.visionmatters.org.uk. n

2 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG 01225 444321 team@bradabrahams.uk.com www.bradabrahams.uk.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 79

SERVICES GUIDE HOME CARE

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To advertise here call ✆ 01225 475800

CITY SPECIAL

GO WEST

Bath Life has four sister magazines across the West Country, and, as you’d expect, what our editors don’t know about their cities can be fitted on the back of a postcard. In this special feature, we’ve invited them to be your city guides for a day…

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CITY SPECIAL

Why visit…

BRISTOL? It would be quicker to list the reasons not to, says Bristol Life editor DERI ROBINS It’s hard to explain just how much this city – the undisputed capital of the South West – has changed over the last decade. If you haven’t visited for a while, and thought Bristol was mostly a posh village on the hill flanked by grungy suburbs, you’ll be amazed by what it currently has to offer. (There’s still a posh village on the hill, though.)

SHOP LOCAL...

For out and out boutiquery, head to Clifton (the posh village, etc) where designer fashion shops are chummily interspersed with niche little outlets that you won’t find anywhere else – Mexicana specialist Otomi, for example. Get your mesh Frida tote bag for a tenner here.

Clifton merges imperceptibly into the area vaguely known as ‘the city centre’, which takes in Park Street, the steep main throroughfare topped by the monolithic, neo-Gothic Wills Tower; take a tour to the top and say hi to Great George, the giant bell; he has his own Twitter account. Nearby are the Christmas Steps, the nearest thing Bristol has to Diagon Alley, crammed with little specialist shops, galleries and and cafés, it calls itself Bristol’s Arts Quarter, and nobody’s arguing.

Of course, if you’re hell-bent on visiting chain stores identical to the ones you left at home, you can head to Cabot’s Circus, the compact and attractive mall created ten years ago. There’s a Harvey Nicks.

GORGE ON AMAZING FOOD...

first is Bristol’s most innovative fine-diner, the second an upmarket tapas bar – but both are owned by the Sanchez Iglesias family, and both have Michelin stars. Off the main track, but worth seeking out.

At Cargo, right on the Harbourside, a bunch of tiny independent restaurants, bars and cafés are crammed into converted shipping containers. Choose between fine diners Box-E and Tare, plant-focused Root, porcine Pigsty, Spanish Gambas among many others.

A few of of Bristol’s most popular restaurants are found in Old City – Pata Negra for tapas, The Ox for steaks, while Pasta Ripiena comes from the team behind Pasta Loco. Finally, for a taste of fiercely independent quarter Stokes Croft, try Poco’s Tapas (pictured on the left), Arts Café and The Gallimaufrey, or Bell’s Diner in slightly more genteel Montpelier.

BEHOLD THE HISTORY . . .

A walk along the harbour is the ideal way to soak up a sense of Bristol’s docklands heritage. Wander down to ss Great Britain, beloved by every Bristol child, which wins endless awards for its visitor-savvy attractions.

At Wapping Wharf is M Shed, a museum about Bristol people, while just across the harbour is We the Curious, where you and the kids can get your science on at the imaginative, interactive exhibitions.

Some of the city’s most attractive and historic streets flank Baldwin Street. The upper storeys of King Street’s 16th-century houses bulge over the cobbles, there’s the half-timbered pub where Daniel Defoe is said to have met the model for Robinson Crusoe, and right in the middle is Bristol Old Vic – the oldest theatre in the English-speaking world, which has just completed a multi-million refurbishment.

North of Baldwin Street is the dignified old commercial heart of the city, where Georgian banks built like cathedrals share street space with bits of Bristol’s mediaeval past. Here too is St Nick’s, an award-winning market with some of the city’s best street food.

“If you get the impression that there’s a festival taking place every weekend, that’s because there is”

Ignore my colleagues on the other titles; Bristol has the best eatingout scene in the UK outside London. In Cifton alone, Nutmeg, Thali Café and Mint Room offer superior Indian cooking; modern-British Wellbourne & Wallfish is patronised by Bristol’s top chefs on their days off, while contemporary Italian Rosemarino is one of the best-loved restaurants in town.

Cotham Hill has become the city’s unofficial tapas quarter, thanks to Bravas, Bellita and Muino; here too is Pasta Loco, where top notch Italian cooking is teamed with the most disarming service you’ll ever encounter. A few streets away on Chandos Road are the excellent Wilsons and Michelin-starred Wilks; a bit further up the hill is Bulrush, a modern British restaurant that’s also just bagged a Michelin star.

In Redcliffe, Casamia and Paco’s Tapas have a different offering – the

LAP UP THE CULTURE. . .

We can’t let you go without mentioning the street art. While Bristol’s world-famous painted walls, including a sprinkling of Banskys, can be admired everywhere from the city centre to Stokes Croft, its spiritual home is south of the river in Bedminster. It’s here that the Urban Art Festival takes place every summer, turning the neighbourhood into one vast outdoor art gallery.

SOAK UP THE FESTIVAL VIBE. . .

If the Visit Bristol website gives you the impression that there’s a festival taking place every weekend, that’s because there generally is; during summer there’s one literally every weekend. For peak Bristol, there’s the balloon fiesta and the harbour fest, while those who love music but detest camping will adore the small, carefully curated outdoor day-long music fests that regularly attract the A-list.

Take home a souvenir Croft China sells beautiful, hand-printed fine-china with Bristol-centric themes and a witty activist attitude that sums up the spirit of the BUT HEY,Stokes DON’T TAKE in tech, though we’re obviously all very clever IF YOU BUY JUST city. Run by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, who famously said ‘No’ to a branch of Tesco, and threw a riot to make the point crystal clear.

OUR WORD FOR IT! ONE SOUVENIR... too) city. It’s been voted the UK’s kindest city; Bristol loves a riot.

Over the past few years Bristol has won www.prscshop.co.uk national and global awards with monotonous regularity. Drumroll….

Best place to live in Britain (The Sunday Times). Europe’s coolest city (Luxury Travel Guides). The best place in the UK to spend a weekend (The Independent). The most inspiring city in the UK, and fourth in the world (Inspiring Cities). The Guardian judged it one of the most colourful cities in the world, one of the happiest cities and the UK’s smartest (as

its most musical city (The Telegraph); the best shopping destination for groups; best for street art (obviously), and its food scene is the best outside London.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel du Vin – Clifton and the city centre Harbour Hotel – Old City Mercure – Harbourside and Old City Brooks Guesthouse (check out the airstream caravan rooms on the roof)

Let it be something from Stokes Croft China, which sells beautiful, hand-printed mugs, plates etc with witty, Bristol-centric messages and the chirpy activist attitude that sums up the spirit of the city. It’s run by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, who famously said ‘No’ to a branch of Tesco, and threw a riot to make the point crystal clear.

Bristol likes a riot.

For more ideas, check the excellent Visit Bristol website at www.visitbristol.co.uk

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CITY SPECIAL

Why visit…

CARDIFF? Cardiff Life editor EMMA DANCE talks all things Cardiff...

From ancient castles and Victorian shopping arcades, to ultra-modern arts centres and award-winning cocktail bars, Cardiff’s got all the trappings of any European capital. But luckily for you, this one’s right on your doorstep (and after 14 December you won’t even have to pay the bridge toll). And as one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, it’s time for the Welsh capital to take its turn in the spotlight

SHOPPING

You won’t be able to miss the behemoth St David’s shopping centre slap bang in the city centre, where you’ll find all the big brands as well as plenty of places to eat and drink. For smaller, quirkier shops though, head to the famous Victorian arcades which are full of all manner of stores tempting you to part with your cash – including Spillers Records, reputed to be the oldest record store in the world. A short walk along the river and through the park will take you to the leafy suburb of Pontcanna – Cardiff’s answer to Notting Hill – with plenty of independent, upmarket boutiques.

FOOD AND DRINK

Tommy Heaney (off of Great British Menu) is making some major waves in the Cardiff food scene with his recently opened restaurant in Pontcanna garnering rave reviews, while Asador 44 serves some seriously banging steak – and the lunch deals are incredible

St David’s Hotel

value. For fine dining, head to the Michelin-starred Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth, or on the opposite end of the scale, the Sticky Fingers street food market in the Brewery Quarter is your place for casual eats. If you’ve got a sweet tooth then don’t miss the afternoon tea at the Admiral St David – you might recognise the pastry chefs from Bake Off: The Professionals.

The bar scene in Cardiff is massive, but leading the pack are The Dead Canary and Lab 22 – both named among the UK’s top 50 cocktail bars. If beer’s more your thing though, then look out for Brains, Tiny Rebel, Pipes and Crafty Devil brews – all produced in the city.

ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY

There are some pretty big “must-sees” like historic Cardiff Castle, the National Museum and the architecturally awesome Wales Millennium Centre, but there’s plenty more besides. The Sherman Theatre focuses on new work, Chapter Arts presents international art, performance and film, you can see stars of the future at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and there are ever-changing, intriguing photography exhibitions at Ffotogallery.

SPORT

“On a Wales rugby match day, the city is awash with red, and there’s a real buzz on the streets”

On a Wales rugby match day, the city is awash with red, and there’s a real buzz on the streets. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about the rugby in Cardiff though – Cardiff City were promoted to the Premier League this season, Cardiff Devils ice hockey team topped their league, and the Cardiff Comets are the only Welsh women’s hockey team playing in the leagues. Come summer, you’ll hear the sounds of leather on willow as Glamorgan Cricket play in Sophia Gardens.

MAKING A WEEKEND OF IT? WHERE TO STAY St David’s Hotel Cardiff’s only five-star hotel offers stunning views over the Bay as well as a really rather fabulous spa. www.ihg.com Park Plaza Chic and stylish, with a spa to boot, you won’t go wrong with a stay here. www.parkplazacardiff. com

Hotel Indigo Actually in one of Cardiff’s arcades, you won’t get a better location from which to ignore the city. And we love the décor inspired by local landmarks. www.ihg.com Clayton Hotel Cardiff Cardiff’s biggest hotel neighbours the train station, and offers a smart base from which to explore the city. www.claytonhotelcardiff. com

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CITY SPECIAL

Why visit…

EXETER? Because it’s the pot of gold at the end of the M5 rainbow, says Exeter Living editor ANNA BRITTEN Exeter: so much more than a milestone you zoom past en route to your summer holiday. We’re warning you: one visit won’t be enough.

This city is booming. Massive investment since 2011 has resulted in exciting new places to shop, eat, enjoy culture and do business – as well as a tangibly dynamic and upbeat atmosphere. And it’s still growing.

Gawp at the Cathedral, stroll around the Quay, and marvel at all the ways you can spend your time and pocket money…

EATING & DRINKING

Surrounded by fertile farmland and bountiful seas, and packed with world-class producers, Exeter is a gourmet’s dream. Few foodie fads here, just local, seasonal dining in abundance. We especially love Harry’s, Rendezvous, The Oddfellows and Lloyd’s Kitchen. Just drinks? Locals swear by city centre pubs The Hourglass and The Fat Pig and for a cool cocktail or local gin look no further than the cosy Crocketts on Gandy Street or the Victorian-themed Doctor Ink’s Curiosities on the Quay.

SHOPPING

CULTURE & SPORT

The enormous Royal Albert Memorial Museum (aka RAMM) offers everything from natural pre-history to high profile touring art exhibitions. Right next-door sits Exeter Phoenix, a modern arts centre where you’ll find gigs, films, art and more. A-list comedians flock to Exeter Corn Exchange, and Exeter Northcott Theatre stages its own high-calibre productions as well as all the best touring shows. Rugby fans will get a warm Devon welcome at Sandy Park, home of oval ball maestros Exeter Chiefs.

“Packed with worldclass producers, Exeter is a gourmet’s dream”

You won’t be able to miss the award-winning Princesshay shopping centre, now 11 years old. But if you want to avoid the big chains, you want Gandy Street, a pretty, traffic-free alleyway tucked off the main drag, and bohemian Fore Street, which runs downhill from the city centre to the river – both of which are lined with local traders plying their particular passions.

COAST & COUNTRY

Exeter is #blessed – sitting in the middle of no less than seven Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with Dartmoor thataway, and the sea over yonder. You’ll need a weekend to profit from all the paddleboarding, hiking and cheek rosying opportunities. Or you could just move here…

MAKING A WEEKEND OF IT? WHERE TO STAY City Gate Hotel 14 boutique bedrooms await in this redbrick former coaching inn turned classy city centre pub/restaurant/hotel. Handy for Exeter St David’s station. www.citygatehotel.com Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel 156 bedrooms, four stars, swimming pool. Yes, it’s a big name chain but this Southernhay stalwart has a strong Exeter theme in its décor and has never failed us. www.mercure.com

Hotel Du Vin Part of the small, genteel-butsexy UK hotel brand, this 59 bedroomer comes with loads of chic lounging about space, from the intimate library to the sunny terrace. www.hotelduvin.com Southernhay House Georgian townhouse offering 11 stylish, antique-packed bedrooms – close to all the attractions (if you can drag yourself away from the stunning cocktail bar…) www.southernhayhouse.com

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© ASH MILLS

© MARTIN COOK

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CITY SPECIAL

Why visit…

SALISBURY Salisbury Life editor SARAH MOOLLA talks all things Salisbury….

Let me tell you a few obvious things about Salisbury. It’s the home of the Magna Carta, it has the oldest school in the world established some 1,000 years ago, Salisbury Plain is home to the once extinct Great Bustard bird, and there’s an abundance of intact Jacobean, Tudor, and Regency architecture due to considerate town planning through the centuries and those German bombers missing us (maybe because of those mystical Wiltshire leylines that pass through the county).

The city can be found near some Neolithic wonder of the world stones, called Stonehenge, and, in the immediate surrounds, carved chalk white horses, one of which is whispered to be a commemoration of King Alfred’s victory at the Battle of Ethandun in 878, gallop over acres and acres of rolling lush green fields.

TIME TRAVEL

Salisbury may be a small city with a population of just 45,000, and yet it is so deep in history, you could lose yourself to another dimension as you time travel through its charming labyrinth of coiled streets and explore England’s most pleasant land.

RESOLUTELY ROBUST

But let me tell you something else about the city of Salisbury. There is a resilience and strength in those ancient stones. While tanks rolled in, a hungry world media camped out in every corner, and the catastrophists were catastrophising their worst, this quietly elegant and resolutely robust corner of south Wiltshire rolled up its metaphorical sleeves, and got on with business as normal.

The Salisbury market, first established 1219, continued to pitch up, the medieval Cathedral kept its doors open, and the 14th-century clock kept ticking. The eclectic, exciting and specialist indies, the bars, the restaurants, the Salisbury Playhouse, and the Salisbury Arts Centre continued to host and entertain. A few smart businesses even managed to expand, and some imaginative and creative, brave new ventures opened up.

“It is so deep in history, you could lose yourself to another dimension”

THAT SPIRE

Salisbury is also a place with a 123-metre spire. You may know this because some of your Russian friends have been suggesting for a long time that you visit this wonderful city, famous not just in Europe, but in the whole world. Yup, this city, which is believed to have evolved from the Old Sarum settlement around 300 BC, has more recently become the contemporary backdrop for a politically volatile episode which has threatened diplomatic relations with the Soviet superpower. The world gasped, for a while people were scared, and the city was shunned.

Footfall fell by 12.5 per cent, with indies, businesses, and the sights and attractions taking the financial brunt of this.

RICH TAPESTRY

There’s a beating heart to Salisbury that pulses with an invigorating energy – it is too beautiful, too strong and too vibrant a city to be shaped by recent episodes alone. The story will bend to the will of Salisbury and become another thread in the city’s rich tapestry.

SEEK THE UNIQUE

Salisbury is where the traditional and the contemporary sit shoulder to shoulder.

Here’s a quick travel guide to just a few of the lesser-known must-sees…

1. The Haunch of Venison – This 700-year-old pub is full of ghosts, great ales, corkscrew staircases, open hearths, and has the mummified hand of a cheating Victorian poker player on display.

2. The SQUAWK festival – We love a festival in these here parts, from Larmer Tree to End of the Road.

And SQUAWK is our own annual arts celebration of everything lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual.

3. Fisherton Mill – Located in a restored old mill near the train station, this huge gallery houses multi-arts studio spaces including the exquisitely

beautiful Artisan Studio collection; there’s hand-on workshops; a gift shop stocking unique work from over 200 artists; plus a multi award-winning café.

4. Old Sarum – Rising up from the Salisbury plains, more than 5,000 years of history are told through this enthralling site with breath-taking views and is perfect for picnics. The Iron Age hill fort was where the first Cathedral once stood, and the Romans, Normans and Saxons have all left their mark.

5. Cathedral Close – Take your time when visiting the Cathedral, as the Close that surrounds it is the largest in Britain and is home to The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum; Salisbury Museum; Arundells; and Mompesson House. The 80 acres sit in the shadow of that magnificent spire’d, free-to-enter Cathedral, which plays host to ground-breaking art exhibitions and we think it has the nicest and most helpful volunteer guides in the world.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

You will always find her in the kitchen‌ KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS has a familiar face

K

elly Marie opened the doors of her beautiful kitchen showroom near Widcombe at the beginning of the year. Kelly has had 15 years experience as a recognised designer and project manager in Bath, providing luxury kitchen projects with a loyal team of fitters and builders to support her. She started out as a

part-time hand drawn kitchen designer at B&Q while at university. After graduating, Kelly moved to Magnet in Bath and worked alongside many builders/developers which started to get her noticed. Kelly was then headhunted to launch Homemaker’s kitchen arm. Successfully running this business for seven years and building up a fantastic local reputation and client base, she also worked for bulthaup which gave her a good knowledge of all products in the market.

After a year she returned to her original showroom after realising her longstanding ambition to start her own business and bought the showroom. She continues to offer her bespoke luxury German brand hacker and an exciting new range of timeless classic shaker painted kitchens.

If you want a beautiful kitchen design and installation service with unique individual service then contact Kelly. n

8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath, Bristol BA2 4HJ kelly@kellymariekitchens.com Showroom: 01225 481881; Mobile: 07796554466 www.kellymariekitchens.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

FOR THE HOME Our local businesses are poised and ready to help with all your home needs for winter

CLAIRE RENDALL DESIGN

BEAR INTERIORS

www.clairerendall.com

www.bear-interiors.co.uk

From gently textured traditional interiors to gorgeous glitz, Claire Rendall Design creates quality interiors as varied as their clients. On time and to budget, both locally and internationally.

Please contact info@clairerendall.com; Tel: 07778 240223 for further information.

ROSSITERS

Rossiters is a design-led lifestyle store offering a carefully curated range of furniture, fabrics, wallpaper, and home accessories. Its in house interiors team provides a full design service free-of-charge to customers. The beautiful woodpanelled design rooms are home to a huge selection including exclusive ranges from Cole & Son and House of Hackney, as well as Annie Sloan chalk paints. 38-41 Broad Street, Bath, BA15LP; Tel: 01225 462227; www.rossitersofbath.com

TILE & FLOORING

For over 40 years Tile & Flooring of Bath has developed its reputation as a high quality supplier of design lead materials and installation service, gaining important and long-standing relationships – from discerning home owners managing their own projects, to design and build professionals servicing the property industry. Tel: 01225 310561 www.tileandflooring.co.uk

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MENDIP FIREPLACES

Bear Interiors are a small, approachable company delivering quality interior solutions at affordable prices. From advice on colour schemes to renovation, from initial planning to project completion, they can help you. To arrange a free consultation please call Lynette Labuschagne on 07977548340 or email lynette@bear-interiors.co.uk

Bath’s leading fireplace, wood burner, gas fire, chimney and flue specialist. From classic to contemporary, concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Chesney’s, Barbas Belfires, Hwam, Stuv, Jetmaster. Get in touch or visit the showroom.

Mendip Fireplaces (Bath) Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD. info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706

KNEES HOME AND ELECTRICAL

KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS

www.knees.co.uk

www.kellymariekitchens.com

Loved locally since 1879, Knees offer a one stop shop to perfect your home. With top kitchen appliance brands, beautiful home furniture and accessories. They pride themselves on helping their customers find the right product.

Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge BA14 0AZ High Street, Malmesbury SN16 9AA; Tel: 01225 754161

BONITI

Boniti is run by brothers Giles and Simon Lunt.

Started in 2006, Boniti has grown hugely as a company and now offers a wide range of quality interior and exterior products: natural stone and timber flooring, Everhot range cookers, garden furniture and Kadai firebowls.

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA Tel:01225 892 200; www.boniti.co.uk

www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

Working from her beautiful showroom and with over 15 years’ experience in the kitchen industry, Kelly Marie has built a strong reputation. She combines technical aspects of design with an intrinsic creativity, producing functional yet beautiful spaces. Her portfolio includes luxury German made kitchens and Italian painted shaker kitchens.

Full design and installation service. Tel: 01225 481881

PIETRA WOOD & STONE LTD

PWAS Ltd. have been supplying and installing quality floor and wall coverings for over 15 years across the south of England, from both their Holt and Fulham showrooms.The company prides itself on the range of products and customer service it can offer to both the residential and commercial market.

The Old Filling Station, 400 Ham Green, Holt BA14 6PX Tel: 01225 783527; www.pwasltd.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

JOEL BUGG FURNITURE & SPACES

Joel Bugg design and create elegant, bespoke fitted furniture and interiors, which are architecturally thought-through to seamlessly fit and suit your property.

Working with private clients and architects, they offer a fully managed service from initial concept designs through to final installation, sourcing and providing all elements of the finished interior. Tell: 07779 236242 www.joelbugg.co.uk

TR HAYES

WOODHOUSE AND LAW

VERVE LIVING

www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

www.verveliving.uk

An established full-service interior and garden design company, delivering commercial and residential projects with exceptional service. From their showroom and studio on Bathwick Hill, Woodhouse and Law is committed to delivering creative, stylish and individual design solutions from the initial concept right through to the all-important finishing touches.

BLINDS AT TR HAYES

Verve is an interiors store with a difference. This creative hub is all about mixing it up: an ever-changing collection of one-off vintage pieces sits alongside locally sourced contemporary artwork and accessories, all exclusive to Verve in Bath. Pop in, a warm welcome awaits.

15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD Tel: 07785 332536

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

TR Hayes has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years now and has a reputation for good quality and excellent service. The large store features well respected brands covering all types of furniture, and many that are proudly made in the UK. The St Ives sofa collection is a prime example, with good design, quality and comfort all at great value for money. 15-18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX; Tel: 01225 465757; www.trhayes.co.uk

As well as curtains, TR Hayes also supplies many types of blinds, from Roman blinds to shutters and electric blind systems for the whole house. The Luxaflex PowerView® Motorisation system enables you to control your blinds from your phone, even when you are away. Experienced staff are on hand to explain everything, and there is a free estimating service. 15-18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX; Tel: 01225 465757; www.trhayes.co.uk

Clair Strong Interior Design is a small, creative company based in Bath, providing a wide range of services for both residential and commercial clients. Her portfolio of projects includes the design, project coordination and sourcing for some of Bath’s most beautiful residences, as well as sports clubs, offices and other commercial venues.

Contact Clair on 01225 426906 or 07855 79731

HOBBS MARBLE & GRANITE

WESTSIDE DESIGN

AVONVALE CARPETS

www.westsidedesign.co.uk

www.avonvalecarpets.co.uk

Hobbs Marble & Granite is a well established natural stone supplier that has been trading for 30 years in Bath and the surrounding areas. They specialise in the fabrication of granite, marble, slate, travertine and quartz products – particularly kitchen worktops.

Radstock Road, Midsomer Norton, Radstock BA3 2AA Tel: 01761 412934 www.hobbsmarbleandgranite.co.uk

Westside Design is a family-run Bath based company offering a tailored design, manufacturing and installation service for all aspects of cabinetmaking and joinery. Specialising in contemporary bespoke kitchens and interiors.

Contact Michael on 01225 330843 or 07976 268458 or email info@westsidedesign.co.uk

www.clairstrong.co.uk

Avonvale Carpets has served homeowners and businesses throughout Bath and Wiltshire for over 46 years, providing a unique combination of excellent choice, in-depth expertise and perfect fitting. A family-run business, the company offers a selection of quality flooring that’s truly second to none.

37 Kingsmead Street, Bath. Tel: 01225 427057

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 93

Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires

HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH to host both short-term and long-term students.

We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.

For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Accommodation Manager: Sarah Wringer, KIE Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 473502, Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

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FULL STEAM AHEAD

A new 198-room boutique hotel, that will replace the former Bath College Ralph Allen building on James Street West, has been given the go-ahead by Bath and North-East Somerset Council

The proposed hotel has had some opposition from locals

D

ominvs Group has been granted planning permission for the development of a new hotel, which will include a restaurant, bar and leisure facilities at ground-floor level, open to guests and the public alike.

The plans for the hotel, which has been designed by Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), were initially rejected by the council, following opposition from other nearby hoteliers, as well as locals and, notably, Bath’s Liberal Democrat MP, Wera Hobhouse.

However, after revised plans were put forward – minor changes were a 1.4m reduction in the proposed height of the scheme – B&NES approved DMA’s designs, commenting that the changes make a “good building better still”.

It is thought that the economic benefits of the proposal would include providing accommodation for 57,800 overnight visitors, 100 full time jobs in a variety of roles, and a predicted £4.1 million boost to the local economy. Bath Preservation Trust and Historic England also welcomed the new proposal.

Dexter Moren says, “When we embarked on the planning process with B&NES on the James Street hotel, I was impressed by the time the planning officers spent explaining their vision for new buildings in the historic core of the city. They pointed us clearly in the direction of realising a contemporary rather than pastiche approach, using appropriate local materials. Their passion was sincere and resulted in a laudable positive

www.morganbrinkhurstconsultancy.co.uk

Quote of the issue

“I USED TO LIVE IN THE SLUM IN PARIS, BUT MY PARENTS TOLD ME 'YOU ARE THE OWNER OF YOUR DESTINY' Find out who said this on page 96

The Big Number

£4.1 MILLION The predicted amount that a new hotel will bring to the local economy (see opposite)

dialogue and the development of a design that, with some minor changes following local business opposition, has now been granted planning approval.”

“We are delighted that this proposal has been deemed acceptable in both economic and heritage terms,” says Lee Saywack, development director of Dominvs Group. “The detail of the scheme has evolved following extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement and we look forward to delivering a high-quality hotel in this exceptional location.”

For more: www.dextermoren.com

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ONE TO WATCH

Meet Yannick Loué, the man behind Le Vignoble, who is on a mission to do away with wine snobbery and ensure everyone can simply enjoy a great glass of vino in a friendly environment You opened Le Vignoble bar in Bath this year. It's a unique concept, isn't it?

Indeed it is, I wanted to bring something out of the normal, somewhere people can sample wine with ease, and somewhere where you don’t have to be a wine snob to feel comfortable. I want to break the stigma that is attached to the wine world; our wine business is not just for those who want high-end, but also for those who simply enjoy drinking wine and are interested in exploring it. Our focus is just on wine; it is a narrow market, but we concentrate on that one thing and do it properly with the merchant, lounge and education parts of the business.

Where did you get the idea for Le Vignoble?

I had been in catering all my life, which gave me the inspiration to create a place where people could discover wine without being told what they should drink or without being too scared to ask a question for the fear of sounding unknowledgeable. Having worked in many different areas in France and the UK, all with different levels of standards, I wanted to combine all the best bits, bringing class together with great service but still retaining the casual, relaxed and friendly approach.

You are a husband and wife team as well...

Yes we are. I bring the crazy ideas, and Ele brings the calmness to steer them in the right direction. Life is non-stop, we don’t have a separate work life and leisure life like most couples, life is both all at once but we really enjoy what we’re doing.

We do have two daughters and two dogs (named Bolli and Ru after Bollinger and Ruinart champagne – the dogs that is) so along with two businesses it is a bit tricky at times to work out who is where and when, but we work well backing each other up. We have to be strong mentally as it is not easy every day, but we have a mission, which keeps us focused.

You set up Le Vignoble first in Plymouth and then here in Bath. From a business point of view, why did you choose Bath?

Our aim was always to have a few

“I BRING THE CRAZY IDEAS AND MY WIFE, THE CALMNESS TO STEER THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

Yannick Loué opened Le Vignoble in Bath this year

sites around the South West, and we were originally looking at Exeter but struggled to find the right spot.

We then had a look in Bristol, but, again, we didn’t get the feeling to have found the right area. We thought we’d spread the search into Bath and then found Milsom Place. I like the architecture and community feel in Bath; I have always been very lucky to work in historic places with a great spirit, and this is what I wanted for my business, so for me Bath was a no-brainer.

Since you set up the business in Bath, what have you learnt about the city and its people?

What I like is the eclectic vibe in Bath – daytime is for shopping, early evening is for glamour, and then the lively students come out after dark.

The tourist trade is also really strong for us, we keep hearing ‘you need to open where we live’ which is really nice to hear.

As owner of Le Vignoble, what's the best thing about your job?

Tasting wine, buying wine and selling wine. I import 90 per cent of our wines and while I am doing that

I get to meet lots of different people from all over the world. Every day is an interesting day; I am also between here and Plymouth, so I never get bored.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Being where I am at the moment and having done this as a self-made person, I can proudly say that it is 100 per cent my business. I don’t come from a rich family and I was never an academic; I used to live in the slum in Paris, but my parents always told me “You are the owner of your destiny, nothing is unachievable, go and get it".

Can you recommend any festive wines that we should try?

Sanzenel from Veneto, this is not on the cheap side, but, for Christmas, why not have a treat?

It is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Veneto made the same way as Amarone; just short of 2,000 bottles are produced every year, which is very small production, this is where the phrase ‘quality not quantity’ is spot on.

For more: www.levignoble.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Georgian splendour

W

Peter Greatorex from the APARTMENT COMPANY explains why Georgian comes out on top as the most popular period homes

hat type of home do you favour? You may like the sleek lines of a contemporary apartment, or swoon when you see unique features in a period property. But when it comes to the most popular style of period home in Britain, estate agents have said it’s Georgian, according to a recent article in the Express.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE THAT WE LOVE? “Perfect proportions, symmetry and space – no wonder we’re so keen to preserve Georgian architecture,” said Christopher Middleton in the Telegraph.

During the Georgian period, architecture was highly influenced by Classical times. The aristocratic youth would travel through Europe on ‘tours’ aimed at enhancing their education. These Grand Tours provided them with the opportunity to explore Classical architecture in places such as

Greece and Rome.

One of the most important architectural legacies of the period is the terrace – a row of townhouses built to meet the demands of the urban growth that followed commercial success. It was their solution for providing a larger number of houses in a small space. To prevent the spread of fire, walls were thick and buildings were mainly four storeys in height.

Properties built in the Georgian period are spacious, as architects focused on proportions and symmetry. This is why, now, many of these townhouses have been converted into apartments that still retain generous room proportions. Homes of this period also hold their value, making them a good investment.

BATH, THE COMPLETE GEORGIAN CITY As you gaze at these beautifully designed buildings, it’s hard to imagine how they managed to manoeuvre such heavy Bath stone through our city’s streets and up scaffolding. Yet their attention to fine details is fascinating, always ensuring they achieved

the exacting proportions of Classical facades.

TIMELESS ELEGANT LIVING There is no doubt that there is a true elegance that comes with living in a Georgian apartment; not only is this your home, you also have the privilege of being the custodian of an important piece of British and local history.

We are blessed to be able to offer those looking to buy or let a property a glorious home from this much-loved period. If you would like to see what Georgian apartments we have available at the moment, come and talk to a member of our knowledgeable team. n

For more advice visit our blog at www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk Sales: 01225 471144 Lettings: 01225 303870

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TREMENDOUS TRIO Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories right now

Imagine that moment – ‘and the Winner is…’

Bicycling is a dream: Titania and Oberon bicycle models

BICYCLE RACE

The UK’s longest established electric bike company, based just outside of Bath in Temple Cloud, has announced an exclusive deal with a leading European bike manufacturer.

Powabyke UK Ltd, established in 1998, has secured sole UK distribution rights with leading Italian brand MBM for its new range of e-bikes, bringing high-quality Italian design and engineering to Powabyke’s network of dealers across the UK. MBM has been manufacturing bikes since 1973 and is one of the leading and most trusted names throughout Italy.

The company’s new range of e-bikes was launched earlier this year, featuring Italian-designed and built motors, powered by a lightweight 522Wh battery, making the bikes capable of covering nearly 100 miles on a single charge.

The Oberon and Titania models are now available through selected dealers across Bath and Somerset, with the complete range, including folding and city versions, available from early 2019.

“MBM is a household name throughout Italy and the company has a great reputation for manufacturing a comprehensive range of quality bikes,” says 98 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Keith Palmer, managing director of Powabyke.

“The company puts emphasis on both style and substance. Each e-bike is assembled by trained technicians, ensuring the high quality is maintained every step of the way.

“This new range of bikes combines Italian style and precision with high torque power and impressive battery life, ticking all boxes for anyone looking to enjoy the benefits of an e-bike. They will be a great addition to the expanding Powabyke range.”

For more visit: www.powabyke.com

IMAGINE WINNING A BATH LIFE AWARD

Nominations are in full flow for the 2019 Bath Life awards, and, for the second year running, tickets have been restricted to finalists – only after incredibly high demand.

For many years, the awards have sold out weeks in advance, with 500 attendees and dozens on the waiting list. Businesses should put their best case forward for an award if they wish to attend – and reap the benefits of winning a trophy.

“Entering the Bath Life awards is a chance to show everyone how your business makes Bath a better place,” says Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash. “Winning an award is highly beneficial for

company profile, and serves as great recognition for teams and individuals who go the extra mile for your company."

Winners receive coverage in Bath Life magazine, a hand-crafted trophy, window stickers to proudly display, and two places at a special winners’ dinner – plus the longlasting remembrance of an awardwinning moment.

Nominees are encouraged to check the ‘12 top tips’ and ‘how to win’ presentation on the awards site, which cover everything from what to include within a nomination to using social media as a supporting tool. Finalists are announced on 15 January.

For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk @BathLifeAwards

OPEN DAY

Investors, homebuyers and homeowners thinking of downsizing to a smaller property had a chance to take a closer look at the latest apartments coming on stream at Bath Riverside.

With many of the apartments now completed at the flagship Sovereign Point building, developer Crest Nicholson organised an open day and invited people to experience the development as a whole rather than through the lens of the show home. Marcus Evans, sales and marketing director at Crest Riverside says, “As the development matures, people are beginning to see how Bath Sunny view of Bath from the riverside apartments

Riverside looks without scaffolding, cement trucks and hard hats.

“Many people are appreciating how the development flows within its Riverside location – and within the new commercial and residential hubs springing up along on both banks of the Avon toward a rapidly transforming city centre.”

Marcus reported that, while most apartments sold at the Royal View and Sovereign Point buildings had been snapped up by investors, downsizers still made up a significant proportion of new buyers, alongside people looking for get-away-from-it-all second homes.

“Looking at the next couple of years, we believe a lot of people with something to sell will be stepping up their search for a smaller but just as comfortable new home.

“Bath Riverside gives people the chance to dip a toe into the world of downsizing.

“Previous purchasers have also been active buying up a second and even third apartment at Bath Riverside – which suggests they are recognising the strength and longevity of their investment.

“And while big-ticket buyers have made up a significant percentage of our buyers – it’s important to make it clear there are a significant number of twobedroom apartments for younger professionals looking for a place of their own in Bath.”

For more: www.crestnicholson.com

NOMINEE

NOMINEE

BEST PLACE TO WORK

BEST CREATIVE SPACE

Bath Business Awards 2018

Creative Bath Awards 2018

We’re a communications agency with incredible people who specialise in data science, consumer insight and technology solutions.

We’re always looking for new Editors: creative, passionate people who want to deliver innovative work for brilliant brands.

If that sounds like you, head to our website for more details. www.edit.co.uk I 01225 480 480

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BATH SPORTS NEWS Bringing you the latest in sporting news Sarah Burgess, head of section at Bath Rugby Ladies and Dan Hine, inclusion officer at Bath Rugby Foundation

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY From networking breakfasts to invaluable evening courses, make a note of the courses and classes that will help your business flourish 11 DECEMBER NETWORKING AND NIBBLES Join Bath Chamber of Commerce and Visit Bath at The Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel for the end of year Christmas networking and nibbles. Relax and mingle while enjoying drinks and canapés served by the team from the hotel.

6-8pm; The Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel; www.visitbath.co.uk

SPORTING WOMEN Bath Rugby Foundation and Bath Rugby Ladies have teamed up to offer young women a new route into the sport.

A new Bath rugby ladies mixed ability development team will see women who are new to the sport given the chance to learn from expert coaches and play alongside experienced players.

The new development team is part of the foundation’s Project Rugby programme. Project Rugby is a premiership rugby and England rugby programme to introduce new players to the sport, especially those from non-traditional rugby backgrounds.

Mixed ability rugby encourages social inclusion by mixing ablebodied volunteers and coaches who act as facilitators to support players on the pitch. Mixed ability rugby is not about classifying levels of ability and separating participants into tier groups; the focus of mixed ability rugby is to emphasis the sport as inclusive for all players.

The development team is not the first mixed ability team formed in Bath through Project Rugby. Last season, the Walcot Warriors came together, allowing youngsters who may have missed out on playing team sports in the past the chance to play competitive fixtures.

The new team, which is open to all women aged 17 and over, will allow

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

players to join a welcoming club and learn the sport – no matter what level they may have played in the past.

Bath Rugby Foundation inclusion officer, Dan Hine says, “We are delighted to be partnering with Bath rugby ladies and we’re all looking forward to welcoming a new group of players to a great sport.

“One of the great attractions of Bath rugby ladies is that we know they are incredibly welcoming as a club, and new players are guaranteed to have fun on and off the pitch.

“They’ve already welcomed a lot of new players this season, so anyone interested in joining does not need to worry about being a beginner.”

Sarah Burgess, head of section at Bath rugby ladies says, “Bath Ladies are very excited to launch this new team, which will allow for more and more women to get involved in our sport.

“By adding an additional tier of training to our regular sessions, new players will be able to develop skills with others, plus have exciting playing opportunities as the season progresses.

“As a club, we have always been open and inclusive, so this mixed ability development team solidifies our position as a team that welcomes all.”

To find out more about mixed ability rugby, contact Daniel.Hine@BathRugby.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

11 DECEMBER DOWNEND BUSINESS COMMUNITY LAUNCH EVENT Free launch event for all local businesses with food and refreshments provided. Come and hear about how to grow and support your business and network with other local businesses.

6pm-8pm; Bristol and bath Science park; Facebook: @Downend Business Community 13 DECEMBER BRIGHT AND EARLY Working breakfast for friendly, effective, business networking. This is a chance to establish meaningful relationships with the people that matter most to your business.

6.45-8.45am; Cheese and Grain, Frome; www.cheeseandgrain.com 13 DECEMBER THE WEST WILTS PROFESSIONALS' LUNCH Catch up with acquaintances old and new, and build your business contacts in a relaxed environment.

The lunch includes two festive courses and a Christmas raffle.

Open to professionals from all backgrounds and experience, also feel free to bring along colleagues or your own guests. 12.30-2.30pm, Guyers house, Corsham; www.eventbrite.co.uk 13 DECEMBER ONE-TO-ONE BUSINESS SUPPORT For those wishing to start a business, expect a detailed action plan which will include further one-to-one support, workshops or referrals.

Prior booking is necessary; Bath and County Club; www.coolventures.co.uk

The Spirit Photographic team with Jaspa the dog

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

The first ever Bath Property Awards took place at the Apex Hotel in an afternoon ceremony at the end of November, which played homage to the huge pool of talent Bath has to offer in the property and development sector.

“Hosting the first-ever Bath Property Awards has been fantastic – and the support we’ve received in its debut year has been outstanding,” says Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash. “Thanks to all who have supported these incredible awards, and huge congratulations to all our worthy winners.”

The awards were headline sponsored

by Mogers Drewett. We’ll have bumper coverage with a special awards supplement next issue – with full details of the winners and pages of photos and celebration.

And next year..? It’ll be happening all over again, in November 2019 as will the launch of the first Bristol Property Awards. www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk @BathPropertyAwd

PICTURE PERFECT

A Bath photographic studio, Spirit Photographic, has been given a five-star rating by one of the industry’s leading professional organisations. Spirit Photographic, run by Neill and Jo Menneer, is one of just 14 studios in the UK to be given top marks by The Xperience Group. The scheme grades businesses on the quality of the overall experience they offer their customers.

Neill Menneer says, “The whole Spirit team are honoured that we have been recognised as a five-star studio by one of the leading figures in our business.

We have always prided ourselves on the high standard of service we offer our customers." www.capturethespirit.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Autumn Budget Nick Oliver from Bath-based chartered accountants and tax advisers PEARSON MAY looks at the impact for businesses and individuals…

C

hancellor Philip Hammond has delivered his second Autumn Budget, exactly five months before Britain is due to leave the European Union. The Chancellor was in bullish mood, asserting that the era of austerity is ‘finally coming to an end’ after a ‘long, hard journey’.

However, he maintained that UK debt remains too high and highlighted the importance of continuing to reduce debt and borrowing.

Citing the latest economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility, Mr Hammond revealed that the UK growth forecast has been upgraded from 1.3 per cent to 1.6 per cent for 2019, while public borrowing in 2018/19 is set to be £11.6bn lower than previously forecast at the time of the Spring Statement.

With the Brexit negotiations ongoing, the Chancellor announced an additional £500m of departmental funding for Brexit preparations.

He also raised the possibility of upgrading the 2019 Spring Statement to a ‘full fiscal event’ if no deal was agreed, i.e. another Budget!

BUSINESSES Key announcements for businesses include a two-year cut in business rates for small retail properties in England from April 2019, worth £900m, together with a £675m fund to help rejuvenate high streets. In an attempt to encourage businesses to invest and help them grow their operations, the Annual Investment Allowance (which enables businesses to claim 100 per cent tax relief on qualifying purchases of plant and equipment, machinery, fixtures etc.) will increase from £200,000 to £1m for a period of two years, commencing on 1 January 2019.

There were rumours before the Budget that the VAT registration threshold would be reduced, but the Chancellor has committed to hold it at £85,000 until April 2022. This will provide some certainty to businesses who need to know whether and when they must comply with the Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT rules (as referred to in our article from a couple of months ago).

As anticipated, the Chancellor confirmed plans to introduce a new tax on the UK revenues of digital services companies from 2020, applying to those with global sales of more than £500m per annum. However, plans for a tax on takeaway coffee cups were overruled in favour of a new tax on plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled material.

INDIVIDUALS Meanwhile, individual taxpayers are set to 102 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Nick Oliver, a partner at Pearson May

benefit one year earlier than planned from an increase in the income tax personal allowance, which will rise by a further £650 in April 2019 to £12,500. This will provide taxpayers on the basic rate (20 per cent) with an income tax saving of £130 per year. The higher rate threshold will also increase from £46,350 to £50,000. From 2021, both thresholds will rise in line with CPI inflation.

It was announced that there are plans for changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules which apply when an individual sells their only or main home. When you sell your only or main home, you expect any gain you make to be free of CGT. But that CGT exemption only applies if you have occupied the property as your main home for the entire period of your ownership.

However, if you move out of your home before it is sold, the tax rules allow up to 18 months of the final ownership period to be CGT exempt even if you were not living in the property in that period.

HMRC is proposing to cut this final exempt period to nine months for properties sold from 6 April 2020. This would follow a similar cut from 36 months to the current 18 months which took place in April 2014. Furthermore, under the current rules, if you let out a property which had been your main home at some point, you can claim lettings relief to reduce the taxable capital gain by up to £40,000 (£80,000 for a married couple). Lettings relief is capped at the amount of relief due for the time (usually a different period) in which you occupied the property as your main home but could nevertheless result in quite a significant saving.

HMRC wants to restrict lettings relief to cover only periods in which the owner occupied the property while part of it was let. Homeowners who move and then let out their former home will be hit by this change in CGT relief, which is due to take effect for properties sold on or after 6 April 2020.

There were also announcements that the stamp duty relief for first-time homebuyers will be extended to shared equity purchases of up to £500,000, while the lifetime allowance for pension savings will increase to £1,055,000.

There is more information on all of the key points announced in the Budget in our 2018 Autumn Budget Report which you can download from our website (www.pearsonmay. co.uk). Alternatively, please send an email to mail@pearsonmay.co.uk and we would be happy to send you a copy.

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

Nick Oliver FCA FIoD Pearson May Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers Bath, Chippenham and Trowbridge 37 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DA 01225 460491; mail@pearsonmay.co.uk www.pearsonmay.co.uk

JUST VISITING

“My whole family will come to Bath for Christmas”

When I’m in Bath, I’ll be staying on London Road… I’d love to

REBECCA WHEATLEY The Casualty actress on starring in this year’s pantomime in Bath, her time as a drag queen in Soho, and performing with Sir Bryn Terfel Known for her role as hospital receptionist Amy Howard in Casualty, as well as for appearances on Doctors, Holby City, Wycliffe, Dalziel and Pascoe, Pie in the Sky and Time Gentlemen Please, Rebecca Wheatley will be on stage as Mrs Darling in the Theatre Royal Bath’s swashbuckling Christmas treat, Peter Pan. Rebecca has also recorded two top 10 singles – Everlasting Love and Stay with me Baby – and has sung in venues throughout the West End, the Royal Albert Hall, on Top of the Pops and on The National Lottery Show, and has appeared as a regular panellist on Loose Women and The Wright Stuff.

Here we chat to her about her visit to Bath…

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

I’m really looking forward to performing in Bath…

It’s a lovely city, especially at Christmas. The Theatre Royal Bath is beautiful, and Peter Pan is a great story.

I play Mrs Darling… She is a

lovely warm mummy with a sense of fun. She looks after her children but hints that perhaps she has had magical experiences. She has a twinkle in her eye and a lovely song to sing. She’s great.

I have always loved panto…

As a noisy child, I loved getting involved in the action. The first pantomime I remember was at Richmond Theatre with Jon Pertwee and Barbara Windsor.

They were really mucking around on stage and seemed to be having so much fun. I thought “I’d love to do that,” and I am!

visit the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and the Bath Christmas Market. Bath is a beautiful city that lights up at Christmas. It has lots of lovely shops and also countryside to escape to when my pockets are empty.

My whole family will come to Bath for Christmas… My

mother, brothers, nephews, as well as my husband and son. They are coming Christmas Eve, seeing the show, and on Christmas Day we will eat together at Miller & Carter, share a full Christmas knees-up and have a walk around the centre.

I do have local connections…

My most treasured possessions are… all my rings: a silver one my

husband gave me when we were dating; my mother’s ring; my great grandmother’s ring; and, of course, my wedding ring. I also wear one I bought when I got a recording contract for an album with BBC Worldwide over 20 years ago. It says ‘carpe diem’ on it.

My biggest achievement is that… I’m still here, still

performing and still loving it. The acting business is tough, and I’m proud to have survived this far.

I’ve even done Top of the Pops, sung at the Royal Albert Hall, and performed with Sir Bryn Terfel in Fiddler on the Roof.

My mother and stepfather had The New Inn Pub in Priddy on the Mendips for many years. We came to Bath all the time. It was a very special time and I feel quite nostalgic coming back again.

Something that may surprise you is… I worked as a drag queen

Some of my favourite Bath spots are… Green Park Brasserie,

saw online that has a picture of a Curly Wurly in 3D and the tag line “Keep your hands off my Curly Wurly”. Please someone tell my husband. I need it.

for jazz music, food and wine; I also love the Royal Crescent – I filmed there years ago as part of BBC Music Live. The Bath skyline is stunning, too.

I love that my job allows me to visit interesting places… I get to

have fun with great people. There are always laughs to be had; it’s not a bad way to earn a living, either.

It’s hard being away from the family though.

for Paul Raymond in Soho in the ’80s. And loved it.

On my Christmas wish list this year is… a retro messenger bag I

My New Year’s resolution is…

to write more, to spend less time online, and to be nice to the cat. n Rebecca Wheatley will be in Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal Bath from 13 December – 13 January. For more, see www.theatreroyal.org.uk