Bath Life – Issue 392

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 392 / 24 MAY – 7 JUNE 2019 / £3 @BathLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY

TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE

ISSUE 392 / 24 MAY – 7 JUNE 2019 / TURNING HEADS

Coach house or castle?

Take a virtual tour of an incredible abode

HATTERS GONNA HAT Millinery precision at the races

STAYCATION SPECIAL Summer hotel luxury on your doorstep

HEAD’S UP Get face-to-face with Bath’s stay-at-home artists

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Local artist Nick Wood faces his projects head on (page 78); BELOW: Father’s Day is coming up; here are a few gift ideas to get you started (page 74)

I

f you saw my desk on print day at the Bath Life office, you’d think I was the most disorganised, messy, shambolic editor around; but I function just fine in a chaotic-looking workspace, and, although it may not seem like it, I know what every toppling, dog-eared paper pile contains; there is method in my madness.

Albert Einstein famously quipped, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”. Yes, I did just compare my desk to Einstein’s, and what?

Anyway, for a while now, I’ve been intrigued to see what other people’s workspaces look like, so, in this issue, I’ve been invited inside the private studios of creative types in and around the city.

On our front cover, you’ll see sculptor Nick Wood, whose attic art space, which, disturbingly, was exorcised by a priest a few years back, is filled floorto-ceiling with plaster cast heads – reminiscent of Game of Thrones’ hall of faces, which houses the skinned faces of the dead. A portrait piece of his can take up to 100 hours to produce, so he says having a personal area, that reflects him, in which to work is seriously important. Turn to page 78 for more intimate tours inside artists’ and makers’ hidden worlds.

Also in this issue, as Father’s Day is coming up, six local dads and their grown-up kids reflect on what it’s like to be in business together (page 70); we check into some of Bath’s most luxurious hotels to see what’s new for the sunny months (page 31); and we review the new cinema in the city that waiter-serves three-course meals while you lounge in front of the big screen (page 54).

Enjoy!

LISA EVANS Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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

THE DENTIST

TALBOT

Issue 392 / 24 May – 7 June 2019 COVER Sculptor/artist Nick Wood works from a ‘haunted’ attic just outside Bath. For more, see page 78

THE ARTS

43 ARTS INTRO Who is this mystery artist? A clue: he’s

not sure how many seas a white dove must sail, before she sleeps in the sand 44 WHAT’S ON There’s almost too much going on – including epic end-of-festival celebrations, and this year’s must-see comedy gig 51 BOOKS The joy of the flashback 53 FILM Overdosed on Queen? Here’s Elton John…

FOOD&DRINK

54 RESTAURANT Is it a cinema? Is it a restaurant?

Happily, Tivoli is both…

59 TRY 5 We don’t speak French, so we’ll let the funky

flavours do the talking (talking)

31 74

60 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Great nosh – from Pub in

the Park to supper clubs

SHOPPING

65 INTRO Get ahead - with a hat!

66 EDITOR’S CHOICE Daring summer fashion picks 74 FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Inspo for pop

© EGLE VASI

54

© LLOYD EVANS PHOTOGR APHY

66

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53

Issue 392 / 24 May – 7 June 2019

LIFESTYLE

31 HOTELS The best of Bath’s super-luxe sleepover

options; you’ve never seen sheets as crisp as these

70 FATHER’S DAY Dads, their grown-up kids, and

what it’s like to be in business together

78 WORKING FROM HOME Local makers throw

open their doors

114 LIVES Author Emma Read has gone from spider

worrier to spider warrior

BUSINESS

87 BUSINESS INSIGHTS Somewhere, in the depths of

Bath academia, they’re experimenting with an idea that might just change the world…

PROPERTY

96 RESIDENCE Is it Paris? Or the Cotswolds? No, it’s

Weston Village, not far from Tesco Express!

107 SHOWCASE Open-plan living is where it’s at these

days, and this house delivers in spades

107

78

DEPARTMENTS 15 SPOTLIGHT 18 SOCIETY 27 A MAN’S WORLD

114

Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Editor Matt Bielby matt.bielby@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 Nic Bottomley, David Flatman, and Sophie-Claire McLeod Group Advertising Manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Advertising Manager Polly Jackson polly.jackson@mediaclash.co.uk Account Manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Sales Executive Louis Grey louis.grey@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

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SPOTLIGHT Square play

© ANDY LLOYD

BOULeS TO ALL ThAT

Sun, fun, Pimm’s, and not quite knowing what you’re doing: that‘s boules

Bath Boules has been rocking Queen Square for the last couple of decades, becoming – along the way – not just a charity juggernaut (over £50,000 raised last year, and approaching half a million cumulatively), but also one of the city’s finest, funnest free parties. It’s also the only place to be if you’re a fan of Franglais, baguettes, berets, stripy Breton tops, onion necklaces, smelly cheeses, snail vol-au-vents, short-legged dogs, wandering accordion players, undersized beers, oversized wine glasses, elegant women, surly men, and, yes, rampant cockerels: there are few French clichés that Bath Boules hasn’t embraced with a kiss on each cheek.

Basically, think endless street food, plenty to drink, safe wandering (two sides of the square are shut off), sunny weather – this weekend does, every year, seem blessed in that regard – and bumping into people you know every six feet. There’s also a fancy, and somewhat notoriously wild, dinner party to be attended on the Friday night, hosted by someone called… let’s see, ah yes: David Flatman.

Dunno who he is, but it will doubtless be fun nonetheless.

Oh, and one more thing: there’s some sort of ‘street bowls’ competition going on throughout, with loads of locals, companies and charities fielding teams. Cool to watch, and cooler to play in, we reckon. Though team tickets sell out well in advance, it’s still worth eager latecomers checking the Boules website or social media for cancellations.

Speaking of that ever-sunny weekend: it’s the one that runs June 14-16, Friday-to-Sunday. Among the many to thank are headline sponsor Royds Withy King, plus Big Boules Sponsors Novia, Reside, Bath Life, OJO Solutions, Savills, Great Western Wine, Lovehoney and Archers Marquees. To get involved, say hi to Rosanna at rosanna.hood@mediaclash.co.uk.

For more: www.bathboules.com; @bathboules

Race for Life: better get used to pink if you’re going to attend

Race for Life

COOL RUNNINGS Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life – which raises millions of pounds to help beat cancer each year – is gearing up for two local days of events, each with an unprecedented four races to enter: the well-established 5k and 10k events, plus a Pretty Muddy 5k and Pretty Muddy Kids. Pick between Royal Victoria Park on Sunday, 7 July and Bath Racecourse on Sunday, 22 September, and help the – we’re told, alarmingly – 90 people in the South West diagnosed with cancer every.

Damned. Day. “Our Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting,” says Vicki Turner, Cancer Research UK’s Bath event manager. “And you don’t even need to be sporty to take part.”

For more: www.raceforlife.org; 0300 123 0770

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SPOTLIGHT It’ll be just like this – but with rather more people in view!

That’s right, keep looking at us, Amy, don’t look down…

Charity

WALK THIS WAY

New for 2019 is The Bath Marches, a walking event by the folk behind Bike Bath, which takes place on 13 July. Starting and finishing at The Holburne Museum, there are two routes to choose between: 12 miles or 22 miles, both taking in pretty views, plenty of history and – uh oh! – “a few hills to get the legs pumping.”

Who’ll take part? They’re hoping families, friends, schools, businesses or whatever, really; charities are encouraged to use it as a fundraising platform. Best of all, there’s a bit of time to work out whether you feel fit enough for the short ’un or the long ’un: it all takes place on 5-6 October.

For more: bathmarches.co.uk

On yer bike

SADDLE UP!

Two local bishops – Rev Peter Hancock (of Bath and Wells, happily not babyeating) and Rev Ruth Worsley (repping Taunton) – are here seen bestride cycles for the launch of Somerset Churches Trust’s annual fundraiser, Ride + Stride.

The idea is to use pedal power to protect churches, chapels and communities across the county, with supporters cycling (or even walking, or riding a horse; cars are very much frowned upon) between participating churches to raise money through sponsorship and donations.

Founded in the mid-’90s, the Trust has so far given away more than £740,000 in grants to over 400 churches nationwide.

For more: www.somersetchurchestrust.org

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Peter and Ruth: not actually bestride their bikes, but they hopped aboard, we promise

Charity

GIVE ’EM ENOUGH ROPE

We love it when a charity event has a clever name, and Leap of Faith! is an especially good one: not only do you have to trust in the rope supporting you, but you’re climbing down a great big church tower too. Bath Abbey’s tower, in fact, which is pretty blooming high – as this shot of a casually grinning Amy Williams, who took part last year, should testify. (Perhaps she hadn’t actually got around to looking behind her yet?)

It’s all in aid of Genesis Trust and the Abbey Footprint Project, and to take part you need to register (£30) and undertake to raise £150 through sponsorship. Fancy a few more numbers? Well, the Tower is 49m high, you have to climb 212 steps to get to the top, and they’re after raising £15k, which will be spent on food banks, mentoring, cheap furniture et al to improve the lives of Bath’s more vulnerable residents (and, while they’re at it, save the Abbey’s collapsing floor).

For more: www.genesistrust.org.uk

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 Debbie Taylor (People for Business) and Debbie Boulton (Richardson Swift)

Lindsey Garvey and Sally Thompson (both Half Moon Bay) Liza Hughes (Why Not Coaching), Richard Roberts (Pure Planet) and Anna Barton

Kate Davis, Jade England, Sophie Wainwright and Ellie Sutherland from Juice Recruitment Tim Gofton (Royds Withy King) and Victoria Lintern

CELEBRITY JUICE

Juice Recruitment got together with an array of big names from Bath’s business, legal and HR worlds for a Question Time-like panel addressing the various ways companies are attracting, selecting and motivating new talent. TV newsreader Kylie Pentelow played Fiona Bruce, while well-known reps of everything from Royds Withy King to Curo, Good Energy to Lovehoney contributed. “It was a great atmosphere,” says our snapper, Nick, “and I loved the location” – Walcot House on Walcot Street – “which is a big, dark cavern under the road.”

Photos by Nick Cole

Host Kylie Pentelow with Jane Jones (Curo), Kate Benefer (Withy King), Emma Summers (Juice Recruitment), Fran Woodward (Good Energy) and Claire Webber (Lovehoney)

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Belinda Westwood and Richard White (Royds Withy King)

SOCIETY

The Bird can always be relied upon for creative decor

Sam Maggs, Tom Wyatt, Luke Taylor and Luke Nix

YOU MUST CREATE Creative Bath is one of those things that, if it didn’t exist, you’d have to invent: a hub linking all the city’s multiplicity of creative businesses, whatever their speciality – and make no mistake, they are legion. One of their big things is the Creative Bath Awards, coming in June, and this shindig at The Bird was their Sponsors’ and Finalists’ Reception, where fizz and something elderflowery were guzzled, and doubtless new contacts were made; CB is about nothing if not networking, after all.

Good fun, then, and they seem to be on a roll: this year’s promises to be the best and biggest Creative Bath Awards to date. You can read more about them on page 90 this issue.

Photos by Soul Media

Ian Taylor, Jonathan Walker and Richard Godfrey Hollie Jennifer Parry, Jonathan Dellard-Lyle, Jake Xu and Dave Dixon

Greg Ingham, shy and retiring as ever Diego Maeso and Anita Taylor

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Lauren Harris, Sally Thompson, Amy Gerrish and Laura Garner

Lewis King and Jay Collett

SOCIETY

Lexi Learmond Sam Rowley

Catherine Lock

Will Rowley

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

Remember Pippin’s horror when he realised Aragorn had never heard of ‘second breakfast’ in The Lord of the Rings? We feel his pain, which is why we’re big fans of local foodies Bella Reynolds and Connor Pouncy’s Second Breakfast Club, a regular five-course tasting brunch which combines references to not one but two of our favourite flicks in its name, and is held at Alexis Learmond’s lush Always Sunday House on Bathwick Hill. Being big fans of Sundays too, everything about this sounds ideal: a chilled way to while away the morning with good food, good chat and plenty to look at. This one was featured contributions

by Nicole from Bath-based flower studio Blomme and paintings by Annabel Menheneott, but there’s another on June 9, plus a special Father’s Day version on June 16.

Photos by Suzy Slemen Photography

Guy Partridge Bella Reynolds shows off some of the food

Food, we expect, is about to enter from stage left

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Marie Cropps

SOCIETY

General Ivan Hooper and Colonel Peter Bates

James Chalmers

Ben Carey (Creatrix PR)

MAGIC BIKE XXL

Graze, squeezed next to the train tracks and with views over SouthGate, played host to the launch of Bike Bath, a large-scale all-abilities charity cycle ride, starting and finishing at The Rec, in aid of charity Mentoring Plus – see an interview with their main man, Jamie Luck, on page 88 this issue. Now in its eighth year, the 2019 ride takes place on 30 June, and is supported by cycling club VC Walcot plus sponsors Bath Ales and Redrow Homes; it’s generally considered to be one of the most female-friendly rides around. Over 1,500 riders are expected to take part, and this time around MP has discounted places for riders fundraising for them; some of their mentees will be helping out on the day, too. Find out more at www.bikebath.co.uk Heidi Rearden

Katie Robbins and Lucy Phillips (Iconic Cycling Events)

Photos by Jason Harris and Ben Carey

Darroch Davidson (The Bath Marches)

Bath Ales was the tipple of choice: what else?

Will Ghali (Bathford CC)

Nick Rearden (VC Walcot)

Emily Knight (Dorothy House) 24 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Simon Spilsbury

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A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

Family guy

© TAKING PICTURES

Father’s Day is approaching, but Flats isn’t convinced the spotlight will be on him in his household...

“Daddy’s place in the pecking order doesn’t shift much at all on his supposedly big day”

T

he problem with Father’s Day is that it has roughly nothing to do with fathers. I mean, everyone will say it does, and they likely don’t know that they’re lying to said father, but they are. PreFather’s Day discussions usually begin with, “So what do you want to do for Father’s Day, then?” or, “Tell us what you want to do, then.” These are, accidentally, hollow questions, as it doesn’t often matter a hang what the answers are.

This isn’t to say that Father’s Day can’t be fun; of course it can, and it often is. But it is to say that, especially when there are young children about, Daddy’s assumed place in the pecking order doesn’t shift much at all on this, his supposedly big day. In fairness, all plans made on behalf of fathers are made with good and loving intent at their core, so the subtle but chronic disregarding of the recipient’s actual wishes is largely forgivable, and even at times amusing.

The words, “Daddy we made you a cake” are just utterly gorgeous, no matter what creation arrives from the kitchen. It was even gorgeous when, on my birthday in January, my children announced that they’d spent ages making me some cupcakes. Now, I do like cupcakes. Everybody likes cupcakes. But I do not like icing.

Not one bit. All that sugar makes my teeth itch, and everybody in my family knows this. So out they came, these stunningly decorated things – truly, they were Instagram ready – and they were presented to the only person in the room who would never, ever eat one of them. All a bit odd, but I shouldn’t have worried, “Don’t worry, Daddy, we made a few with nothing on them.” Cheers, then.

The difficulties arise when everyone else in the house is trained to disapprove – or at least not embrace – Daddy’s actual hobbies. There are so many things that this Daddy

loves: open fields, woodland, cars, dogs, outdoor cooking, open water, movies, breakdancing. My challenge, ahead of this Father’s Day is for one – just one – thing that I actually love to become an element of ‘my’ day. I don’t feel particularly strongly about this, in honesty, but I know that men are regularly castigated (or, more often, given that disappointed look) when insufficient thought is put into Mother’s Day (I’ve traditionally been crap at this, which I deeply regret. I have, however, absorbed the criticism and improved).

So I guess the message is either for families to actually put some thought into Father’s Day that extends beyond what they think Daddy ought to enjoy, or for everyone else to get off Daddy’s back the next time he plans a trip to a car showroom on Mother’s Day. I am confident that this Father’s Day will have little to do with me, and that’s fine. It’s fine because I’m making my own one this weekend. I’m shot-putting my daughters into my car and taking them to a huge, open field. Once there, I will pop the boot and get out a brilliant, portable barbecue and some charcoal, and I will cook meat and vegetables in the sun as said beasts run and bounce and play and argue. Once we’re fed and filthy and spent, I’ll put them to bed with a gorgeous cuddle, before opening a bottle of red wine, putting my feet up, and watching a documentary about a serial killer. And there won’t be a cupcake in sight.

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

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HOTELS

summer staycay Imagine picture-perfect gardens, huge windows letting in a warm breeze, and lazy days in the pool.

Summer is the best time to check into one of Bath’s luxury hotels, says Rachel Ifans

Gimme shelter: crunch along the rolling stone pathways of The Priory’s garden to nab the best seat

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HOTELS

L

ooking for a spot of luxury this sunny season?

So are we. And we don’t plan to move far from home to get it. Sometimes, after all, once you add up even the most budget of flights, airport transfers both ends, hotels and not-even-lavish food and drink bill, a mini break abroad (with all the attendant hassle of squished seats, delayed flights, lost bags – shriek – and early starts) seems an unwise choice compared to a relaxed saunter to a local luxury hotel.

We went to five of Bath’s luxury hotels to see why their place is the hot ticket for summer in the city. We’ve family-friendly, country fun, city chic and old favourites.

THE ROYAL CRESCENT HOTEL & SPA Mary Stringer, marketing manager

Guests love a cosy fire in winter, but what keeps them coming back to you in sunny months?

In the summer, our secluded gardens come into their own and guests spill out onto the lawn for breakfast, afternoon teas, croquet, cocktails, or simply to enjoy the weather.

What’s the best room you have for summer stays?

Our Jane Austen suite has direct access to the garden, and our Rowlandson suite has a balcony which overlooks it and is the perfect relaxation spot. We also have a garden villa, which sleeps eight and has its own flower-filled courtyard where we can arrange barbeques and drinks for guests.

Tell us about your summer events programme...

We have several weddings and parties booked.

We’d love a tour of your summer garden...

Let’s wander down the lavender-lined footpath and listen to the birdsong in the trees, take a peek into the garden villa courtyard with its elegant pergola, and then head towards the Taittinger spa garden. If you’re lucky, you’ll bump into Jon, our gardener, who can tell you about every flower growing here. Recline on the bucket swing, feed the resident squirrel, or just sit and smell the roses.

What’s on your summer menu?

From May onwards, from Sundays through to Thursdays, we’ve light and bright dishes like local charcuterie, tomato and basil arancini, mini fish ’n’ chips, and Ibercio ham and mushroom on toast. Oh, and don’t forget our dacquoise slice – almond and hazelnut meringue on a biscuit base – or our macaroons.

What’s new?

We have two new events planned: a hat-making workshop in conjunction with VV Rouleaux, and a Midsummer Night’s Supper Party in our gardens.

16 Royal Crescent, Bath; www.royalcrescent.co.uk

LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL & SPA Beth Tremelling, marketing executive

What draws guests to you in the sunny months?

They always comment on the beauty of the mile-long entrance which has such a wow-factor when you arrive. The grounds are in full bloom during summer, and guests are able to make the most of the outdoor space we have, whether it’s croquet on the lawn, a picnic in the parkland or horse riding across the estate. The spa is so relaxing, especially when looking out across the spa gardens from the outdoor hydrotherapy pool.

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“Guests spill out onto the lawn for afternoon teas, croquet and cocktails”

ABOVE: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa’s

secluded garden is the ultimate chill zone;

FAR LEFT: Fashionably plate at The RC Hotel;

BELOW LEFT: Take the plunge at Lucknam Park

What’s the best room you have?

Our grand suite called Camelia, which has elegant, tall windows with a central view looking straight down the gorgeous driveway.

The suite offers spacious living with a grand four-poster bed and luxury furnishings.

Tell us about your upcoming events programme...

We have cookery masterclasses, themed dinners and a unique wellness retreat with Jessica Huie MBE. We’d love a tour of your summer garden...

We have a lot of land to tour. We’ll start with the oldest bit: the walled garden, which dates back to the 1830s. It’s a very traditional English garden with tall, sculpted yew hedges and low box hedging framing the herbaceous borders. The rose garden’s symmetrical design is like a French courtyard, with espalier fruit trees laddering the old converted stable building wall, and the arboretum – with 200 trees, many of them rare – covers a 1.5-acre site within the estate’s 500 acres of parkland. To the side of the main house, we have a stunning lavender garden which was planted in elegant circular patterns, and, last but not least, the kitchen garden.

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HOTELS

“Our 14 acres of grounds are an adventure playground for young ones”

What’s on your summer menu?

You can eat an al fresco lunch or dinner; the Burford Brown Scotch egg is a firm favourite with our guests, and we’ve added new vegan options to The Brasserie’s à la carte menu, including mapleglazed salt-baked celeriac with a celeriac purée, baby leeks and walnut pesto. The new seasonal Sunday lunch menu has also just launched too, and is an excellent choice for families.

What’s new this summer?

We’re adding a new four-bedroom country property. It has all the advantages of a home away from home while enjoying the service associated with a five-star hotel. A new studio pod will also be opening in the spa gardens, where guests can join pilates, yoga and fitness classes, and the spa is adding new treatments to its range.

Colerne, Chippenham; www.lucknampark.co.uk

WOOLLEY GRANGE

Caroline Mackay, marketing manager Our 14 acres of grounds are an adventure playground for young ones, with farm animals (don’t miss the comical Indian runner ducks), playhouses, a trampoline, a nature garden and much more. We’ve got an outdoor pool, overlooking glorious Wiltshire countryside, with the White Horse of Westbury clearly visible galloping across the far side. We also offer highquality childcare and baby sitting services.

© ROWENA TAYLOR

Why should we visit this summer?

The best room you have for summer stays?

Personally, I love the rooms in the main house overlooking the front gardens. They are light and airy with a real sense of history and stunning views. You almost feel like you’re a character out of a Jane Austen or Emily Brontë book staying here.

freshly picked basil with chef. There’s also a whole programme of family activities planned in the yurt, such a magical space!

Tell us about your upcoming events programme...

Give us a tour of your garden...

We run a range of family activities, from nature trails with our head gardener and ecologist, to making fresh pesto in the garden from

ABOVE AND BELOW: Expect farm animals, playhouses, pools and

trampolines at the family-friendly Woolley Grange

In the summer, we grow a whole host of soft fruits, many of them the more unusual and heritage varieties. We’ve recently cultivated an extra two acres in addition to our walled kitchen garden to enable us to grow all our own flowers and lots of vegetables. The veg isn’t just for the hotel but also for local subscribers to our weekly produce basket scheme.

On our large front law, there’s a swing, croquet, a large trampoline and football nets. We also have an ancient orchard from which we pick apples and make our own apple juice.

What’s on your summer menu?

Lots of fresh vegetables, salads and fruits from the garden, as well as some foraged delicacies. We particularly recommend our garden asparagus starter with confit yolk, wild garlic, potatoes and goats’ curd.

As a main, try the lamb rump and merguez sausage with nasturtium pesto, and charred purple sprouting broccoli purée. And for dessert, the elderflower latte cotta with strawberries and gin jelly is a winner.

Woolley Green, Bradford on Avon; www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk

THE BATH PRIORY

Paola Cassotti, general manager

What draws guests to you in the summer?

Our garden terrace is one of our most popular spots; we serve our more informal pantry menu there, and it’s a popular spot for afternoon tea, or an aperitif before dinner in our restaurant.

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HOTELS

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HOTELS

“The Sunday lunch menu has just launched, and is an excellent choice for families”

What’s the best room you have?

ABOVE: Easy breezy at Lucknam Park’s brasserie;

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: It’s wide open at Lucknam

I would pick one of the beautiful master crescent suites for an ultimate summer stay – each offers garden views, and, for those looking to relax and unwind, perhaps Cavendish would be my suggestion, with its calming, muted colour palette. We welcome guests with fresh flowers, fruit and sparkling pressées, and we stock L’Occitane goodies.

Tell us about your summer events programme...

We’re particularly looking forward to our Afternoon Summer Soirée on 4 July, when guests will be treated to the sounds of a jazz band playing on the terrace, with an arrival drink, canapés, a three-course lunch, a glass of wine and coffee all included in the £60pp ticket.

Take us on a tour of your summer garden...

Lovingly tended by Jane Moore (a Chelsea Flower Show silver medal winner), our four acres include a kitchen garden, meadow and lawns, with plenty of private nooks for relaxing. The main space is a classic English garden with billowing herbaceous borders, mixed flower borders and a croquet lawn; there’s also an outdoor pool hidden behind the bushes.

What’s on your summer menu?

Our brilliant head chef, Michael Nizzero, is known for his modern classical French style of cooking, which brings a delicate touch and clean flavours, and he revels in updating traditional dishes with his own personal twist. Menus change daily, but seasonal dishes in early

Park; The RC Hotel’s arty eats; namastay in bed at The Bath Priory L’Occitane spa; go along for the ride at Lucknam Park; the imposing Gainsborough Bath Spa; cake my day at The Bath Priory

summer are likely to look every bit as good as they taste, with edible flowers featuring, as well as the freshest of ingredients. One example is Michael’s beautiful Cornish crab, celery and lovage starter.

What’s new?

We have new dates for our previously sold-out Battle of the Chefs (5 September) and our popular hosted wine dinners (13 June).

Weston Road, Bath; www.thebathpriory.co.uk

THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA HOTEL Isabelle Lennon, senior marketing and communications executive

What’s the best room you have for summer stays?

The Gainsborough Bath Spa is the perfect place to enjoy summer in the city. Guests can bathe in the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters in the light-filled atrium of our Spa Village and have drinks on the terrace.

Our courtyard rooms allow guests to relax outside and enjoy the shared Bellott’s courtyard.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 37

HOTELS

The garden terrace at The Bath Priory is a peaceful spot for an aperitif before dinner

Tell us about your events programme...

We’re embracing the blooms and produce of the season with a summer floral workshop and the return of our supper club. We also continue our Phenomenal Women events, a series of talks with some of the country’s most inspirational women. The next one is in June with Jaya Chakrabarti MBE.

“Recline on the bucket swing, feed the resident squirrel, or just sit and smell the roses”

Tell us about your outdoor space...

We don’t have a garden, but the hotel is awash with colour from the ever-changing series of floral displays.

What’s on your summer menu?

Seasonal, local produce is at the heart of the menu in the awardwinning Dan Moon at The Gainsborough Restaurant. Highlights include Jerusalem artichoke velouté with goats’ curd and black truffle; fillet of monkfish with squash croquette; and, for dessert, lemon mousse with cranberry sorbet, lemon balm, meringue and passionfruit.

What’s new this summer?

We’ve recently launched a number of spa day options so that local people and non-residents can enjoy treatments and facilities. Have a 60- or 90-minute treatment, a probiotic welcome drink and posttreatment herbal tea, a personalised aromatherapy blending session, and the use of three natural thermal pools, an aromatic steam room, ice alcove, infrared and traditional saunas and a two-course spa lunch or afternoon tea.

Beau Street, Bath; www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

FRANCIS HOTEL

Tamsyn Parsons, sales and marketing manager

Why is the hotel particularly enticing in the summer months?

Our location is perfect all year round; however, in particular, the

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

summer offers such a wealth of outdoor activities right on our doorstep.

Neighbouring the hotel in Queen Square, guests can watch or partake in a game of boules with locals, or we are only a beat away from the River Avon, where one can take a leisurely morning stroll. Even better still, relax in our courtyard garden and enjoy our signature cocktail, the rhubarb and honey martini.

What’s the best room you have?

Our John Wood Suite is the room in which Bath’s most famous architect would sit and marvel at one of his most beautiful creations: Queen Square. John Wood the Elder lived in number 9 Queen Square from 1739, which now forms part of the hotel. Arguably, this room has the best view over Queen Square – or so John Wood have thought.

What’s on your menu?

We like to think our Brasserie Blanc ‘inspired by her’ dishes are the perfect choices to enjoy in warmer weather – especially, the gunpowder chicken and papaya salad, or the king scallop brochette.

What’s new?

Some discrete transformations; for example, 12 rooms are being enhanced and the lounge areas redressed. We are also excited to partner with Bath Theatrical over the Jane Austen Festival. n Queen Square, Bath; www.francishotel.com

Discover one of Bath’s best kept secrets, Alfresco Afternoon Tea at the Villa …

A delightfully delicious afternoon tea brimming with homemade treats.

Warm scones, sandwiches made from home-baked bread and moreish indulgent cakes.

Everything is made by our own fabulous baker, with a new selection of cakes every day of the week.

Cream tea £10.50 per person Full afternoon tea £25.00 per person Prosecco afternoon tea £31.00 per person Served every day from 1pm – 6pm in our sunny dining room or garden terrace.

Pre-booking is required.

01225 466329 • reception.trvb@roseatehotels.com • www.roseatehotels.com/bath/theroseatevilla

Francis Hotel Bath, Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HH Tel: 01225 424 105 | enquiries@francishotel.com www.mgallery.com

FONTHILL garden centre A family run business that’s been growing since 1967.

BATH ROAD, BITTON, BRISTOL 0117 932 3110 OPEN MON-SAT 8.30-5.30 SUN 10.30-4.30

www.fonthill-lakeside.com

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

POSITIVELY 4TH STREET Actually, if we were being honest, we’d say this is Positively Not 4th Street – for that runs through Greenwich Village and this street scene is a little to the south of that, in New York’s Little Italy.

Mulberry Street, to be precise. The artist has certainly set himself a challenge with the perspective here – all those signs, fire escapes and window ledges – and, if we’re honest, we do think those tables might be on a bit of a wonk. But he’s certainly come up with an evocative – if intriguingly people-free – scene. We can almost smell the spaghetti and meatballs aroma wafting from the kitchen. The Grotta Azzurra has been around since 1908, and has attracted more than its fair share of big-name eaters over the years – Frank Sinatra hosted the Rat Pack here many a time – but few are as celebrated as the slap-dabber who rendered his little scene: none other, in fact, than Bob Dylan, word-loving, Joan Baezdating bard of the counter-culture and, over the last decade especially, accomplished painter. Now, 12 signed limited-edition prints from his The Beaten Path series are on display and available to buy at Castle Fine Art on Old Bond Street, prices beginning at a little over £2k.

Castle Fine Art, 13 Old Bond Street, Bath, BA1 1BP; 01225 789298; www.castlefineart.com

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WHAT’S ON 25 May – 23 June

EXHIBITIONS Until 31 May OFFENDERS

Fiona Campbell’s artistic residency at The Cells in Trowbridge culminates in this solo exhibition dealing with topics like ‘flesh’ and ‘waste’, in which – get this! – “a huge sculptural tongue activates the space in a cell.”

Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm; The Cells, Trowbridge Town Hall; www.fionacampbellart.co.uk

Until 1 June

RACHEL JEFFERY

You’ve missed the open house for this Cornish artist, rock formations her major inspiration, but you can still catch her by-appointment exhibition.

Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm (by appointment); Axle Arts, Leighton Road; www.axlearts.com

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© JMP

Ladies Day at the Bath Racecourse. (Of course, the jockeys get all the best outfits)

Until 13 July

Until 3 November

The Edge hosts this highly topical and political exhibition, originally curated

by Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh to coincide with Brexit, which explores the many and varied impacts of borders through the work of a half dozen or so international artists. From the plight of migrants into the EU to Irish border issues, it’s strong stuff.

German snapper Kellner has an oddball, semi-cubist relationship with American architecture: he takes lots of tiny pictures of details and combines them to create a wibblywobbly version of the whole. Kind of amazing, actually, and worth seeing.

BORDERLINES

ALL SHOOK UP: THOMAS KELLNER’S AMERICA

inspired, in part, by the museum’s renowned permanent collection.

10am-5pm; various prices; American Museum & Gardens; www.americanmuseum.org

Until 5 January 2020

IMAGE CONTROL Sub-titled ‘Understanding the Georgian Selfie’, this is a look at how rich Georgians used flattering oil paintings and busts much as we use social media to exaggerate popularity, wealth, beauty and status.

11am-5pm; The Edge, University of Bath; www.edgearts.org

Tuesday-Sunday 11am-5pm; American Museum & Gardens; www.americanmuseum.org

Until 18 July

Until 3 November

10am-5pm; No.1 Royal Crescent; www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk

This latest Art at the RUH exhibition celebrates an individual location’s distinctive character through the work of five contemporary photographers.

The American Museum is always stuffed with pioneer-era quilts, of course, but this is something different: 20 brand-new ones designed by this San Franciscan artist, never seen together in the UK, and actually

GLOVE STORIES Gloves? Really? Yes, indeed: for there’s way more to them than just keeping your pinkies warm. Thrill to 400 years of rare glove history, from embroidered 1600s gauntlets to the

GENIUS LOCI: SENSE OF A PLACE

8am-8pm; free; Royal United Hospital; www.artatruh.org

KAFFE FASSETT’S QUILTS IN AMERICA

Until 1 March 2020

WHAT’S ON Duke of Edinburgh’s carriage-driving gloves – and marvel at just how small so many of them are.

10.30am-4pm; entry included in Fashion Museum ticket; Fashion Museum Bath; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Until 31 May

BLOOM Wellow-based painter Emma Rose depicts mountains, sea and flowers in blues, greens and purples, plus a fair smattering of metallic leaf.

Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Emma Rose Arts Works; Upstairs@78 Walcot Street; www.emmaroseartworks.com

25 – 27 May

BEAR FLAT ARTISTS OPEN STUDIOS 2019 The Bear Flat Art Trail is, this year, bigger and better than ever.

ABOVE:

Russell Howard, hosting a must-see show for Bath Rugby Foundation; LEFT: Wrath of Achilles at The Mission; BELOW: Is it The Beatles? Well, it is if you squint…

11am-5pm daily; various venues; www.bearflatartists.co.uk

25 May, 8 June

FAMILY TAKEOVER Artist educator Victoria Willmott hosts regular days of fun, creative activities for families up at the Edge – drop-in for 10 minutes or an hour, it’s up to you!

11am-2pm; free; The Edge,

University of Bath; www.edgearts.org

22 – 23 June

WIDCOMBE ART TRAIL One of Bath’s prettiest little areas is always worth a wander, but especially so this weekend, as artists from Horseshoe Walk to Lyncombe Hill throw open their doors and invite you to look at their work – and workspaces.

Free; www.widcombearttrail.com

PLAYS/SHOWS 25 May

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD Last chance to catch Charlotte Keatley’s award-winning modern classic about the love and jealousy between four women, each the mother of the next; amazingly, it’s become the most widely performed play ever written by a woman.

2.30pm or 7.30pm; various prices; Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

25 – 27 May

AUTOLYCUS! There’s a ton of stuff on at the Mission Theatre for Bath Fringe, including this energetic one-man show by Derekk Ross – yes, that’s how he spells it – about an entertaining con man and thief.

Various times; £8; The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

25 – 27 May

WRATH OF ACHILLES More Mission madness, this one set ten years into the Trojan War. 8pm; £10; The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

22 May – 1 June

LET IT BE The international hit celebration of The Beatles comes to town with over 40 of their greatest hits – and these days the show even features the highlights of John, Paul and George’s solo stuff, too. (Sorry, Ringo.)

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

26 May

ATTENTION SEEKER Gerard Harris has been compared to Woody Allen, Robin Williams and ‘Ronnie Corbett with Tourettes’, and has performed this storytelling/ stand-up hybrid across the world. It tells the tale of what happened when he left the UK to pursue a happier life, but little went exactly to plan.

6pm; £8; The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

30 May – 1 June

HAMLET: THE MUSICAL Bristol Shakespeare Festival is bringing one of its in-house shows to Bath for the very first time. Hamlet: the Musical promises to be a silly, satirical take on fiction’s greatest procrastinator, featuring rewrites of hits by ABBA, Elvis and Queen.

Various times; £5.34; The Mission Theatre; bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

31 May

MINISTRY OF BURLESQUE This knock-out campfest rocks up every other month at Komedia, this time featuring award-winning compare Dusty Limits, magical Britain’s Got Talent finalist Christian Lee, drag king Mark Anthony, striptease from Lena Mae, and internationally-known Bristol-based acrobat duo Cirque Da Purr.

8pm; various prices; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk/bath

13 July

RUSSELL HOWARD Award-winning local comedian Russell Howard hosts a one-off show at Theatre Royal to raise funds for Bath Rugby Foundation.

You know this guy, of course – but what you might not know is that he’s a long-term supporter of Bath Rugby Foundation (and this will be the fourth gig that he’s performed in Bath for the charity). He’ll sell out

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WHAT’S ON

My Mother Said I Never Should at Theatre Royal: these three actually look like they could be related, too

almost immediately, naturally – and as tickets went on sale back on 17 May, you’d better be lucky and quick!

Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

MUSIC 27 May

SCOTT LAVERNE Likened to old Stiff acts, and an avowed fan of The Clash and Ian Dury, Scott guarantees retro fun and honest Essex songwriting. His current mini-tour is in support of his upcoming album, Broke.

7pm; free; The Bell; www.scottlavene.co.uk

31 May

MUSIC FOR THE HARP Harps are now hip, we’re told, and Bianca Watts will show us why, with selections from Debussy and Britten.

7.30pm; £5; BRLSI; www.brlsi.org

8 June

BATH CAMERATA ‘Mater Ora Filium’ is a programme specially crafted by Bath Camerata’s guest conductor, the English choral music specialist Paul Spicer. The title work, by Arnold Bax, is paired with English masterpieces ranging from William Byrd to Herbert Howells.

7.30pm; £20; St Mary’s Bathwick; www.bathcamerata.co.uk

15 June

THE HANDFUL CHAMBER CHOIR This is a world premier performance of a new commission written for

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‘The Handful’ Chamber Choir – an outfit committed to supporting new composers – by Cardiff-based rising star Alexander Thacker. It promises a great climax to their first season under new director Tomos Watkins.

7.30pm; £15; Prior Park College Chapel; www.thehandful.org

FAMILY 27 May

ANDY AND THE ODD SOCKS CBBC presenter Andy Day fronts a raucous band with buddies Rio, Moxy, Blu and Cousin Mac; they’ve become festival regulars, and appeal to parents as much as their kids.

12pm; £14.50; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk/bath

OTHER Until 9 June

BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL Two weeks of non-stop music, theatre, comedy and more happening all over the city. See the next page for more – and get stuck in!

Various times, prices and locations; www.bathfringe.co.uk

Until 15 June

SPARKFEST Bath Spa University is hosting its second-ever Sparkfest, featuring 100 performances across eight venues in five weeks. This is a must-see, folks.

Various times, venues and prices; www.bathspalive.com

ABOVE: Crimes on the Nile channels Christie winningly; RIGHT: The main stage at Bath Festival’s epic Finale Weekend; BELOW: Emilie Pine, one of many authors speaking at Mr B’s

WHAT’S ON 26 May

BATH FESTIVAL: KILLING EVE

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

Cindy Stratton from Bristol’s Jelli Records; harpist Irantzu Agirre-Arrizubieta; North Carolina’s Curtis Eller; and ace tenor Thomas Cameron

Before Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Killing Eve, Luke Jennings was telling tales of charismatic, loopy killer Villanelle in a series of e-novellas. Meet him here, and learn the genesis of his ‘manic pixie dream assassin’.

3.15pm-4.15pm; £10 (excl fees); The Masonic Hall; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

29 May – 1 June

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW England’s only four-day Royal Show celebrates food, drink, music, sport, rural life and – at its heart – farming; it’s a must visit, we reckon.

(After all, the 4,500 animals who attend each year can’t all be wrong!)

Various times; The Showground, Shepton Mallet; www.bathandwest.com

1 June

BATH FESTIVAL OF NATURE A free, wild day out for the whole family, celebrating the natural world. There’ll be performances, talks, walks and a showcase of hands-on fun from the best littleknown local (and famous national) environmental organisations.

11am-6pm; Green Park, Bath; www.bnhc.org.uk

1 – 2 June

BATH FESTIVAL FINALE WEEKEND The mighty Bath Festival comes to a fitting climax with its biggest gig of all: an extravaganza of music and food at Bath Rec starring Clean Bandit, Van Morrison, Corrine Bailey Rae – and the winning breakthrough act from a shortlist of 12, who’ll be battling it out for the honour through gigs at Komedia, The Pig and Fiddle and Moles on (respectively) 20, 23 and 25 May. Unmissable, the whole thing.

From 1pm, 1 June; £45-180; Bath Rec; www.bathfestivals.org.uk

4 June

‘NOTES TO SELF’ WITH EMILIE PINE There are many great ‘meet the autor’ events at Mr B’s, like this one with Irish rising star Emilie Pine.

7pm; £6; Mr B’s; www.mrbsemporium.com

15 June

LADIES DAY, BATH RACECOURSE The classic season highlight, when all the big hats come out to play.

From 11am; £30 and various prices; Bath Racecourse; www.bath-racecourse.co.uk

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BATH FRINGE 27 MAY – 9 JUNE

Bath Festival might be almost over, but its rowdy little sibling – the Bath Fringe – rocks on into June, and there’s tonnes going on…

Bath Fringe is a classic fringe festival, in that anyone can put on an event and be part of it, as long as they can organise it themselves (and cough up a small fee for publicity).

Running not-quite-parallel to The Bath Festival – it both starts and ends later, only overlapping for a couple of days – the Fringe is mostly financed by the artists and venues themselves (plus your entry fees, of course).

This also means things can get a little confusing, because as well as the mainline fringe there’s another, loosely linked outfit called Fringe Arts Bath, which runs its own FaB Festival of contemporary visual arts. (Think of Bath Festival itself as the mothership, packed with nationally and internationally known people and acts; Bath Fringe as the established sideshow; and FaB as an offshoot of that.)

When’s it on?

Through until Sunday, 9 June.

What’s occurring?

Plays, bands, classical music performances, cabaret, comedy, film screenings, exhibitions, installations, workshops and more. For full details, go to www.bathfringe.co.uk

Where’s it take place?

The Fringe runs at over 20 venues across Bath, including pubs and bars (The Bell, Moorfields Inn, Green Park Brasserie, St James’ Wine Vaults); places of worship (St Michael’s Church, Central United Reformed Church); and theatres (Rondo, Mission, and The Old Theatre Royal – not to be confused with the big one). Also think Komedia, Widcombe Social Club, Chapel Arts Centre, Walcot Chapel and more, not to mention a whole bunch of outdoor venues, from Kingsmead Square to Walcot Street, Parade Gardens to Green Park Station.

FaB, meanwhile, tends to take place at three gallery spaces (empty shops!) called FaB1, FaB 2 and FaB 3, as if Lady Penelope had a trio of pink Rolls Royces. FaB 1 is on Walcot Street; FaB 2’s on Broad Street; and FaB 3’s New Bond Street.

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Flashback fiction Three books which reveal, through flashbacks, the roots of troubled, strange or comic characters

“All my colleagues are reading flashback novels. I’m wondering if there’s a publishing spate of them right now”

S

ometimes, when mulling which books to ramble about here, I ask the Mr B’s team what they’ve been reading recently, in case I happen on a loose theme or vibe. That can go one of two ways.

Sometimes it can leave me trying to wedge three totally unrelated books into an article with an entirely spurious connection. (“You know what else you’ll like if you like novels about characters overcoming divorce; books about goats, and guides to the latest trends in soft furnishings!”). Or, just occasionally, and thankfully for the reader, a genuine theme can appear from the conversation. This is one of those times.

It seems that all of my colleagues have been reading new flashback novels – so much so I’m wondering if there’s a publishing spate of them right now – in which we follow a present-day drama but find the roots of that drama, in occasional scenes, revealing the characters’ pasts.

A HORSE WALKS INTO A BAR The present-day setting of this book, by David Grossman, is the stage where veteran stand-up comic Dovaleh G is performing his routine. The stage is in a bar in a small Israeli town, and, as we watch, most of us already bridling with tension as we put ourselves in the mindset of performing live comedy, a breakdown of sorts is taking place. We watch the set unfold from the perspective of the comedian’s childhood friend – a retired judge who hasn’t seen Dovaleh G for years, until strangely being called up and more or less begged to attend that night.

As the performance continues, it becomes clear that, for the audience, an evening of cringeworthy humiliation and descent from grace is going to replace the laughter they’d been banking on. And yet for the reader, weirdly, the result is comic – albeit very darkly and satirically so. Between his act, the essence of Dovaleh G’s breakdown is slowly revealed through flashbacks to his troubled childhood and his early friendship with the judge who watches on in dismay.

Vintage, £8.99 MY ENEMY’S CHERRY TREE This Taiwanese novel by Wang Ting-Kuo is laced with stunning visual imagery often

used to mirror the emotional turmoil of the characters. It begins with an anonymous narrator who is bereft and disorientated by his beautiful wife’s sudden disappearance.

Remaining hopeful that she’ll come back into his life, he opens up a tiny coffee shop near to her favourite beach. But when a distinguished older customer enters the café, its owner storms out – seemingly appalled to see this man and unable to remain in the same room as him.

The customer that caused such a vehement reaction – a high-ranking, much respected wealthy philanthropist named Luo Yiming – begins to suffer a breakdown (another theme?!). When Luo’s daughter, Miss Baixiu, visits the café to lay the blame for that breakdown squarely on the shoulders of our narrator, we begin our journey back from the present to investigate the cause of these strange reactions. Miss Baixiu leads us back to the first time that the two men met when she was a child and, in the sparse matter-of-fact prose that characterises the book, we unpick the grudge that lies between them.

Granta, £12.99 THE STORYTELLER To complete a trio of distant locales, this book, by Pierre Jarawan, features a German boy, Samir, whose parents fled a violent Lebanon in favour of Berlin in the early 1980s. The novel’s mystery surrounds Samir’s father who, having gained asylum in Germany by virtue of becoming something of a charismatic community figurehead among refugees, suddenly begins to behave peculiarly and walks out of the house, never to be seen again, when Samir is a young boy.

Once he reaches adulthood, Samir heads back to the Lebanon and, true to our theme, picks up the strands of his father’s life before the move to Germany in order to work out why he may have upped and left. The result is a novel full of insights into recent Lebanese history and with stunning descriptions of the country’s landscape and culture.

World Editions, £11.99 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 51

18ct Yellow and White Gold & Irradiated Blue Diamond Ring. £3298

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

LANSDOWN GOLF CLUB LO O K I N G TO B O O K YO U R W E D D I N G O R S P E C I A L E V E N T I N B AT H ?

Look no further than Lansdown Golf Club.

W e h a v e t h e ex p e r i e n c e a n d v e r s a t i l i t y t o e n s u r e y o u r d a y i s a p e r f e c t o n e .

O u r g r e e n a n d b e a u t i f u l s u r r o u n d i n g s m a ke u s t h e p e r f e c t l o c a t i o n f o r a w e d d i n g o r e v e n t . S o c o m e a n d s e e w h a t m a ke s L a n s d o w n s p e c i a l . . .

01225 425007

INFO@LANSDOWNGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

FILM SOPHIECLAIRE MCLEOD Already being compared to last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman has a lot to live up to

In the picture This take on Swan Lake replaces the dainty swans with dangerous birds

ROCKETMAN This is the sensational new picture based on the life of Sir Elton John, starring Taron Egerton. It’s not your usual musical biopic, however; it’s being named a ‘true fantasy’, showing a mixture of true-life events and Elton’s fantasies of success.

The film follows Elton’s extraordinary early breakthrough years as he develops into the musical genius that we know and love, daring to show him in his vulnerable, damaged years.

Taron Egerton’s performance is completely believable, with his ability to recreate Elton’s unique voice making you sometimes forget they aren’t the same person. Amazingly, Elton rarely features on the soundtrack to the film, with most of the songs being performed solely by Taron.

Already being compared to last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody, this biopic has a lot to live up to, but it certainly achieves it.

With incredible fantastical moments and a sensational soundtrack, it’s not just an awesome tribute to Elton John and his career, but it’s also a candid portrayal of personal struggles that shows you can achieve great things if you believe in yourself.

BOOKSMART This fantastic school comedy is a new take on the classic ‘coming of age’ story.

This directorial debut from Olivia Wilde follows two high school seniors, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever). The pair have spent their entire

High school seniors have one last night of fun in Booksmart

As we head into the summer months, we have a range of great films and events to keep you entertained – from an incredible musical biopic, to a retelling of a classic tale with a twist academic lives being overachievers, studying hard and never partying, but on the eve of their graduation realise that they have missed out on some of the best moments of their lives. The pair decide to make up for lost time, and go on one insanely chaotic night of fun before it’s too late.

“It’s not just an awesome tribute to Elton John, it’s a candid portrayal of personal struggles” Wilde manages to take the typical high school comedy and add a creative twist that appeals to the modern audience. It is a fantastic and accurate portrayal of young women’s lives with a witty edge.

The story mainly focusses on the girls’ friendship and their pursuit of happiness and fun, a refreshing alternative to the usual chasing of boys and romance, making the characters and story feel real rather than another stereotypical take on the subject.

Already being compared to comedy classics such as Superbad, this raunchy comedy will leave your stomach hurting from laughter.

The film is fairly progressive without it seeming forced, setting Wilde up to be

taken seriously in her new directorial role; she’ll be worth keeping an eye on in the coming years for other gems such as this.

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE: THE LEGEND RETURNS The incredible production is the groundbreaking return of the original 1995 take on the classic ballet. Replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a male ensemble changed how this ballet was viewed forever.

This production has the same spellbinding impact as the original, telling the passionate story of the repressed Prince Siegfriend and replacing the usually dainty swans with dangerous, unpredictable birds.

Rejected by his mother (Nicole Kabera), the Prince (Liam Mower) has had to grow up in a suffocatingly strict environment.

He encounters the Swan (Matthew Ball) who may or may not be real, falling in love with him, only to be brutally rejected again when the Swan’s human double appears.

This electrifying production was filmed last year at Sadler’s Wells in London, using Lez Brotherston’s award-winning designs.

Any fan of ballet won’t want to miss this exhilarating production on the big screen.

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

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TIVOLI

Forget popcorn and Coke, it’s all about the waiter-served three-course meals at this new art-house cinema Words by Lisa Evans Photos by Lloyd Evans Photography

I

’m not even ashamed to say that whatever plan I have in the diary, I think of the food first: launch of a new business in the city? Canapés. A friend’s wedding? Buffet.

Cinema? Nachos.

I particularly love the movies; sitting and staring is a primary hobby of mine. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear that there was going to be a new breed of boutique cinema opening in the city, which was not only boasting sink-into luxurious sofas but an entire menu, too.

So instead of munching on popcorn and pick ’n’ mix, you could tuck into a stone-baked pizza or a mezze sharing board, sip on an espresso martini, and indulge in an extra-tall sundae.

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

The place is the beauteous art-house Tivoli cinema – the very first of its kind – which opened just before Christmas, in SouthGate, where Jimmy’s World Grill and Bar used to be.

The interiors – designed by London-based agency Run for The Hills – are sophisticated, modern and a bit edgy, complete with local art strewn about the walls, and tasteful furniture and cool lighting. There’s a laid-back lounge, a glamorous bar area, and four charismatic 50-seat laser-projection screening studios – plus a small screen which can be booked for parties, private screenings and gaming – offering a unique and exclusive cinematic and dining experience in a superpremium environment.

Call it the anti-Netflix: a cosy theatre-like experience that doesn’t involve sitting at home with a Chinese

RESTAURANT

takeaway. These days, there are fewer reasons to actually go out and see a film; why leave the comfort of your own living room, eh? But Tivoli is definitely offering something special: an updated communal experience that includes cocktails, artisanal meals, squashy loveseats to share with a date (plus single chairs if you’re not that well acquainted with your plus one), footrests, and individual custom-designed lamps and tables next to each seat. You can make an entire night of it here, or you can just grab a coffee or a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck and not even watch a film – your choice.

On the night I popped in, the choice of flicks was varied – from classics like The Goonies, to new indie titles and blockbusters. Most people were there for the Avengers (and were getting giggly on aptly named Endgame tipples in the bar ahead of the showing) and it was properly packed, although it didn’t feel cramped – especially not in our screening of ‘granny spy’ picture Red Joan.

Designed in partnership with the head chef – Chris Benton, who’s previously worked at Butcome’s The Mill, in Frome; and The Orchard lounge and The Garden, both in Trowbridge – the choice of dishes includes upgraded takes on movie-night favourites, such as wild boar hot dogs, and fully loaded nachos. We ordered the latter as a sharing starter, and they came piled pleasingly high with melted cheese, salsa, guac, jalenpeños and sour cream. From the mains, we went for gourmet burgers: a falafel and tzatziki one for me, and a Caribbean jerk-marinated chicken one for him, along with sweet potato fries, halloumi fries and onion rings.

We chose to eat in the lounge, before the film started, but some people ordered theirs to be waiter-served in the viewing studio while the trailers were rolling. I personally wouldn’t have trusted myself to emerge from that dimly lit room without sauce- and red wine-stained clothes if I did that, but each to their own.

The foodie offering is top-notch and actually restaurant quality – quite a change from the throwntogether, messy fare I’m used to at some cinemas – and combined with the ultimate in comfort as well as state-ofthe-art tech and stylish auditoria, this luxe spot is set to redefine the movie-watching experience as we know it. n

“Dishes include upgraded takes on movie-night favourites, such as wild boar hot dogs and fully loaded nachos” DINING DETAILS Tivoli, 6-8 Dorchester Street, SouthGate, Bath, BA1 1SS; www.tivolicinemas.com In a nutshell A luxury cinema, café, bar and lounge concept, with its first-ever site in Bath We ate Nachos; a falafel and tzatziki burger; a Caribbean jerk-marinated chicken burger; sweet potato fries; halloumi fries; onion rings; Marshfield Farm Ice Cream sundaes Vegetarian options Plenty, including mezze boards, pizzas, burgers, and even vegan milkshakes Prices Bar snacks: £3.40 – £4.50; small plates: three for £15; mains: £6.45 – £21; desserts: £5 Drinks An extensive wine, cocktail and spirit and beer offering, all of which can be enjoyed while watching a film Vibe Laid-back luxe: super stylish, very welcoming and ultra comfortable

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 55

Pizza, Pie b & Pub Gru Menu

Gin

Sunday Roasts

ar B y e k s i h &W

Buddha n r a B a e T

Welcome to Mantra, an Indian Restaurant in the heart of Bath, that specialises in serving progressive Indian food. Mantra is a family run authentic Indian restaurant. Our dishes are healthily packed with flavour, crunch, punch and zing offering plenty of choice to vegetarians and vegans.Inspired by seasonal ingredients, our food contains only the freshest produce prepared in a way that captures the amazing diversity of India’s regional cuisines and childhood street food memories.

5, Bladud Buildings, The Paragon, Bath BA1 5LS Tel: 01225 446 332 Email: info@mantraofbath.co.uk | www.mantraofbath.co.uk

NEWLY OPENED

within The Crow

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Join us for Afternoon tea at the Buddha Tea Barn!

BOOKINGS: 01225 872728 The Crown / Buddha Tea Barn, 500 Bath Road, Saltford, BS31 3HJ www.thecrowninsaltford.com f thecrowninsaltford

Enjoy Modern British Cuisine in a relaxed friendly atmosphere alongside a range of craft ales, cocktails and selection of wines.

Join us for lunch Tuesday to Friday 12–2.30pm and enjoy 2 courses for £19.50, 3 courses for £22.50 from our set lunch menu.

Now offering our 7 course tasting menu £50.00 per person. Booking in advance only.

14 Silver Street, Bradford On Avon, BA15 1JY Telephone: 01225 938088 Email: maylee@thebunchofgrapes.com

www.thebunchofgrapes.com

BAT H ’ S B E S T B R E A K FA S T

Breakfast • Lunch • Coffee • Cake • Wine

Proud winner of

11 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath, BA1 2LP 01225 487846 www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk

TRY FIVE 2

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FrENCH FANCIES

You could never call French food an emerging cuisine – it’s far too classic, elegant and establishment for that – but exciting things are happening with it nonetheless…

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THE BATH PRIORY One of Bath’s most celebrated hotels is also home to one of its best kitchens, holding three AA rosettes and combining the best fresh local produce with dining options across three interconnecting rooms: The Terrace, The Orangery and The Pavilion. Michael Nizzero, once sous chef at the three-Michelin starred Waterside Inn, became exec chef here in 2017, so you know the cooking will be topnotch. “Michael has worked with some of the best chefs in the world, so you won’t miss the French influence in his style or the clarity of his flavours,” says general manager Paola Cassotti.

The Bath Priory, Weston Road; 01225 331922; www.thebathpriory.co.uk

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COMPTOIR + CUISINE This is an intriguing yet convoluted offering, a spin-off from London outfit Champagne + Fromage that’s part shop, part deli, part champage bar, part café, part restaurant – and all charming. From the relatively modest frontage on George Street, you’d never quite guess the saucy, fun-packed maze that lies within, but if the guys here have one overriding enthusiasm, it’s pairing champagne with cheese. “It’s light enough not to overpower delicate goats’ cheese or nutty comte, but has enough acidity to cut through savoury blue cheese or creamy camembert,” says co-founder Stefano Frigerio.

Comptoir + Cuisine, 5 George Street; 01225 684733; www.comptoirpluscuisine.com

BISTRO LOTTE Frome’s Bistro Lotte only opened at the top of Catherine Street in February last year, but has already earned a solid rep for great ingredients (Brixham fish market stars among their suppliers, as does Moorwine and Cayfords Family Butchers, the local institution next door) and the good, uncomplicated food that, says owner Lotte Evans, “people really want to eat.” On the new menu there are all the classics, from escargot to frog legs, bouillabaisse to duck a l’orange. They’ve around 50 covers, a handful of seats outside, six bedrooms upstairs and – coming soon – a little bar a couple of doors down, where they’ll sell wine and small plates. Bistro Lotte, 23 Catherine Street, Frome; 01373 300646; www.bistrolottefrome.co.uk KOFFMANN & MR. WHITE’S This new(ish) restaurant at Bath Abbey Hotel offers something approaching a strict 50-50 mix of French and English cuisine, to reflect the nationalities of the two famous Michelin-starred chefs who give their name to it: Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White. “You might begin with our starter croustade of eggs Maxim’s, mushroom duxelles and sauce hollandaise, then move on to a main of braised ox cheek in red wine à l’ancienne with pomme purée,” says hotel general manager Josh Watts. “Our most popular dish has to be classic French onion soup made with cider, croutons and gruyère: it’s packed full of flavour, and highly Instagrammable!”

Koffmann & Mr. White’s, Abbey Hotel, North Parade; 01225 461603; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

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LE VIGNOBLE Wine takes centre stage at this Milsom Place gaff – the name means ‘the vineyard’ in you-know-what – where self-service enomatic vending machines offer 32 wines by the taster and glassful in a fascinating mix of old world flavours and futuristic tech. There’s food on offer too – cheese and cured meat platters take a starring role. “We’ve built up a great following,” says Le Vignoble’s Eleanor Braund. “Our new dinner deal is popular – you can enjoy multi-buy prices on all our tapas dishes from 6-9pm, 7 days a week – as our customers really love authentic French food, and understand where and how it’s been made; they often tell us coming here reminds them of a holiday in France.” n Le Vignoble, 12/13 Milsom Place, Milsom Street; 01225 465907; www.levignoble.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK NEWS

BITE CLUB No.15 – Bath’s quirky, cool, rather fab luxury hotel on Great Pulteneny Street – has a new supper club series going on at its Dispensary restaurant, each offering between five and seven courses, each costing a very reasonable £59 per head, and each seeing head chef Marcus Bradley take a theme and run with it. First up is a Fergus Henderson inspired nose-to-tail menu, using every part of a pig bar the squeal (3 June); then there’s a seafood option, with clam linguine and baked brill (1 July); steak night on 16 September, as the nights start to draw in; and a game supper club on 21 October, starring wood pigeon, partridge and the inevitable venison. They all sound pretty tempting, but then there’s no rule that says you have to choose just one…

For more: www.no15greatpulteney.co.uk

Risk-taking waitressing at No.15…

Hot weather, hotter acts, and the hottest of grub: Tommy K is in town

PARKS AND MASTICATION The regular touring extravaganza that is Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park rocks up to Vicky P on the weekend running Friday 21 June to Sunday 23, bringing with it local chefs (Josh Eggleton! Chris Cleghorn! Ping Coombes!) and national names like Angela Hartnett and Nick Deverell Smith, plus acts ranging from Will Young to The Bluetones, Dodgy to Texas.

Expect chef demos, cool produce to buy, and plenty to eat and drink: the usual, basically, but it’s the usual because it works. Tickets are easy to get too, through Komedia.

For more: www.pubintheparkuk.com/bath; www.komedia.co.uk

Three MasterChefs, four courses, one great night

BATH SALTS Hindon in Wiltshire is some 27 miles south east of Bath, and home to MasterChef 2019 contender Alex Talbot who, with two of his TV rivals, is kicking off a series of pop-up restaurants and supper clubs called SALT Kitchen, the first of which will be held in Bath on 31 May. All three are pro chefs, and will be offering dishes inspired by the show, like fillet of hake with a dill emulsion, pan-seared duck breast with a panko hen yolk, dressed in orange and a duck vincotto sauce. The first one is at Prior Park School, and 100 tickets are available; it’s £75 per head for four courses, drinks pairings with each one and a welcome cocktail.

For more: www.saltkitchen.co.uk

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

Hondo Sushi and Japanese fine dining restaurant

Freshly prepared food using the best quality produce 2 floors of dining and takeaways available

Sushi  Bentos  Donburi Bao buns  Katsu currys

8-9 St James's Parade, Bath

T: 01225 920420

Original cast iron radiators, lovingly restored and ready to plumb straight into your exisiting central heating system.

Inspired design and styling can excite and enhance our lives enabling us to feel nurtured and uplifted.

Whether it be redesigning the interior and exterior of a property, altering the colour palette, introducing a new style, changing soft furnishings, refreshing, replacing or de-cluttering ~ leave it to me‌

We are a local Bath-based business with a huge choice of stock available now.

The Coach House, Linden Gardens, Weston Road, Bath BA1 8DB M. 07710 223285 E. lucy@lucycollins.me www.lucycollins.me

www.reclaimedradiators.co.uk

Call David Lucas on 07540 978 408

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

MILLINERY PRECISION With Ladies Day at Bath Racecourse in the calendar for 15 June this year, it’s high time to steal a march on other fashionistas and start thinking hats, headbands and fascinators. VV Rouleaux, peerless haberdashers, are offering a bespoke hat service: there’s no need to book, just drop in when you’re passing and the millinery gurus will help you create a new piece or update an old one.

They will then pin and stitch the work of art and have it ready for collection in a few days. Headbands start at £9.95, pillbox bases at £42, and straw bases from £55.

Then add the cost of your chosen trimmings.

VV boasts swooning feathers, couture flowers and gorgeous trims in one hundred colours, so matching your outfit should be a total breeze.

Visit VV Rouleaux, 9 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, or www.vvrouleaux.com for inspiration

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PINK SUNGLASSES, £155 Nothing says summer more than a cutesy pair of shades. Obviously intended to perch on the nose, but equally gorgeous on the top of your head to keep hair in check when the clouds pass over and the winds kick up From Toast, 7 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.toa.st/uk

MONO SUNDRESS, £170 This dress is woven in France and made from 100 per cent cotton.

And, a word in your ear, it has beautiful strappy detail at the back. Pop in store to nosey and mosey From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk

NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY It’s almost summer! The joy you feel at the sight of the sun can easily cool when you open your dusty, musty old-season wardrobe.

Time to usher in the new, perhaps?

SILK HEADSCARF, £45 We can’t take our eyes off this headscarf, but, then again, each of Carole Waller’s Bath-inspired pieces is a work of art (that’s why they’re housed in an art gallery). She paints on silk, creating one-off pieces of clothing and accessories From Waller and Wood, 4 Abbey Green, Bath; wallerandwood.co.uk

© EGLE VASI

MULE ESPADRILLE, £95 Combining summer flats, style, mules, sandals and espadrilles in one shoe (well, two, actually), we love the catch-all nature of this footwear; soft-shoe-shuffle it from town to beach, day to night From Duo, 33 Milsom Street, Bath; www.duoboots.com

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

TRI-COLOUR EARRINGS, £90 Three summery gold-plated rounds drop down from your ear and hang like flowers trailing over a hanging basket From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

ED’S CHOICE STRIPY BAG, FROM £42 From Donkey, a new brand, exclusive to Found in the UK, this bag is based on a classic Bolivian shopper design but it has been upscaled to be more durable From Found, 17 Argyle Street, Bath; www.foundbath.co.uk

BEADY NECKLACE, £35 Designed in Bath and produced by underprivileged people in India and Nepal, Bibico’s newseason collection is perfect for summers in the city. This beady necklace caught our beady eyes in particular From Bibico, 9A Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bibico.co.uk PEACHY RING, £7,500 If life is peachy, you could just treat yourself to this heavenly pear-shaped morganite and diamond ring set in 18ct rose gold, handmade in the Mallory workshop. Go on, can we twist your arm on this one?

From Mallory, 1-5 Bridge Street, Bath; www.mallory-jewellers.com

BLACK DUNGAREES, £159 Awesome, in a word. In a cut and shape that is cool, comfy and eye-catching, these dungarees are a style statement if we ever saw one From Blue Women's Clothing, The Loft, 1-2, Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bluewomensclothing.co.uk

SEASIDEY DRESS, £49.99 We love the print on this easy-to-wear, smock-style summer frock. It makes us think of lazy days in Cornwall, sipping coffee in coastal cafés and dipping in and out of the shops From Mistral, 20 New Bond Street, Bath; www.mistral-online.com

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Bath’s finest bespoke tailoring, dressmaking and alterations service We cater for all types of tailoring including made to measure and bespoke hand made suits for both men and women to bridal alterations

25 Milsom Street, Bath, BA1 1DG t: 01225 920 263 info@citytailors.co.uk www.citytailors.co.uk

SMARTY DRY CLEANING

FATHER’S DAY

SPECIAL This Father’s Day, Give Orvis Not Ordinary.

Join Orvis Bath on Sunday 16th June for a free instore fly fishing class; have a go at putting together a balanced fly rod outfit, cast a fly line, try your hand at some simple fishing knots and learn about fishing in and around Bath. Contact Orvis Bath for more details and to register your place.

01225 331 471

1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath, Somerset, BA2 4AX

www.orvis.co.uk

2 SUITS FOR £25.00 Subject to terms and conditions

Smarty, Bath 11 River Street Place, Julian Road, Bath, BA1 2RS

Smarty, Bradford on Avon Elms Cross Shopping Centre (next door to Sainsbury’s), BA15 2AZ

01225 444666

01225 862964

www.smartydrycleaning.co.uk

www.smartydrycleaning.co.uk

Lolly’s Laundry Mos Mosh French Connection Great Plains Onjenu King Louie Indi & Cold Nice Things Paloma Birkenstock Victorias

SPIRIT FASHION

Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm 3 High Street, Devizes SN10 1AT 01380 729933 info@spiritfashion.co.uk www.spiritfashion.co.uk

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

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

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER Headstands in the office, Xbox breaks and explosive relationships: six local dads and their grown-up kids reflect on what it’s like to be in business together

What did the farmer say to his kids? “It’s pasture bedtime”.

Kirsty and Josh toil with their dad at Newton Farm Foods

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

© WILLUM LONG

By Lisa Evans

owever much we love them, for some people, the thought of working with parents would be a step too far. But, here, as Father’s Day is on its way (16 June – get it in your diaries now), we’ve spoken to dad-and-child duos to chat about the ups and downs of keeping business in the family.

ANDREW & ALEX

HUGH, JOSHUA & KIRSTY

office managing invoices a couple of days a week until he was 93. Sadly, he passed away last year.

Josh and Kirsty work with their dad, Hugh, at Newton Farm Foods in Bath. Josh and Hugh are both on the farming side of the business, while Kirsty is the hospitality manager.

KERR & FLO

The father and son are co-directors at Green Park Brasserie, Bath Pizza Co and Bath Function Rooms – all at Green Park Station.

Here they tell us how three generations of the family have been involved.

For over 15 years, Flo and her dad have been in the business of confectionery, hand-making creative designs – such as stationery and handbags – out of solid chocolate.

Their business is based in Rode, and their creations have become firm fixtures in big high street retailers including John Lewis, Selfridges and Waitrose.

Andrew: I’ve been at Green Park Brasserie since 1992...

My initial plan was to sell the brasserie after a couple of years, but here we are over 27 years later. Alex got involved when we established Bath Pizza Co, and we started working together in 2016. We pretty much work together every day of the week.

Andrew: My father, Douglas, worked in the

Flo: A love of chocolate drew us to start working together...

That was back in 2003. We shared a desire to design something different to what was available on the market.

Hugh: Ours is a family business through and through...

As well as Kirsty and Josh working here, Naomi – our second eldest – and Will – Josh’s twin – have also worked in the business in all their school and university holidays and have helped to develop Newton Farm Shop and Café to the point it is at now.

Flo: I’m bossy inside and outside of work...

I’d describe the dynamic between us as explosive – only because we are both always right! But we work well together, we are great friends and we think alike on many topics. Dad is the thinker and spends his time innovating, whereas I’m more organised and love working with a team.

Hugh: At this time of year, Josh and I work very closely together...

During the spring, particularly during the night, we need to ensure the safe delivery of live, healthy calves. Farming and hard work is in our blood and plays a huge part in all our lives.

They have a more modern approach to business and see things from a younger person’s perspective. I, however, am more pragmatic and I take my time to look at all options.

Hugh: A big benefit for Josh and Kirsty is...

they have a lot more flexibility around working hours than others might have in normal employment. Having said that, we are a seven-days-a-week business, which means we normally end up working most days, and very long hours.

Hugh: What amazes me about the two of them is...

Although they are young, they are so dedicated to the business; I’m amazed by how hardworking they are.

Josh: My dad has always inspired me with his will to get any task done; no matter how hard or how impossible it may seem, he always pulls out some trick to finish it. www.newtonfarmfoods.co.uk

and we’re alike in many ways – mainly in our love good food and good wine, as well as going on holidays that involve a lot of sunshine and a lot of relaxing.

Flo: I admire him...

Andrew: Mine and Alex’s relationship is different in and out of work...

Dad has been an inventor since back in the ’70s. He designed the first cat flap with a magnetic collar. And he designed the hedgehog boot-wiper.

Kerr: Flo’s work ethic and her tenacity amazes me.

We’re a bit more direct with each other when it comes to the business, but at family gettogethers the pressure of the ‘go, go, go’ is off.

Alex: I would happily talk business for hours at a family lunch, but Dad likes to switch off.

Andrew: We have a very similar brain architecture...

which is very useful in terms of business planning; but we both know what we’re good at and not so good at, and we’ll always find a middle ground if there’s something we don’t see eye-to-eye on.

Alex: Outside of work...

We both have season tickets at The Rec and enjoy the occasional family weekend in Cornwall.

Alex: My dad has taught me to...

always think ‘big picture’.

Andrew: Alex has taught me how to be more focussed. www.greenparkbrasserie.com

© ANDREW MONTGOMERY

Hugh: Josh and Kirsty are less patient than I am...

Flo: We do that annoying thing of finishing each other’s sentences...

Flo: It’s nice to be able to clear the air after a huge row...

and then it’s back to normal immediately – something I can’t do with a member of staff.

Flo: Dad has taught me...

that I shouldn’t be too hasty on a decision.

Kerr: I have learnt from Flo that a deadline means a deadline, whereas I used to go off at tangents. www.choconchoc.co.uk

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© ANDREW MONTGOMERY

H

FATHER’S DAY

FATHER’S DAY

and play Call Of Duty: WWII together. We also regularly go on dog walks together and have a yearly family holiday.

Rachel: Dad has taught me perseverance...

and to always follow what I want to do, not giving up when it gets tough.

Richard: I’ve learnt from Rachel how difficult it is being a young woman entrepreneur, and how you can overcome almost anything if you put your mind to it.

RICHARD & RACHEL

Richard is the CEO of Bath’s Rocketmakers – a business specialising in developing technology for startups and corporations – and his daughter Rachel is the managing director of GoVirtually – which provides interactive 3D property tours. Their companies overlap a lot in what they produce, so they say it makes sense to put their heads together.

Richard: We started working together in 2017...

when we were both astounded with some new technology we had found which creates amazing-quality virtual tours. We both thought what a great experience it was and how helpful it could be for so many people, and we decided to give it a go.

Richard: We’ve always had a good relationship personally...

and our business relationship is very similar. I am definitely the joker of us both – which gets on Rachel’s nerves when she is trying to have a serious conversation.

Rachel: Even though he’s turned 50, dad still likes to do headstands in the office.

Richard: Our family calls Rachel ‘our little Richard’...

because we’ve always looked and acted so similarly.

Richard: I would like to think I’m the ‘boss’...

well; he has learnt a lot about the hospitality industry, and I’ve become half decent at DIY. Steph: No one is going to root for your success more than your own dad...

He has really stuck with me through this whole project.

Steph: When we’re not working...

We love to go out to brunch together, and we like to go for long walks along the Dorset coast. www.gooddaycoffee.co.uk

Richard: A proud moment of mine was...

DANNY & LEON

JOHN & STEPH

Leon: We used to work together in China...

when I met Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace for Rocketmakers’ Queen’s Award. www.govirtually.co.uk / www.rocketmakers.com

Although they don’t work together day to day, Steph, the owner of Bath’s Good Day Cafe, says she couldn’t have set up her business without the help of her dad, who helped build the space.

Steph: Dad is really handy...

He’s actually a jeweller by profession and has done up a few houses. One day, he built me a mock-up table and we ended up fitting the whole of Good Day out with bits made by him.

We don’t really work together day to day, but Dad pops down once a week to help us with little jobs, and he’s a great adviser (and critic!) on our levels of service, food, and drink.

Steph: We are quite similar in the sense that we both really value hard work and are not afraid to get our hands dirty...

Dad built his business from the ground up, and that’s really given me the drive to do the same.

Steph: Getting custom-built furniture and lots of DIY advice from a true pro is a huge benefit...

This whole project has also been a great opportunity to learn from each other as

The owners of Ma San Auction – specialists in Chinese ceramics and antique furniture – started working together in Asia before opening their business in Bath.

When I was 21, I moved there. My dad had an antique shop in Guangzhou which I worked in part time.

We opened Ma San Auction in 2016 in Bath; we’re in there from Monday to Saturday.

Most of my time is spent at the computer running the business, and my dad spends time valuing and cataloguing items.

Leon: Dynamically, it works well...

I like to think I bring more modern ideas to our business, such as our online presence. We rely on the internet to run our auctions as most of our buyers are based overseas. I had to teach my dad the functions of the computer and how to use photo sharing apps.

but it’s Rachel who makes the decisions.

Rachel: We love working together, as we spend far more time together than we used to.

Leon: Even when we’re not in work, the conversation is always business related...

“No one’s going to root for your success more than your own dad”

Leon: When I was younger, I never had an interest in antiques...

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

My dad’s mind is always focussed on work; it’s been the same for as long as I can remember, so I think it has helped me learn the trade much faster.

We would go on family holidays to museums and historical cities, and I wouldn’t show curiosity. As I grew older, though, it all started to rub off on me. n www.masanauction.com

© PAUL GILLIS

Rachel: Outside of work, we like to move our Xboxes into the same room...

‘THE SWEETEST NECTAR LIES WITHIN’

WWW.BATHMASSAGECLINIC.CO.UK GROUND FLOOR, 3 CHAPEL ROW

07525 936546 FOLLOW THE HUMMINGBIRD

RAD DADS A spot of Father’s Day gift inspiration to get you started...

1. ROLL BACKPACK, £89 Handmade and sustainably produced leather and canvas bags and accessories are the name of the game at Awax UK, an online independent business based near Larkhall, Bath From Awax UK, Bath; www.awaxuk.com 2. KILCHOMAN STR, £78.95 If you think he’s neat, get him this special-release cask-matured whisky from Kilchoman. The casks have been treated with the ‘STR’ method, which stands for shaving, toasting and re-charring, a process pioneered by the late whisky consultant Dr Jim Swan From Independent Spirit of Bath, 7 Terrace walk, Bath; www.independentspiritofbath.co.uk

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3. THE EDGE LIGHT ALARM CLOCK, £39.99 A smart and classy space-saving way to have a clock and a light at the same time From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

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4. CLARINS MEN SUPER MOISTURE BALM, £30 If he could do with a spot of pampering, treat him to this intense moisturiser From FrontlineStyle, 4-5 Monmouth Street, Bath; www.frontlinestyle.co.uk 5. SUNGLASSES, £315 British luxury eyewear brand Cutler and Gross, founded in 1969, combines the finest Italian craftsmanship with irrefutably cool style From Cutler and Gross, 9 Bridge Street, Bath; www.cutlerandgross.com

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6. TECHNOGYM WELLNESS RACK, £715 Do you even lift? For the fitness fanatic is this elegant, functional and beautifully designed weight kit From Gym Marine, 23 Broad Street, Bath; www.gymmarine.com

GIFT GUIDE 7

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7. LIBERTY PRINT SHIRT £125 For the fashionably flamboyant, this Liberty shirt – with its bold, floral design – is a fabulous pick From Brora, 6 Bridge Street, Bath; www.brora.co.uk

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8. TRILBY, £38 EACH Talk about eco friendly, these trilbys are made from upcycled hessian coffee sacks From Uber Clothing, 6 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.uberview.co.uk 12 11

9. MONTBLANC CUFFLINKS, £175 It’s all in the detail with these stainless steel cufflinks, offering a pure and simple design From Mallory, 1-5 Bridge Street, Bath; www.mallory-jewellers.com 10. BOW TIE, £38 Every item you see in the Blue Eyes Bow Ties collection is a limited edition. Find handmade ties featuring quirky designs such as music notes, science equations, and pooches From Blue Eyes Bow Ties, based in Melksham; www.blueeyesbowties.com

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11. ANONYMOUS-ISM CROSS SOCK, £25 Sometimes a practical gift, such as socks, is appreciated as much as – if not more than – a frivolous one From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk 12. DAD PRINT, FROM £3.66 Local husband-and-wife team Jack and Stephanie Blake create high quality prints that are peppered with wit From Prime Print House, based in Devizes; www.primeprinthouse.etsy.com 13. MIRAGE FLY REEL, FROM £495 At Orvis, you’ll find sofishticated, cuttingedge, eye-catching fly-fishing gear From Orvis, 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; www.orvis.co.uk

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MEET THE MAKERS

COMFORT ZONE CREATIONS An intimate tour inside local artists’ and makers’ creative at-home spaces...

By Lisa Evans

S

tudies have shown that working from home, even for one day a week, can boost productivity, decrease stress and allow for a greater balance to your work and social life. So, here, we ask local creatives – who hand-make everything from jewellery and furniture to floral installations and ceramics from the comfort and solitude of their home studios – what impact their working environment has on their lives. This is the second edition of our two-part series...

HAND AND GLOVE

“I love the energy that comes into my life with each new creative that passes through my door”

Central Bath Naomi Juckes, a green-fingered modern maker At Hand and Glove, my boyfriend and I create modern botanical homeware – such as macramé plant hangers – for those who want to bring greenery into their living space. We work in our home studio space – a lovely, peaceful room at the back of our apartment, which has

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beautiful morning light that floods in through the huge window.

We both love home styling, so moving somewhere new and decorating it has always been so much fun for us, but this room was sort of a happy accident. I have a gorgeous big desk, from Hay in Bath, that has a huge surface area for me to lay all the macramé rope, cotton, hemp and jute out on. It maybe sounds a bit airy, but I just let my fingers knot the rope and see where it takes me.

Some of my favourite macramé designs have come from ideas that turned out differently to what I’d originally intended.

Working from home, I do sometimes miss the bit where you get to come home from work, if that makes sense. When I used to work in the NHS as a cognitive behavioural therapist (a role I still maintain, but within my own private practice), I’d so look forward to getting back home and chatting to my partner about our days.

We made a New Year’s resolution to start ‘walking to work’ together; even though our studio is about 10 paces away, we walk for about 15 minutes to get some fresh air and kick-start the day. www.handandglove.co.uk

LEFT AND ABOVE: It’s a hard knot life for Naomi Juckes, who creates macramé plant holders from her home in central Bath

BIGFABDESIGNS

Vince Smith’s wall sculptures are crafted from found objects

Midsomer Norton Vince Smith, an artist who eschews the ‘Monday to Friday malarky’ I built a purpose-made ‘wing’ in a miner’s cottage in order to work from home. It feels like working in the galley of a ship; it’s a little cramped, but everything’s within arm’s reach.

At Bigfabdesigns, which I founded in 2016, I make wall sculptures out of found objects, acrylic paint and wood. I resist throwing anything away, so materials build up quite a bit inside my work space, meaning a large part of my work happens on the lid of our chest freezer – the only room available.

From time to time, I get very large commissions; last year, I made an eightmetre piece for a well-known chain of hotels in San Diego… I thought I was going to burst.

I’m lucky to back onto fields, so there’s a lot of wildlife around as I work.

I’m pretty into my garden birds, and, so far, I’m up to 53 species, with the stars of the show being a barn owl, cuckoo, and a yellow-browed warbler who was meant to be in Thailand but took a wrong turn.

Forget the Monday to Friday malarkey, I play when I work, and I love having the opportunity to dive into an idea when it takes me. I work the way I do because I struggle with time restrictions. Before this, I was a Forest School Leader and a cabin builder; I loved both of those roles but the level of self expression I have with art knows no bounds. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Bigfabdesigns

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MEET THE MAKERS THIS IMAGE AND RIGHT: Kidd & Bear’s stylish clothing and furniture

designs win over parents and little ones alike

ALWAYS SUNDAY

Bathwick Hill Lexi Learmond, a social butterfly who opens the doors of her Georgian home to creative, collaborative adventures Always Sunday is a business that hosts unique events – which take place in my own home – that showcase local creatives in a collaborative effort to create an experience for our community to engage in.

The space I use for events – which range from supper clubs to workshops – is a combination of rooms, including a large dining space; a lounge adorned with a retro disco ball; and a relaxed bar area which leads onto a veranda to take in the view of the Bath Abbey. We also use the historic original pantry, vault, and plate room to showcase some of our treasures that are featured for sale at events.

Home has become both a work and rest space; I love the energy that comes into my life with each new creative that passes through my door, but I also now find switching off harder. I struggle to spend time in our event spaces and not get caught up in plotting new ideas.

The best part of my job is being able to change my home constantly, like a theatre set, and getting to wake up to a new exhibition of artwork or a floral installation greeting me as I make that commute to the kitchen table. My least favourite part is clearing up after a big event.

Before I started this concept last year, I lived in the USA; I’ve worked in many jobs, but my craziest was a summer I spent on a remote beach running a watersports company and living in a goat shed. I found that unlike any office I’ve been in yet! www.always-sunday.com

JULIA DAVEY

Shoscombe Julia Davey, a ceramic artist who, like Santa or the tooth fairy, works when her children are sleeping My studio is a converted pig sty which has been divided into two so my husband – who helps with practical aspects of the business – has one third, and I have the other two. Inside it, I make fine bone china tableware that is decorated with my hand-applied illustrations.

“My workspace is an Aladdin’s cave of vintage cast iron printing machinery” 80 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The workspace – which sits just across from my house – is part of a converted farm with commercial farmland still surrounding the buildings, so I often have sheep or cows in the field next to me; and the hedge next to us is filled with nests, so there are plenty of birds to draw – they actually directly inspired my British Birds range.

We moved the business from Bath Artists Studios in 2013 to a home studio due to necessity, really. There was a need for greater storage, and I also required easy access 24 hours a day to check on my kilns.

I have two young children, so it was also very important to be flexible with my time. I can put them to bed and get three hours’ work done in the evening, which is how the company survives.

I taught for a year prior to setting up the business; I enjoy doing this again now from our new shop in Bear Flat where I run workshops. www.juliadavey.com

KIDD & BEAR

Combe Down Andy Chambers, a dad who’s inspired to create beautiful items for kids From my dining room table, I develop and create stylish playthings, furniture, clothing and art that are designed to make you proud to be a parent.

Our range covers mums, dads and little ones; our items are designed in a way to make sure that parents really want them in the house – things that you’re happy to have out on display, rather than something to be tidied away at the end of the day.

Having spent 12 years in a corporate job in London, I really do feel blessed to be my own boss. Sure, there are times when I miss some of the perks of my old life, but there is no substitute for being lucky enough to be there for my family.

I started working from home when Kidd & Bear was founded in 2016.

Becoming parents to our son, Wilbur, inspired me and my wife to launch the business, because we couldn’t find homeware for kids which we thought was stylish enough.

I can’t imagine going back to a nine-to-five now; working for myself has opened my eyes to the amount of opportunity there is to make a living in so many different ways, and how great is it doing something for work you love and feel truly passionate about. www.kiddandbear.com

LEFT: While living in the Middle East, Vanessa Sayce was developing

her passion for interiors; BELOW: Rob Kendrew hand-makes bespoke stationery in a traditional, non-digital way

THE MARMALADE HOUSE

Kelston Vanessa Sayce, a furniture-painting master who lives a stressfree existence From my ancient pillared barn studio, I run a specialist furniture-painting and interior-styling business. The studio, which used to house horses and cows, has huge timbered A-frames in the ceiling, an old cobbled floor, and walls still bearing old hooks that used to hang saddles and bridles – but now hang my aprons.

I’ve come full circle, as my business initially began from home in 2011 when I was working with and selling Annie Sloan Chalk Paint exclusively.

It grew so quickly and we had so many visitors to the house, it became apparent that, for the sanity of the family and my neighbours, I needed a proper retail shop in the city. After years of having various shops, I took the profitable decision of moving my business back home when my kids were a bit older.

Before all this, I was in publishing, and I spent many years in London, in the hallowed offices of Oxford University Press. I loved the glamour of my job, but I was persuaded to leave it all behind and to follow my now husband out to the Middle East. There, I taught English to soldiers and orphaned children, but, at the same time, I was developing my life-long passion for interiors, paint and fabrics.

I have been lucky enough to have had many adventures; without my previous roles, I’m not sure I would be so content to just be here. It’s an absolute privilege and a pleasure; it’s a far less stressful existence and a very enjoyable one. www.themarmaladehouse.co.uk

PAPERWALLAH

Bradford on Avon Rob Kendrew, who uses traditional bookbinding techniques to create beautifully bespoke stationery My workspace is based in what is cunningly disguised from the outside as a normal double garage, but inside is an Aladdin’s cave of vintage cast iron printing machinery – some of it dating back to the 19th century – and drawers full of old metal and wooden type which have been brought back into use after languishing in old cellars.

I have also set up a fully equipped bindery, where I store all my paper, cloth, leather and other materials which I turn into bespoke stationery items – like blank books, journals and albums – using traditional bookbinding techniques.

I started paperwallah about seven years ago and developed the business

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MEET THE MAKERS That’s my business: knitting. I mainly focus on designing affordable, fun and unique patterns, and I am in process of releasing a one-of-a-kind handknitted collection. I always have several projects on the go, so if you came to my house you’d find yarn scattered all around the place – which my cats are very happy about.

Knitting, for me, is a meditative practice, and it feels magical when I can create something while fully relaxing in my pyjamas. I picked it up while studying at university back in 2011. It was the beginning of my knitting mania, and, three years later, I was knitting so much that I began trading at local markets, including The Frome Independent.

However, I still work part-time in care and run activities for vulnerable adults. I find that having a job on the side creates a beautiful balance, as I get to socialise with others, which I would most likely miss out on if working from home full time. www.ursulegaylard.com

FLOWERS BY BLOMME

on a part-time basis as I gradually reduced my office working hours at a children’s publishers. I have been more or less full-time now for nearly three years and it has become an absorbing way to ease gently into semi-retirement.

There is a tendency to approach what I do as more of a hobby, so I try to ensure I have enough commissions and other deadlines to work to – such as craft markets and hosting traditional letterpress workshops. I particularly enjoy sharing the craft with other hand-printing enthusiasts and seeing their ideas come to fruition in a traditional, non-digital way. www.paperwallah.co.uk

© SUZ Y SLEMEN

To unwind, Ursule Gaylard takes her knitting into nature

Bathwick Hill Nicole Antoinette De Villiers, a petal-powered floral stylist After working from my flat just outside Bath, I have recently moved my floral design company to the kitchen table of my best friend and business colleague’s kitchen table. The space is filled from top to bottom with plants and flowers of all shapes and sizes. I don’t just enjoy working with flowers, I also have a hidden obsession with watching them grow around me.

We specialise in floral installations from weddings to larger pieces at art galleries, retail spaces and events. Our aim is to capture the joy in life, and to see creation in every bud and every bloom.

SUSANNAH WAY CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY

Trowbridge Susannah Way, a designer and maker of all things sparkly From a young age, I loved to create things – like Lego houses or papiermâché masks. I followed this path into adulthood, and I trained as a metalsmith. Now, from a small workshop at the bottom of my garden, I design and make jewellery and pewter tableware.

My pieces can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several days to complete, depending on the complexity. But all the while I can gaze out at the blossoms on my pear tree and at the bluebells brightening up the garden, and feel thankful that I get to do what I love, in my own private setting.

I love not having to get up so early and having no commute; it’s great to be able to relax on the sofa during my lunch hour, watching a bit of Hawaii Five-O. There aren’t many bad things about working from home, except that I do tend to snack too much, and I tend to get distracted by household chores and gardening. www.swayjewellery.com

URSULE GAYLARD KNITS

Rode Ursule Gaylard, a knitwear designer who’s at one with nature Although I work from my house (in any room that takes my fancy), nothing beats knitting outdoors when the weather is nice; my favourite place is a little woodland in the Englishcombe area. Not many people know of it and nothing can compare to the smell of pine trees and the company of a deer family grazing nearby. I have spent countless hours daydreaming and conjuring new ideas while knitting there.

“It feels magical when I can create something while fully relaxing in my pyjamas”

After 10 years in the restaurant industry, Nicole Antoinette De Villiers stopped and smelled the roses

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MEET THE MAKERS From his ‘haunted’ attic, Nick Wood creates head-turning sculptural art

Before doing this, I was in restaurant management for 10 years. It was a crazy time for me, with very little time to enjoy to myself; I thoroughly enjoy my schedule now. www.blomme.co.uk

NICHOLAS H WOOD

Just outside Bath Nick Wood, sculptor, painter and our Bath Life cover star On leaving Florence seven years ago, like most newly fledged students I tried to make a living as a portrait artist. To get started as a professional sculptor and painter, I needed a studio that had north-facing light with plenty of room, and was lucky to find a place in the quiet countryside.

My attic space in which I work is light and airy, although it does creak and groan like an old wooden ship from time to time – noises that can be slightly disturbing, knowing that it was exorcised by a local priest a few years back!

Space and natural light are extremely important in applying the sight-size technique – which involves aligning the canvas and sitter side by side and doing all the viewing and thinking from a distance of around five meters.

A more spacious studio would be preferred; it would be helpful not to have to carry weighty sculptures down three flights of stairs! www.nicholashwood.co.uk

“My attic creaks and groans – slightly disturbing, knowing it was exorcised by a priest a few years back” Annie Beardsley is a shining example of a silversmith who does things her own way

Fairfield Park Annie Beardsley, a silversmith with a long-time fascination for colour As gardens are a source of inspiration for my jewellery designs, when I moved into my cottage in 2011, I had to do a lot of work on the garden to get it looking how I wanted. As it happened, I uncovered lots of treasures when I was clearing and digging. Particularly, there was a lot of cutlery, buckles and hand-forged nails; they’ve all worked their way into my work in one way or another.

I also turned my garden shed into a workshop, which is a pretty chaotic space and absolutely full of the materials I need to make jewellery. My work is all handmade, with a focus on colour and materials; I love working in dyed anodised aluminium, which I print and colour myself, as well as sterling silver.

Before this, I was a freelancer in arts administration and project management. I have to say, now that I have my own workspace, I don’t miss the company of other people at all. www.instagram.com/anniebbath

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© RYAN FIFE

ANNIE BEARDSLEY JEWELLERY

BUSINESSINSIGHTS B AT H G E T S S E R I O U S

Cool T-shirts. (Where can we get one?)

ACROSS THE ANDES (BY FROG) Okay, so that last bit is something of a lie. Thing is, though, 10 youngsters will be getting the adventure of a lifetime thanks to The Andes Challenge, a Bath Rugby Foundation initiative which will pair the 16-20 year olds for weekly training sessions with a business mentor each, before they all set off for a 600-miles cycle challenge through Chile. It’s all done in collaboration with Leadership Challenges, experts at delivering programmes to build, they say, “courage, resilience and leadership capability through world class challenges.”

“The youngsters we work with lack the opportunities others take for granted,” Bath Rugby Foundation CEO Lynne Fernquest says, “and we can’t wait to see the difference this challenge makes to their lives.”

For more: www.bathrugbyfoundation.com; www.leadershipchallenges.org A flatter ride than the Andes, we’d hazard a guess

You may think reconnecting with the countryside ain’t a problem in Bath, but not necessarily…

INTO THE WILD

Want to reconnect with the land around us? Bathscape and Kilter are teaming up to show us the way Now here’s an interesting local partnership: Bathscape, a National Lottery Heritage Fund project keen on “reconnecting people with their natural surroundings” has ganged up with local arts company Kilter for, well, loads of stuff. The partnership’s designed to last four years, and will see Kilter’s artists coming up with an ever-changing programme of free seasonal workshops and events.

First up, they’ll be working with the landscape around Bath City Farm. Things will kick off with a playful free workshop – called Wild & Free Midsummer Musings – in the young orchard there on 21 June, the longest evening of the year.

Performance material created there will then be shared with the public at the farm’s bijou amphitheatre

stage one week later to celebrate the arrival of summer, along with, we’re told, “music and hot chocolate.”

“Getting out in nature to find inspiration for our performance work is something we’ve always done,” says Kilter’s artistic director, Oliver Langdon. “We set up in 2007 to make work about the environment and express our concerns about climate change, and it’s great that this agenda is finally back in the headlines. We’re finalists in this year’s Creative Bath Awards, and it’s certainly an exciting to time to be contributing to expressive outdoor arts.”

Though you need to book in advance, these events are free and open to all.

For more: www.kiltertheatre.org; bathscapewalkingfestival.co.uk

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BATH LIFE INSIGHTS BUSINESS CLUB BUSINESS

“Kick a football around, and change lives,” says Jamie. It sounds so easy…

© BET T Y BHANDARI

“AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILL IS SIMPLY TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS”

JAMIE LUCK The head honcho at Mentoring Plus, Bath’s rather excellent does-what-it-says-on-the-tin charity, has a theatre background, and a love of helping kids explore worlds they never thought they would. “The goal,” he said at our recent Bath Life business Club, “is simply a community in which young people thrive” Jamie’s a local lad, Newbridge raised and middle class – “I had a boring childhood; not tricky, just dull,” he says – who found life got interesting when he ended up at Culverhay School in Odd Down, rather than the expected Beechen Cliff. “I got beaten up for academically achieving,” he says. “It just wasn’t the norm.”

Drama is what made him, he thinks – “I’d take the Mickey out of people, then found myself playing the role of the Artful Dodger, which is really just a kid taking the Mickey out of people” – but it was his teenage work with Bath Area Play Project, a charity for disabled youngsters, that set him on his way. “After I graduated from uni, I applied for a job at the National Theatre in London,” he says, “and beat 110 other candidates to get it. They were all aspiring actors, but I was hired because of all the volunteering I was doing at the time, running a children’s performing arts holiday.”

When he came back to Bath to be near his family, he discovered that Theatre Royal Bath was doing, 88 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“this incredible thing called the egg, one of the first purpose-built young people’s theatres in the world.”

He worked for the theatre for three years, then had another four running the egg, where he tried to make the most of what he calls: this incredible £1.5m resource for children and young people.

"My mission became to make sure it was used to the benefit of kids whose parents might not have had the confidence or money to think about the theatre.

Boys, especially, can be very physical learners, and get into trouble because they don’t want to sit still – ‘itchy blood’, I call it. The performing arts can be an incredible resource for them.”

Later he went to the RSC as head of the Young People’s Programme, then as lead practitioner, working with drama and English teachers across the country, where he’d persuade them to take more physical approaches. “Shakespeare is designed to be played on your feet, yet we’re forced to study him sitting down,” he says. “It’s an absurdity, and why so many of us have a hard time with the plays.”

Then, finally, Jamie returned to Bath yet again, this time to head up the charity Mentoring Plus.

“For the first time, I felt ready to be a boss,” he says, “and loved that supporting vulnerable young people is the sole objective of this charity. Through theatre I’ve learned that one of the most important leadership skills involves asking good questions and involving everybody. I knew a great director at the RSC who did just that: he’d never make any statements, but would instead help people find their own way to the objective.”

This all said, arriving at Mentoring Plus was somewhat terrifying. “Instead of the 1,000 people at the RSC, there were just me and three others squatting in a house in Newbridge. I’d wonder where the IT department was and, of course, there wasn’t one.”

What makes Mentoring Plus interesting as a charity, Jamie says, is that its mission is not to do everything itself, but instead to inspire us – the community – to engage with young people.

“It’s not about me or my staff,” Jamie says.

“We’re just a conduit for you to do it. We’ve been running for 21 years now, recruiting, training and supporting volunteer mentors who are each matched with a young person from the local community, who they’ll meet once a week for a whole year. With a younger child, you might meet for an hour during the school day; with a teenager, it might be 90 minutes in the evening. We make sure it’s safe and that you’re well looked after – and 85 per cent of children say they’re happier and more confident for having this happen.”

Indeed, from here’s there’s a direct correlation to better engagement with eduction and reduced amounts of risk-taking behaviour – and all through a simple act of kindness, turning up for a single session a week.

“Our mentors choose to do it, and all our children choose to be mentored,” Jamie says. “Or, sometimes, a team of people from a business will work with a group of young people. Six staff from Novia, for instance, met a dozen students from Beechen Cliff for six fun sessions recently, covering everything from careers to working as a team. It’s not just transformative for the children, but the mentors too – it effectively teaches leadership, for instance. Many mentors say its been the highlight of their working week, and there are interesting stats about productivity too.”

Mentoring Plus currently has a turnover of £500,000 and supports about 500 young people a year. “Which is nothing,” Jamie says, “compared to the costs of school exclusion. Permanently excluding one child for a year is in the order of £300,000, so we’re very good value in comparison.

Though we have a rich business community in

Not spectacular, just important

© BET T Y BHANDARI

ELECTRIC DREAMS

Jamie and MediaClash’s Greg Ingham, scores of eager listeners just out of shot…

Mentoring Plus in numbers Annual turnover: £500,000 Amount of unique money they have to raise each year from the community: £300,000 Number of young people helped: Around 500 pa Cost per kid: About £1,000 Jamie’s first claim to fame: “In 2000 I did the first ever print interview with Banksy for The Big Issue South West,” he says. “I still had an audio tape of him talking for 30 minutes – until my parents chucked it away!”

Bath, we’re uniquely challenged here because the rest of the country perceives us to be a city without poverty problems, so less money comes here. If you’re vulnerable in Bath you’re in an invisible minority – and so get missed out.”

So that’s the children, but what problems do the mentors themselves sometimes have? One of the biggest, Jamie says, is letting go. “To meet a young person who’s having a hard time, then saying, ‘See you in a week’ is hard. But no matter how much your heart strings are pulling, it’s best to just do the hour and switch off. We find the more boundaries we set, the greater our mentor retention is – and the more experienced mentors we get. Two chief execs from significant Bath businesses have done it, for instance, partly because they trust us to safeguard them – and their reputations.”

Mentoring Plus currently has a new base at Riverside Youth Hub in Bath, and – longer term – Jamie says he’d love to have an equivalent in North East Somerset too. “We work across the county, and to be poor and isolated in some of the villages is a unique experience. What choices do you have when your youth club has closed? It’s our job as adults to provide safe, cheap spaces for kids – and youth clubs don’t cost a lot to run, at heart they’re just a safe space with a pool table and a football pitch. Just because you don’t see so many naughty kids congregating in Kingsmead Square as you used to, doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared. They’re just more isolated now, sitting at home on their

computers, their phones and their consoles. And because they don’t need to leave their homes, they’re even harder to reach.”

What’s great about the job?

“The best thing is when you can successfully put together two people from totally different walks of life. Just the other day I saw one of our mentees from Snow Hill estate skipping along with her mentor, a solicitor from Queen Square, both laughing. I’ve no idea what about, but the two of them would never have come together if it hadn’t been for the charity.

Being playful is actually one of our core values – it’s important that we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and that our mentors don’t either.”

And what occasionally goes wrong?

Sometimes, Jamie says, the two days of training and feedback needed before you can become a mentor prove challenging – “especially for more senior people” – and things can also fall down when a mentor feels it’s their job to ‘create magic’.

“You know, help a kid get into Oxbridge or something, when really all they need is an adult male to turn up week after week to kick a football about,” Jamie laughs. “So come and kick a football around once a week with us – and change lives.

After all, if a city like this can’t help the poorest people in its community, I don’t know who can.”

For more: www.mentoringplus.net

FRESH THINKING OVER A FINE LUNCH The Bath Life Business Club, sponsored by Bishop Fleming, brings together a select group of senior business people for a two-course lunch at The Royal Crescent Hotel, and to listen to a leading speaker. The next is on 3 June with our local MP, Wera Hobhouse.

If you’d like to join, contact Stephanie Dodd (Stephanie.Dodd@mediaclash.co.uk). And remember, they sell out quickly, so look out for the emails... www.bathlifebusinessclub.com

With green energy never a bigger issue, the dream of making hydrogen fuel from water in a cheap, clean and sustainable way came a little closer recently, thanks to groundbreaking new research from the University of Bath’s Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies. Hydrogen is a zero carbon emission fuel alternative that can be used to power cars, the only waste product being water, but the problem is that the process requires huge amounts of electricity – and creating that is rarely ‘clean’.

A possible answer: new thin, cheap-tomake, highly efficient solar cells that use light energy directly to split water. The problem, though, is that they’re unstable when wet – or were, until the University of Bath team coated them in cheap, easily available graphite (basically: pencil lead) which enables them to work underwater. There are still problems (an enduring glue to hold the graphite to the cells for one thing), but the idea is there – and the trials seem promising.

This may not be the most exciting-looking story in this issue of Bath Life – but it might be the most important.

For more: www.nature.com Tracey: proud, and so she should be

GOING SOUTH Indie solicitors outfit Mowbray Woodwards has been working with Southside – a Bathbased charity supporting families dealing with problems ranging from domestic abuse to mental health difficulties and housing issues – over the last 18 months, and has now raised £3,500 through Bake Off-style cake sales, the Bath Half, and Christmas jumper days to support those whose lives have been damaged by violence, abuse and neglect. “The team effort here has been very impressive,” says MW managing partner Tracey Smith, “and I’m proud of them not only for raising an incredible amount of money, but also helping raise awareness of this local charity.”

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS

Greenery, water, and a short, flat walk into town: what's not to like?

Some of Creative Bath’s shortlisted contenders raise a glass to the good news

FIERCE CREATORS

Creative Bath’s back, and – guess what? – promises to be bigger and better than ever…

Bath’s a real doer of a city, but it’s easy to forget just how much of our economy depends upon the creative, tech and digital businesses we host.

The guys tend to wear T-shirts; the offices are tucked away; the signage is small. Precious few clues exist to the sheer number of impressive – often world class – 21st-century outfits that lurk above or behind the familiar shopfronts, restaurants and hotels of tourist Bath.

Hence, in part, the Creative Bath Awards on 13 June, designed to celebrate these modern-day pioneers. From design agencies to publishers, painters to photographers, architects to crafters, the theatrical world to web developers, TV producers to digital marketeers, it boasts a BAFTA-length collection of categories – 22 in all – to shine a spotlight on some of the people who make this city such a vibrant place to live. It also highlights one often ignored fact about Bath: that it offers not just a living, breathing portrait of the past, but a sharp, surprising vision of the future too.

Now in its third year, the Creative Bath Awards will again be held in a giant marquee

in Bath’s historic Queen Square, and this year a brand new category has been added, ‘Inspiration’, in memory of headteacher Sue East, whose creative spirit had a huge impact on her pupils at St Andrew’s Primary, as well as many on Bath’s arts scene.

Headline Sponsor is Bath Spa University – a great trainer of future creatives, of course – but category sponsors Anthem Publishing, Edit, The Guild, Half Moon Bay, Kaleidoscope Collection, MediaClash, Minuteman Press, OJO Solutions, Rocketmakers and Royds Withy King are all getting in on the action too.

And speaking of that action: want a piece of it? With tickets, there are two ways to go. You can pop along to both the Creative Bath Awards Ceremony and the Creative Bath Summer Party – happening across the Square that same evening – and cheer on our winners for £30 per head, or just come for the Party. Tickets for that are just £10, and though you won’t be able to enter the marquee, there’ll be music, street food and bars ’til late. See you there, yeah?

For more: www.creativebathawards.org; @CreativeBath

DOWN TO THE RIVER Despite the housing shortage, you may occasionally wonder just who is buying all the new homes that are cropping up in developments across town, not least as the market isn’t currently the best. (Blame uncertainly caused by… oh, goodness knows. We can’t think what.) Against this background, then, it’s impressive to see that apartments are still selling apace at Crest Nicholson’s Bath Riverside development, the flagship regeneration project seeing four snapped up in six-week period recently, with many buyers apparently returning again (and, occasionally, again) to invest in two or more.

“While big-ticket buyers have made up a significant percentage,” says CN sales and marketing director Marcus Evans, “there’s also a number of two-bedroom apartments for younger professionals looking for a place of their own.”

For more: www.crestnicholson.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Are you looking for a local agent to manage your property on Airbnb and other platforms?

HOST MY PROPERTY is a Bath based, family-run business offering a complete short-let property management service.

Owner Daniel Daly explains more…

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ost My Property was established four years ago, and currently manages a range of properties, from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom townhouses.

We welcome homes of all sizes and genuinely care about our clients and guests, ensuring high levels of service are maintained.

We understand that every client’s needs are different and are happy to tailor our services to meet your own individual requirements, whether you have an existing Airbnb property or are looking for someone to set up and manage your property as a new short-let listing.

We believe it’s essential to have trusted local representation, with local knowledge to provide good recommendations and a team who can be on call 24/7 to respond quickly to guest’s or client’s needs.

We are proud to be a local family business who are small enough to care but large enough to deliver and maintain exceptional levels of service. We use professional cleaners, hotel quality linen and have maintained our Superhost status across all our properties for over four years. We’re extremely passionate about what we do, so can deliver a wonderful experience for both guests and clients, building good client relationships to take away the stress and

Host My Property owner Daniel Daly started the business to allow him to spend more quality time with his family

hassle of managing a property rental. If this is of interest we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to find out more. ■

01225 587071 hello@hostmyproperty.co.uk www.hostmyproperty.co.uk

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

BATH SPORTS NEWS

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

Where the city gets a sweat on

Les, on the right, takes control

Team Bath Netball: “just need an extra one per cent”

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY From networking breakfasts to invaluable evening courses, make a note of the courses and classes that can help you (and your business) flourish

NET RESULTS

There were tears of various kinds for Team Bath Netball lately, the guys completing their league campaign with a convincing 72-50 victory over London Pulse, which put them through to their 13th Vitality Superleague semi-final in 14 years – only to have Manchester Thunder edge them out 57-54.

That’s the fourth consecutive season they’ve gone out at this stage, but there was nothing to be ashamed of in the performance, with the game a close-run thing indeed – especially in the tense closing stages. “Of course, it’s disappointing to come out on the wrong side,” says head coach Jess Thirlby. “We just needed that extra one per cent at key moments, but the future is bright.”

PERSONAL BESTS

University of Bath students won nine medals and set numerous personal bests at the recent BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships and BUCS Rowing Regatta, including Sports Performance Masters student James Gladman who bagged 200m gold in 21.24, then won the men’s 4x100m relay bronze with team mates en MatsukaWilliams, Sandy Wilson and Talal Al Alami. Then, over in the rowing, GB U23 international Laura Macro earned a superb gold in the lightweight women’s single scull in 8:48.37, before teaming with fellow Santander Sporting Scholar Zara Mulholland to claim bronze in the women’s double scull.

Laura Marco: somehow resisting biting that medal for the photo

29 MAY BUILDING IN BATH SUMMER SOCIAL At the new(ish) Botanist bar, Building Bath’s social offers nothing to learn, just networking opportunities over wine and beer – while any extra money earned goes to the Amber Foundation, working for jobs and housing for unemployed youngsters.

These guys informally bring together everyone involved in commissioning, designing and building new property projects in the city. 6pm-8pm; £20; The Botanist Bath 5 JUNE BATH WOMEN’S BUSINESS CLUB Not one for those starting out in business, this is a company director-level event offering a lunch, networking opportunities and an inspiring talk by a woman who’s made a success of things. 11.30am3pm; £30; Bailbrook House Hotel; www.womensbusiness.club 7 JUNE EMBRACE THE MACHINE Tiny Giant co-founders Kerry and Norts host a super-charged Rooster Talk – that’s just a ‘talk’ to you and me – about artificial intelligence, online bots, and tech’s impact on advertising and marketing.

8am-9am; free; Glove Factory Studios, Bradford on Avon; www.glovefactorystudios.com 12 JUNE FSB BUSINESS MASTERCLASS Subtitled ‘Boost Your Business with Facebook’, this Federation of Small Businesses event is all about kicking on with your company’s online presence, key to both productivity and reaching new customers and clients. 10am-12pm; £15; Bath Racecourse; www.fsb.org.uk

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CITIZEN LES

Les Redwood, a recent Bath Life Award winner for his work at Visit Bath on the Bath International Comedy Festival, has been made the new CEO of Citizen’s Advice BANES, just as the charity celebrates 80 years of service to the city and region. “We operate in a time of vastly increasing need, and the challenges around debt, housing, welfare, employment, consumer and legal advice are ever increasing,” he says, “against a background of reducing ability to fund the service from the local authority. Therefore the need is ever greater to tell our story in a clearer way, and to secure more partnership and funding for the charity for the benefit of all residents of BANES.” For more: www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk

CITY OF DREAMS

TEDx is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an event called Echoes of the City, sponsored by Royds Withy King, which will see 10 speakers explore a single theme from assorted perspectives at The Holburne Museum on the afternoon of 21 September.

“We’re seeking inspiring speakers with ideas from the fields of digital technology, business, eco-systems, inventions, education, creative arts, and well-being,” says lead curator Geoff Rich. “We’ll be looking at how advances in technology, design and collaborations can spark new conversations with change makers, thinkers and doers, and result in new ideas that can help all of us to break some exciting new ground – right here in Bath!”

For more: ted.com TEDx: consider this lighting artistic licence

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS

Where do the frustrations lie?

It’s been hard to get the message about all our events and happenings out to everyone. It’s something we’re always working on, as I really believe Circo has so much to offer; I can only hope the people of Bath who haven’t yet given us a try will come along and see for themselves.

© SOUL MEDIA

What about Bath itself? What do you like about it?

I live here myself, and feel very lucky to call it home. There are so many creative and interesting things about the city, from the architecture and rich history to the excellent standard of restaurants and bars. Everyone here works very hard to be the best at what they do, and really cares about the experience they give. In fact, I feel there is no other city like it in England.

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2019 Circo Bar has long been a top watering hole, and now they’ve won an award for it. So what did they do better his year? Manager Julia Maltby explains So, Julia, what was it like to win a Bath Life Award?

It was such an amazing feeling: the team was all on FaceTime when the award was announced, and went crazy! It was a great way to celebrate their hard work, all the blood, sweat and tears over the past year working to make Circo what it is.

We’re guessing it ended up being quite a long night…

Not least as we were actually hosting the official after party, and, I have to say, it was one hell of a do – certainly, everyone seemed to have a good time. As a team, we actually went out for dinner at Yen Sushi a little later, a lovely gift from the owner of Circo.

Where do you keep your Award now?

It’s on the top shelf of our bar.

And why do you think you won this year?

As a team, we’ve worked really hard – both here at the bar and within the Bath community. Our team

BAR WINNER SPONSORED BY

weekly acoustic night, plus themed parties every month. The team goes all out to transforming the space to reflect each theme, giving people something different to enjoy. We’ve also been involved in various charity events over the year.

“IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS OF THE LAST YEAR”

What sets you apart from your rivals, do you reckon?

I think a lot of the above helps, but mainly it’s the personalities that you see when you’re in Circo. That, and the fact that there’s always something different going on. We like to get involved with all sorts of groups and business to make not just the bar community, but Bath as a whole, a better place.

are predominantly quite young, and they’ve put their hearts and souls into their work, creating the unique experience that is Circo.

So we’ve opened up our Rum Bar with a range of 60 rums, and set up lots of regular events – like our quarterly Property Social, our Cinema Wednesdays and our

What are the things you really like and enjoy about your job?

I love working with our young team and seeing them develop as people. Circo is a great place for them to thrive and explore their personalities, while giving customers a unique experience. Winning this award is a celebration of that.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

To be me, and to be what we are, and to do it well.

Got any business heroes or mentors? If so, who – and why?

I would have to say the owner of Circo, for allowing us to be so creative, and always supporting us in new ideas. It’s that atmosphere that keeps things fresh and new, and enables Circo to go on its own journey and develop.

Tell us about what you’ve got coming up, then?

We’re working on an Independent’s Social, to bring Bath's indie businesses together. We also plan to develop our themed parties, getting more people involved, and have already booked a wide range of experienced, often international DJs. And we’re working on a new cocktail menu, too.

Finally, tell us something to surprise us...

We have a big event on in July to celebrate Black Tot Day, the anniversary of the day the last ration of rum was issued in the Royal Navy.

The event is being sponsored by Pusser, the official RN rum, and the idea is to get our young team to pour some for a group of Navy veterans, while sharing their stories and experiences of life at sea.

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castle in the sky

English rural abode meets Parisian apartment in this Weston residence, once a coach house. No surprise its owner Lucy Collins styles properties for a living‌ Words by Harriet Noble Photography by Chris Wakefield 96 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

RESIDENCE

I

t’s not often you visit someone’s home and it turns out to look like, well, like a castle. But this one really does. The tooth-shaped parapet – the raised bits are called merlons if you were curious – is the first thing that you notice about this property. You half expect a medieval chap in chain mail to leap out at any at any moment, waging war against you and your family. But instead, it is serene and pretty, with neatly cut mini trees surrounding the entrance and sweet pebble-grey painted doors and window frames.

The property was built in approximately 1750, and the roof and castellated design are in keeping with the ‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’ design on which the house was modelled when it was built. Step inside, and you’re met with an altogether more modern landscape: creamy cloud-coloured shades swim with muted greys for a colour scheme that feels clean and fresh. It’s no onetrick pony, though; the quirky art pieces and colourful furnishings provide eye candy for any nosy guest. Owner Lucy Collins tells us more...

How long have you lived in your house and what did it look like when you bought it?

I have lived in The Coach House for three years. The property was built in the architectural style ‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’ in the late 18th century, so externally it has always been very charming but internally it was used for many years as a rental property for students, so it was very tired and tatty.

What was your vision for the décor of the interior of the house?

My previous home was a cottage in the country. I was keen to bring a different look to my new home. It was a challenge moving to the property, as it is much smaller than the houses where I brought up my family of three children. While designing a home that was to accommodate me alone for the majority of the time, I also wanted the children (now adults) to feel at home when they visit. It was important to create a ‘spacious’ living area downstairs with the bedrooms styled with the individual family members in mind.

I decided to rearrange the ground floor into an open-plan space while visually creating the areas of the kitchen, a study and sitting room.

The kitchen is modelled with the concept of urban minimalism. The most important feature is the kitchen table – which might be thought to be somewhat enormous for the space, but as a family we love to sit around it enjoying meals which we create together when everyone is at home.

The sitting room area is rather small but accommodates some notable pieces of furniture and art. It was my vision for it to have the feel of an elegant Parisian apartment, with splashes of gold and lustre.

My desk in the study is the focus of my working day, and I was delighted to find a furniture maker who made it according to my specification.

Your job is to style residential and commercial properties – how did you get into this and what exactly does it entail?

My professional life was spent in the area of deaf education. I had a wonderfully exciting career, the pinnacle of which was working at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. I also worked as a lecturer at

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“Rossiters of Bath, Salcombe Trading and Nam are some of my favourite local stores”

Manchester University, training teachers to qualify to teach deaf children. These were privileged roles but working away from home during the week wasn’t ideal.

Having bought and sold many properties over the years, friends and estate agents often generously commented that I had a flair for interior design.

The father of my children is extremely talented as an artist and designer, and together we enjoyed tackling various properties, designing and creating unique interiors and gardens.

Personal circumstances inspired me to change professional direction and focus my working life closer to home. I undertook a course in interior styling and merchandising prior to launching my eponymous business locally as a property stylist.

In a nutshell, what I hope to bring to a residential or commercial project is the ability to create a space which is nurturing and uplifting, where those inside it experience spiritual and material wellbeing.

What are the common pitfalls that people fall into when redecorating?

In my experience, when designing and styling a home, people rely upon trends as opposed to focussing on what they need the space to provide functionally, while

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fulfilling spiritual and emotional needs. It makes me smile when, as an example, a client will discuss a vision based on a particular colour palette when nothing in their wardrobe or personal possessions reflects such a genre of colour. A home, the place where we work and where we choose to ‘play’ should be a reflection of who we are and what inspires comfort and pleasure.

In your opinion, which room should you start with when redecorating and why?

When starting refurbishing a new home, my advice would be to begin with the room which is most important in terms of your lifestyle. For many, this will be the kitchen, but if the bedroom is your sanctuary, begin with that, and you have somewhere to retreat to while you tackle the remaining rooms in the property.

Who or what are your inspirations when it comes to style and décor?

I am often asked who I look to for inspiration; my honest response has to be that I rely upon inspiration from within. However, I am eternally seduced by Tricia Guild and her talent for colour and design. I am also a fan of Kit Kemp, who’s a master of layering colour and texture.

RESIDENCE

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residence

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What local shops did you visit for your décor?

I do have enormous respect for Rossiters of Bath for sustaining a delightful family business, and the staff are always so helpful. Also, Salcombe Trading is a lovely store offering contemporary furniture and accessories.

It was a joy when Nam arrived in New Bond Street, too.

These are some of my favourite local stores.

Do you have a particular favourite room, or is there any part of the house you are particularly proud of?

local family business TLC – a specialist stone-cleaning company – the concrete has been stripped down and beautifully polished, finally achieving a glorious feature.

Moving to a small property wasn’t without difficulties, but it has enabled me to have a home which is easy to maintain, allowing me to focus on my business and my many and varied hobbies and interests. Meanwhile, it never fails to make me smile and feel pleased to return home to my sanctuary.

While I enjoy each room in my own home, I have to say my favourite is a bedroom that was decorated especially for my adorable granddaughters. I was pleased to find a space to hang one of Farrow & Ball’s beautiful, handprinted wallpapers, which was the inspiration for a room where Lily-Rose and Amelie visit and enjoy some magic in their surroundings.

Does your home reflect your personality?

What was the most challenging room to design and why?

Finally, what’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about your home?

When initially designing the interior of The Coach House, the kitchen was a challenge as it was the first time I had designed a room with an urban/warehouse design. I chose concrete worktops which proved to be a tedious challenge as sadly the installers (who are not local) didn’t take a lot of pride in the making or installing of the material. I struggled until recently to maintain them, but thanks to

I have been fortunate to live abroad and live a life of adventure while pursuing a worthy career. Life is not without adversity. My home environment is vitally important to me. While I seek adventure and to be inspired, I have a deep need for tranquility. I believe my home is a reflection of who I am and the values I uphold.

It is a delight when friends and family express pleasure when visiting. Recently, a close friend described arriving through the garden gate as finding herself in a ‘haven of quiet splendour’. . .

Got an amazing local home? Want it to feature in Residence? Contact matt.bielby@mediaclash.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the interior designer Local professionals who know what looks good, yes, but also what is liveable too

CAROLE ROBERTS

CATRIONA ARCHER

NUMBER TWELVE QUEEN STREET 07774 283779; www.twelvedesign.co.uk How would you describe your signature style?

Timeless elegance, combining a mixture of antiques, vintage, modern design with colour, pattern, texture and scale, carefully combined to create rooms that look as though they have been there forever.

How does your design process work?

Life is sometimes so hectic and stressful that a home is a vital haven in which to relax and forget the outside world, but we shouldn’t forget that it also has to be comfortable and practical. It’s so important for an interior designer to listen, and interpret the client’s lifestyle requirements into a practical, beautiful home – but not a ‘show house’. At every stage the client is consulted to ensure that they are completely happy with the design. Creating a personal and individual visual look for each client is so important to us. Working as part of a team with clients has often led to long lasting friendships, plus working together over years.

What’s the best bit of advice you could give to home owners?

Take time creating a home, and get the basics in place first. Rushing choices can be an expensive exercise; often it is worth waiting for the right thing, and not choosing second best. Design does not have to be expensive – it is the way a scheme is put together that’s important.

CATRIONA ARCHER INTERIOR STYLING 07823 884945; www.catrionaarcher.com

Carole Roberts

Catriona Archer

VANESSA SAYCE

CLAIRE RENDALL

THE MARMALADE HOUSE 01225 445855; www.themarmaladehouse.co.uk How would you describe your signature style?

My style is earthy and muted, full of texture with a mix of aged French classical grandeur and Nordic modern simplicity. I try and pair old with new, and aged with contemporary.

What do you specialize in?

I am a specialist furniture painter by trade, but I am also a trained interior designer. My painting spills over into design projects, and whist much of my work is transforming old pieces of furniture, in a French and Gustavian style, I love to fit them into beautiful room spaces.

Tell us a bit about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with…

I once worked on a project that was entirely based on orange. Orange on everything and everywhere.

Different shades of it, different fabrics, different rooms, different accessories – but all orange. It was a challenge!

What’s on trend for 2019?

Pared back looks, neutral shades, hand-printed tiling, wallpaper with a gilt ‘lift’ and, above all, individuality. Don’t follow a single style, but create your own. Make sure it’s unique and beautiful!

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What is it that you love about interior design?

Oh, where to start! I love creating a space that truly celebrates my client’s personality and specific lifestyle needs – seeing their reaction as the new possibilities unfold is really exciting. I also love the diversity of the work I do – no two projects are ever the same.

How does your design process work?

I believe that interior design should be accessible to all and needn’t cost the earth. Alongside the full interior design service, I also offer half-day and full-day consultations to help clients get a project off the ground. We all instinctively curate our possessions over time, so I often start a project by giving hands-on styling that makes the most of my client’s existing possessions, storage and space. By tapping into what’s already ‘on the table’, so to speak, we are able to make effective use of the overall budget and create an interior that is personal, practical and inspiring.

What’s the best bit of advice you could give to home owners?

“Things can have a place, but not every place needs a thing”.

CLAIRE RENDALL DESIGN 07778 240223; www.clairerendall.com

Vanessa Sayce

Claire Rendall

Why hire an interior designer?

They help you make the right decisions, before investing in expensive work and goods. It means potential pitfalls are identified up front, and can be avoided.

How does your design process work?

I don’t sell one style; it’s about enabling clients to have their dream home. Initial informal chats are essential. I then put together images to help the client clarify their mind, and me to pinpoint what they’re after. From there we discuss practicalities, how their lives work, and iron issues out before the real designing begins.

Tell us a bit about one of your favourite projects…

I’ve been incredibly fortunate and worked on some fabulous ones: Longleat House, the Royal Opera House and DIY SOS. A luxury harbourside property in Sydney had everything bespoke. We used fabulous materials, from 200-year-old oak from a tobacco factory in the Loire to book matched Carrara marble.

What is it you do that makes you different to your competitors?

I’m very happy to design everything from scratch, and have experience of overseeing large budgets. A successful project is one that not only looks fabulous, but has been created on time – and to budget.

ADVERTISING FEATURE JOHN LAW

FELICITY COLLINS

WOODHOUSE AND LAW

LUCY COLLINS PROPERTY & STYLING 07710 223285 www.lucycollins.me

01225 428072; woodhouseandlaw.co.uk What is it that you love about working in interiors?

We have a very talented team and I love to work with them and our clients to produce unique, personal schemes. Whether that involves sourcing new and exciting products or designing a scheme around an unusual collection of art, it’s lovely to see people so excited and pleased to spend time in a space that you’ve designed.

How would you describe your signature style?

We don’t necessarily have a signature style. We try to approach every brief differently and with fresh eyes; this ensures that our designs reflect the style and individuality of our clients, as well as measuring up to their lifestyle.

This makes our role much more varied and exciting, as we have worked on everything from contemporary Scandinavian schemes to off-beat English country houses.

How did you get involved in homes and interiors?

My partner, Nick, is a garden designer and we wanted to create a design company that would work alongside clients to create schemes with a strong cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces.

What makes you different to your competitors?

Our clients often say they like working with us because we really listen and respond with creativity and practicality. So much so that in some cases, we have worked on as many as six projects for the same family.

John Law

ZOE PARR

Felicity Collins

INTERACTION 01225 485600 www.interaction.uk.com Why hire an interior designer?

Obtaining advice and guidance on something specialist brings great reward. Using our expert knowledge ensures you create a great place to work, one that brings efficiencies, wellbeing and many more benefits to your business.

What trends are you seeing in office fit-outs?

In the past year more and more companies are looking to design their spaces for the wellbeing of the individuals, and I believe we will continue to see this as a priority. I think this goes hand in hand with companies wanting a ‘co-working’ culture within their office, giving employees the chance to choose how and where they would like to work. Ultimately boosting wellbeing and productivity..

Tell us about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with.

Being appointed by Rocketmakers for their new offices in Manvers Street was an exciting project for us. They were passionate about creating a great place to work. Our design encompassed a rocketshaped meeting space, which looks amazing – and the team love it!

What is it you do that makes you different to your competitors?

We offer vast knowledge and experience in-house for research and people based design, teamed with being able deliver very complex CAT A and B works where needed.

What do you specialise in?

As a property stylist consultancy, I specialise in all aspects of styling a property, from supporting clients with colour palettes to entire property refurbishment including garden styling.

How do you balance style with functionality?

A home should suit the needs and lifestyle of the people who live in it. Similarly a workplace or commercial property. I spend time focusing upon the manner in which a space needs to be utilised to fulfil individual lifestyles and requirements, to ensure these feature within the overall aesthetics and charm of my projects and designs.

What do you do that makes you different to your competitors?

I have respect for my competitors. In my opinion, however, I am different in that I believe in a property adopting the personality of the people who live or work there, or the commercial function of the space. My own home, as an example, is a space which tells the story of my love for art and music and literature; the fact that I have lived abroad and travelled; my interest in good food and wine; and my love of having family and friends sharing time around an inviting table…

What is the biggest mistake property owners can make with interior design?

By depending on trends and the style of a particular interior store. A property needs personalising.

PASCALE REYMOND

REYMOND LANGTON 020 8332 7789; www.reymondlangtondesign.com

Zoe Parr

Pascale Reymond

What do you specialize in?

Interior and exterior design of large sailing yachts and superyachts.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

History, art, architecture and fashion. Design details of shoes and handbags can also be a great source of inspiration for shape, quality of details or colours.

How would you describe your signature style?

Immaculate quality in detailing, which is as much beautiful as it is functional and timeless.

Tell us a bit about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with…

All our projects are bespoke and unique, and some have some super-extravagant features. From space for a custom designed private submarine or a snow room to a full size paddle tennis court, 20 metres long by 6.5metres, inside the hull of the yacht. Bearing in mind that all these vessels are private homes, not cruise liners.

How and why did you get involved in interiors?

By accident, as it happens, as I am actually a trained and qualified archaeologist.

What’s the biggest mistake property owners can make with interior design?

Follow one direction and not get distracted by everybody’s opinions. The design has to stay coherent. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 103

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Four habits of successful sellers

T

Peter Greatorex from THE APARTMENT COMPANY reveals all… here are certain habits that we typically see in those homeowners whose property sells successfully and swiftly. So what are their secrets, and how can you adopt them?

‘Fix it Felix’ and start to get your home in the best shape possible. Successful sellers don’t rest on their laurels when the work is done. They continue to monitor their home to ensure it is in the finest condition for when a buyer walks through the door.

1. Grill estate agents Successful sellers aren’t interested in commission rates, they want the agent who they believe will get them the best price for their property. The agent who will hold that sale together and drive it forward, so they can be in their new home sooner rather than later. These sellers give us estate agents a grilling.

When we’re invited into their home for an appraisal, they have a list of questions ready. We love the challenge of proving our ability to perform.

3. Binge on Netflix If you only watch one Netflix series, make it Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. With episodes covering everything from tidying up with toddlers, when two (messes) become one, and breaking from a mountain of stuff, you will learn some incredible ways to not only tidy your home, but fantastic habits for not going back. Having a ‘showready’ home and one that is impeccably clean and beautiful is a must when selling today. We must stress that this is not about turning your property into one that is sterile and devoid of personality, as this can give a negative impression. A home is one that looks loved and cared for, with little touches that add warmth and colour.

2. Wreck it Ralph If your apartment isn’t in a good state of repair you are wrecking any chance of achieving the highest possible asking price for your home. Become a

4. Don’t sit on the fence Buying a property is an emotional experience and, as such, buyers get frustrated when they are not being responded to. Successful sellers respond quickly. They have a clear idea of what figure they would be happy with; they are eager to start the negotiation process; and they understand that delaying it could mean the buyer loses interest or finds something else. When an offer is made, you should act quickly.

So, what home-selling habits are you adopting this year? n

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

KNEES HOME AND ELECTRICAL

TR HAYES

ALLSOP CARPETS

Loved locally since 1879, Knees offer expert advice on top kitchen appliance brands, beautiful furniture and home accessories. And, for their age, you will be surprised at how stylish they are. Discover more in their Trowbridge store or online. #SurprisinglyStylish.

Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge BA14 0AZ Tel: 01225 754161; www.knees.co.uk

TR Hayes has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years now, and has a reputation for good quality and good service. The large store features many big name brands, with an amazing array of furniture of all types on display. There are also well-respected carpet and made-to-measure curtain departments.

15-18 London Street, Walcot, Bath BA1 5BX; Tel: 01225 465757; www.trhayes.co.uk

Based in Frome, Allsop Carpets display an extensive range of floorings to match your style and budget.

With carpets and flooring available in a variety of designs, Brian Allsop and his team pride themselves on delivering excellent service from the beginning to end with over 35 years of professional experience.

Corner Garage, Christchurch Street West, Frome BA11 1EB; Tel: 01373 463866; www.allsopcarpets.co.uk

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

ETONS OF BATH

THE MARMALADE HOUSE

www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

Founded in 2006, Etons of Bath is the UK’s only specialist interior design practice focussed on refurbishing, renovating and reinvigorating Georgian and Regency homes and hotels. Their team of 12 interior designers, planners and project managers can help you design and deliver classically inspired interiors that add value, turn heads and improve the use of space.

Tel: 01225 639002; www.etonsofbath.com

BONITI

CHEVERELL

LUCY COLLINS

Based in the heart of Bath and specialising in bespoke, handmade kitchens, Bath Kitchen Company become personally invested in every kitchen they design and build. It’s about attention to detail at every stage – creating a beautiful space that enhances the way you live. 7-9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS; Tel: 01225 312003;

Boniti is based on the outskirts of Bath and offers a wide range of quality interior and exterior products: natural stone and timber flooring, Everhot range cookers, garden furniture and Kadai firebowls. As well as the vast selection of products on offer, a friendly and personal service is at the heart of all that they do.

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

Cheverell is set in the heart of Wiltshire with a stunning showroom and workshop, offering a full bespoke design, manufacturing and installation service in kitchens, bedrooms, and interiors. Established in 1989 it has over 30 years of experience to guide you through the whole process. Cheverell, Waller Road, Hopton Park, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2GH; Tel: 01380 722722; www.cheverell.co.uk

The Marmalade House specialises in French and Gustavian-style furniture painting and interior styling. They work from studios in Kelston, or onsite if requested. They offer colour consultations for your home, a full interior design service and styling for locations and home sales.

They also run award-winning courses on painting furniture to professional standards, colour and mood boarding.

Tel: 01225 445855; www.themarmaladehouse.co.uk

Inspired design and styling can excite & enhance our lives and enable us to feel nurtured and uplifted.

Whether it be redesigning the interior and exterior of a property, altering the colour palette, introducing a new style, changing soft furnishings, refreshing, replacing or decluttering – leave it to Lucy… The Coach House, Linden Gardens, Weston Road, Bath BA1 8DB; Tel: 07710 223285; www.lucycollins.me www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 105

A PLACETO CALL HOME

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

SUMMER LOVE

On Summerhill Road, just off Sion Hill, we’ve found the open-plan living of our dreams

By Paul Marland www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BATH LIFE I 107 141

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PROPERTY

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eorgian terraces are our bread and butter here at the Bath Life Towers Property desk – even our offices pretend to be one, though we doubt anyone’s fooled – but they’re not for everyone. They’ve lots of stairs, for one thing, and – though replete with good, big square rooms – don’t always lend themselves to the trendy open-plan living we all desire (or are told we desire) these days.

For light-filled, door-free existence, then, we start looking at more recent builds, and especially ones that – like 10 Summerhill Road – have recently enjoyed an extensive refurb. You need to look more than once with this one, in fact, to see where the original house ends and the vast architect-designed extensions begin, the four main exterior surfaces used – bare stone, plaster in a couple of different shades, plus wood panelling, each in complementary tones best described as cream, camel,

ecru and oatmeal – blending into an elegant whole. The result is long, fairly low, intriguingly multi-faceted, and handsome both front and rear. Plus, you get perhaps the biggest house number by the door we’ve ever seen.

Make no mistake, this is a huge place – you get five double bedrooms, three with en-suite shower rooms – capable of swallowing up most modern families, but not an intimidating one. The upstairs is grand – we’ll get to that in a minute – but it’s downstairs that you really get smacked in the face by desire, a near-paradise of white walls, pale wood floors, double-height ceilings and interesting shapes lit by both subtle, semihidden lighting and huge windows and skylights.

The entrance hall is generous, but it’s as you move through it to the back of the house that 10 Summerhill Road blindsides you – in the best possible way – with yowza, I-want-some-of-that space. Imagine, perhaps, a Stockholm art gallery crossed with the cavernous Main Mission set from Space: 1999 and then jazzed up with spots of bright, jewel-like colour. The kitchen flows into the dining room, which flows into the family room, with no doors between them, and the stairs semi-hidden by a clever, curving half-height wall in the midst of it all. All put together, it’s cavernous but highly liveable – the kitchen itself is over 23ft x 17ft, with ample space for two island units, one for cooking and another semi-circular one for eating – and there’s space downstairs for a very big drawing room, a large utility room, downstairs loo, and a study more than

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PROPERTY

big enough to double-up as a sixth bedroom, too.

The back is almost all glass, with doors right along its length opening out onto the landscaped gardens – simple but attractive with lawns, flower beds, small trees around the edges, a large paved terrace for al fresco dining, and a couple of handy garden sheds too. Out front, fancy tile work – the random geometrical pattern reminding us of a modernist maze or some vast, impossible game of Tetris – provides off-street parking for numerous cars.

Although downstairs is where most of the wow lives, there’s nothing to be sniffed at about the upstairs too, where the cool staircase leads to a long landing, semi-open to the rooms below. One bedroom up here is not the biggest, but the rest are of good size, and while three have en-suites there’s a family bathroom with bath and shower too. Naturally, fixtures and fittings are of the highest quality.

One more thing to tell you: this address isn’t just anywhere, but is actually a quiet, much sought-after cul de sac at the end of Sion Hill, giving excellent access to Lansdown Road and lots of the best schools (Kingswood, Royal High, St Stephen’s Primary) at one end, and the Cotswolds Way and Weston Park at the other. We’re finding little not to love about this place, then. Okay, it’s nothing like Georgian living, but the compensations – and, especially, the playful sense of light and space – more than make up for it.

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HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage

3,271

Bedrooms

5

Bathrooms

4

Reception rooms

3

Where

Summerhill Road

What else? The vast open-plan kitchen/

dining room/family room at the back is almost 60ft long, some of it doubleheight. You get plenty of off-street parking and a good sized landscaped garden, too Price

£1,750,000

Savills, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath, BA1 2EN; 01225 474500; www.savills.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the conveyancer Helping make sense of the technical aspects of buying a home

ALISON TREBLE

CLIVE WEEKS

PARTNER, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, MOGERS DREWETT 01225 750000; www.mogersdrewett.com What key bit of advice would you give to a vendor?

Be organised and honest, and engage with your lawyers as early as you can. The more information that can be provided up front, the better the chances of achieving an exchange quickly. This means we can anticipate any issues that may arise (e.g. title defects or lack of Listed Building Consent for works), as it’s better to be on the front foot and find solutions early.

What is the biggest mistake that can be made in property transactions?

Technical issues can arise in any transaction, but with the right advice and desire to find a solution nothing is completely insurmountable. Inflexibility is harder to deal with – house moves are challenging, and that’s understandable, but, unfortunately, chains can collapse if one person refuses to budge on moving dates.

What professional accomplishment has made you proudest?

The obvious thing would be to talk about the ‘sexy’ work, the multi-million pound properties, the large estates and achieving quick turnaround times. These all give me a huge amount of satisfaction, but it’s leading the team at Mogers Drewett that makes me most proud. We have a group of specialists who are people people. Yes, we provide technical support, but working with our clients and making it easy for them is at the heart of what we do – we never forget that.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, ROYDS WITHY KING 01225 730100; www.roydswithyking.com

Alison Treble

Clive Weeks

ANGELA DUNLOP

ALICE ALTOUNYAN

HEAD OF CONVEYANCING, WATKINS SOLICITORS 01225 904804; www.watkinssolicitors.co.uk What part of your work do you enjoy?

I am very passionate about conveyancing. I enjoy acting for all different types of people and achieving a successful conclusion. There is nothing better than informing clients that they can move into their dream home.

Tell us something about yourselves and why people should contact you?

We are a local firm serving local people with a wide variety of services. As well as conveyancing, we are able to assist with employment issues, the making of a Will, education matters and relationship breakdowns. We are personable and pride ourselves in putting our clients first. We talk to clients using clear language so that we can help them every step of the way in what can be an important time in their lives.

What is the secret of good conveyancing?

There is no real secret, but there are a number of factors that help. Communication, organisation and the use of technology are as important as legal expertise. A good communicator can help hold the chain together, leading to a successful conclusion. Organisation is crucial, as there are lots of hoops to jump through. We use technology such as case management and the ability to work remotely which helps speed up communication.

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How has the Bath property market changed in the last few years?

One key change has been to the buy to let market.

Changes to the tax treatment and stamp duty increases have meant that the traditional buy to let landlord, who owns a second, third or fourth property, is dying out. Individuals wanting to invest in this way are now using investment companies and tend to focus on long term capital growth, often purchasing HMOs. What advice would you give to these professional buy to let investors?

Choose your property wisely to give you a good return, both in terms of capital and income.

And pick a trusted conveyancer, who’ll carry out thorough checks on properties to ensure that they comply with all required regulations for health and safety, as well as under tenancy law.

How long does the average professional buy to let purchase transaction take?

As with any transaction, this will depend on various factors but, on average, using an experienced conveyancer you would seek to reach an exchange within 4-6 weeks of receipt of the contract pack.

PRIVATE PROPERTY PARTNER,THRINGS 01225 340000; www.thrings.com

Angela Dunlop

Alice Altounyan

What is the secret of good conveyancing?

I don’t think it’s a secret, but communication and pragmatism are the most important things in any conveyancing transaction. Keeping in regular contact with the solicitors, agents and clients in the chain and flagging up potential issues (and solutions) as soon as they arise is key.

What is the biggest mistake that can be made in property transactions?

Being inflexible – everyone essentially wants the same thing in a property transaction, but it’s easy for emotions to run high. While ultimatums have their place, they should be used with caution. More often than not, a compromise can be reached. That extends to the way solicitors work, too – we should be bending our approach to fit, for example, a seasoned property investor or a nervous first time buyer.

How did you get into conveyancing?

My legal training contract was very property-focused. I actually qualified as a commercial property solicitor, but soon realised that, while I loved the fast pace of property transactions, I much preferred acting for individuals rather than businesses. Getting to look around stunning residential properties was also a big draw.

R oofe r s Bat h Aqua Fortis quality roofing/leadwork in the Bath area

01225 285500 www.roofersbath.com

BATH LIVES

“Learning about the thing we are afraid of can reduce its power to frighten us” EMMA READ The author discusses her debut novel, overcoming arachnophobia, and having dinner at Delia Smith’s house If, as far as you’re concerned, the words ‘adorable’ and ‘spider’ definitely don’t belong in the same sentence, Emma Read – a former arachnophobe – would like to introduce you to the eightlegged character of her debut novel, Milton the Mighty.

The children’s book, which was shortlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award, tackles themes of spider phobia and misinformation with tonnes of heart and humour. Emma tells us more...

I often ask myself, ‘Why spiders?’... As a recovering

arachnophobe (AKA a spider worrier, turned spider warrior) it’s a very good question. It all began with an idea to write about celebrity from a different angle – unwanted fame or notoriety, such as a case of mistaken identity in the papers. Once I had created the character of Milton, for my new book Milton the Mighty, I fell in love

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with him, despite his eight-legged ways, and felt compelled to share his story.

Milton is a spider so small and unassuming he is often mistaken for a raisin... Then

and engineering, so it’s up to us warriors to stick up for them. It’s natural to be afraid of things we don’t understand, and currently there seems to be lot to feel anxious about. Often, taking the thing we are afraid of and learning about it can reduce its power to frighten us.

something entirely different. I had no idea what that might be, or if it was even possible. Luckily, we were able to manage as a family as I tried out my new venture and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

This is my debut novel... My passion for children’s literature was reignited when my daughter began binge-reading Roald Dahl.

I was hooked (again) but I also noticed there were fewer titles on the shelves for emerging readers, compared to middle grade, or young adult. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could do something about that.

I’m a cake-and-eat-it kind of person – I like the opportunities that come from living in a city, but I enjoy the peace of village life, and Bath provides both.

the running and screaming starts and he realises the tabloids have wrongly branded him the most deadly spider in the UK. What’s a frightened (and slightly maudlin) spider to do? He starts a social media campaign with his house human, to save his species.

My two kids are my superfans... They love Milton and his

Fear is a valuable emotion...

I started out as a laboratory technician and worked my way up to senior scientist, leading a team of my own. It required patience and meticulous attention to detail, which fitted well with both writing and editing respectively.

but now we’re no longer faced with sabre-toothed tigers, our fear response can become misdirected. It’s no fun to be afraid, especially about something completely harmless, such as UK spiders. Spiders are vital for our eco-system and food chain.

Without them, we’d drown in crop-eating pest insects, and their superpowers are currently being exploited in medicine

spidery buddies, and have toys named after my characters. They also appreciate the perks of me being an author, especially after a trip to the bookshop.

I used to be a microbiologist...

I took time away from my career when I was pregnant with my second child...

and almost right away had a strong sense that I wanted to do

I’ve lived in Bath almost 20 years... I live in Lower Weston;

My favourite places to spend time are... Mr B’s Emporium of

Reading Delights, particularly in their brand-new Imaginarium; Rooted Cafe; and the Electric Bear taproom.

My most treasured possession is a book, of course... my old,

yellowed 1980’s copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

My proudest moment was...

being shortlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award.

Something that not many people know about me is....

I’ve had Christmas dinner at Delia Smith’s house. n

Milton the Mighty, written by Emma Read and illustrated by Alex G Griffiths, comes out on 6 June, published by Chicken House; www.chickenhousebooks.com