Bath Life – Issue 394

THIS ISSUE IS SPOOKY GOOD! @BathLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY

10

SUMMERTIME BOOZE ISSUE 394 / 21 JUNE - 5 JULY 2019 / MOST HAUNTED!

BEERS TO DRINK IN A WARMER WORLD

TIPS TO PIMPING YOUR HOME #5: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

INTRODUCING! THE CUTEST DOG HOTEL ON THE PLANET (PLUS MORE STUFF FOR YOUR FURRY FRIEND)

SPIRITUAL HOMECOMING

+ BRITAIN’S

NEXT TOP FASHION DESIGNER? SAY YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST! AND! WERA HOBHOUSE DAVID FLATMAN DR PHIL HAMMOND

ISSUE 394 / 21 JUNE - 5 JULY 2019 / £3

THE HAUNTING OF

JENNIFER SAUNDERS

SO WHAT? HE’S IN EVERY ISSUE!

BACK IN BATH FOR BLITHE SPIRIT, NOEL COWARD’S CLASSIC GHOST COMEDY

© NOBBY CL ARK

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Stage magic

with Jennifer Saunders; BELOW: Something pretty from Nicholas Wylde

*The prize is kudos. The answer is Colonna & Hunter, the old coffee-and-craft beer gaff in Milsom Place.

W

hen talking to Jennifer Saunders – as I did for this issue’s cover story – you get one over-riding impression: that she really doesn’t give a toss. This, however, is in the best possible way: feet might be paddling frantically beneath the surface, swan-style, but it’s somehow reassuring that no surface concern is ever shown in Saundersland. The new play she’s in – Blithe Spirit (page 42) – might be a hit or a miss, but, y’know, so what? The world’s not going to change much either way.

It’s the same approach I’m taking to Bath Life, having temporarily inherited the editor’s chair from the excellent Lisa Evans for the next nine months or so, while she wrestles with hot towels, fainting spouses, references to bowling balls and pineapples, and machines that go ‘ping!’ (Yes, I’ve seen too many movies.)

Basically, my approach is going to be like Jen’s: how much can I mess this up, really?

Happily – and much of this is down to ace deputy editor Lydia Tewkesbury, also new this issue – nothing seems too disastrous so far. We’ve got beer (page 71), loads of tips on doing up an older property (page 121), and (this always makes for a good issue in my book) plenty of pictures of dogs (page 94). What more could you want? (Well, perhaps the old, familiar picture of a happy, pretty Lisa staring out of the page at you, rather than some old guy in a dad’s party shirt, but you can’t have it all.)

Prizes*, by the way, for working out which now-dead establishment I’m pretending to work in here. If you can’t guess, the answer’s in italics to the left…

MATT BIELBY Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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

Issue 394 / 21 June – 5 July 2019 COVER Jennifer Saunders in Blithe Spirit at the Theatre Royal Bath; photo by Seamus Ryan. See page 42 for more

THE ARTS

41 ARTS INTRO Brrr! Better pack some layers, we’re

heading to the Arctic

42 THE BIG INTERVIEW We sit down with Jennifer 47 54 65 67

Saunders to chat Noel Coward, her childhood in Bath, and the joy of a nice mid-play tea break TALENT Dr Phil Hammond on comedy, politics and his People’s Plan for the NHS WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, art and family stuff BOOKS Three stories of women on the edge FILM Imagine life without The Beatles...

FOOD&DRINK

71 BEER Some of Bath’s best brewers tell us what’s what

in their blurry world of booze

71

77 TAKE 5 Behind the scenes with Georgina Young 78 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Cook up a (vegan) storm

with this exciting new course

80 RESTAURANT Underwood: so good we almost

wanted to keep it a secret 83 WINE Everything’s rosé

67

SHOPPING

87 INTRO Design you can get your teeth into 88 EDITOR’S CHOICE Millennial pink rules the roost

© POINTBL ANKOGR APHY

88

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

© GUY FARROW

80 47

Issue 394 / 21 June – 5 July 2019

LIFESTYLE 35 94 102 170

INSIDE STORY Philippa’s coffee table must-haves PETS Seriously pamper your pooch TRAVEL A Califorian oasis... in Somerset?

LIVES Caroline Kington

BUSINESS

107 BUSINESS INSIGHTS Local businesses and

charities call on Bathonians to crack down on waste

PROPERTY

121 PROPERTY RESTORATION Local experts share

their top tips on doing up your old gaff

159 SHOWCASE Old meets new in this flashy new

development up Lansdown Road

DEPARTMENTS 11 19 27 33

SPOTLIGHT SOCIETY GRADUATE FASHION WEEK A MAN’S WORLD

121

94

© NICI EBERL

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Editor Matt Bielby matt.bielby@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Editor Lydia Tewkesbury lydia.tewkesbury@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 Damon Charles Contributors Nic Bottomley, Alex Diggins, Lisa Evans, David Flatman, Paul Marland, Philippa May, Sophie-Claire McLeod, Angela Mount, Harriet Noble and Wendy Lyne 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

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

SPOTLIGHT Emilia, looking way happier than we would after 26 miles

Museum on the move

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRE

Charity

RUN EMILIA RUN Imagine deciding to run a marathon on a whim.

Madness, right? Yet that’s (sort of) what Bath’s Emilia Edwards did. Initially she’d planned to run the half distance option at the Uganda Marathon, the country’s largest fundraising event, for local charity Send a Cow, which works with communities across Africa. But she was so inspired by her visit the charity’s Uganda Orphans Project the week before that she realised, midmarathon, that 13 miles just wasn’t enough.

“I was encouraged by the many little hands that came to high five me and cheer me on,” she says, “so decided en-route I would do another lap and complete the full marathon. We ran past some of the orphanages and families that Send a Cow supports, so it was important to me to do them proud.”

Created to help communities across the country, the Uganda Marathon saw 5,000 runners crossing the finishing line this year, making 2019 its biggest ever.

For more: www.sendacow.org

There are big changes afoot at the Asssembly Rooms in central Bath, where the National Trust is set to take over the day-to-day running of the place. Okay, so this won’t kick in for a while yet – March 2023, we’re told – but it has serious implications, not least that The Bath Fashion Museum – which has leased space in the building since 1963 – will now have to find a brand new location for its popular, world-class collection.

“It leaves barely four years in which to find a new home for the museum,” says Bath and North East Somerset Council; there’s also concern that community groups will lose access to the Assembly Rooms as a venue.

Quite where the Fashion Museum will eventually end up remains unclear, but the National Trust’s plans for the building are exciting in themselves: apparently the idea is to create an immersive experience to transport visitors back to Georgian Society.

“This is an exciting opportunity to bring this important building to life,” reckons local NT boss Tom Boden.

“It will allow the National Trust to develop new experiences in the centre of Bath, telling the stories of the Georgian city in a building that was the heart of its social scene in the late eighteenth century, and making these relevant to today.”

For more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Assembly Rooms: out with the frocks, and in with a celebration of Georgian Society

Tourism

SIMPLY THE BEST

It would seem the rest of the country has learned what we’ve known all along – Bath really is the best city in the UK. How so? Well, according to research by holidaycottages.co.uk it’s certainly the best visited, the country’s number one destination for UK holidaymakers – and with over half of us planning to stay in the UK this summer, that’s incresingly important. We get 21 million visitors per year – that’s a lot of Instagram photo shoots!

For more: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/uk-undiscovered

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SPOTLIGHT Chris Evans, running coach

RunFestRun

RUNS IN THE FAMILY

Summer is running season, it seems, and the inaugural RunFestFun at Bowood House and Gardens, out Chippenham way, certainly seems to have been a hit; Chris Evans hosted, and thousands of families took part in a range of events, from a half marathon and a 10K to everyone’s favourite, the fancy dress fun run; afterwards revelers celebrated the end of the three-day – three-day! – sweat-fest with a live set from Olly Murs. Reports suggest some of them even had the energy left for dancing.

For more: www.runfestrun.co.uk

2019 marks The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 50th birthday (and the 90th of author Eric Carle)

Winners

THE EAT IS ON Now here’s a victory worth celebrating: Mogghill Nursery

in Radstock has won the All Hallows Prep School inaugural Caterpillar Art Competition. Few picture books have endured like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a tale of growth and transformation, so when 40 local nurseries were invited to contribute artwork based on the iconic children’s book, they jumped at the chance.

The kids – and their teachers – threw themselves into the project, producing some adorable pieces at all 40 nurseries, including an entire caterpillar made of boxes worn by the children of Free Rangers Nursery, and colourful handprints from Nunney Pre-School. Mogghill’s prize-winner? A drawing of a caterpillar from every child, the pictures then combining to create one big, beautiful butterfly. The £200 prize money naturally went on more art equipment.

For more: www.mogghill.com

12 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.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

Nicky Sandy and Elizabeth Taylor

Simon Cropper and Ben Stokes Alistair Gibson, Philip Harcourt and David Blatchford

Nicky Banks and Christine Tuckerman

SETTING SALE

Mark Tyrrell and David Mace

Tons of the great and good rocked up for Bath Property Seminar 2019, which offered exclusive, expert insight into the local housing market. Held at the the fancy, newish Apex City of Bath Hotel and hosted by Bishop Fleming, there was, of course, the occasional drink before guests dived into this tricky, fascinating world. Obviously, times are uncertain, and with the dreaded B-word (we won’t say it) hovering over us all, the property market isn’t always easy to read.

But as the experts say, ‘people always want to move’, and it was with this spirit that Lucian Cook of Savills presented an overview of the market before Christine Tuckerman of Bishop Fleming explained tax considerations; finally, later on, potential buyers and sellers alike enjoyed a lengthy Q&A with the experts. Pretty much everyone was there, and you can see here and on the page following…

Dennis Perry and Orkhan Freeman

Photos by Nick Cole Photography

David Temple, Gary Oram, Christine Tuckerman and Alex Robins

Emma Robson, Richard Gorham and Scott Woolley

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SOCIETY

Jonathan Jones, James Iveson, Simon Cropper, Jiten Doshi and Max Woodward

Lizzie Cloke and Zara Harris Lou Jones, Sarah Sheppard and June Jones

Lewis Cooper, Robert Buckland and Matt Haskell Lucian Cook and Andrew Sandiford

Harry Briggs Reeve and Richard Wells Luke Brady and Les Redwood

Jack King and James Portman 20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

David Newton, Anna Fairman and Marcus Evans

SOCIETY

POETRY WITH HEART

Bath’s book lovers joined local charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) for the launch of its new poetry anthology, Out of the Shadows. The collection of 20 humbling, brave and raw poems by DHI’s clients, peers, volunteers and staff helps capture the experiences of those in contact with the charity’s innovative services, designed to help those marginalised in society to turn their lives around.

Beautifully illustrated by David Rolls of White Star Design, Out of the Shadows was published to mark DHI’s 20th anniversary, two decades in which its helped thousands of people in the West of England recover from addiction, beat homelessness and escape a cycle of offending.

Daisy Jorgensen

Laura Jorgensen and guest

David Rolls

DHI staffers Ricarda, Rhiannon and Joe

Rosie Philips

Roz Wallace 22 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SOCIETY

Los Churros Amigos

Briony and Nora May

Richard Bertinet and Lotte Duncan Ciccios Kitchen

THE BRAD BUNCH

3,500 hungry visitors descended on the first ever Bradford on Avon Food and Drink Festival, where over 100 tasty food and drink purveyors – offering everything from artisan cheese to locally brewed beer – took over Victory Field for a sunny day of foodie festivities. On the Magimix Demo Stage, a great line up of telly favourites and local cooking heroes brought mouth-watering summer dishes to life, including Richard Bertinet, Pravin Nayer and MasterChef’s Ping Coombes. All this, plus live music, games for the little ones and some cheery four-legged pals.

Photos by Deborah Porter Photography

Simon Brown and Jethro Lawrence The Crabstock Boys and Jane Devonshire

Steven Carter-Bailey

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

Amanda Hart

Rob Allcock

Simon Brown and Pravin Nayer

FASHION M E E T T H E R ISI N G S TA R S O F G F W A L L PH OTO S BY N I C I EB ER L

A STAR IS BORN

Every year, Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) brings emerging talent to the world’s attention, showcasing all the designers we’ll be coveting in a few year’s time. This year, students from Bath Spa University kicked things off, with the best student designers the University has to offer showcasing their collections on the catwalk. Their work generated quite a buzz, with one student, Hannah Stote, going on to win the Catwalk Knitwear Award later in the week.

GFW is a big deal for BA fashion talent. It counts serious fashion royalty amongst its patrons, including Victoria Beckham OBE, Vivienne Westwood OBE RBI, Nick Night OBE and newly appointed Dame Zandra Rhodes, and attracts over 30,000 guests a year. GFW represents the future of design talent, so let’s see what the guys repping Bath have to offer, eh…?

CHLOE WHITAKER

“My concept is inspired by traditional wedding garments, exploring masculine tailoring but contrasting this with the feminine beauty of a wedding dress,” Chloe says. “I used drape as a key part of the design process in order to morph different garments together, playing with the idea of the contrast between the two genders and creating a unisex collection. One of my biggest inspirations was an image of Stefan Brecht, a German poet who dressed as a bride and a groom in New York in 1970. The idea of being more than just one gender, of being half and half and not being categorised to a solo sex, led to an exploration of identity though fabric.”

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FASHION

HOLLY BRYANT

“My collection is based on inspiration taken from WW2 military workwear and paratroopers,” says Holly. “I wanted to create a sustainable outcome, so repurposed fabrics such as parachutes and old denim.”

HEINI THOMAS

“My collection was based on the idea of a 1950’s housewife,” Heini says. “The continuous theme of the collection explores the idea of an apron being worn over smart clothing and used as protection around the house. Colour and print became a key element, exploring mix-and-match prints to represent the idea of a chaotic lifestyle.

The stripes and checks were inspired by the aprons, and used as starting points in order to develop my own prints for the collection.”

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

FASHION Heini Thomas (continued from previous page)

WHITNEY STONEMAN

“This collection explores the chaotic yet fundamental relationship between nature and technology,” says Whitney. “Inspiration originated from the countercultural movement of the late 1960s/early 1970s, as people rejected conformity. In today’s context, consumerism and materialism are key drivers of the modern world, disconnecting us from nature, with ‘nature versus technology’ offering an interesting juxtaposition. I wanted to capture this by using contrasting prints, colour and digital embroidery throughout the collection to represent digital overload. I hope that this collection brings you a sense of tranquillity within the madness of our glitched reality, and encourages you to remember to appreciate the natural world.”

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

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A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

A Girl and Her Dog

© TAKING PICTURES

Flats loves his dogs like a dog loves a sausage, but not everyone in his life feels quite the same way…

“He can be annoying and his willpower is unearthly, but he is a good bloke and he loves children”

O

ne of my best mates killed his own dog.

Well, I say ‘killed,’ but that might be a little harsh. Let’s just say he played a major part in said animal’s demise. As a child this chap was tasked, occasionally, with walking the family pet and, frankly, long walks weren’t quite his bag, so he found what he regarded as an escape route. Instead of a 40-minute walk, he would stride energetically to the end of his parents’ driveway, park himself on the perimeter wall behind an old oak tree, and sit there for long enough that it might qualify as sufficient exercise time for the dog. Then he would march back up the drive, accept with glee the brownie points offered by Ma and Pa, and release into the house one unexercised, rampant hound.

Admittedly, he only did this a few times but we, his closest friends, rather prefer our version of events. It just makes for more fun at dinner parties, and especially when one of his children says they want a puppy.

“Well, darling, you do know what Daddy did to his last puppy, don’t you?” Excellent stuff, you’ll agree.

I think of all this as I’m currently half-way through a book called The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and in it a little girl forms an unbreakable bond with a dog so large that many fear it isn’t a dog at all, and so wild that the girl’s nana even tries to get rid of it via an overdose of cod liver oil.

But big Barrabàs endures (after an episode of diarrhoea), and indeed remains physically beside the young girl through the most traumatic of times.

I never wanted or want my little girls to endure anything so traumatic, but I always wanted them to organically take one of their pet dogs as a soulmate.

You know, like in the movies.

The whole notion of a cute little girl all curled up under the shade of a tree, nuzzled into the panting, heaving belly of a

staunch-looking, gentle-hearted breeze block of a dog. Perfection!

Well, I got the right dog. Gus the English Bull Terrier/Bulldog cross has been mentioned in these pages before, and he remains an imperfectly behaved but perfectly child-friendly individual. He can be annoying and his willpower is unearthly, but he is a good bloke and he loves children.

I also have nice children; truly, they’re lovely examples of the breed. But can I get them to actively and voluntarily like their pets? Nope. Their mummy even got them a pair of pet rats (sounds awful, but they’re actually brilliant, gentle little pets) after a year of solid begging. Do they tend to them or feed them daily? Nope.

Not a bit of it. When I arrive home with the children I have to instruct them to cuddle the dogs whose tails are almost wagging their bodies as we enter the house, otherwise they will simply glide on by. Even after their instruction, it’s a perfunctory pat at best.

And as for walking them, well, good luck. It’s like asking the children to do repeated hill sprints on full stomachs – it’s just not happening. Unless I combine it with a trip to the park, in which case we will arrive and the girls will bemoan my lack of swingpushing, as I will have to remain with the leashed dogs as it feels unfair to tie them up and leave them while we have all the fun.

I guess my point is that, while I love my dogs (the day Gussy leaves us my world will stop), I am not certain they’ll be replaced when they go. It’s harsh, I know, and it hurts me to say it, but unless one’s kids love them like you do, they become the tightest of binds in daily life. Maybe I’ll just get another big dog and pay someone to walk my kids.

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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INSIDE STORY PHILIPPA MAY

COFFEE SHOPPING The house is still coils of wiring and sand-dunes of plaster dust, but Philippa is already planning the important decisions…

W

ith a renovation well underway, it’s been a busy few months of decisions; the kind of decisions that are made as walls go up and floors go down, but the fun questions of decorating and styling aren’t being raised yet. It’s super exciting to start to gauge what our house is going to look like, but it’s at that stage where the idea of garnishing it still feels very distant.

It’s always on my mind, though; the small initial decision of where to build in storage or knock down a wall will shape the future of the interior, so the living room is next on my planning agenda.

A super sofa is first on my mind. It’s the heart of the living room; it’s inevitably where you dump yourself after a tough day; it’s where you share a gossip with friends; and it can even be a crash bed after a few too many drinks. Hidden away in the centre of Bath within the beautiful Corridor is sofa.com – a place I hadn’t ventured to before, but a haven dedicated to great sofas and excellent service from people who are passionate about interiors.

With hundreds of options to choose from, there seems to be

“It’s the casual focus of any living room”

no better place to find a couch that perfectly represents your individual style – and they’re so confident in the quality of their craftsmanship that the wooden frame is guaranteed to last for life.

Indeed, they impressed me so much that I’ve now got my heart set on the Isaac Corner Sofa in Marble Chelsea Linen. With such a beautiful centrepiece, it would make sense to style the room perfectly to support it – including a flawless coffee table layout.

The coffee table is arguably one of the most versatile and yet underrated pieces of furniture in your home. For us, it’s not just a coffee table: it’s a place to eat, to work, to rest our feet or play games with friends. It’s the casual focus of any living room, and with great styling it can transform your space any way you want it to – a visual masterpiece that’s also functional. To minimise clutter, and enable you to shift your coffee table from one function to the next with ease, a layered tray is the perfect solution. To complement the Chelsea Linen sofa I’m all for keeping it neutral and smart, so have my eye on a ceramic Corinium tray base from Neptune.

Rustic and yet solid, this crackle glazed piece has great charm, and should provide a suitable light background for the more decorative items I plan to place upon it. (Not too many, though: I’ve always kept to a simple rule of no more than five items on a table, to avoid a jumbled arrangement.)

The most obvious centrepiece

for a coffee table is a plant or bouquet of flowers, and my favourite neighbour – Flowers of Bath – creates the most charming mini blooms perfect for this. Their small sprigs of olive, eucalyptus and white roses create a standout yet traditional look that will perfectly accessorise, say, a strong candle from Diptyque, which you can pick up from Space NK. (My favourite, by the way, is Oud.) Of course, no coffee table would be complete without a few coffee table books (that you may or may not ever actually read…).

My personal collection consists of two Soho Home volumes – Eat, Drink, Nap: Bringing the House Home and Morning, Noon, Night: A Way of Living – but they’ve both got linen covers which, in conjunction with the sofa, makes for a lot of linen, so I’m eyeing up some new reads in Anthropologie to revitalise my collection. In particular, Japonisme – a Japanese-inspired guide to living a happier, more fulfilled life – seems like it might be the ultimate new addition.

If all of this seems like too much effort – or even a bit trivial – for you, then opt for a single statement piece on your coffee table that perfectly reflects your personality.

After all, it’s your sanctuary – so build it exactly how you want.

Philippa May is an interiors enthusiast and the head of marketing for the Bath-based accessory label Abbott Lyon. Follow her on Instagram @_ philippamay_ www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 35

It’s all about the little details‌ N e w s h ow roo m w i t h e xc lu s i v e timel ess c l ass i c pa in te d t im b e r k i tc h ens

8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath, BA2 4HJ Email: kelly@kellymariekitchens.com Showroom: 01225 481881 Mobile: 07796 554466 www.kellymariekitchens.com @kellymariekitcheninteriors | Supplier: www.haecker-kuechen.de

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

THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY Barbara Rae RA is famous for lots of reasons, but here’s one of our favourites: she’s one of the only painters so dedicated she risked being eaten by a polar bear.

But we’ll get back to that. A few years ago, on one of the Edinburgh-based artist’s many trips to the island of Orkney, she discovered that her surname, Rae, has quite some significance there. She shares it with Orkney’s very own Arctic adventurer, John Rae, who in 1853 discovered the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Like John before her, Rae was inspired to explore far off shores and embarked on her own project of Arctic exploration that would last several years.

Painting in the Arctic, as you might imagine, throws up some unique challenges, not least of which that Rae

needed an armed guard during painting expeditions to scare off hungry polar bears – or, at we like to think of them, misunderstood art enthusiasts – on the hunt for an easy snack. Understandably cautious of becoming polar bear fodder, Rae adapted her working practices, painting from sketchbooks, photographs and peeking through the porthole of her cabin.

Her palate of intense, deep Prussian blues, coloured blacks and whites evoke ice and sea, revealing Rae’s deep fascination with the topography and history of the region.

You can see ‘Llulissat Clouds’ (above) and more of Rae’s Arctic paintings at the Adam Gallery now.

Adam Gallery, 3 Northumberland Buildings, Bath, BA1 2JB; 01225 480406; www.adamgallery.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

TALENT

Few rock a wry smile quite as well as Ms Saunders…

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HIGH SPIRITS Jennifer Saunders and Richard Eyre team up for this decade’s must-see revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, the enduring supernatural screwball comedy with a kick-ass role for, as Jennifer says, “a woman of a certain age”…

J

Words by Matt Bielby Portraits by Seamus Ryan

ennifer Saunders is, of course, no stranger to the funny, a cult figure in The Comic Strip Presents… and The Young Ones in the early ’80s, then a mainstream star in French and Saunders, the ambitious, deliberately shambolic sketch show that dominated BBC1 prime time, on and off, for thirty years. Later, half-way through that show’s 1987-2017 run, she developed something even bigger: Absolutely Fabulous, or Ab Fab to fans (who included, well, pretty much everyone). This extended version of an old French and Saunders sketch about a studious teenager exasperated by her disruptive, attention-seeking mum set the action against a wicked parody of London’s fashion, PR and glossy magazine worlds. A global smash hit, it attracted dozens of celebrities – from Kate Moss to Elton John, Stella McCartney to Kristin Scott Thomas – to cameo as versions of themselves.

It’s a mighty CV, topped by only a few, but one of those may just be Noel Coward, the great writer, dancer, singer, novelist, painter, comedian, fashion icon and wit, who directed great movies (In Which We Serve), wrote them (Brief Encounter), and starred in them too (The Italian Job). He also composed smash-hit songs (‘Mad About the Boy’, ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’), and wrote play after play after play, many of them (Hay Fever, Private Lives, Present Laughter) regularly revived to this day.

But the one that really won’t stay dead, of course, is Blithe Spirit.

And now Jennifer Saunders is starring in a new production of it, directed by Richard Eyre – one-time artistic director of the National Theatre – and a centrepiece of Theatre Royal

Bath’s Summer Season. It seems like a match made in heaven, except that Saunders has hardly ever appeared in a play before…

“NOT QUITE TRUE,” she says. “Well, it’s nearly true. I did an Oscar Wilde about a year ago” – she played The Duchess of Berwick in Lady Windermere’s Fan, and she got good reviews for it too – “which was a longer run in the West End. That’s alright, but I’m not a fan of long runs; I just don’t like giving up my evenings that much. But it was was a similarly nice comedy part – sophisticated comedy, that’s me!”

In the modern imagination, Wilde and Noel Coward have a lot in common – both supreme stylists and great wits – but it seems Coward wasn’t as much of a fan of the earlier

at his house, hoping it will spark some ideas.

But it seems Madame Arcati’s on the level after all, and Charles gets more than he bargained for when he now finds himself haunted by the louche, moody, annoyingly sexy ghost of his long dead first wife, Elvira.

His straight-laced new spouse can’t see her, but Elvira makes it her mission to destroy the new marriage anyway…

It’s a romp, then – a sort of supernatural British take on the American screwball comedy, alive with snappy, sparkling dialogue – and Coward was so pleased with it he played Charles himself in one production. He’d written it on a week’s holiday in Wales in 1941, trusting on the “thoroughly heartless” nature of every character to enable a Blitz-battered British public to get over the prickly fact that this was a comedy about death.

Revived many times since – there’s been at least one stand out production on both sides of the Atlantic each decade since the ’70s – it’s seen everyone from Beryl Reid to Penelope Keith, Angela Lansbury to Alison Steadman revel in the scene-stealing role of Arcati.

The one everyone remembers, though, is the great Margaret Rutherford in the 1945 British film version, directed by David Lean in the same year he made Brief Encounter, who expanded the story beyond the play’s single room and – to Coward’s great chagrin – changed the ending; no great hit at the time, it’s since become regarded as a classic.

That’s quite an intimidating array of talent in this role, then, but Jennifer Saunders – Arcati in the new Theatre Royal Bath revival – is hardly one to be overawed.

“It’s a lovely play,” she tells me, giggling the whole time, “though there’s a massive amount of lines. Not so much for me, thank goodness, but certainly for the leads. But then, they’re the true professionals.”

“This is such a great role for me, because I can wander off stage for 15 minutes and have a cup of tea” playwright as you’d imagine, damning him with one of his typically pithy bon mots: ‘wit nought to be a glorious treat, like caviar; never spread it about like marmalade.’

“But, of course,” Saunders says, “Noel Coward himself is heaving with good jokes. I think his problem with Wilde was that he used so many witticisms; Coward probably found it a bit tiresome. But Coward’s got enough quotable stuff himself, hasn’t he?”

Indeed he has, and not least in Blithe Spirit, the play he called his personal favourite, created in a heady rush in 1941, and a smash hit both in the West End and on Broadway by the end of that year. In it, socialite novelist Charles Condomine, struggling with his new book on the occult, invites a famously eccentric medium – surely a fraud? – to conduct a seance

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

TALENT Like with Bananarama or the Spice Girls, say, part of Saunders’ schtick has always been a sort of faux-amateurishness – okay, with the other two you could argue the ‘faux’ part – but she really does seem genuinely unconcerned about things. She thinks it’s uncool, you can’t help feeling, to put any real effort in.

“I do panic,” she says, “but not about being on stage, I’m never nervous about that. It’s learning my lines, really. I’ve never actually forgotten them, you never do, but I’m a constant panic that this time I will. This is such a great role for me, because I can wander off stage for 15 minutes, have a cup of tea, then come back on. That’s the dream.”

Better than playing the lead, then?

“Oh, the lead would be fine – except you’d have to be on stage an awful lot, wouldn’t you?” She almost seems to shiver at the idea.

Saunders is best known, of course, as one half of two of the great female buddy relationships: with Dawn French in the sketch show, and with Joanna Lumley as her badly behaved partner in crime in Ab Fab. So does she miss having that sort of close peer to bounce off or lean on?

“It’s just a different way of being,” she says, “and, without them, you do get a bit more nervous for the first week or two. You don’t have the same sounding board. But then you start to think, ‘Oh, go on, I’ll try it this way, and I bet I can get them to laugh,’ and you grow in confidence. I’ve actually found I sort of enjoy it – and I thought I might not. It turns out I actually like other people’s opinions.”

Indeed, one opinion she actively sought out on this was, actually, Lumley’s, who played Elvira in an ’80s production of Blithe Spirit.

“It was before I knew her,” she says, “and I’ve certainly never seen the play performed. But she told me Madame Arcati’s a no-nonsense sort of person, and I think that suits me. She’s very down to earth in many ways, but away with the fairies is so many others. Playing her you try to put Margaret Rutherford out of your mind, but it’s hard – so you have to keep telling yourself that everyone has done it, not just her. Angela Lansbury did it forever. This is such a great comedy part for a woman of a certain age” – she starts laughing again – “and you want to put your own spin on it.”

So stay away from watching the film?

“And stay away from YouTube! You go on there and it’s easy to get bogged down watching loads of really dreadful amateur productions, mostly from America. It’s almost impossible to find a half-way good version – in fact, it’s just painful. So you have to ignore all that, and just trust your director – and go straight to the text. Luckily, Richard is trying to do something different.”

Oh, how so?

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve done so few plays, I can’t really say. Mostly it’s just, ‘Okay, let’s

Jennifer in rehearsals: the magic is about to happen!

learn the lines and do it as best as we can,’ but at the same time his big concern is with how to make it visually stunning, and I think this one is going to be surprisingly different in the way it looks and feels. It’s set in the early ’50s, rather than during the war, for one thing – but that seems to fit fine, as Coward was writing all through the ’50s too. The play doesn’t actually mention the war – it was written to cheer people up, after all – so you can happily set it in any Cowardy time. Or any time at all, really.”

And what’s your take on Madame Arcati? Is she a fraud?

river, the colour of the stone, the buildings. I learned to swim here: not in the Roman Baths, but somewhere called the Royal Baths where schools used to have their swimming lessons.”

These days she splits her time between London – “that’s for work, but it’s fun too” – and Devon, where she gets the outdoors, her animals, her grandchildren, all that good stuff. “I’ve got three kids, I’ve nearly got four grandkids, I’ve got the garden and loads of little projects, so I’m actually at my busiest when I’m not working,” she says. “I share the home office with my daughter, who’s pretty much taken it over as a studio, so I mostly sit on the sofa with my laptop. I’m always pretending to be writing something…”

So what’s next? Something new for TV? More plays?

“Who knows? I like plays but I wouldn’t say I’m a theatre bird, and I’ve got nothing planned. But something will turn up – and if it doesn’t, that doesn’t really bother me. I never know what’s happening the next day, to be honest, and I quite like the idea that – after this – I might not have anything to do before Christmas. That’s a thought that lightens my heart.”

Maybe you could come back to Bath at Christmas for the panto?

“If they pay me, why not? I’m sixty, so what’s the point of planning too far ahead? Just enjoy life.” And she starts laughing again. “I’m just happy I’m still alive.” n

“She’s very down to earth in many ways, but away with the fairies in so many others”

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

“Well, she obviously isn’t, if you’ve seen the play! Spoiler alert. Or, at least, there’s something happening, something there. I don’t want to give too much away, but this production is properly magical, let’s say that.”

PART OF THE APPEAL for Saunders is to spend four weeks in Bath – “I love it, and the idea that you get to work here in June and July is simply ideal” – as the city’s part of her background. Her dad was in the RAF, stationed at various bases across the West Country, and the young Saunders came to Bath all the time.

“God, don’t ask me when, though. Forty or fifty years ago, I don’t know; I must have been 12 or 13. I went to school in Corsham at one point, and though Bath wasn’t quite as smart as it is now, it was still beautiful: the location, the

Richard Eyre’s production of Blithe Spirit opens the Summer Season at Theatre Royal Bath, running until 6 July; for more, www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Jennifer as Madame Arcati: we rather think she might have been shopping at that place Judi Dench loves near Pulteney Bridge

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

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TALENT The shirt and the smile might say ‘party’, but the underlying issues are deadly serious

DON’T PANIC, I’M A DOCTOR Ahead of the arrival of his tour celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the NHS in Bath, Alex Diggins sits down with Dr Phil Hammond to talk comedy, politics and why the National Health Service is a ‘golden thread’ running through our society

M

y interview with Dr Phil Hammond begins inauspiciously: with a dog escape. Tilly, Dr Phil’s young golden retriever, seizes the arrival of a delivery man and her master’s temporary distraction – phone to ear, greeting me – to bust through the canine Colditz of the dog gate and dash into the drive. (Readers must assume this drama was constructed, Crimewatch style, after the fact. On the other end of the line, all I heard was the confused sounds of doors opening, jubilant barks and increasing plaintive cries of, “Tilly! Tilly! Please come back!”)

On reflection, this introduction was not inauspicious but deeply appropriate. Dr Phil, a comedian, writer and NHS doctor, has spoken warmly about the benefits of doggy companionship. “For 90 percent of symptoms, you’re better off with a dog than a doctor,” he wrote in a New Statesman article. “You can wrestle on the carpet with

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

TALENT one without getting arrested. And if you’re too depressed to put your pants on in the morning, they’ll lick your testicles. When did you have that much fun with a doctor?”

Such an observation is typical: witty, scurrilous, but backed by good, clear medical sense forged during thirty years as a practicing doctor. Dr Phil’s twin professions, medicine and comedy, grew together. He first took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1990. Called Struck Off and Die, tell-all dispatches from the frontline of the 120-hour weeks of junior doctoring, it proved a hit. And it sparked a succession of further tours, books and journalism, including a long-running Private Eye column.

This month he’s performing two of his Edinburgh Fringe shows back-to-back at Komedia in Bath. In The Great Health Con, Dr Phil ponders why we spend trillions on ‘health’ when, like Brexit, no one can agree what it means. So, who’s conning who? The causes of illness have less to do with what’s going on inside our bodies and more to do with, he says, “who’s shitting in our heads.” Then, in Vote Dr Phil?, he presents his People’s Plan for the NHS, supports Decent Deaths For All, and joins The Popular Front Against All Things Bad. Throughout, the formula has remained consistent. In his tours and books – titles like Trust Me I’m a Doctor and What Doctors Really Think… give an indication of his approach – Dr Phil casts an acerbic yet affectionate eye over the lurching progress of our greatest and most unwieldy institution: the NHS. As he puts it: “I’ve been blowing the whistle on bungling and underfunding in the NHS for almost thirty years.”

WE SEEM TO be living through a golden era of doctors writing. Adam Kay, Henry Marsh, Gavin Frances, and Rachel Clarke have all published acclaimed works which reflect, with varying degrees of humour and candour, on the profound trials and triumphs to be found in medical life.

For Dr Phil, the affinity is natural: “There’s a long history of doctors who are writers. The stuff of medicine, of healthcare, drags us all in.”

What’s changed, he thinks, is that the closed culture of the NHS – its rigid hierarchies and fear of speaking out – is gradually being eroded by social media and TV shows like Junior Doctors and 24 Hours in A&E. The common humanity and fallibility of doctors is being slowly revealed – and celebrated. “When I began campaigning as a junior doctor, there were half a dozen of us picketing the Conservative Party conference,” he says. “When Jeremy Hunt took on the junior doctors, by contrast, there were roughly 65,000 of them telling their stories on social media.”

Despite the admirable way the medical profession is letting down its barriers, though, Dr Phil admits it can still seem opaque. “The hope is that doctors move from being gods to guides,” he

Dr Phil holds Nye Bevan close to his heart…

says. “The trouble is they just can’t do that in ten minutes. The greatest frustration we have is that we don’t want to be seen as elitist; we want to be human, sharing decisions with patients. But often, we just don’t have the time.”

And here we rub up against a constant feature of Dr Phil’s career: politics. In particular, his comedy and books have had a frequent activist bent, pointing out that when politicians play football with healthcare, and especially when they introduce austerity policies, the results for those on the frontline are stark – people die.

“Most people support the idea of the NHS,” he claims. “They see it as a golden thread running through our society: we put our money in, and take it out according to need.” The problems arise, he argues, when governments snap that thread, and break the implicit contract of welfare and social care. “If we don’t sort out social justice, we can’t fix the NHS. Poverty kills more people than anything else.”

Dr Phil’s politics have got him into trouble. He was sacked from his position at BBC Radio Bristol

“We don’t want to be seen as elitist, we want to be human”

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

because he decided to run against Jacob-Rees Mogg as an NHS Party candidate at the last election. And he sees his new tour in explicitly campaigning terms: “I hope to eventually publish the people’s plan for the NHS as a manifesto.”

The opportunity to explore the foundation of the NHS also throws up interesting analogues with today’s turbulent political landscape, he says.

“The NHS was a huge social experiment; leaving the EU is a huge social experiment.”

The difference, he claims, lies in the calibre of leadership. “Nye Bevin was an inspirational leader, and that’s what we’re lacking. Politicians should have grown up and decided on a crossparty plan for Brexit, like a war-time coalition.

Instead, we’re left with this childish infighting.”

Forthright, charismatic, and able to carry off a dog-licking-bollocks joke, it’s little wonder some have half-playfully suggested that, “I should be Health Secretary myself.”

It might seem a remote possibility, but after 30 years of making people laugh and speaking truth to power, it would be mad to write Dr Phil off just yet. Barking, even.

Dr Phil Hammond brings The Great Health Con and Vote Dr Phil? to Komedia on 4 July; tickets from £12; www.komedia.co.uk/bath

The Guildhall Your idea, our venue, the event of the year

Maybe you have attended a wedding in our grand Banqueting Room, or had the joy of registering your child’s birth in our Georgian building. But were you aware that the Guildhall has hosted book talks, gin festivals and film screenings to name a few of our diverse events?

The Guildhall has four picturesque rooms, is only a ten minute walk from the Bath Spa train station and is the only heritage venue in Bath where you can select a caterer of your choice.

If you are searching for a venue to hold your unique event then come to the High Street for a new experience.

To book a viewing or to find out more contact Sara Brooks, Events Manager, at sara_brooks@bathnes.gov.uk • 01225 477442

SIGN UP AND BECOME A MEMBER QUOTING BATHLIFE0619 AND GET A FREE COCKTAIL

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 18 - 21 JULY

WHAT’S ON 21 June – 23 July

Honk! The Musical: If you don’t think this looks fun, what are you made of? Stone?

EXHIBITIONS Until 13 July

BORDERLINES Intended to coincide with the UK’s exit from the EU, Borderlines offers an imaginative representation of the social and political impact of borders. It features work from Lorrie van Brummelen and Siebran de Haan, amongst many others.

Tue-Sat, 11am-5pm; free; The Andrew Brownsword Gallery at The Edge; www.edgearts.org

Until 1 October

BONKERS BUT BRILLIANT! We all know looking silly in the name of art is hardly a recent phenomenon, but there’s still something delightful about this exhibition of photographs showing

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

community artists doing just that.

This glimpse of fringe theatre over the decades provides real creative inspiration – but also that feeling you get when being dragged to see your friend’s questionable play.

10.30am-5pm, Mon-Sun; free with entry to the museum; The Museum of Bath at Work; www.bath-at-work.org.uk

Until 10 November

EAST ASIAN LIFE This fascinating exhibition remembers the originally utilitarian functions of many of the objects in the museum. Though now viewed as beautiful pieces of art, many were once simply everyday objects.

Tues-Sat, 10am-7pm; Sunday 12pm5pm; various prices; Museum of East Asian Art, next to The Circus; www.meaa.org.uk

27 – 30 June

OPEN STUDIO Emma Rose Artworks is opening up her studio in the gorgeous Wellow, allowing lucky visitors to catch a glimpse of her stunning, brightly coloured artworks, built around the highlight painting ‘Summer Spray’.

Her collection features the ocean and earth in beautifully realised abstract and impressionistic images, using a mix of Indian inks and acrylics, plus the occasional gold, cooper and silver leaf. On Friday 28 June there will be summer drinks in the garden from 6-8pm. RSVP emmaroseartworks@gmail.com.

11am-5pm; free (but a small donation to the Bath Percent Quartet Community Foundation Fund appreciated); The Art Studio, Knight’s Barn, Wellow; www.emmaroseartworks.com

29 June – 24 November

TAKING ON HISTORY This creative project sees work in response to Bath museum pieces put on display. Artworks by older people from Age UK (Bath and North East Somerset), local families, school children and mental health groups such as @freshart will share each of the artists’ takes on the stories that our museums tell.

Mon-Sun (opening times vary); Museum of Bath Architecture ; museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk

6 – 7 July

SCULPTURE TO ENHANCE A GARDEN Stunning sculptures, award-winning blooms and the opportunity to have a nose around a usually private garden?

Yes, please! This stunning collection

WHAT’S ON features work from sculptors Christine Baxter, Chris Kampf and Steve Mansfield in a Bath in Bloom award-winning garden. Best bit?

They even provide snacks!

11am-5pm; £3; 165 Newbridge Hill; thehiddengardensofbath.co.uk

when a couple are haunted by a past relationship – literally! For more on this, turn to page 42 this issue.

Mon-Sat 7.30pm; matinee Thurs and Sat 2.30pm (not 13 or 15 June); various prices; Main House, Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

6 July – 15 September

26 June

WAR AND RUMOURS OF WAR Drawn largely from The Hepworth Wakefield’s collection of 1940s British works, get ready to feel a sense of déjà vu at the anxiety, austerity and idealism that permeated the politics of the age.

10.30am-5pm; normal admission applies; The Victoria Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

© SAR AH FOX / NATIONAL TRUST

ABOVE: The great Vanessa Redgrave LEFT: The elegant Dyrham Park BELOW: The cheery Rob Beckett

PLAYS/SHOWS Various dates

EDINBURGH FRINGE PREVIEWS A talented range of 20 different stand-ups bring their brand new material to Bath. The hilarious troupe, including the likes of Phil Nichol, Jayde Adams, Lou Sanders and Catherine Bohart, will play their Edinburgh Fringe shows to 70 lucky people in the Komedia Arts Café.

7pm doors open, shows 7.30pm; various prices; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk/bath

6 June – 6 July

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE The UK premiere of Christopher Durang’s Tony award-winning comedy is now on at the Ustinov Studio. Two middled-aged siblings live together, a third – who bank-rolls them both – comes to stay, and if you think there won’t be tears and arguments, you don’t know your Chekhov. But it’s fun and funny too, and surprisingly poignant. The Bath Life massive attended the opening night and found it an utter hoot, the poignant, low key first 20 minutes or so exploding into a broad romp with heart and ideas.

Evenings 7.45pm, matinees Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm; £32.50/£27.50; Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

14 June – 6 July

BLITHE SPIRIT What’s the fastest way to destroy a marriage? Why, accidentally conjuring up the ghost of the first wife, of course. Starring the inimitable Jennifer Saunders as the hapless clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, Blithe Spirit explores what happens

ROB BECKETT: WORK IN PROGRESS Professional cheeky chappy Rob Beckett will treat audiences to a sneak peek of his new material this month. This high achiever – after bursting onto the comedy scene five years ago he has won multiple awards, become a regular panel show joker and won the role of resident comedian on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Now! – is sure to be good for a few giggles. £15; 8pm; Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

2 – 6 July

TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES Tragedy, romance and a good old tale of rags to riches, this compelling adaptation of the Hardy favourite has it all. Get the tissues ready.

7.30pm; £12.50 (£10 concession); Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon; www.thebradfordians.com

5 July

MANALIVE! This creatively conceived work aims to answer the question: can you trust a man named Innocent? Even if he seems really…. not? Performed by the glow of candlelight, this puppet-driven play tells the story of the bored tenants of a broken down boarding house and the ‘innocent man’ who isn’t all that he seems.

7.30pm; £18; Tin Church Brokerswood, Frome; www.boxtalesoup.co.uk

5 – 6 July

THE HOT POTATO SYNCOPATORS This moustachioed, ukulele-wielding troupe of clowns is here to lead us through a night of golden era tunes, comedy and theatrics using a mix of instruments and improvised contraptions. Also, at some point, there will be paper aeroplanes.

7.30pm; £12 (£10 concessions); Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

8 – 9 July

THE HOLLAND HANDKERCHIEF A bunch of artists threw their work into a melting pot, gave it a good mix and produced this stunning

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

WHAT’S ON

11 July – 3 August

VIENNA 1934 – MUNICH 1938 Written, devised and performed by Olivier, Tony and Academy Award winner and notorious triple threat, Vanessa Redgrave, this unique play delves into her family’s history to create an absorbing story about the hopes and fears of a generation confronted with the rise of fascism in Europe. (She’s talking about the 1930s, in case you weren’t sure.)

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

18 July – 3 August

UNCLE VANYA This new version of the Chekhov favourite was specially commissioned

by Theatre Royal Bath. Penned by David Hare and both directed by and starring Rupert Everett, it tells the iconic story of Vanya and his niece Sonya, thanklessly kicked out of the estate they have looked after for years by its owner – Vanya’s ungrateful brother-in-law – and his beautiful new wife. Also starring The IT Crowd’s Katherine Parkinson, Clemence Poesey (In Bruges, 127 Hours, Birdsong) and Oliviernominated Ann Mitchell – expect typical Chekhovian themes of unrequited love, loss and misplaced dreams. (Makes a great companion piece with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike too!)

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

19 July

MILTON JONES: A WORK IN PROGRESS Known for his genius one-liners almost as much as his snazzy shirt collection, comedian Milton Jones presents his new, shocking show.

(Rumour has it, he reveals his true identity as an international spy, live in front of us on stage!)

8pm; £15; Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

MUSIC 6 July

MOZART REQUIEM Get ready for some vocal gymnastics with the Bath Bach Choir. The

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summer concert, performed in front of the famous Scissor Arches at Wells Cathedral, incorporates Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate, Haydn's Nelson Mass and the Great Mozart Requiem. Classical music fans, gather: this one is for you.

7pm; prices vary with reserved and unreserved seats available; Wells Cathedral, Wells; www.bathbachchoir.org.uk

17 July

K.D. LANG: INGENUE REDUX – 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Four time Grammy award-winner k.d. lang is back out on tour for the 25th anniversary of her beloved 1992 album, Ingénue. k.d. will perform hits from the multi-platinum record, its release a landmark moment for the LGBT movement in the ’90s. (When the record was just making it big, k.d. came out in a cover story for The Advocate against the wishes of her record label – a move that helped push the LGBT conversation into the mainstream.)

Doors 7.00pm, show 7.30pm; various prices; The Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

© WILL BAILEY

multimedia experience. When the powers that be separate two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet-style, life and death prove to be the ultimate executors of fate.

7.30pm; £10 (£8 concessions); Silk Mill, Frome; www.silkmillstudios.co.uk

ABOVE: Pub in the Park, for all your music and mastication needs LEFT: Milton Jones, not as divisive as Boris Johnson, but with similarly unruly hair

FAMILY

Weekends until 21 July

STORYTELLING AT DYRHAM PARK Storytellers dressed as 17th century servants – hopefully plague-free – will welcome visitors to the beautiful National Trust property throughout June and July. The time travellers will entertain visitors with tales from the period, with special emphasis on how herbs were used for medicine.

Weekends and every Thursday and Friday through the school holidays; normal admission applies; Dyrham Park; www.nationaltrust.org/dyrhampark

18 – 23 June

HONK! THE MUSICAL With fun and creative puppetry, magic and illusions, the kids will be utterly spellbound by this delightful adaptation of The Ugly Duckling.

(Adults too.) Hey, it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical back in 2000, so it must be good.

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

22 June

BIG FAMILY MUSIC DAY Catch some of Wiltshire’s most exciting young talent flexing their musical muscles. Experience music from around the globe with a performance from Wiltshire Young Musicians, featuring African

percussion and a live ceilidh.

10am; £6/£3 under-18s and students; Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

22 June

COLLAGE CLUB LONDON Scissors and glue to the ready: it’s time for collage club. Join Stephanie for a marine-inspired cutting and sticking session perfect for all abilities. There are three sessions and all materials are provided. (Bet all the boys try to make a shark.) £7.50 per place; suitable for age 5 and up; Spotty Herberts; 5 Queen Street; www.spottyherberts.com

23 June

FROME CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL Face painting, rock climbing, archery and zip lining make up just a few of the fantastic activities on offer at the Frome Children’s Festival. With an emphasis on accessibility to all, the fab festivities run through town from the Cheese and Grain to Welshmill Park. And with Frome so small, even little legs will be able to walk from one to the other.

11am-5pm; free admission; various locations; www.fromechildrensfestival.org

WHAT’S ON OTHER

Until 14 August

BATH ON THE BEACH White sand, beachside bars, lazing in rustic cabanas… here in Bath?

Yep! If you can’t get to the beach, we believe, the beach should come to you. With Caribbean-inspired bars, Mexican food and games like volleyball (and the temporarilybeachside fixture of adventure golf) to keep your jumpy friends occupied, it’s time to sit back and enjoy life away from the coast, without risking the traffic jams in the car.

11am-10pm, Mon-Sun; free to enter; Royal Victoria Park; www.bathonthebeach.co.uk

5 – 14 July

FROME FESTIVAL With over 100 free and ticketed events, spanning relaxed pub gigs to world-class classical music, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Frome Festival. With big name bands Scouting for Girls and The Coral performing at the Cheese and Grain, tickets are understandably flying out the door.

The Frome Festival Box Office is at the Cheese and Grain; Fromefestival.co.uk/cheeseandgrain.com

6 July

TORCHLIT SUMMER EVENINGS This summer, the Roman Baths are once again throwing open their doors long into the evenings. Take a stroll around the torch-lit baths for a romantic evening, Roman style.

Until 10pm; prices vary; Roman Baths; www.romanbaths.co.uk

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Throw on your stars and stripes and grab a cocktail: it’s time to celebrate Independence Day. Complete with BBQ , music and even a workshop from American bluegrass band Man Without a Horse, this is how you celebrate independence in style.

11am-4pm; normal admission applies; American Museum and Gardens; www.americanmuseum.org

21 – 23 June

13 July

Until 31 August

PUB IN THE PARK Feasting, dancing and shopping?

We’re so there. Pub in the Park is returning to Bath for a three-day extravanganza of all things foodie.

With pop up pubs including the likes of Tom Kerridge’s The Hand & Flowers, Josh Eggelton’s The Pony & Trap and Stephen Terry’s The Hardwick, amongst others, we recommend an elasticated waistband. Then, once you’ve eaten to your stomach’s content, it’s time to strap on your dancing shoes for acts including Basement Jaxx (DJ set), Texas, Will Young, Gabrielle, Soul II Soul Sound System and many more. Dancing the night away burns calories, after all.

Various times and prices; Royal Victoria Park; www.pubintheparkuk.com/bath

29 – 30 June

MILSOM PLACE FLOWER FESTIVAL It’s hard to imagine a more wholesome way to spend your weekend than surrounded by beautifully curated blooms – some, we are assured, made even more beautiful with the addition of fairy lights – filling the (hopefully) sunny courtyard. This flower fest includes unmissable work designed by Lizzy Wheatley of Stonebarn Landscapes, the minds behind many an RHS Gold Standard garden.

Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm; Milsom Place; www.milsomplace.co.uk

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

BATH CARNIVAL It’s time to assemble your brightest, sparkly-est, most ‘out there’ outfit; the carnival’s in town. And this year the theme is Express Yourself – so do like Madonna and go big or go home. With influences from all around the world, expect a melting pot of music, art, food, drink and even therapy (available in the so called ‘chill field’).

Free; various locations and times; www.bathcarnival.co.uk

13 July

BATH MARCHES Dust off your walking boots and prepare for a day of adventure.

With options to walk either 12 or 22 miles – with snack stops, don’t worry – there’s hardly a better way to spend the day in the great outdoors.

12 mile route £18/ 22 mile route £20; check the website for information about times and routes; www.bathmarches.co.uk

16 July

NIGHT TIME STARGAZING Exactly what it says on the tin, this event offers a lucky few the opportunity to spend a night amongst the stars. You’ll also observe a partial lunar eclipse from the very site of the discovery of Uranus (don’t laugh!) in 1781.

8.30pm-11pm; £10 (concessions available, check website for more details); Herschel Museum of Astronomy; herschelmuseum.org.uk n

DON’T MISS THIS!

20-24 June FOREST OF IMAGINATION

Forest of Imagination is back, in collaboration with the Holburne Museum. A collective of local and international artists and creative professionals invite visitors to step into another world of playful multi-sensory installations and architectural artworks.

The Forest, heading into its sixth consecutive year, is a free five-day participatory event that’ll transform stretches from Laura Place, along Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum and into Sydney Pleasure Gardens. (If you don’t happen to have a map of Bath emblazoned on the inside of your brain, what you may not realise is that all these are pretty much in one long straight line. This is by design, naturally – the ‘Life Line’ of the Forest is in celebration of nature as a source of creative inspiration for all.)

Martyn Ware, a featured artist – you might know him better as a founding member of The Human League and Heaven 17 – will bring his work using three-dimensional sound technology.

“The piece I’m creating for Forest 2019 stems from my fascination with reminiscence and memory,” he says. “I’m exploring the bond that the very young and the very old have with one another; these people are at the opposite ends of their life, but share so many insights about it. I thought I’d reveal this affinity by putting the words of the old in the mouths of the young and vice-versa.”

Sounds cool, as – of course – does his hope that the Forest will “show how music can beautify the world.”

Various times and places; free; www.forestofimagination.org.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

une is a birthday month for Bath Business Women’s Association, their 23rd birthday to be exact! To celebrate, they are holding a great summer networking event, hosted by one of Bath’s foremost artists, Emma Rose, at her fabulous art studio in Wellow.

Over the last two decades BBWA has welcomed hundreds of ladies, from every sort of business across Bath and beyond. It’s a group that you can pop in and out of each month, very informal and with no joining fee. You simply pay to network.

BBWA Chair, Julie Cooper said; “There is a great vibe every month, with new faces joining those who have been coming over the years. Our strap line has always been ‘Inspiring Women in Business’ and it seems that over the years that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for each other. So please come and join us, you’ll find the calendar of events online at www.bbwa. biz and what better place to start than by coming to Emma’s fabulous art studio on the 27th June”. Sounds like quite a party!  07730 132330; julie.cooper@bbwa.biz; www.bbwa.biz

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BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Strange but true

Three real-life stories of women on the edge

“You are left with the impression that Heida wouldn’t give up life in that incredible landscape for anything”

D

o you remember when reality TV was first a thing? Aside from the odd group of fame-hungry desperados out-stupiding one another in a glass and plastic house, early reality TV was mostly ‘fly-on-thewall’ docu-dramas showing us the sometimes dramatic, sometimes banal lives of others.

From the comfort of your own home, bit by bit, we gained more insight than we’d ever need into every imaginable occupation.

Whilst the balance of power in reality TV has gradually leaned more towards the vacuous, on the printed page there’s a vogue in the memoir genre away from celebrity and towards those with a very different but more substantive tale to tell.

I’ve just finished reading Heida (John Murray, £16.99), which recounts the seasonal life of Icelandic shepherdess, Heida Asgeirsdottir. The story is told by Heida herself in collaboration with Icelandic novelist Steinum Sigurdardottir, who has crafted the narrative so that it reads as if you’re spending many coffee breaks and end-of-day drinking sessions listening to Heida’s musings at her kitchen table.

First and foremost the book is astonishing for the window it gives us on a pastoral life being led 1,000 miles north of here. Heida’s farm is spreadeagled across valleys and ravines on the edge of Iceland’s highlands (and well within firing range of its volcanoes). Her days are long and arduous – particularly during lambing and when doing her side-job as the region’s pregnancy scanner, dashing from farm to farm for six weeks assessing how many lambs each of many thousands of ewes are carrying.

At times you are left in awe of the endless physical strain, and on a few occasions Heida reveals the emotional costs of a very solitary and often thankless job. But overall you are left with the impression that Heida wouldn’t give up life in that incredible landscape for anything. She recognises that the land does not belong to her; she is just its custodian – and we watch her putting that role to the ultimate test as she is reluctantly, but fiercely, drawn into the political arena to stop an energy company’s grotesque construction plans for her region.

Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer (Ebury,

£16.99) tells the story of the then 19-year-old author entering and, against all odds, winning the 2013 Mongol Derby. The race is regarded as the world’s toughest and involves riding 25 different horses (all unknown to the riders beforehand) 1,000km across the vast stormprone Mongolian steppe. Finishing is the primary aim of most of the competitors and the relentlessly self-deprecatory Prior-Palmer is open about how little hope she had of achieving even that aim.

The book’s driving force is the race itself with its many highs and lows – the uncertainty of whether the day’s horses will be friend or foe, the battle against pain, exhaustion and the elements and the slow dawning of competitive spirit, despite her laissez-faire instincts.

However, the book is much more than a piece of travel or endurance sports writing.

The prose is poetic and, in her unerringly erudite manner, Prior-Palmer philosophises about all manner of things – the nature of competition; what it is to experience remote cultures in such a fragmentary way; the relationship between horse and rider; and what drove her to enter the race in the first place. And the seriousness with which she approaches many of those subjects is perfectly balanced throughout with the openly comedic descriptions of just how shambolically unprepared she was for the race and all it would entail.

Finally, and closer to home, a word in favour of The Heat of the Moment by Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton (Transworld, £16.99), in which one of Britain’s most senior female firefighters tells the story of her incredible career to date.

Her account of working her way from sleeping rough at the age of 15 to joining a far from female-friendly fire service a few years’ later is inspirational, as is the career that has followed and her cogent thoughts on the nature of bravery and decision-making in extreme urgency and adversity. Another life that we can all be grateful someone else is leading on our behalves!

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 65

FILM SOPHIECLAIRE MCLEOD FROM FAR LEFT:

Queens, chancers and astronauts, so something for everyone

© GUY FARROW

Back to the future Once upon a time, Britain under Victoria, the Apollo missions, and the music of the Beatles were each the height of modernity; now, three impressive films remind us of why

W

e’re officially into summer now, and – when the (hopefully) scorching weather finally gets a bit much – we’ve got some fantastic films to help you cool off with in the dark. There’s an expressive new ballet, a look at the world if we all forgot who The Beatles are – yes, really – and an eye-opening new documentary too. Let’s get stuck in…

VICTORIA, FROM NORTHERN BALLET The Northern Ballet company has created a meaningful, impressive and beautiful new ballet, Victoria, telling the story of the famous queen from the perspective of her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice. In this multi-layered ballet, choreographed by Cathy Marston – also the choreographer for Northern Ballet’s earlier, much acclaimed Jane Eyre – we see Beatrice’s mother in her various roles as queen, parent and wife, and at various stages in her life, all through the prism of a daughter experiencing her mother’s diary.

The ballet begins at Queen Victoria’s deathbed, then flashes back in time as Beatrice relives memories of her mother. She pictures her as a secluded widow, but soon truths are revealed about her parents’ marriage and her mother’s relationship with John Brown.

Beatrice also relives iconic historical incidents of the Victorian era, from the Opium Wars to the Great Exhibition, and – in doing so – discovers yet more about her mother’s past.

Even if you think ballet’s not really for you, I suspect you’ll be won over; this really is an outstanding piece, and Pippa Moore’s performance as Beatrice grips from the beginning, despite her role as witness rather than true protagonist. Marston’s choreography dovetails perfectly with Philip Feeney’s heavenly cinematic score, creating

a remarkable production that shouldn’t be missed – it’s showing for one night on 25 June.

YESTERDAY Have you ever imagined what would happen if everyone forgot who The Beatles were? No? Well, writer Richard Curtis and director Danny Boyle have – they’re two significant talents themselves, of course – and in doing so have created a magnificent, pleasurable and very funny film, Yesterday, which follows the life of pub singer Jack (Himesh Patel), who’s knocked unconscious during a worldwide blackout, only to wake into a world where The Beatles never existed. What an opportunity, he thinks, quickly recreating their songs to inevitable acclaim – and soon becoming a worldwide

“It’s a gentle reminder that music always matters” musical icon himself. But, as he gains all the fame, attention and money he’s ever desired, he can live with the lie? And can he keep his friendship with best friend Ellie (Lily James) alive?

The unusual premises gives this Beatlesthemed movie more of an edge than other jukebox musicals we’ve seen recently, like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. Rather than just another biopic, Yesterday encourages us to experience the music in new ways, reminding us not just how much The Beatles are loved, but also how powerful their songs remain. As you might expect, there are holes in the logic of the plot, but Boyle’s direction – and the cast’s fantastic acting, Patel and James both brilliant as

flawed but loveable characters it’s easy to root for – allows you to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the sweet nature of the film. It’s also a gentle reminder that music always matters, and that we shouldn’t take our greatest artists for granted.

APOLLO 11 This really is an exceptional and eye-opening documentary. Apollo 11 has taken fifty years to make, and uses fascinating, never-beforeseen footage of the iconic space mission of the same name – it also benefits from access to over 11,000 hours of previously uncatalogued audio recordings, allowing director Todd Douglas Miller to take us right into the heart of NASA’s greatest achievement, getting man to the moon.

Part of the film’s strength comes from the sheer range of perspectives the filmmakers had access to, from senior figures in Mission Control to the astronauts themselves, and these firsthand experiences give near endless new insight.

It’s seamlessly put together too, sensibly relying on beautifully restored images (and the wealth of original material), synched with music.

The narrative revolves around four significant moments of the mission: lift-off, landing the Eagle lunar module on the moon, reconnecting Eagle with the Columbia spacecraft to return home, and re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Even though we already know the outcome of all these pivotal moments, we’re still left on the edges of our seats, mesmerised by the risks involved. The film is so immersive it takes historical documentaries to another level.

Sophie-Claire McLeod is duty manager at The Little Theatre; www.picturehouses.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 67

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food & drink s n a p s h o t s o f bat h ’ s f o o d s c e n e

Beer Prudence

It’s hard to walk more than 50 feet in summertime Bath without tripping over a tempting spot to sip a cooling beer. But what to try? Luckily, local real ales and craft beers are tastier than ever

By Paul Marland

T Sulis lager and Gem, an amber beer, both from Bath Ales; two great local choices, with one of them a real Bath Life go-to (clue: it’s Gem)

he world outside may not always agree – bearded gentlemen are hustling pairs of hedgehogs and squirrels aboard homemade boats as we write this – but it’s summer right now, and that means, officially, that it’s beer season. Time, then, to tap up a handful of our favourite local breweries and beer sellers to get a feel for what we should be drinking at barbecues and cafés, beer gardens and festivals over the coming months.

We’ve got traditional brewers like Butcombe and Wadworth, newer examples of the breed like Bath Ales, plus Electric Bear and BeerCraft of Bath repping the burgeoning craft beer scene, and Frome café, wine shop and wine bar Stony Street House to remind us that, just sometimes, people like to drink things other than beer. We don’t know why, but they do…

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FOOD & DRINK First up, guys, what’s hot in the world of drinks?

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: There are breweries across the UK making awesome beers. How about one that tastes like a jam doughnut, or another like a baked Alaska? Modern craft breweries are pushing the boundaries of what a beer can be.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: Werrrd! American pale ale has become our best-seller – by some way – and we sell it in cask, keg and can; in each, it has a character that seems to work really well.

Emma Cottam, Wadworth: We’ve launched Game of Stones, which references Wiltshire’s mystical heritage, and have three new summer beers: Orange IPA, American IPA and Summer Ale. Kent Barker, Stony Street House: Wine on tap is really taking off for us; we dispense it from barrels in perfect condition, and people really seem to get it. They especially like the ecological side of things – with no packaging, every barrel saves 16kg of glass.

Toby Downes, Butcombe: In the last couple of months we’ve launched Blackbeard Stout (full of coffee and chocolate notes); Underfall (a triple-filtered, cold-conditioned lager); and re-branded Ashton Press cider with a more modern feel.

Georgina Young, Bath Ales: We’ve been perfecting the recipes for our two keg beers, Cubic and Monterey, both relaunching with new-look branding this summer. Cubic is brewed with Summit, Comet, Dragon and Citra hops, which brings strong passion fruit and citrus aromas, while Monterey – USA-inspired and brewed with five American hops – is full of pine and tropical notes.

BeerCraft: tables in the sun, and an amazing range of beers inside to enjoy

Stony Street House: a great spot for a wine or beer

What’s new and unusual about what you do?

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: The big news is that we’re opening up a large room in our basement as a lounge bar.

We’ve been crowdfunding this, and are already at over £3.5k. As for the craft beer scene as a whole, it’s always coming up with exciting new flavours, with brewers regularly using old wine, whisky, rum and even tequila barrels – adding extras like pineapple to a tequila barrel-aged beer turns it into a pina colada! The possibilities are endless, basically, and breweries are having lots of fun with them.

Kent Barker, Stony Street House: There’s a growing understanding that you can have multiple operations under one roof too; our combination of shop, bar and restaurant is a great example.

Toby Downes, Butcombe: We’re launching a number of seasonals in interesting styles, including an NEIPA called Nubble Light – it’s peachy in flavour and really smooth. Late and dry hops (Sorachi Ace, Citra and Jester) give it a semi-dry bitter finish.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: And we’ve quite recently added Zorbing, a pale ale with a lovely balanced hoppiness, to our range – it’s our first gluten-free beer, tastes amazing, and proves that removing the gluten doesn’t detract anything from a pale ale.

Spotted many delicious low alcohol offerings lately?

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: When we first opened our doors we had a couple of alcohol free beers; now we have a whole shelf dedicated to them. First Drop is one of the leaders in this, and offers a wide range of styles.

Kent Barker, Stony Street House: We’re all about wine, but even I’m constantly surprised at how many people are looking for

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

a premium soft drink offering. By far the biggest seller for us – and a personal favourite – is Seedlip and tonic. This non-alcoholic spirit makes for a refreshing and grown-up softy.

a younger audience as they start their cask ale drinking journey. Our popular Horizon now also comes as Horizon Chilled, a great, refreshing alternative for younger drinkers.

Georgina Young, Bath Ales: We brew a number of session beers, including our New World pale ale, Prophecy, and an amber session ale, Anthem – both at 3.8% ABV. But though we don’t currently have any zero alcohol beers in our portfolio, it’s a category we’re watching closely.

Kent Barker, Stony Street House: We tend to attract a more mature crowd anyway, if I’m honest, with many female customers – who consistently drink more responsibly at any age.

Emma Cottam, Wadworth: We don’t brew a low or no alcohol beer either, but we do have an award-winning vegan, gluten-free beer called 6X Gold.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: Beer drinking is changing, certainly, driven – at least in part – by the craft beer movement.

More exotic, flavoured, hopped and soured styles are being made by craft brewers – like Electric Bear – and few of us are really in the volume consumption business. So yes, consumption of beer is going down – but really only in the mainstream lager and beer categories.

“Beer drinking is changing, certainly, driven – at least in part by the craft beer movement”

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: The no and low alcohol market is definitely growing; people naturally want alternatives to soft drinks at lunchtimes, when driving, and so on. Right now we make lower ABV beers in the 3% range, but we’ll definitely be looking at lower (and no) alcohol beers at some stage.

Are younger consumers really drinking less than previous generations? Stats seem to say so.

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: We keep seeing those stats, too, and people are definitely drinking differently; in general, I think they’re drinking less but better.

Emma Cottam, Wadworth: We’ve seen that too, which is why we’ve created some new light and golden ales, more appealing to

Toby Downes, Butcombe: 18-25 years olds typically stay up to two-and-a-half hours in wet-led outlets and spend around £12 a visit; of all the age groups, this is the longest time but joint lowest spend. Perhaps they’re buying cheaper drinks and making them last longer? To adapt, pubs need to get better at putting on and advertising events, and using social media.

Sustainability’s the big buzzword these days, right?

Kent Barker, Stony Street House: Most of our of wine comes from small growers who practise organic and sustainable production, and many are at the very forefront of this trend. We use no plastics at all in our bar, restaurant or shop, and have virtually zero food miles and zero packaging. (You could almost say we’re fanatical about it!)

Georgina Young, Bath Ales: We only use paper straws in our pubs, and in April launched two of our most popular beers in entirely plastic-free packaging. The new cardboard fridge packs are available in Tesco and contain four 440ml cans.

Emma Cottam, Wadworth: We use biodegradable straws, and 95% of our waste is recycled; the brewery is even fitted with solar panels, while the public can recycle at our pubs too, using the recycling bins in the car parks.

Toby Downes, Butcombe: We love a growler: refillable metal or glass containers that you can pour beer into to take home.

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: One trend that’s huge in craft beer is cans; it’s actually much better for the environment than glass bottles, and the technology has improved so it’s now better for the beer than bottles are too.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: We’ve moved from bottles to cans for our beers, too; they’re more readily recyclable, and much lighter (and therefore cheaper and greener to transport).

How about craft beer? Has it peaked, or is it still growing?

Kent Barker, Stony Street House: It shows no signs of slowing down. We serve both craft ale and real ale, and there’s increasingly a blurring of the two, with ales becoming more hoppy and craft becoming less so. Packaging is the area where the real ale producers have been slow to compete, though, and some of the cans our premium craft beers come in are quite brilliant.

Clever cookery at Electric Bear on Brassmill Lane

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: To my mind, traditional ales have paved the way for craft beer. They basically

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 73

FOOD & DRINK It’s not all about craft beer these days: traditional ales from Butcombe are still going strong

how versatile and delicious beer can be, a trend that’s barely started in the UK. Once you know what something really great tastes like, you’re unlikely to compromise on what you drink from then on.

What is changing is that the quality and variety is increasing year after year – that will continue, too.

Finally, got any recommendations for us?

Davin Kenwood, BeerCraft of Bath: With craft beer, the levels of hops can be a little overwhelming at first, so perhaps begin with something like Werrrd! from Electric Bear, a good starter craft beer. Or, for something extra special, try Northern Monk Patrons Project ‘Ethel’, a tropical IPA with papaya, passion fruit and mango – it’s heaven.

Georgina Young, Bath Ales: People are very loyal to our flagship beer, Gem, which is a rich, malty amber ale. It was the first beer ever brewed at Bath Ales in 1995 and has stood the test of time. In terms of beers brewed by other local breweries, I’d recommend two from Bristol: Wiper & True and Good Chemistry.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: Yes, start with Werrrd!, then maybe try one of our fruit sours (we have a new Caribbean sour out now), or perhaps something darker. (We love dark beers, and there’s a new, very limited edition 11% imperial breakfast stout coming very soon – we’re only making 200 bottles!) Locally, we’re big fans of Bath Botanics, who’re distilling some lovely small-batch gins.

all use the same ingredients, just in a slightly different way. Instead of using hops as a preservative, craft beers use their floral, citrus, piney, grapefruit aromas to make a very aromatic and refreshing beer that’s not as bitter as traditional ales. Served cold, with a little fizz, it’s opening up beer to many more people. Has it peaked? Not at all – this is just the beginning! There’s more than enough room for both beer styles to coexist, though, and work together to bring beer lovers back to pubs and bars.

And here’s a refreshing, gluten-free vegan drop from Wadworth. Cheers!

Emma Cottam, Wadworth: Cask beer is unique to pubs, as it has to be looked after and nurtured. We see the growth of craft beer as a great way to encourage more people to drink beer, and believe they’ll move to cask ale as they continue their drinking journey.

Toby Downes, Butcombe: The beer and cider market will continue to grow. In 2018, ale held 21% of the beer and cider market, and in 2023 it’s predicted that it will have the same market share. Craft beer, on the other hand, is expected to rise from 5% in 2018 to 9%. I think that, rather than real ale vs craft beer, it’s more traditional mainstream lager drinkers who are choosing to move over to ales, which stereotypically have stronger flavours. In many ways the worlds are coming together, and we offer drinks that cater to all: craft beer, real ale, lager and cider.

Georgina Young, Bath Ales: Real ale is the most natural form of beer there is, and is the hardest to make, as all its attributes are on display – you can’t hide behind centrifugation, filtration or carbonation. To me, making real ale is a real craft, and I think more craft drinkers should try it; they’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Chris Lewis, Electric Bear: Real ale vs craft beer is a bit of a silly debate. It’s all beer, and – as with any food or drink – there is good and bad. There are some very good real ales, some pretty average ones, and some very poor ones – and this is the same for craft beers. Craft beer growth has enjoyed a double-digit percentage increase in the US for 20+ years, and that trend is being repeated here, though we are a few years behind. Do I think that craft beer has peaked? No chance: so many people are discovering

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You have been reading Bath Ales; www.bathales.com BeerCraft of Bath; www.beercraftbath.com Butcombe; www.butcombe.com Electric Bear; www.electricbearbrewing.com

Stony Street House: www.stonystreethouse.com Wadworth; www.wadworth.co.uk For more on Georgina Young, just turn the page…

FOOD & DRINK

“Beer drinkers want to know more and more about how their beer is made” hint of fruitiness – very refreshing, sessionable and perfect for the summer months. But you can’t beat a pint of Gem! Brewing sounds complicated!

But what are some of the trickier challenges you face?

The biggest issue at the moment is lines and taps in pubs. We make great beer, but then are so reliant on the skill of the bar staff to clean the lines and look after the beer, serve it at the correct temperature and in the right glass.

And what do you love most about brewing?

Working together, as one team, to create something that people take genuine enjoyment in. The people in the industry all have the same passion, so they’re pretty great to be around.

TAKE 5 GEORGINA YOUNG, head

brewer at Bath Ales’ fancy stateof-the-art Hare Brewery, tells us what’s what in her beery world So, Georgina, how did you end up as a brewer?

I was a student, studying Biotechnology at Kings College London, and found myself enjoying the beers I was trying in the local pubs of West London.

After graduating, I decided to pursue my passion for beer and went on to attend Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh, where I studied for an MSc in Brewing and Distilling.

How do you keep the team at Bath Ales inspired?

The brewing industry, and the process of creating beer recipes,

is very collaborative. I encourage the guys to taste as many beers as they can, find new malts and hop varieties that are being cultivated, and go to restaurants, markets and talk to lots of people.

Obviously, you love them all – but, if you had to choose, what would be your favourite beer?

That’s a tough question – at the moment I’d say it’s Sulis. We launched this, our first ever lager, to coincide with the opening of Hare Brewery in 2018. Lemon Drop and Hüll Melon hops give it a bright freshness and a subtle

Your new Hare Brewery is pretty new and exciting, so what’s it like?

Partly it’s the high specification of the equipment. We’ve got a state-of-the-art new brewhouse and bottling line, which opened in May 2018 and doubled our previous capacity. We’re now able to produce more than 50,000 brewers’ barrels of beer – that’s over 14.5 million pints – every year.

We have also have a state-of-theart bottling line, with kegging and canning lines to come in the near future too.

What new brews we should be on the look out for?

While the number of new breweries opening has started to slow down, the beer industry is as busy as ever. The need to keep innovating has never been so important. Beer drinkers also want to know more and more about how their beer is made; as brewers, we have a big role to play in helping pass on our knowledge and continuing to inspire beer drinkers and bar staff. As a trend, I think the appetite for more beer knowledge will only keep growing.

How d’you feel about the rise of low and no alcohol beers?

There’s no escaping the fact that more brewers are rising to the challenge of brewing alcohol-free beers that actually taste good. We know that, on the palate, drinkers want a no or low beer which tastes genuinely alcoholic, and there are two ways brewers can do this: alcohol can be prevented from forming during the main brewing process, or else the alcohol is removed afterwards via the filtering (or a heat) process.

As we do with every trend in the beer industry, we’re keeping an eye on the no and low movement, and though we have no imminent plans to brew a zero alcohol brand at Hare Brewery, watch this space.

Our brewers will have some fun experimenting in the meantime.

What’s your greatest professional achievement?

That’s a hard one! I think winning Champion Keg Lager at the International Brewing Awards, back when I was working at Fuller’s. We won the trophy at two consecutive competitions, which proves that team work, sourcing the best raw materials, and quality and consistency throughout the process results in a great beer.

And personally?

Being a wife and mum, as well as a brewer.

That’s a busy life you’ve got there! When you fancy a drink, where do you head?

You’d expect me to include a Bath Ales pub, right? So I’ll say The Salamander, a unique little pub that has it all: cosy corners, a good choice on the bar, and a great food selection. The atmosphere at Framptons is great too, though, and that’s somewhere else I enjoy a pint (or two) of Gem.

www.bathales.com/brewery

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

There’s always time for gin

IT’S GIN O’CLOCK The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa recently celebrated World Gin Day. (Yes, that’s a special thing and not actually every day. Who knew?)

The hotel offers a sumptuous list of Sipsmith gin cocktails for summer, leaving visitors with no choice but to test them all. Hey, why wouldn’t you? From an adventurous Gin & Tea cocktail – a mix of Earl Grey and Rooibos infused with London Dry Gin, vanilla, lime, and bitters – to a regular Citrus G&T for traditionalists, there’s something for everyone on the hotel’s extensive ‘Summer Sipping’ list. Too much to get through, in fact, which is why our gin celebrations will never be confined to a single day – what sort of life would that be?

For more: www.royalcrescent.co.uk

LET THE WHITE ONE IN Boston Tea Party is at it again. This time, to celebrate their ‘cuppaversary’ – one year since the growing West Country chain took the innovative and infuential step of banning single use coffee cups from all its sites – they’re launching National Making Things Better Day. From now on, each 1 June they’ll commit to a new change for the benefit of the planet. They’re starting with the eradication of single use plastic milk bottles from their 22 cafés, and – since they currently get through 190,000 single use plastic milk bottles every year – this is clearly going to make a big difference.

No more excuses Their replacements will be from BTP refillable milk pergals.

If you fancy learning more, BTP head honcho Sam Roberts will be joining us at the next Bath Life Business Club to talk sustainable values in the not-so-ethical world.

For more: www.bathlifebusinessclub.com

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

Plant-based goodness ahoy!

FERMENTING CHAOS But in a good way! Are you looking to go vegan, but dreading a life of lettuce and tofu?

Turns out, a vegan diet doesn’t have to mean the end of tasty dinners, as Demuths is trying to prove with its new, three-day intensive vegan cookery course. Become the healthiest version of yourself with the help of this cook-fest, where you’ll learn the tricks for living without eggs, dairy, wheat or refined sugar. You’ll get into the nitty gritty of digestion and blood sugar levels, and become a fermentation master with the skills to make sauerkraut, sourdough, tempeh, kefir and fermented nut-based vegan cheese – basically, all that’s on trend right now. Hey, who wouldn’t want to learn to make Instaworthy meals that also work for your health?

For more: www.demuths.co.uk

A PLACE TO ROOST As we enter the months of long, sunny evenings (we wish), it’s time to ditch lying in bed with Netflix and instead venture out into the city for lengthy stints sucking in the summer air while sipping on something chilled.

And The Nook, a recently launched summer pop-up at The Bird on Pulteney Road, is the perfect new spot, flamboyantly bedecked with unique pieces, from brightly coloured Balinese parasols to atmospheric lanterns hanging from a stylish sculptural tree. There are summer cocktails, mouth-watering sourdough pizzas, bright summer salads and a range of delicious sweet treats to enjoy as you admire, too.

“We wanted to create an exciting al fresco venue for locals and visitors alike,” says owner Ian Taylor. “After the success of The Beach last year” There’s atmosphere aplenty at The Nook – another fun Bird outdoor pop-up – “we wanted to put a new spin on the space for 2019, and the idea of a visually enticing garden immediately came to mind. It felt like a fun and accessible way to make the most of our south-facing terrace.”

For more: www.thebirdbath.co.uk

© ROB WICKS/EAT PICTURES

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

UNDERWOOD

This new independent restaurant, with modern European influences, has seriously impressed us. But don’t tell anyone; we don’t want it becoming too popular...

By Lisa Evans Photos by pointblankography

I

f I’m honest, I don’t really want to write this review of Underwood – a new indie restaurant which opened last month. I don’t want to say where it is, and I certainly don’t want to say what the food is like. I want to keep it a secret from the world, so that the tables don’t get booked and I can get a reservation whenever I like.

It’s a restaurant that I want my friends, family and I to call ‘our place’; I want to be able to ring any of them at any given time and say, “Fancy meeting at our place?” and for them to just know exactly what I mean with no explanation.

I want the staff to instantly recognise me and to know my order without me asking.

I’ve always fantasised about the idea of walking into an eatery and having the waiter give me the nod and say, “Hi Lisa! The usual?” But it never happens, not even at my

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

local pub, two minutes’ walk from my house, where I’ve been going for Sunday roasts for the past four years; I walk through the door hoping that today will be the day I become known as a ‘regular’, but then they say, “Name?”

I’ve only been to Underwood – previously Thai by the Weir – once, so I’ve got a long way to go before I become part of the furniture, but it’s now my dedicated goal. I’ve fallen in love, and when I have my heart set on something, I’m insistent.

So why do I like it so much? There are two main things: the view, and the food (the latter a pretty obvious reason to like a restaurant, I know, but bear with). If you manage to get a window seat, you’ll be overlooking Pulteney Weir, watching the kayakers and SUP boarders doing their thing; I’d go as far as to say that it’s the best and most tranquil view – from a restaurant – in Bath.

RESTAURANT

The food: oh my, it’s epic – the quality, the depth of flavour, the boundary-pushing taste pairings. I don’t really care that much about how my dinner looks on the plate (I’ll take deliciousness over aesthetic any day), but if I did, I would have been more than impressed at that, too. It’s both worth looking at and worth eating.

The theme of the menu is ‘modern European’, with inspiration from a patchwork of different cuisines – from French to Italian – being drawn upon.

To start, I went for the gently spiced beetroot and coconut soup; I didn’t hold out too much hope for it, because, well, it’s soup, one of the simplest foods – and often the dumping ground for sub-standard ingredients. But the first spoonful of this sweet, vividly coloured liquid velvet was when the fireworks went bang. The summery hug-in-a-bowl was as far from an example of waste-not-want-not cookery as you could get. And there was texture, in the form of its pretty artichoke crisp topping, arranged in a crescent on the surface.

For my comrade, out came a flower-topped colour explosion in a bowl – all pinks, purples and greens – mingling Parma ham with pickled pears, artichoke crisps, and fresh herbs.

My next course was eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good; I felt upset while eating it, knowing it was going to end soon.

It was tortellini stuffed with rich, verdant, insanely fresh parmesan and spinach pesto – I can’t stress how much clout there was to this smooth filling – served with white asparagus and a light buerre blanc.

Being a vegetarian, I’m often presented with basic dishes – bean burgers, salads – in restaurants while I look on at my meat-eating companions doing that little seat-based happy dance while they chomp on their inventive, flavoursome choices. So it was a delight to be the one the carnivores were jealous of.

Only, I doubt the carnivores in the room were actually green-eyed, what with plenty of imaginative meaty options on the menu, such as wood pigeon with pancetta, apple, hazelnut and pearl barley; pork belly and cheek with white bean and smoked sausage cassolette and celeriac; and seabass with fennel confit and white wine velouté. Still, very satisfying to be on a level playing field.

The dessert list was full of unstable creamy things – parfaits, panna cottas and the like – not normally my bag; but instead of being wobbly mounds of mousse and cream, they turned out to be structurally sound, yet still delicate, creations which were rather heavenly. My salted caramel and praline gateaux with caramel sauce stole the show, closely followed by an elderflower parfait with honeycomb, green apple jelly and sable biscuit.

There’s no doubting the skill of the execution here. And there’s definitely no doubting the authoritative, powerful flavours. A restaurant that’s all about food: it could just catch on. But, all that being said, don’t reserve my table, okay? n

“I felt upset while eating it, knowing it was going to end soon” DINING DETAILS Underwood, 16 Argyle Street, Bath, BA2 4BQ; 01225 807770; www.facebook.com/underwoodbath In a nutshell A fine dining, modern European restaurant We ate Beetroot and coconut soup; Parma ham with pickled pears; parmesan and spinach tortellini; seabass with fennel confit; salted caramel and praline gateaux; elderflower parfait Prices Starters £6 – £9; mains £15 – £22; dessert £7 Drinks A good choice of European wines Head chef Scott Galloway, who has previously worked at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, and The Chequers in Bath Owners Andrzej and Inna Dombrowski, a brother and sister from Kazakhstan Interior Quirky trinkets, gnarled wood, faux animal heads Atmosphere Relaxed and refined

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81

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

WINE

PRETTY IN PINK The choices are endless,

so – regardless of where your rosé journey takes you – enjoy a summer of pink wine, in all its guises!

By Angela Mount

I

’m a firm believer that rosé wine isn’t just for summer, but, let’s face it, this is the most perfect time of year for it, with those delicate pale rose and sun-blushed peach hues shimmering and beckoning in the glass.

Rosé wine has been on a rollercoaster ride for the last few years, as we’ve all rediscovered its fresh, fruity delights in all guises. We are drinking six times more rosé than we were ten years ago, mainly driven by the new darling of the wine scene, the ethereally pale Cotes de Provence, the epitome of summer holidays and the shimmering Riviera. Last year alone, rosé lovers got through 54 million bottles of Cotes de Provence Rosé.

Pink wine is no longer just a drink for the girls, and everyone’s enjoying the variety available; it’s surprisingly versatile, and a terrific wine for food, especially spicy Asian dishes and mild curries. I also have a theory that pink wine goes perfectly with pink food – prawns, tuna, salmon and the like.

It’s also versatile in style. Even with their similarly ethereal, fragile pink hues, Cotes de Provence styles can vary enormously, depending on the winemakers. Great Western Wine have a good selection: for a cracking value aperitif try the peach and redcurrant softness of Cotes de Provence La Vidaubanaise ( £10.95), but move up the scale with the richer, more intense but still gossamer light Chateau Gassier, le Pas du Moine, with its elegant bottle shape (£16.95), or impress your guests with a ‘wow’ statement magnum (£35.00). Perfect with tuna nicoise on a sunny day, or barbecued prawns. For sheer quality and style, my favourite is the award-winning Chateau Sainte Marguerite Symphonie (£24.50), carefully crafted in smaller quantities on a family estate.

Over at Waitrose, Mirabeau Pure Provence (£14.99) is subtly seductive and perfect for al fresco lunches, whilst the adorably named Whispering Angel, Chateau

“Rosé wine has been on a rollercoaster ride, as we’ve all rediscovered its fresh, fruity delights”

d’Esclans (£17.99) is reaching almost cult status for its evocative, tempting berry fruit style.

France doesn’t just produce Provence rosé; apart from classic Loire rosé and an increasing range of rosé from Bordeaux, pink wine production is massive throughout the south of France, such as the slightly deeper-hued Domaine du Donjon Minervois, fabulous value at just £10.95 (GWW), and the similarly well-priced Laurent Miquel Vendanges Nocturnes Cinsault/Syrah Rosé, where grapes are picked in the cool of the night to intensify the freshness of its raspberry-laden fruit. These wines are slightly fuller, and great with meaty fish and herb-roasted chicken. For a brighter pink-hued and fuller flavoured pink, try the Rhone Valley’s Tavel Rosé (£16.95) from Amathus Bath.

The pink revolution is rife all over the world now, with southern hemisphere wine producers jumping on the bandwagon, although Europe still dominates. From Catalonia, funky winemaker Franck Massard makes the vibrantly coloured Mas Amor Rosado, with its bold graffiti label, bursting with cherry and plum character and rich enough to cope with Thai food (£12.50 from GWW); also from GWW, and from the classic Rioja region, comes one of the most elegant and stylish rosés that I have ever tasted, Lalomba Rioja Rosado, Ramon Bilbao, looking and tasting sleek, fresh as a daisy, yet pure and intense in flavour. This would even work with sweetly pink and juicy baby lamb chops.

Part of the rosé wine craze is also accounted for by the ever-popular Pinot Grigio, as fans switch to Pinot Grigio Rosato, widely available in most supermarkets and specialist wine retailers. And don’t totally dismiss the sweeter style of California’s White Zinfandel, or ‘Blush’ wine; whilst there are some shockers out there, a very well made off-dry, where the ripe fruit is not totally masked by a ton of sugar, can be a perfect foil for a very spicy, tomatobased or creamy hot curry.

Finally, onto another great British favourite – bubbles.

From top quality Cava Rosado, which is now making a comeback on the coat tails of the Prosecco craze, to Italian sparkling rosé, pink bubbles make everyone happy and provide a mood of celebration and relaxation at great prices. Pink Champagne has always been a classic, and now mainstream, rather than just reserved for romantic gestures; I love Waitrose’s award-winning Waitrose Champagne Brut Rosé (£22.99), with its fine mousse, penetrating fruit flavours, and lovely, creamy finish – ideal as an aperitif with smoked salmon bites, or to enjoy with just a bowl of strawberries.

I can’t write about sparkling rosé without paying homage to our ever-increasing band of home-grown wine producers, who are going from strength to strength and knocking spots, in terms of quality, off many Champagnes, with their top-notch sparkling wines, made in the same way as Champagne and now competing up there on the international wine stage. Waitrose has always championed English wine making, and has an impressive array of sparkling pinks. Just down the road in Hampshire, Hattingley Valley continue to impress, with their multi award-winning Hattingley Valley Rosé (£37.50 GWW), bursting with elegant raspberry fruit, and a creamy textured finish. ■ Angela Mount is a Bath-based wine writer, presenter and international judge, who had her taste buds insured for £10 million during her tenure as one of the country’s leading supermarket wine buyers www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 83

ADVERTISING FEATURE

He stroops to conquer DUTCHBOY WAFFLES have arrived in Bath…

D

utchboy Waffles has its headquarters in the beautiful city of Bath, where founder Bob Kersten and a small team are dedicated to offering a wide range of handmade stroopwaffles in various flavours and sizes. Before moving to Bath, Bob sold his waffles in tropical Bali, where they were a big success. He sold them to speciality coffee shops and online to consumers. Missing the seasons in Europe and finding the love of his life, he decided to move back to Europe to start up a waffle company in Bath.

The humble stroopwaffle came to be in the early 1800's in the city of Gouda. Originally made from old cookie chips, dough residues and syrup by the working class bakers of Holland, they soon became a firm favourite of the nation.

THE PEOPLE'S WAFFLE So what's a stroopwaffle? It's two thin, circular waffles pressed flat on a pizzelle iron, which gives

them their distinct checked pattern. The baked waffles are sandwiched together with a sticky sweet caramel and the edges finely trimmed.

The result is a mouthwatering biscuity, cookie-y, waffley disc of joy. The slightly crisp outer and delicious gooey, rich and chewy centre make the stroopwaffle a beast of a treat.

They are passionate about using only the finest, freshest ingredients for Dutchboy Waffles.

They may have had their beginnings as bakery leftovers but only the best will do today. All the produce used is sourced responsibly and locally where possible and waffles are handmade fresh to order. Products are sold in speciality coffee shops and online. The Bath shop will open this summer selling coffee, all kinds of different flavoured waffles, take away breakfast and fresh poffertjes (mini pancakes). ■

07542 278808 dutchboywaffles@gmail.com www.dutchboywaffles.com

Photos and Dutchboy Waffles website design © Jessica Greaves & Connor Fathers

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

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SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

Love AT fIrST BITe Here at Bath Life we tend to scoff our breakfast rather too fast – it’s a fault, we know – and this cool, spiky little egg cup is unlikely to help matters any. (We’re somewhat scared the cup might start eating our egg from the bottom up if we don’t get cracking.) It’s the work of Danish ceramicist Ditte Blohm, who loves porcelain and Scandi-Japanese tropes equally, and combines them to create stuff that’s minimalist but striking, serene yet deliberately imperfect and incomplete.

Her work is just part of a range of cool ceramics, prints, paintings, sculptures, lights and vintage furniture at Bath’s newest go-to gifts and interiors store, 8 Holland Street on Margaret’s Buildings, wedged between the Circus and the Crescent. With its mezzanine level balcony, wood panelling and old-school chemist shop fittings it’s an impressive space anyway, but what makes 8 Holland Street is the eye of its buyers: you’ll fall in love with virtually everything here, we reckon. And if you don’t? This little egg cup might just bite your fingers off.

Porcelain egg cup by Ditte Blohm at Blohm Ceramics; £20 at 8 Holland Street, Margaret’s Buildings; www.8hollandstreet.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 87

LOVE BUG BY VICTORIA TOPPING, £300 This giclée print by Bath-based artist Victoria Topping is in a limited edition of 50; it makes our eyes go funny, but in a very good way From Modern Art Buyer, Limpley Stoke; www.modernartbuyer.com

KATHARINE HAMNETT IVAN ‘CHOOSE LIFE’ COTTON T-SHIRT, £59 (WAS £109) In 1984, Wham! famously sported ‘Choose Life’ T-shirts in their ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ video, though in a less daring white; we’d pair this with shuttlecocks down the shorts, for sure From John Anthony, 28 High Street, Bath BA1 1AJ; www.john-anthony.com

‘BRUSH-STROKE’ PENDANT, £3,995 This fabulous statement piece in 18ct white gold features diamonds and a nearly 10ct rare cushioncut Champagne pink morganite (that’s the pink version of beryl; emerald’s a close cousin) From Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath BA1 5AR; www.nicholaswylde.com

WILD ROSES

We love a soft, dusky summer pink, whether you call it rose, blush, coral or rouge…

YMC PINK GARLAND BOILERSUIT, £275 Made of rose pink garmentdyed Italian cotton twill, this one-piece is effortlessly cool anywhere, from evening drinks to slumber parties From Found, 17 Argyle Street, Bath; www.foundbath.co.uk

FIAT 500 STAR, £15,395 Back in ’59, giant fin-tailed pink Cadillacs were the height of style; here in ’19, your little powder pink car comes somewhat smaller, but just as cute From Simonstone Fiat, Bath Road, Bristol; www.fiat.co.uk

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

ED’S CHOICE ANTOINETTE BY ANNIE SLOAN, £19.95 If you need a little more dusky pink in your life, why not try a pot of Annie Sloan’s thick, quick-drying, eco-friendly chalk paint, great for floors, walls, furniture, whathaveyou?

From Rossiters, Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

ASCOT STORAGE OTTOMAN, £225 (DOWN FROM £325) We love the sales almost as much as we love this stylish, capacious storage ottoman in dusky pink velvet From Brissi, 38 Milsom Street, Bath; www.brissi.com

CHILTERN CHAIR, £549 (DOWN FROM £799) A perennial bestseller down at Silcox, and as handsome as it is comfortable; loads of colours too, including this lavender From Silcox, Son & Wicks, 5-7 New Street, Bath; www.silcox.co.uk CHRYSANTHS JAPONAIS CUSHION, £99 Lux & Bloom has a range of pure silk cushions in pinks, blues and greys; this one caught our eye, but you could have finches or crows, if you prefer From Lux & Bloom, Wellow Road, Bath; www.luxandbloom.com

RUNDHOLZ BLACK LABEL JERSEY PINSTRIPE RUFFLE DRESS, £249 From this German designer’s SS19 collection comes this flattering summer dress in stretchy T-shirt fabric From Blue, The Loft, Bartlett Street, Bath; www.bluewomensclothing.co.uk

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PA U L M I T C H E L L E X CL USI V E SALON C OL O U R SPE CI AL I S T AWAR D S T Y L I S T S HA IR EX T ENS I O N S P E CI AL I S T BL O W D RY B AR BESPO KE WE DDI NG PACK AGE S PR IVAT E EV E NT H I R E Lombard House, 30 St James Parade, Bath BA1 1UJ

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We could go on about the amazing benefits of massage ‘til the cows come home... ...but you’ve probably herd it all before It’s really simple...

Book in Lie down Bliss out

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

CBD wellbeing THE GOODBODY WELLNESS CENTRE opens its doors in Bath at the end of June.

This case study highlights just how CBD oils have worked to improve the health of one fibromyalgia sufferer…

H

airdresser Maria Mullane’s life hit rock-bottom in her early 30s. She was virtually bed-bound, drained of energy, found it hard to even lift a cup of tea, and had to drag herself to the bathroom.

As her muscles weakened because of the time she spent in bed, Maria had to walk with sticks. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia – chronic joint and muscle pain, coupled with extreme fatigue.

Maria was unable to sleep for more than three hours a night and was taking a staggering total of 32 tablets a day.

Then one day, a friend, who had suffered similar health issues, turned up at her home without her walking sticks and Maria was instantly curious.

What had happened to bring about such a major improvement?

The answer was cannabis oil – and it proved a solution that turned Maria’s life around, too.

Maria, now 46, takes up the story: “My friend gave me the remains of a couple of bottles of different types of CBD oil and advised me to try them both.

“The first was from a high street health store and, frankly, made no difference. Then I

haven’t looked back since. It’s been fantastic.”

Maria, who lives near Frome in Somerset with husband Mark, daughter Jazmine, 22, and 19-year-old Brad, was delighted to discover the products can now be bought at Goodbody’s new store in Bath, which is due to open on June 29.

Maria says her husband, who suffered a traumatic accident on holiday a few years ago that left him in great pain and unable to walk very far, also finds the oil beneficial.

“It’s not a miracle cure and it might not work for some people, but these oils have changed my life. They helped me feel so much better. This is a reputable, pure and natural product that I would recommend to anyone in my situation.” ■

tried a few drops of cannabis oil now supplied

by Goodbody and, for the first time in years, I slept till 6am. Most nights I had been awake three hours by then. It felt amazing.

“I ordered some oil online, used it regularly and noticed my pain had reduced to a manageable level. That was last summer and I

GRAND OPENING

Chris Jones, managing director of Goodbody

Crispin Blunt MP is to be the guest of honour at the private launch of Bath’s first cannabis oil (CBD) wellness centre, which takes place on Friday, June 28. It’s fitting that Crispin, the MP for Reigate in Surrey, is guest of honour, as he is a long-time advocate of CBD. Then, a day later – on Saturday, June 29 – the Goodbody Wellness Centre at 7 Broad Street will open its doors to the public.

“When it came to naming our stores, we chose ‘Goodbody’ because we believe CBD boosts the endocannabinoid system,” says managing director Chris Jones. “This works to restore homeostasis and balance, which is good for the body – hence, Goodbody.”

Jones says Goodbody will be opening two more stores by August – one in Cirencester and another in

7 Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ www.goodbodywellness.co.uk

Clifton, Bristol. “All of the stock we sell has passed scientific laboratory testing to ensure that it sits within the legal guidelines,” he says, “and that it has the amount of CBD contained in the product as described.”

Goodbody is offering customers some unique CBD experiences too, including CBD coffee and tea that can be tasted in-store. They’ll also be selling coffee beans containing the CBD additive, which can be enjoyed at home.

There are many ways to take and apply CBD, and Goodbody will offer an extensive portfolio of products, including skincare, tinctures, balms, bath bombs, vape oils, body oils and capsules.

And that’s not all. There are many other products in the development stage that will hit Goodbody stores before Christmas too.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Confidence, one dot at a time…

SCALPOLOGY BATH offers a long-term solution to hair loss

I

rrespective of your gender, or the extent to which you are suffering from hair loss, Scalp Micro-Pigmentation (SMP) is one of the most cost-effective, least invasive modern hair loss solutions available on the market. Hair loss is a taboo subject that affects millions, leaving men and women with real confidence issues and often feeling there is no solution. Scalpology Bath (operating from The Suite on Gay Street) is the only clinic in Bath to offer this highly advanced treatment which restores confidence and truly changes lives!

Typically, treatment occurs over three sessions, with a one-week interval between each. SMP is an advanced process that requires precision and skill, during which the scalp is pigmented to replicate active follicles. There are immediate results following the first treatment, and while this is just the beginning, many clients already experience a confidence boost at this early stage. SMP is indisputably a revolutionary hair loss solution and

few other treatments are as cost effective, hasslefree or long-lasting.

Consultant Laura tells us about her background in the industry: “I have been in hairdressing my whole career and spent years experiencing the effect that a good hair-do can have to transform someone’s confidence. This is the route to my passion.

Now I can help people who have lost their hair!

This treatment is incredible, and watching the transformation in a person is truly heart-warming!”

Laura highly recommends SMP treatments for men and women suffering with conditions such as alopecia, pattern baldness, existing scarring or those experiencing thinning hair.

“I am here to offer a private, personal and professional service tailored to the individual.

My sole intention is to give that person back the confidence lost through hair loss; whether it’s thinning, patching or bringing back a hairline.” ■

BATH SCALPOLOGY BATH PIGMENTATION CLINIC

All consultations are free and with no obligation: Call Laura 07727 698020 or The Suite Bath 01225 331231

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE

Dogs can read us like a book; they’re the only animal to realise that we love novelty, and to recognise and manipulate (if never fully understand) human emotions. With that in mind, we rounded up a few local novelties we can enjoy with everyone’s best friend…

Words by Wendy Lyne 94 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

pampered pups

“People have been hanging around with dogs forever, long before we ever trained them to guard houses, herd animals, or bring help when little Timmy gets stuck down a well ”

O Whoever begs most cutely gets the treat: a fine game, except that it’s a dead heat from where we’re standing

kay, we know; dogs can be infuriating. They come in soaking wet, though it hasn’t rained for days; they whine annoyingly when mummy leaves the room; they attack the rug, they wee on the floor, they have hilarious adventures in the cupboard under the stairs that necessitates three hours tidying time, minimum.

But blimey, they’re good. A real all-rounder. It’s easy to see why we domesticated horses (to ride and pull things), or cows (to milk and eat), but with dogs it’s less obvious how things started – yet people have been hanging around with dogs forever, long before we’d ever trained them to guard houses, herd animals, or bring help when little Timmy gets stuck down a well.

But one day perhaps – rather like that scene at the start of Game of Thrones – early man found some lost puppies, saw they were not an immediate threat, and his heart melted a little. Soon they were sharing a fire and a bone, and dogs – no fools – realised they were onto a good thing. They’d become generalists, not specialists, trying their paw at whatever we asked them to do; they’d sacrifice true adulthood to remain in a biddable, childlike state their entire lives; they’d adapt to their new human packs as easily as that of other dogs. And they’d mutate at X-Men speed, changing size and shape virtually at request – hey, we’ve been breeding horses for thousands of years, and the best they’ve managed is to change colour or grow hairy feet.

For once, everybody wins. The dog lives everywhere – the few remaining wolves, who refused to become domesticated, look on with envy – and gets plenty of food and warmth. And we, in return, get tension-easing companionship, unconditional love, and the ultimate sycophant who looks up at us with adoring eyes no matter how poor our soufflé rise or how outré this morning’s triple-denim sartorial choices.

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PAMPERED PUPS

CLOCKWISE FROM THIS PIC: Emma and Neil at their ‘dogotel’, like a catered ski chalet for happy hounds

SINCE WE GET so much from dogs, then, it’s about time we gave something back, and happily there are plenty of local businesses happy to help out.

Out at The Shoe, North Wraxall, Neil and Emma Edwards run Bath Country Pets, a brand that fronts their rather fancy Boutique Dog Hotel. Emma designs their canine accessories (a new collar collection is on its way), while Neil looks after the day-to-day running of their ‘Dogotel’, alongside a team described as – get this – ‘guest care and comfort staff.’

“We specialise in offering pet parents a luxurious alternative to home boarding or kennels,” Emma says. “People who would never dream of putting their dogs into kennels love it, and we’re fast attracting customers from as far afield as Cornwall, London and South Wales. We do absolutely everything to set our human customers’ hearts at rest with regards to their dog’s health and happiness, so that they can go on holiday and completely relax.”

The pampered pooches enjoy individual bedrooms with underfloor heating, the best bedding, blankets and toys, and filtered drinking water bowls, while an onsite pet nutritionist plans them a healthy, flexible diet.

Then there are the daily excursions and activities, plus plenty of play and exercise.

“Each dog enjoys a calm, social, cage-free environment, with human company from 6am until 9pm,” Emma says. “In fact, many of our

customers say they’d like to stay at our dog hotel themselves. One lady thought it ironic the dog was staying at Bath Country Pets, while she was booked into a Travel Lodge!”

Naturally, every breed is welcome. “Today, for instance, we have a Great Dane, a Staffy puppy, a couple of Spaniels, a Morkie, a pair of Labradors, plus some Cockapoos, Whippets and a Border Terrier,” Emma says. “What’s fantastic is to see them all mixing and playing, resting and relaxing together. Before a guest” – yes, she means a dog – “comes to stay, we spend a full day assessing them, making sure they have a relaxed temperament around toys, food and other dogs.”

“Many customers say they’d like to stay at our dog hotel themselves”

IF THERE’S ONE word that hardly makes you feel hungry, it’s ‘barf’ – but that changes somewhat when you write it BARF, explain that it stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, and realise it describes top-notch pet chow, made using human grade protein, vegetables and oils, with no cereals or fillers added.

One of the top local outfits doing this is Wilkins Simply Raw of Norton St Philip, set up by Sam Stone to, she says, “get back to basics.”

“Heidi was first dog I ever had, a lovely Rottweiler who unfortunately did not get on with her food,” she says. “I tried every processed food on the market, and when none of them worked, I started to research the BARF diet. It worked wonders on Heidi all those years ago, and I now have three lovely Ridgebacks who I wouldn’t give anything else to.”

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

PAMPERED PUPS

Amazingly, this sort of behaviour isn’t just allowed at No.10 Tea Gardens, it’s encouraged

Sam likens feeding your dogs processed dog food to “feeding your children fast food every day”, and now delivers her alternative in and around Bath and Bristol daily, prices starting from £1.55/500g. “We can organise samples to be delivered so your dogs can try it,” she says, “and can chat through the benefits of moving to the raw diet – after all, we know exactly what goes into every box.”

OF COURSE, SOMETIMES you just want a cool, welcoming place to take your four-legged friend. Enter No.10 Tea Gardens at Avoncliff, which offers a secure garden space for over 100 people and their canine companions. Boss Sarah Bremner bakes fresh scones every day for her human visitors, plus doggy specialities like peanut butter and coconut power ball dog treats.

“On arrival, all four-legged visitors are given a drink from our complimentary dog bowls – they’ve usually been on a walk to get here, after all – plus a free dog biscuit and a cuddle, as we love them all,” Sarah says. “We were one of the first in Bradford on Avon to stock Marshfield Farm’s doggy ice cream, Scoops, when they launched it last year, and it’s been a huge hit with our canine visitors. On cooler days we also offer a lovely Puppaccino, made with a healthy, dog-friendly milk.”

No.10 sits opposite Avoncliff Aqueduct and the River Avon, the perfect spot for dogs and their humans to participate in water sports together. “Many human visitors turn up by canoe or paddle board with canine passengers,” Sarah says. “In fact, I take Bella the Springadoor – my Springer Spaniel x Labrador – paddle boarding all the time too.

I adore a high energy dog – Collies, German Shepherds – as you can take them with you on adventures. Bella attends agility sessions and is learning dog water rescue at Frome K9 (www.fromek9.com). And I love that it’s becoming much more socially acceptable to take your dog with you everywhere you go.” n For more, www.bathcountrypets.co.uk, www.wilkinssimplyraw.co.uk, www.avonclifftea.com

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

“Many human visitors turn up by canoe or paddle board with canine passengers” Sunshine, snacks and access by boat: what more could any man or mutt want?

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

Bath Life team 01225 475800

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Pets in hot weather

You’ll find useful advice, tips and support at BATH VETS surgeries

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he biggest problem people have is judging when it is too hot for their pets. Our companion animals cannot sweat and therefore feel hotter than we do at the same temperatures and are far more susceptible to heat stroke. There are some who can stand higher temperatures for short periods of time, lizards, snakes and tortoises for example, but even they will eventually die from overheating.

Short-faced pets (e.g. Bulldogs and Persians) are extremely vulnerable as they already cannot breathe as well in normal conditions. Imagine that you are always wearing thick, long sleeves and trousers and you will get some feel for how warm weather affects your pet.

The signs of heat stress are more obvious in dogs than other pets – excessive panting when not exercising, unwillingness to exercise, increased drinking (compensating for water loss in panting), and if extreme, coma and death. In other pets these signs are much more subtle – cats will not pant until they are extremely hot and rabbits and guinea pigs cannot do it at all and will just seem very sleepy.

The best thing to do is avoid your pets becoming overheated in the first place. The actions are simple but need planning. At home, provide cool spaces (remember some pets will not share spaces with each other, cages may need to move into rooms without direct sunlight), increase ventilation by opening windows and using fans (if you have indoor cats or adventurous dogs remember to fit good window screens or make sure that windows cannot be opened far enough to let them out), provide shade outdoors (remember that the sun moves during the day and shade is not always in the same place), provide plenty of water and consider iced water (they will drink more than normal and water will evaporate

more so keep topping up). If out with your dog then remember to take plenty of water, avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day (if in doubt then walk only at night, or not at all if brachycephalic), in the car keep air con on or take frequent breaks in the shade – do not leave your dog inside the car with no air con as it gets hot quickly, even with windows open.

Consider clipping fur short where possible (especially on the belly), investing in cool mats or ice jackets, and paddling pools (for dogs who like to play in the water).

If your animal gets heat stroke, it is important to take immediate steps to cool them down.

Move them into the shade, pour cool (not cold) water over the pet or use wet towels and get them to drink and use a fan if available. Call or drive to your nearest vet STRAIGHT AWAY (research this beforehand if on holiday). It is possible for pets to die very quickly from heat stroke so try to never let them get in this state, and it is also possible to die from over-cooling so please always seek veterinary advice. ■

Rosemary Lodge, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 5RL; 01225 832521; www.bathvetgroup.co.uk f Bath.Vet.Group

OUR CLINICS • Rosemary Lodge Hospital, Wellsway, Bath, BA2 5RL; 01225 832521 • Bath Cat Clinic, 4 Beaufort East, London Road, BA1 6QD; 01225 312061 • Chapel Veterinary Surgery, Forest Road, Melksham, SN12 7AA; 01225 702427 • Marshfield Veterinary Surgery, 57 High Street, Marshfield, SN14 8LR; 01225 891171 • Oldfield Park Veterinary Surgery, 4 Third Avenue, Oldfield Park, BA2 3NY; 01225 423652 • Peasedown Veterinary Surgery, 46 Bath Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8DL; 01761 435673 • Saltford Veterinary Surgery, 478B Bath Road, Saltford, BS31 3DJ; 01225 872002 • Station Road Veterinary Surgery, Lower Weston, BA1 3DY; 01225 428921 • Park Road Vets, 11 Park Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1BX; 0117 9339 933

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

GREAT ESCAPES

STRAWBERRYFIELD FOREVER Not even heavy showers ruin a luxury stay in these eco lodges

By Harriet Noble CLOCKWISE: Dreamy decking, a bubbly tub, and a whopping bed make for the ultimate romantic getaway

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

I

feel like we’re in California!” squeals Anna. We’re not. We’re two and a bit miles from Cheddar and it’s drizzling.

But I know what she means. There is something of an LA-luxury-wellbeing vibe to this place. (Perhaps Gwyneth Paltrow stays here when she’s fi lming in the UK?) The place in question is Strawberryfield Park, a contemporary eco holiday lodge, and I am here with my best friend for a mini break. We’re staying in a lodge, sweetly named Honeyhurst, and the light, bright décor definitely has that sunny holiday feel to it, although on closer inspection the interiors are actually Morocco-inspired, with sporadic pretty tiles providing pops of colour around the lodge.

Ours is a two-bedroom version, complete with a high spec kitchen, open plan living room and – the jewel in the crown – a huge decked terrace with a bubbling hot tub and a star-lit ceiling above a seating area.

If you think spending time in a ‘eco lodge’ might sound a bit cramped or rough and ready, you couldn’t be more wrong, as Anna and I discover. Staying here is like being in a really fancy hotel that has all the mod cons – think Bang & Olufsen TV and audio system with Apple TV, super kingsize beds, top-notch coffee makers, rainforest power showers – but with a really chilled, rural hideout feel, too.

And the place is not without a bit of soul, either.

Stepping out on the huge decking reveals fantastic views of Somerset hills, while exploring the park you’ll find a pretty apple orchard and, at the entrance to the park, a traditional Is it Cheddar or Morocco? barn-style pub that Who can tell? actually had more dogs than people in today. In fact, they say it could be positively it when we visited. perilous. I do try going in the caves, but I’m the Anna and I settle in for the night. I have only person in there, as every sensible person an itinerary ready for tomorrow – to walk the has decided to stay at home and – after about awe-inspiring cliffs along the Cheddar Gorge, two minutes – I get a bit scared and make a to visit the caves and, of course, to try some of run for it. I do manage to try lots of the cheese, the local cheese. though, and buy a good few blocks, with firm Awakening the next intentions of giving to family members. day, a drizzling has It’s still only morning so, ever the eager turned into pouring tourist, I head to Wells. This is a much better rain. Sloshing, wet-weather plan and I spend a lovely few hours plopping, noisy rain. walking around the cathedral and visiting the Clutching my tea, pretty cafés and somewhat amazing charity looking out of the shops. (See the ‘What to do’ box below for my window, I wonder if recommendations.) this might not be the I return to our lodge a bit damp, however, very best day to walk on top of a gorge. Anna so – after a restorative cuppa – I spend a proper declares she is not coming, she wants to stay half an hour slot in the heavenly shower. Wells in ‘California’. Undeterred, I hop on a bus to and Cheddar were lovely, but I am relieved Cheddar. The rain has meant there is zero to be back in the oasis of calm that is our visibility so, unsurprisingly, the people at little abode. the gorge do not recommend doing the walk Come evening time we make the most of the lodge; with the hot tub and twinkly lights, the accommodation is more than a bit romantic.

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE THERE… This suits Anna and I down to the ground.

What we lack in unbridled passion we make IN CHEDDAR Strawberryfield Park.

• Have a pint and wander up for with our easy, silly, happy contentment, • If the weather is on your side, Fun fact: Wells is where they around the Just Ales and we embrace the honeymoon vibe, putting visit the Cheddar Gorge and shot comedy flick Hot Fuzz. microbrewery; on the white fluff y dressing gowns and slippers, caves, a mere seven minutes www.justales.com sipping prosecco, getting in the hot tub and from Strawberryfield Park; HAVE LUNCH • Be inspired by nature at the pressing all the buttons so it is super bubbly, www.cheddargorge.co.uk At Twentyone Café Kitchen. pretty local florists, Branch and getting each other bowls of hula hoops and • It’s got to be done – try some Located right by the cathedral, & Blossom; other snacks. We snuggle down on the sofa and of the tasty, tangy Cheddar at this is the perfect place www.branchandbloom.co.uk stretch out brain muscle watching University The Cheddar Gorge Cheese to stop for a bite to eat.

• Get pampered with some Challenge, we cry over a documentary about Company shop. You can even Interesting menu and very beauty and hair treatments at Grenfell Tower, and we marvel at a David watch the experts make, cut friendly service; Facebook: Frontline Salon; Attenborough. Content. and pack their famous cheese; @Twentyone-cafe-kitchen www.frontlinestyle.co.uk The next day it is brighter and warmer www.cheddaronline.co.uk but, alas, we are leaving. Our stay has been POOTLE AROUND HAVE AFTERNOON TEA restful and rejuvenating – I’ll have to come IN WELLS • In one of the many charity This one’s a must, I’d say. Try back again to see the Gorge – but, this time Wells is known for its beautiful shops, spot the lovely bargain the Loaf Bakehouse, a cool yet round, I’m secretly rather glad of the rain. I cathedral, but it’s a very pretty designer gear. Or pop into family-friendly café that does could have stayed curled up on that sofa in the little city in its own right, and beautiful Wells Cathedral, with some truly gorgeous cakes lodge forever. well worth a trip. It’s also its lush, peaceful gardens; and sandwiches;

“The jewel in the crown is the bubbling hot tub and al fresco star-lit ceiling”

only 20 minutes drive from

www.wellscathedral.org.uk

Facebook: @LOAF-bakehouse

For more: www.strawberryfieldpark.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 103

SERVICES GUIDE HOME CARE

GUIDE to SERVICES in the

CITY TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL THE BATH LIFE TEAM ON 01225 475800

JEWELLERY

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Nigel Dando 11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk

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Luxury & local The most sophisticated audience is just a call away

Repairs, Restoration Alteration of Stone Buildings New Build Stone Cleaning Stone Carving Fireplaces

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✆ 01225 475800

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

An airport that doesn’t cost the earth

FLYING HIGH

Eco-friendly progress at Bristol Airport

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t’s been an interesting decade out at Bristol Airport. The recently published Annual Monitoring Report shows a myriad changes over the last decade – perhaps the most positive being that our local airport has seen a continued increase in passengers and destinations without a significant increase in the number of planes leaving the ground. Turns out there were only marginally more flights in 2018 than back in 2008.

How so? Well, the folks out at Lulsgate Bottom have been working hard towards reducing their environmental impact, halving the CO2 emissions per passenger and significantly reducing waste – with none now going into landfill and waste recycling doubling. They’ve seen a modest 5% share increase in public transport use too, with a

FIT FOR A PRINCESS

million passengers now using the upgraded A1 Flyer Service between the airport and the city, and a further 500 bus services operating to and from the site each day.

With development programmes in place to meet increased passenger demand and further development to improve infrastructure proposed, the guys are understandably happy.

“The transformation over the last 10 years highlights the growing importance of the airport to the region,” says chief executive officer Dave Lees. “We provide a greater range of destinations with increased choice, and have made progress towards a more sustainable future. But, looking forward, Bristol Airport will need to actively work towards a lower carbon future in parallel with its aspirations as a key economic generator in the region.”

For more: www.bristolairport.co.uk

Victoria’s cows: a help through dark times

The country’s best livestock fought it out for the top spot at the Royal Bath and West Show recently, with local farmer Victoria Dimond eventually taking home the Dairy Supreme Championship. Dimond, based near Mark in Somerset, won the top prize with her Brown Swiss Cow, Kedar Princess Cleopatra. (With a name like that, clearly born to be a winner.)

Dimond came back on a high, having taken a few years out from showing before this. “I really struggled with depression and my mental health,” she says, “so I took four years off. But showing helps, and I can go out and talk to my cows. We have just under 100; 35 pure Brown Swiss, 48 Jersey and the rest are British Friesian. Cleopatra won breed champion at North Somerset this year, and we’ll be off to mid-Devon and some local shows next.”

For more: www.bathandwest.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BATH LIFE I 107 115

BUSINESS INSIGHTS Take the Low Carbon Challenge

PLASTIC NOT-SO FANTASTIC We all know it’s long past time we stopped plastic entering the UK’s oceans, and a good first step? Keeping our rivers and canals free of the stuff. And now the Canal & River Trust, a charity that looks after 2,000 miles of watereways in England and Wales, is calling on local people to help.

The charity has published research by Coventry University which suggests more than half a million plastic items reach the oceans from rivers and canals every year. With 59% of the waste found alongside canals being plastic, this is hardly surprising.

“Devastatingly, despite being vital green corridors in towns and cities such as Bath, our canals and rivers can inadvertently act as ‘plastics highways’, transporting rubbish from where we live out to sea,” says advisor Peter Birch. “Not only is this a huge problem for wildlife, it also detracts from these special and important wellbeing places in our towns and

GOING GREEN Anti-plastic power: it’s in our hands

cities. We believe everyone deserves – and can help create – beauty on their doorstep, and by taking action locally, we can help tackle a global issue.”

For more: canalrivertrust.org.uk

HAPPY NEW BEER The Faulkland Inn, Radstock, has a new owner. This charming Grade II listed village inn, surrounded by lavender fields, was recently sold by specialised business property advisor, Christie & Co, to Tina Paradise and her husband, Andy Machen. Experienced pub owners and operators, they couldn’t wait to get stuck into transforming the long-defunct inn. “Back in the late ’90s, I had 44 pubs on holding and ran pubs such as The Horseshoe and The Moorfields in Bath,” Tina says, “but then I spent a period running Dukes Hotel on Great Pulteney Street, and working on renovation projects.

Recently, though, I turned around to my husband, and said, ‘I think I’ve got one more pub in me!’”

And here it is. Tina plans to create the quintessential village watering hole; think dartboards, board games and comfy sofas – with plenty of traditional pub grub, of course.

For more: www.thefaulklandinn.co.uk

The Faulkland gets a face lift

We’re all worrying about how we can do our bit to help the environment right now. Fortunately, the West of England Combined Authority has set up a new fund to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their energy efficiency and support community energy projects. Known as the Low Carbon Challenge Funds, it’ll run for three years and be open to applicants across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. £1,000-£15,000 will be up for grabs for improvements to the energy efficiency of buildings – so anything from insulation to lighting – and purchases that make business operations more eco-friendly.

“We know we all need to do more to tackle climate change, and this new fund will help businesses and community groups make their buildings and activities more energy efficient,” says regional mayor Tim Bowles. “It will help protect the climate and environment upon which we and future generations depend, and builds on our emerging Local Industrial Strategy.”

The fund is supported with £1.7m from the European Regional Development Fund.

For more: www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/ clean-growth

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

BATH SPORTS NEWS Where the city gets a sweat on

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

From networking breakfasts to invaluable evening courses, make a note of the courses and classes that will help you (and your business) flourish 2 JULY LINKED IN LOCAL A great chance to meet the people behind the profiles, Linked In Local sees Bath professionals gather for networking, nibbles and a short but informative talk, this time presented by Nick Hems. The event will be in support of charity Designability, which provides lifechanging assistive technologies to disabled people. www.linkedin.com/company/ linkedinlocal-bath Johanna Konta: aiming high

WOMAN POWER

Johanna Konta, the French open finalist, made a strong bid to become the first British woman since 1976 to win the title at Roland Garros – with help from a former Team Bath tennis coach. Dan Smethurst, of Team Bath Tennis, joined Konta’s training team as an assistant coach and hitting partner after the pair worked together during her first Fed Cup campaign at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, and though Konta eventually lost her semi-final against MarkétaVondroušová, it’s hoped the relationship will continue.

“It’s no surprise that someone of Dan’s calibre has gone on to work with Johanna,” says Barry Scollo, director of tennis at Team Bath. “It was an absolute pleasure having him as part of our coaching team for the past two years. Dan brought so much to the tennis programme as both a player and a person, so it’s been great to see him develop, progress and be doing so well in his new role.”

SHOOTING STARS

Vitality Superleague netball star Kim’s Commane’s fantastic debut season ended on a high at the Team Bath Netball end-of-season awards dinner. The Australian shooter left with three top prizes: Coaches’ Player, Player’s Player and the coveted Fan’s Player of the Year.

The flashy awards dinner at the Apex City of Bath Hotel was preceded by a fun party at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, where Bath’s Superleague stars were Kim Commane and Sophie joined by fans of all ages for a Drakeford-Lewis with their awards night of celebration.

3 JULY BATH WOMEN’S BUSINESS CLUB Join a network of business leaders with a passion for building success – their own and others’. Part networking, part education and part problem solving, the club is a great opportunity to connect with other high flyers.

11.30am-2pm; £30; Bailbrook House www.womensbusiness.club 11 JULY BRIGHT BUSINESS BREAKFAST These breakfasts provide the perfect opportunity for businesses in and around Frome to establish meaningful relationships and help foster stronger bonds with each other and the local community. www.brightbusinessgroup.co.uk 16 JULY INSIDER: BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET 2040 BREAKFAST What if you could see into the future? That’s exactly the objective at this networking breakfast. What will life be like for the next generation of Bath residents? Leading business leaders and experts will debate their ideal futures.

7.30am; free; Bath Spa University www.insidermedia.com

Simon Holdsworth of Thrings

TELLING TALES

Bath’s very own artisan indie publishing company, Rat’s Tales, will be releasing two new paperbacks this month. Crafted with exquisite French flaps, a high quality textured cover and beautiful illustrations throughout – yes, finally a picture book for adults! – this is true #bookstagram material.

In the latest installments, author Rod Humphris’ 007-worthy hero, Simon Ellice, returns for two more adventures: Dead Ground, a prequel in which he tackles the tricky topic of the Afghan conflict, and Go Fast, where Simon finds himself in deep trouble in the ancient smuggling port of Nador, Morocco. www.ratstales.co.uk

DESTINED FOR GREAT THRINGS

Following a unanimous vote, Simon Holdsworth has been reappointed as Thrings’ managing partner.

Holdsworth said: “As a business and as a profession, we continue to face challenges that arise from a changing legal market and uncertainty created by the political and economic climate. But despite this, Thrings’ focus has remained on providing legal services which enable its clients to grow.”

Simon has led the company through a 39% increase in turnover, and the launch of the Thrings Academy, where lawyers can refine their skills. www.thrings.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 109

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2019

The overwhelming success of Bath International Comedy Festival has earned the city new respect in the comedy world. Ralph Oswick, an active patron of the festival, lets us in on a few industry secrets…

Why do you think you won?

ARTS WINNER First up, tell us what it felt like to win a Bath Life Award…

Everyone associated with the Comedy Festival was absolutely thrilled by it, not least the festival’s director, Nick Steel, whose ‘baby’ it is.

Do you remember how you celebrated? What happened on the night?

Unfortunately, neither Nick or I were able to attend the ceremony, so our strategic partners, Visit Bath, accepted on the festival’s behalf. (Though a sneaky glass of bubbly may have been involved when we got their phone call!)

And actually, where do you keep the Award now?

It’s safely stored in Nick’s flat, alongside the Bath Business Awards trophy that also went to the Comedy Festival. And we’re up for more awards too, so he might have to take a trip to Ikea to purchase a flat-pack display cabinet!

There were some great supporting testimonials from both artists and audience members, but the main thrust of our submission was the doubling of income compared to the year before, plus the use of myriad venues, a widening of the target audience and increased visibility in the city, thanks to a successful bid to Arts Council England for marketing support.

What sets you apart from comparable rivals and colleagues, do you think?

Bath Comedy Festival is at its core a curated event rather than a portmanteau event. Any act sporting the Bath Plug logo has been booked directly by the festival, and has invariably been seen by the director himself. There’s an emphasis on new work and work by female artists: the Bath audiences are very supportive of up and coming talent, but they also flock to the sprinkling of household names, such as Henning Wehn and Jon Richardson, included in the ever expanding programme.

What are the best bits about your job?

I’m actually a volunteer patron, though I do have a lapel badge bearing the title ‘Associate Director: Special Events’, which means I can put my two pennyworth in whenever I get a mad idea in my head. My main task is to co-devise and, indeed, host the annual Wine Arts Trail, the famously boozy magical mystery tour in the big red bus, now in its umpteenth year.

And where do the frustrations lie?

I think the biggest bug bear is marketing. You can pour money and resources into advertising, flags, social media etc, but if people don’t want to come or feel they can’t afford it, you can’t force them. There were loads of free or ‘pay what you think’ events this year which were very well supported and, in the end, audience figures were pretty impressive, despite an underlying feeling of edginess brought on by all the palaver surrounding Brexit.

What about Bath itself?

© SOUL MEDIA

As we’ve said in many a grant application, Bath is our best prop.

The artists love coming here and visitors are very happy to find that our glorious city has more to it than stunning architecture and the standard heritage offerings. With luck, the festival persuades them to stay that little bit longer, which has got to be good for everyone.

Bath Comedy’s main sponsor is Lovehoney, and together we make the perfect partnership. But the festival could certainly do with more business sponsorship. I mean, who wouldn’t want their company to be associated with what famously grumpy old man Arthur Smith has repeatedly described as the best comedy festival in England?

Les and Lynsay Redwood, picking up the award on behalf of Bath International Comedy Festival

correctly) is not to have a committee.

After all, the Comedy Festival is based on his vision, and stands or falls on his decisions. The patrons, of whom I am proudly one, are there to offer wideranging specialist advice and moral support, as and when requested!

Tell us about stuff you’ve got coming up…

Bath Comedy Festival is 21 days of fun in April, but events run year round.

Widcombe is, of course, the spiritual home of Bath Comedy, with two great venues, the Social Club for bigger acts and the intimate upstairs studio at the Ring O Bells. Particularly exciting is the run of ten Edinburgh previews at the Ring in July: some big names trying new material, and some up and coming acts destined for fame and fortune. You saw them here first, folks! Go to www. bathcomedy.com for full details, or look out for that cheeky Bath Plug logo.

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

People often say they want the Comedy Festival to become Bath’s version of Edinburgh Fringe. But there’s no way that cultural behemoth can be reproduced – there’s over 40 years of development behind it, and Edinburgh has a seemingly endless supply of reusable buildings. Every year a new hub springs up! However, if we can capture some of the spirit within our hallowed city walls, that would be an achievement to be proud of. And we are definitely getting there!

Finally, tell us something to surprise us…

In 2019 Marie Claire and other publications across the UK ran a competition, the prize being a weekend at Bath Comedy Festival. Astonishingly, there were 71,342 entries! Proof, if needed, that Bath Comedy Festival is becoming a destination event.

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

Nick always says the best advice he has been given (by me, if I recall

For more: www.bathcomedy.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 111

BUSINESS INSIGHTS

What do you hope your legacy will be?

“I’ve got very much involved in eating disorders and mental health, and if I felt that I could just save two or three women and men – because it’s not just women who suffer – older or younger, from falling into this terrible disease, I would find that a personal achievement, because you’ve saved somebody from something.”

BATH LIFE BUSINESS CLUB

WERA HOBHOUSE, MP FOR BATH The MP for Bath, Lib Dem and passionate Remainer – although that perhaps goes without saying – was thrust into the spotlight last year, when she introduced a private members’ bill to parliament to make ‘upskirting’ definitively illegal in England and Wales In case you’ve been living in a cave, upskirting is the practice of taking a photograph from beneath someone without their knowledge or consent.

The bill was a popular one and eventually passed, despite the predictable efforts of Conservative MP Christopher Chope, who almost derailed things by objecting when it was finally put before the chamber – not because he is a massive supporter of upskirting, you understand, but because he doesn’t believe in private members’ bills. (On the same day he objected to proposed bills to make it illegal to stab police dogs and to give carers free hospital parking.) Happily, though, the bill (eventually) made it through Parliament, and was signed into law in February of this year.

CHOPE IS NOT THE ONLY ODDITY IN PARLIAMENT, HOWEVER “There’s so much stuff that you can’t believe,” Wera says. “ When you’re first shown around, there’s a member’s cloakroom with your hanger, and there’s a little pink ribbon by it for your sword.”

Yes, you did read that right. She said sword.

The weirdness doesn’t stop there. The day starts with a prayer, during which MPs turn to the wall.

“It’s really very strange, and apparently it comes 112 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

from religious war times, when people didn’t want to show if they were crossing themselves or not.”

Getting things done in a system beset by ancient rituals can be a challenge, Wera tells us, particularly when it comes to things like private members’ bills. Their very existence makes UK Parliament something of a unique system – usually local representatives do not have the authority to put forward their own laws, only governments do – but the ease with which they’re obstructed can make it a frustrating process. Still, as Wera has proved, when MPs work together across parties they can make change happen – without having to pick up their swords. “The upskirting bill wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of women across all political parties,” she says. “They’re very supportive – we support each other. There are many crossovers where we want to get something done and, in those instances, we often do.”

THE PROBLEM OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE The quality of discourse is certainly a concern.

Wera links it to first past the post voting. “It’s very much about competitive politics, the winner takes it all.” She sees this culture of one-upmanship as a reason for the political deadlock we’ve seen in the

last few years. Every inch a Lib Dem, Wera believes in the power of compromise on the way to progress, as she refers to it, ‘robust’ debate in which both sides are prepared to work in coalition, rather than opposition. It’s an attitude she carries with her in the flurry of social media, taking the unusual step of communicating with some of her online detractors, instead of, as so many of her colleagues advise, ignoring the criticism.

“I’ll talk to you and engage with the arguments – if we can be respectful to each other. We can have robust arguments, we can disagree passionately, but let’s be polite. Most people respond to that approach.” And for those who don’t? Wera has a surprisingly empathetic response. “The people who don’t are often the people who are probably not well, who’ve got mental health problems. I see that in the way they are engaging with my office.

The people who are really very disagreeable, if ever I see them face to face, they are not well. We don’t acknowledge that enough, and we don’t help enough people with mental health problems.”

“I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A GENUINE DESIRE TO MAKE THE CITY WORK, AND I LOVE THAT. I’M VERY PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING A PLACE LIKE THIS” LIFE AS AN MP IN BATH It can be tricky being a well known MP in such a small city, with people wanting to debate Brexit with Wera when all she wants to do is pop into Sainsbury’s for some cheese (true story). But it’s worth it, she says, for the active and compassionate community she is part of.

“What I like about Bath is its people, its community spirit and the way the city has a very healthy glue to each other,” she says. “We do have many challenges – less well off areas and quite wealthy areas; the question of pressure on housing.

But I do believe there is a genuine desire to make the city work, and I love that. I’m very proud to be representing a place like this.”

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 July with Sam Roberts, CEO and co-owner of innovative local chain, Boston Tea Party.

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Does it pay to be a landlord?

Rachael Verinder and Carl Powell, tax partners at MILSTED LANGDON highlight some forthcoming changes in legislation for landlords to be aware of…

T

he benefits of being a landlord are about to change again quite significantly and landlords may face much higher tax bills when it comes to selling their properties.

In addition to the 3% hike in stamp duty land tax on second homes and mortgage interest restrictions, changes to Private Residence Relief (PRR) and Letting Relief will see so-called ‘accidental landlords’ hit the hardest.

Accidental landlords are much more common these days and include for example, those who have separated from a partner or moved in with a new partner, or relocated for work, who either didn’t want to sell their property immediately, or were unable to find a buyer.

When a property is sold, there may be capital gains tax (CGT) to be paid if it has been let out.

The amount due depends on how long the owner lived there. Tax is paid on your ‘chargeable gain’,

which is your gain, minus any tax relief such as PRR. PRR is the tax relief that keeps most main homes free from CGT. Right now, CGT is not generally paid for the years you lived in the property, plus an additional exemption for the last 18 months that you owned it, whether you actually lived in the property during that time or not.

From April 2020, this final period exemption will be cut from 18 months to nine months. There will be no change to the 36 months exemption available to disabled people or those in, or moving into, a care home.

One of the most significant changes that will affect landlords will be the change to Letting Relief. This currently provides up to £40,000 of relief (£80,000 for a couple) to people who rent out a property which currently is, or has been at some point, their main home. From April 2020, Letting Relief will only apply where the owner

shares occupancy of the home with a tenant, so in the most part, this eliminates any benefit for the typical accidental landlord.

This means that a married couple, for example, could pay up to an extra £22,400 if they sell their property after April 2020 purely on the removal of Letting Relief, resulting in many choosing to sell sooner rather than later. ■ *This article is for general guidance and information, not advice. You should consult expert advice on a specific matter before making decisions.

For expert advice on all tax issues, contact our team of tax specialists on 01225 904940 or visit milsted-langdon.co.uk.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Reporting benefits and expenses provided to employees Matthew Rutter from Bath-based chartered accountants and tax advisers PEARSON MAY highlights the upcoming P11D form deadline for businesses …

A

s we have now passed the end of another tax year, attention may well be increasingly focussed on the completion of Tax Returns for the year ended 5 April 2019 and annual accounts for those businesses with a March (or 5th April) year end. However, businesses shouldn’t forget that there is a more pressing deadline for completion of forms P11D ‘Expenses and Benefits’ in respect of the year ended 5 April 2019. These forms, together with the annual Employer Declaration form P11D(b), must be submitted to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by 6 July 2019 and a copy of the form P11D must be passed to the employee in question by the same date.

Do all businesses need to complete the forms and which benefits/expenses are reportable?

Not every business will need to prepare forms P11D since they are only required if the employer has provided reportable and/or taxable benefits or expenses to employees during the tax year.

However, any business with employees (whether operating as a sole proprietor, partnership, limited company etc.) will need to consider their reporting requirements. The list of taxable benefits and expenses that may need to report is long, but some of the more common benefits include company cars and vans, provision of living accommodation, medical insurance and interest-free (or low interest) loans, etc.

Employers should review their records for the

Matthew Rutter, a partner at Pearson May

tax year carefully to ensure that any benefits or expenses provided to employees are analysed and reported where necessary. There are potentially significant penalties for not filing the forms where they are required, or for completion of incorrect forms.

There is now the option to include the value of certain taxable benefits and expenses through your payroll, rather than including the details on a form P11D. This is known as ‘payrolling’ but you must have registered before the start of the tax year in question to make use of it, so if you haven’t registered already, you will not be able to payroll any benefits for the current tax year ending 5 April 2020. If you payroll all of the benefits and expenses in a particular tax year (having registered before the start of the year), then you shouldn’t need to file a form P11D for the employee(s) in question. Form P11D(b) will however still be required to account for any Class 1A National Insurance payable to HMRC. Is any tax and National Insurance payable?

An income tax charge will usually arise on the employee based on the value of the taxable benefits included on form P11D. The employer may also have to pay Class 1A National Insurance on certain benefits provided and any Class 1A NI is payable to HMRC by 19 July following the end of the tax year (or 22 July if paid electronically).

Employers should also be mindful that if they settle any personal liabilities owed by employees e.g. personal debts, or make payment for personal bills in the employee’s name e.g. telephone bills, the value of such payments could well be taxable on the employee as earnings and liable to Class 1 (employee and employer) National Insurance.

Are there any exemptions from reporting certain benefits/expenses?

There are a number of exempt benefits which employers can provide to staff without incurring a tax or National Insurance liability and which do not need to be reported on forms P11D. Again, the list of exempt benefits is lengthy but the more common items include car parking at or near the employee’s place of work, annual parties and functions where the cost does not exceed £150 per head per year, childcare vouchers (up to the exempt amount), contributions to a registered pension scheme and provision of a

mobile phone (one per employee).

For the past few years now, there has also been a general exemption from the requirement to report certain business expenses paid or reimbursed by employers to employees and a ‘trivial benefits’ exemption.

The most common items that will be covered by the general exemption include reimbursement or payment of business travel (excluding ordinary commuting), subsistence costs associated with business travel, business entertainment expenses, credit cards used for business expenditure and qualifying fees and subscriptions.

The ‘trivial benefits’ exemption is a statutory exemption from tax for qualifying benefits costing £50 or less. Accordingly, these benefits will no longer be required to be reported on forms P11D. The £50 exemption generally applies on a ‘per gift’ basis (so is not necessarily limited to £50 per employee per tax year) but in order to qualify, the gift cannot be cash or a cash voucher and must not be a reward for work or performance, or included in the terms of the employment contract. Furthermore, any qualifying trivial benefits provided to Directors of close companies and their family members are subject to an annual cap of £300.

We can assist with the completion of forms P11D and advise on your reporting requirements, as well as providing you with a more comprehensive list of the potential benefits and expenses that may need to be included on the forms. Please contact any of our offices if you would like further assistance.

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

Matthew Rutter BSc(Hons) FCA CTA Pearson May Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers Bath, Chippenham and Trowbridge 37 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DA 01225 460491; mail@pearsonmay.co.uk www.pearsonmay.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 115

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the accountant

Helping businesses large and small manage their finances effectively STEPHEN MARTIN

JON MILES

SENIOR TAX MANAGER, BISHOP FLEMING 01225 486346; www.bishopfleming.co.uk What businesses do you work with?

I have worked with businesses and owners across a wide range of sectors and size; from multi-million pound hospitality empires to start-up technology businesses.

Regardless of who I am working with, I know how important it is to build trust – without it I cannot advise effectively. It involves pounds in people’s pockets, so there has to be a trusting relationship.

What is the best thing about your job?

I am working with the next generation of tech entrepreneurs at the Business Acceleration Hub in Bath.

Helping those businesses raise funding to grow, through R&D tax credits and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), is an extremely valuable way of applying my skills to help the local tech business community, and something which I enjoy immensely.

What’s the biggest mistake you see your clients making?

I have seen a few cases of share schemes not being implemented correctly. It can be so costly if all the requirements are not met; rather than incentivising staff it can have quite the opposite effect. It is always worth doing some internal reviews on tax matters generally, to ensure all ducks are in a row, especially if a business sale is in the offing.

TAX DIRECTOR, RICHARDSON SWIFT 01225 325580; www.richardsonswift.co.uk

Stephen Martin

Jon Miles

IAN GILLARD

ANGELA ASHWORTH

P G OWEN LTD 01761 410444; www.pgtax.co.uk How has accountancy changed in the last few years?

A constant barrage of changing tax and other legislation means keeping up to date with all latest changes can be challenging. It’s something a sole practitioner can never hope to cover on their own. By having a team of specialists we can keep up to date with so much more.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding accountancy?

As a profession we are not regulated, which means anyone can call themselves an accountant or tax adviser. There are even accountancy franchises where as long as the franchise fee is paid, the individual appears to be part of a network of skilled professionals.

Business owners should look to ensure they deal with ICAEW or ACCA qualified professionals only.

How does your practice differ to others?

As well as accounting and taxation advice, we are also qualified to advise on life assurance, mortgages, pensions and investments as well as probate. We also have a legal company, which works with a team of barristers to provide wills, trusts, powers of attorney and shareholder agreements. So we can advise from cradle to grave and beyond!

What are the biggest challenges facing the accountancy profession?

Moving towards a greater focus and reliance on consultancy work as opposed to the annual recurring compliance work. HMRC’s “Making Tax Digital” initiative was a significant catalyst behind this.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Communicating with clients to understand their objectives and building a trusted relationship.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding accountancy?

(Historically at least), it is men and women in grey suits and all about the figures!

What do you specialize in?

Tax advice for growing owner managed businesses, with a strong leaning towards the interaction between shareholder and corporate taxes.

If you weren’t working as an accountant, what would you be doing?

The dream – professional musician. The reality – probably something related to health and fitness.

A personal trainer maybe, who also plays drums semi-professionally!

DIRECTOR, PURPLE LIME TRAINING 01225 904898; www.purplelimetraining.co.uk

Ian Gillard

Angela Ashworth

What is your favourite part of the job?

We love helping ambitious small businesses thrive by using the latest technology around their finances including Xero – we’re a silver champion partner – and associated apps including ReceiptBank. This removes reliance on paperwork and makes accounting more dynamic and responsive.

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Creating Purple Lime and building a team of ten in just under three years and seeing that our original belief that innovative business owners and directors would embrace tech-based financial support has proved to be true.

What do you specialise in?

I specialise in supporting clients around the best use of Xero as a tool and keeping in touch with new developments around the platform. I’ve recently launched a South West training service to go into clients’ businesses to train their own teams to use Xero to its maximum efficiency – or they can come to us.

What advice would you give to anyone considering accountancy as a career?

Gain industry experience as well as practice before you decide which area to specialise in. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 119

restoration

What lies

beneath Doing up an old house? Don’t panic! These guys have been there before, know what it’s like, and have plenty of tips to help you on your way…

Incredible wooden floors in this handsome refurb by Broadleaf Timber

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R

estoring, reimagining and resuscitating tired old houses in Bath and around can be a real joy, of course – the basic structures you’re working with are so glorious, in many cases, for one thing – but it’s not a task to be undertaken lightly.

You never know what you’ll find once you get properly stuck into a project, where both expensive horrors and hidden delights await in equal numbers. To help make it all a little less intimidating, then, we’ve corralled some of our favourite local experts – people who’ve sidestepped all the pitfalls many times already, making it easy for you to do likewise – to give us the lowdown on the dos and the don’ts.

Some of these guys are generalists, some specialists, but they’re all committed to amazing results, and know how to get there in the most economic, painless way possible. Here are their top tips, but speaking to them each directly is bound to reveal many more…

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

#1 What’s lost can be found

Given the many years these buildings have been standing, says David Collins of Artistic Plastercraft, specialist ornamental plasterers in these parts since the mid-’80s, there will have been lots of changes – and they’re not always obvious, or to modern tastes. Ornamental plastering will never die – nearly all Georgian and Victorian houses have some form of plaster embellishment, after all – but the particular styles in favour do change. If you want to return your home to its original look, we can replace missing or damaged plasterwork with something entirely in keeping with the house. Show us a traditional moulding, and we can often tell you the exact street in Bath it will have come from, so we’ll be able to supply something to suit your home. We recently worked at Highgrove, HRH Prince Charles’ house, putting new cornice around what used to be William and Harry’s playroom, and supplied the new cornice in the main stairway at the National Trust’s Killerton Court, near Exeter, copying the style we used from another house in the area. www.artisticplastercraft.co.uk

RESTORATION

“Given the many years these buildings have been standing, there will have been lots of changes”

#2 Variety is the spice of life

But only sometimes. Many clients have a particular look in mind, and will choose the same type of picture frame every time, no matter what the style of picture, says Ian Pittman at The Framing Workshop, where they have 30 years’ experience making your art look its best. These people want the same look right across a large collection of work. On the other hand, plenty of other clients will select frames individually for each item or room, and that’s great too; our wide range and expertise means we can bring just about any vision to life. www.theframingworkshop.com

#3 Making a big difference doesn’t have to be expensive

An amazing bathrooom, complete with statement copper bath, from Angel Interiors

Mirrors are a very cheap and easy way to bring extra light and a feeling of space into a room, says Paul Robinson of Looking Glass of Bath, where they’ve been making bespoke contemporary and traditional mirrors for fifty years. It’s certainly a lot easier than knocking down a wall. Just as a clean, contemporary interior can look at home in a period property, so you can mix clean lines with something ornate like a traditional Regency or Ionic mirror.

It all depends on how religiously you’re committed to the original look of the house.

Since the eye immediately goes to the fireplace in most rooms, anything above it – like yes, a mirror – becomes an important part of the room, the big effect being entirely disproportionate to its cost. www.lookingglassofbath.co.uk

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RESTORATION #4 DON’T RUSH ANY OF IT

One of the biggest mistakes is to rush design decisions or purchases, then be stuck with those early mistakes, says Louise Rushford of Lux and Bloom, the “small but perfectly formed” Bath-based interior design label. It’s also important to have an holistic view of the whole restoration and interior design of your project, so your vision holds together and flows through the property. It’s a mistake to get restless in your choices, changing things too much from room to room. This is particularly vital with your colour choices – you’re much better off starting with something simple, and developing things from there, than using a different scheme for every room. www.luxandbloom.com

“Refurbishment projects continually throw up surprise after surprise”

#5 PLAN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

You need to plan, and you need to do it long before commencing work, says Ben Lang at the award-winning Stonewood Builders, who specialise in high spec rebuilds.

Refurbishment projects continually throw up surprise after surprise, no matter how much you prepare, so you need to do what groundwork you can before you start. You also need to be working with builders you feel comfortable with, as it can get very uncomfortable if you’re not on the same side of the fence as your contractor. www.stonewoodbuilders.co.uk

#6 YOU CAN’T ALWAYS REPLACE LIKE WITH LIKE

During a restoration project it’s easy to think you can simply replace like with like, says Mitchell Thomas of Hawker Joinery, Bath’s longest established joinery company. But that’s not always the case.

What if, for instance, security and insulation requirements have changed since the original joinery was installed? To avoid this, it’s important to speak with the experts – especially true if we’re talking about a listed property. You need to ensure that any changes are properly signed off, and meet all the current rules and regulations.

Because of this, we often support our clients by providing professional CAD drawings to help with their planning applications. www.hawker-joinery.co.uk

Letting the light in with this glassy extension by Hawker Joinery

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

RESTORATION #7 SPENDING ON KITCHENS IS ALWAYS A GOOD INVESTMENT

Many of our clients invest a lot of money in their kitchens, says Lucy Field of Build Bristol Group, the innovative company of architects and builders, and they’re right to do so. Bespoke kitchens might well be more expensive than an ‘off the peg’ choice, but they have real longevity and can easily be updated over time through paint, door handle changes and so on. And it’s a similar story with bathrooms. A luxury bathroom adds huge value to a home just like a great kitchen does, and I would always encourage clients to use the bulk of their budget on these two areas of the house. www.thebuildbristolgroup.com

#8 FLOORS MATTER TOO!

Strange as it might sound, people often pay much more attention, and invest much more budget, on smaller architectural details – such as fireplaces and coving – than they do floors and doors, says Vanessa Garrett of Broadleaf Timber, the Walcot Street real wood specialists. Yet floors are the foundation of any interior, and often cover the largest visible space in the room. Doors, too, are something you see and touch every time you go in and out, and make a huge difference to the way a building feels – as well as to sound transmission from one room to another. In last couple of months we’ve supplied bespoke oak plank fire doors for the restoration of Kilmartin Castle

in Scotland, and extra wide oak flooring for the restoration of The Frogmill, a stunning wedding venue near Cheltenham. We’ve also been involved with the refurbishment of The Halcyon Hotel in Bath, and many more. www.broadleaftimber.com

#9 GREAT DESIGN CAN COMBINE THE OLD AND THE NEW

We’re currently refurbishing nine bathrooms in a period property, says Angela Newman of Angel Interiors, the family-run one-stopshop for kitchens and bathrooms in the Chew Valley, and were recently asked to create a ‘wow factor’ master en suite for a young family living in a period property. The husband was looking for a modern space,

“Bespoke kitchens have real longevity, and can be easily updated over time”

A cool open-plan kitchen in the contemporary style by the guys at Bristol Build Group

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 127

RESTORATION while his wife preferred a blend of old and new. Lack of natural light was a major consideration, and initially we planned for a central copper bath, but that was rejected as being visually too heavy for the room. As so often, we found it’s the small finishing touches that really turn a good design into an outstanding one. Tim here sourced an unusual mirror, which was remounted and backlit, creating a lovely feature, as well as a small marble circular table on which to rest a morning coffee – or evening glass of wine.

The couple were thrilled with the end result, and it became a finalist in the Kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2019. www.angelinteriors.co.uk

Pale pink and dark blue: a classic colour combination, as recommended by Lux and Bloom

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

#10 THE FINAL STYLING CAN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

It can help really bring an interior to life, says Vanessa Sayce at Marmalade House, the award-winning Bath-based interiors company. That’s why we always stay right to the end of a project, making sure clients finish up with exactly what they imagined.

When you’ve been through all the hard work of planning and building, the design part is often what people see as ‘the nice, easy bit’ at the end. Well, it isn’t always easy – but it’s definitely always nice. We certainly aim to make our part of the process as enjoyable

and rewarding as we possibly can, so that the project comes together smoothly, and it feels like a joint, organic process from the start to the finish. www.themarmaladehouse.co.uk

“The design part is often what people see as the ‘nice, easy bit’”

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Offering traditional and contemporary collections in a range of designs and finishes All our mirrors are made and finished in our own workshops in the centre of Bath See our website for more information on what we offer 93-95 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BW 01225 461969 info@lookinglassofbath.co.uk www.lookinglassofbath.co.uk

GDW GARAGE DOORS LTD

Wiltshire’s Premier Garage Door Company 21 Bishop Road, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9AF 07413 246786 | garagedoorswiltshire@gmail.com | www.garagedoorswiltshire.co.uk

Specialists in Natural Stone Paving and More Flagstones, Cobbles, Copings and Setts Sandstone, Limestone, Granite Slate And Travertine ß Internal or External ß Civil or Domestic ß Free Local Delivery ß Open 6 Days a Week ß Helpful Advice ß Large Selection of Stock

Tel: 01275 333589 or 07872 665602. Or Email sales@mietystone.co.uk Website: www.mietystone.co.uk Miety Stone Limited. Hillmans Transport Depot, Chelwood Bridge, Chelwood, Bristol, BS39 4NJ

Fireplaces, wood burners, gas fires, chimney and flue specialists

Classic to contemporary – concept to completion

Chesney’s . Barbas Bellfires . Hwam . Stuv . Jetmaster Contact us today or visit our showroom Mendip Fireplaces (Bath) Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7HD | 01225 722706 info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk | www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

Ltd.

Bath’s Residential Flooring Experts

Call us now on 01225 972715 for your FREE on site visit & quote

We Guarantee to beat any High Street like for like supply and fit quote!

virtuosoflooring.co.uk

• Enriched Cornices • Cornice Cleaning • Corbels • Enriched Friezes • Plaques • Plain Cornices • Center Pieces • Panelling & Dado • Niches • Arches

Call us to discuss your project today on:

01225 315404

Email: artisticplastercraft@outlook.com View more of our work: artisticplastercraft.co.uk Artistic Plastercraft Ltd, 4 Lyndhurst Mews, Oldfield Park, Bath BA2 3FZ

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

Avon Farm, Avon Lane, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3ET T: 07983 439782 / 07967 442267 E: info@greendown-shepherd-huts.co.uk

www.greendown-shepherd-huts.co.uk

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

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

Call David Lucas on 07540 978 408

www.reclaimedradiators.co.uk

Westside Design Bespoke Kitchen Makers Since 1983 Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5EQ info@westsidedesign.co.uk

High quality home renovations, extensions and building projects Established 25 Years

T: 07714 252847 E: info@westbuilders.co.uk

www.westbuilders.co.uk

Luxury & local The most sophisticated audience is just a call away

✆ 01225 475800

WWW.BUILDBRISTOLBATH.COM

• Domestic and commercial roofing specialists • Covering Bath, Bristol and the South West • Trading since 1985 Tel: 01225 421499 Email: mail@youngsroofing.co.uk www.youngsroofingbath.co.uk Braysdown Lodge, Woodborough, Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8LN

Interiors & Homewares Work from local artists and makers Prints, Cards & Gifts

10 Margaret's Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP homefrontinteriors.co.uk T: 01225 571711 E: info@homefrontinteriors.co.uk Handmade, Reclaimed, Sustainable & Vintage

SOVEREIGN DAMP & TIMBER LTD We offer a comprehensive service for all kinds of damp proofing, basement waterproofing, timber treatment and specialist replastering.

Tel: 01249 716161 | Tel: 01225 811222 1 Ingoldmells Court, Edinburgh Way, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9XN www.sovereigndpc.co.uk | info@sovereigndpc.co.uk

NORTON MASONRY LTD Stonework Specialists & General Builders We are able to carry out projects from small repairs to large contracts of up to £350,000.

We offer a friendly and reliable service.

SINGLE & DOUBLE STOREY EXTENSIONS RENOVATIONS PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STONE CLEANING & RESTORATION BARN CONVERSIONS 38 LONG BARNABY, MIDSOMER NORTON, RADSTOCK BA3 2TZ

Tel: 01761 419422 Fax: 01761 415381 Mobile: 07901 712232 Email: nortonmasonryltd@hotmail.co.uk

www.nortonmasonryltd.co.uk Over 30 Years Experience

T h e C u r ta i n E x c h a n g e For the best dressed windows

IN BATH

11 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT | Tel: 01225 422078 | Email: curtainexchange@live.co.uk www.curtainexchangebath.co.uk

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

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

CURTAINS, BLINDS, SHUTTERS AND SOFT FURNISHINGS

Aspect Window Styling 1 Saracen Street, Bath; 01225 469559; www.aspectwindow styling.co.uk The Curtain Exchange 11 Widcombe Parade, Bath; 01225 422078; www.thecurtain exchange.co.uk Just Shutters 01225 302599; www.justshutters.co.uk Angel Interiors

GARDENS AND EXTERIORS

DIRECTORY

Need a hand? These local businesses are ready to help with all your restoration needs ARCHITECTS

Aaron Evans Architects 3 Gay Street, Bath; 01225 466234; www.aaronevans.com

CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY SERVICES Bath Stonemasons 07968 697091; www. bathstonemasons.co.uk

The Build Bristol Group 7 Charles Road, Filton, Bristol; 07545 339908; www.thebuild bristolgroup.com

HJ Paradise and Sons Julian Road, Bath; 01225 425140; www.hjparadise.co.uk

Sovereign Damp Proofing 01249 716161; www.sovereigndpc.co.uk

Hawker Joinery Northend, Batheaston, Bath; 01225 858233; www.hawker-joinery.co.uk

Stonewood Builders The Stonewood Office, West Yatton Lane, Castle Combe, Chippenham; 01249 782293; www.stonewood builders.co.uk

MBG Gold 3 Seymour Terrace, Radstock; 07515 389147; www.mbggold.com Norton Masonry 38 Long Barnaby, Radstock; 01761 419422; www.nortonmasonryltd. co.uk

DR Vowles and Son Upper Weston, Farm, Weston, Bath; 01225 425232; www. drvowlesandson.co.uk

Rock Pools and Spas 86 Westbury Leigh, Westbury; 0333 6009001; www.rockpoolsandspas. co.uk

Garage Doors Wiltshire 07413 246786; www.garagedoors wiltshire.co.uk

Saltford Building Services 01225 874676; www.saltfordbuilding services.com

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

Sydenhams Hawthorn Grove, Bath; 01225 833585; www.sydenhams.co.uk Timber Windows of Clifton 29 The Mall, Bristol; 0845 652 7300; www.timberwindows. com West Country Builders 07714 252847; www.westbuilders.co.uk

DECORATING AND PLASTERCRAFT Artistic Plastercraft 4 Lyndhurst Mews, Bath; 01225 315404; www.artisticplastercraft. co.uk Ashley Collins Decorating 01761 431354; www.ashleycollins painting.co.uk

Greendown Shepherds Huts Unit 1B Pixash Lane, Saltash, Bristol; 07983 439782; www.greendown shepherdhuts.co.uk

Woodhouse & Law 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw. co.uk

FIREPLACES

Mendip Fireplaces The Old Mill, Mill Lane, Monkton Combe, Bath; 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplaces bath.co.uk

FLOORING AND CARPETS

Flawless Finish 07502 222821; www.flawlessfinish decorators.co.uk

Bath Contract Flooring 4 Kingsmead Square, Bath; 01225 471888; www.bathcontract flooring.co.uk

The Marmalade House Kelston, Bath; 01225 445855; www.themarmalade house.co.uk

Boniti Dunsdon Road, West Littleton Road, Chippenham; 01225 89200; www.boniti.com

Stephen Bushell Stone Marble Plaster; 07989032665; www.sbushell.co.uk

Broadleaf Timber 134-136 Walcot Street, Bath;01225 463464; www.broadleaftimber. com

RESTORATION Capitol Carpets of Bath 120-122 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 333341; www.thecarpet.co.uk Frith Rugs Unit 10, Shield Retail Park, Filton, Bristol; 01745 584404; www.frithrugs.co.uk Haliden Oriental Carpets 98 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 469240; www.haliden.com Interior Harmony Flooring 5A Chelsea Road, Bath; 01225 483818; www.interiorharmony. co.uk Miety Stone Hillmans Transport Depot Bridge, Chelwood, Bristol; 01275 333589; www.mietystone.co.uk

Stonewood Builders

Oriental Rugs of Bath 1 Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Hallatrow; 01761 451764; www.orientalrugsofbath. com Tile & Flooring Bath 1 Mile End, London Road West, Bath; 01225 310561; www.tileandflooring. co.uk Virtuoso Flooring Unit H Workmans Yard, Claude Avenue, Bath; 01225 972715; www. virtuosoflooring.co.uk

FURNITURE, INTERIORS AND HOMEWARE SHOPS The Bath Framer 7 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath; 01225 920210; www.thebathpicture framer.co.uk

BoConcept 51-53 Merchant Street, Bristol; 0117 929 3503; www.boconcept.com The Framing Workshop 80 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 482748; www. theframingworkshop.com Graham and Green 92 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 418300; www.grahamandgreen. co.uk Homefront Interiors 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; 01225 571711; www.homefrontinteriors. co.uk Knees Home and Electrical Spitfire Retail Park, Bradley Road, Trowbridge; 01225 754161; www.knees.co.uk

KITCHENS

Leekes Beanacre Park, Melksham; 0845 0508240; www.leekes.co.uk Oka 26 -27 Milsom Street, Bath; 01225 443074; www.okadirect.com The Looking Glass of Bath 93-95 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 461969; www.lookinglassofbath. co.uk Perfect Rooms, Interiors and Upholstery Silver Street, Gastard, Corsham; 01249 716455; www.perfectrooms.co.uk Rossiters 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; 01225 462227; www.rossitersofbath.com Silcox Son & Wicks 5-7 New Bath Street, Bath; 01225 463933; www.silcox.co.uk TR Hayes 15-18 London Street, Bath; 01225 465757’ www.trhayes.co.uk

INTERIOR DESIGN

Clair Strong Interior Design Ltd Walcot Studio, Old Orchard, 88a Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 426905/07855 797311; www.clairstrong.co.uk Etons of Bath 108 Walcot Street, Bath; 01225 639002; www.etonsofbath.com Lucy Collins Property Dressing 07710 223285; www.lucycollins.me Woodhouse & Law 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouse andlaw.co.uk

Angel Interiors Unit 23, The Cattle Market, Chew Road, Winford, Bristol; 01275 595359; www.angelinteriors.co.uk The Bath Kitchen Company 22 Hensley Road, Bath; 01225 312003; www.bathkitchen company.co.uk Hobsons|choice London Road, Bath; 01225 433511; www.hobsonschoice. uk.com Kelly Marie Kitchen Interiors 8 Pulteney Terrace, Bath; 01225 481881; www.kellymariekitchens. com Leekes Beanacre Park, Melksham; 0845 050 8240; www.leekes.co.uk Saltford Kitchens 439 Bath Road, Saltford, Bristol; 01225 874676; www.saltfordkitchens. com Westside Design Lansdown Road, Bath; 01225 864260; www.westsidedesign. co.uk

RADIATORS

Reclaimed Radiators 07540 978408; info@reclaimedradiators. co.uk

ROOFING

Aqua Fortis 01225 285500; www.roofersbath.com Youngs Roofing 01225 421499; www.youngsroofingbath. co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Meet the property expert The professional contacts for buying, selling or styling your ideal home

JEREMY JENKINS

JAMES COTTLE

JEREMY JENKINS ESTATE AGENTS 01225 866747; www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk What area do you specialize in?

We sell homes in Bradford-on-Avon and the surrounding villages and countryside.

What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

The people! My wonderful colleagues, friendly customers and local property professionals.

What advice would you give someone searching for the ideal home?

Prioritise what is really important to you in your next home and be prepared to compromise on the rest.

If you weren’t working in property what would you be doing?

I’d like to be a personal trainer. Maybe specializing in helping middle-aged and older people lead healthy lifestyles and get into good shape.

ASSOCIATE QUANTITY SURVEYOR, SYNERGY CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY CONSULTANTS LLP

01225 461704; www.synergyllp.co.uk

Jeremy Jenkins

JENNY BOWER

MANAGING DIRECTOR, BATH CITY LETS 01225 800444; www.bclettings.com What are the key values of your business?

Our values at Bath City Lets inform our thoughts, words and actions, which are consistently reflected in how we work with our clients and workforce. We are dependable, we build strong partnerships, we are open and honest trusted advisors.

Why should landlords, tenants and tradespeople choose to work with Bath City Lets?

There is nothing we like more at Bath City Lets than meeting people who’ve had a bad experience of the letting and property management industry and then restoring their faith by showing them how we deliver results and what the industry can truly deliver at its best. Our depth and breadth of experience in the industry, coupled with our sophisticated negotiating skills means you are in safe hands whether you are a landlord or tenant. We have a relentless focus on excellence and genuinely care about providing the best possible service and solutions to meet all our clients needs.

What do you love most about working in property?

I get a huge sense of joy and personal satisfaction from meeting and greeting people from all walks of life, understanding their needs and then being able to use my knowledge and expertise to make a lasting difference.

What is the key piece of advice you would give to a client?

Whether you have a property to let or are looking for your perfect home, work with an agent who is dependable, takes ownership and is accountable to you as a client. Last but not least, work with an agent you instinctively trust.

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

James Cottle

What area do you specialise in?

Based in our Bath office, I am a quantity surveyor and have worked in the construction industry for over 15 years. My current workload is mainly in the heritage and commercial sectors, though I work in other sectors too, including education and residential.

I love that every day is different; I could be working on an extension to a school one day and then on the conversion of a stately home the next!

What has been your favourite project in your career so far?

I am currently working on a fantastic, high profile scheme, providing cost consultancy on the conversion of a listed house into a country hotel, along with creating further visitor attractions on the estate. Seeing the transformation is breath-taking.

What awards have you won this year?

It’s been a fantastic year so far for our Bath team.

In May, we won the RICS South East Conservation category for The Vyne Mansion, a National Trust property, and we won both the Transformation and “Winner of Winners” awards at the inaugural Bath Property Awards for the Bath Abbey Footprint Project, so we are excited that our expertise is being recognised and appreciated. Everything is crossed until the RICS Grand Final in October where regional winners are put forward for the National RICS award.

DAVID MACKENZIE

PARTNER, HEAD OF RESIDENTIAL SALES, CARTER JONAS 01225 747251 www.carterjonas.co.uk Jenny Bower

David MacKenzie

What changes would you make to the property sector?

The buying process needs speeding up as well as making an agreed sale more binding for both parties.

Property technology promises to aid this and needs to happen soon.

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

Taxation and political/economic impacts have made their mark, as well as Bath having seen the largest number of new homes for over a decade. A trend towards environmentally friendly buildings means listed buildings will need more leniency. What never changes is the demand to move to the city. Having worked in Bath for nearly 20 years, this trend has increased year on year.

What turns a house into a home?

Family, a good sound system and wine.

ADVERTISING FEATURE MARCUS ARUNDELL

KIT JOHNSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HOMELETS 01225 484811; homeletsbath.co.uk How has the rental market changed in the last year?

HomeLets continues to engage with a healthy Bath market over the past 12 months, with ever improving levels of property specification on offer from landlords.

On the tenant side, quality professional applicants seeking to live in and around the city are still in good numbers, with student demand being particularly robust.

What makes you different from other letting agents?

We are wholly independent and a family-run business, striving to deliver the very best and most comprehensive service to all our clients. Having been based in Bath since 1992, we are fortunate enough to employ a highly experienced and knowledgeable team, specialising in residential lettings and property management, and always working to industry best practice standards. With all this time under our belts, we have managed to forge professional relationships far and wide, from property maintenance contractors to developers, solicitors, estate agents and everyone in between.

What one piece of advice would you give to prospective tenants?

Understand exactly what sort of home you are looking for before you start your property search, then set a budget and, wherever possible, try sticking to it.

KIT JOHNSON RESIDENTIAL 01225 444447; www.kitjohnson.co.uk

Marcus Arundell

JO BERRYMAN

Kit Johnson

JO BERRYMAN STUDIO 01225 560826; www.joberryman.com What turns a house into a home?

A home should be the theatre of your life – it’s where you live and memories are made so it should reflect that. Grouping cherished items such as ceramics and glassware together in a way that elevates their sense of importance and creates an interesting focal point.

I’m inspired by the way the Horniman Museum in South East London displays its vast array of treasures or how Hauser and Wirth in Bruton curates and displays artwork in an austere yet friendly way. In my own home, I’ll festoon strings of pearls and VIP concert lariats upon a vintage brass accessories stand.

I love the unlikely pairing of trash and treasure, it imbues any space with aliveness.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I adore the sourcing element. I look to The French House and Lorfords Antiques for wooden chests, tables, earthy antiques; Fears and Kahn for kookier, restored vintage pieces; Emery et Cie, Ann Sachs are my go to for tiles; and Romagno Marmi and Mandarin Stone for colourful stone. I love the edgy yet artisanal offerings from Kobi and Teal in Frome. For important pieces of furniture, Midcentury online or Vinterior.

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Art is great way to bring in interest and colour pop.

I especially love Unskilled Workers otherworldly take on portraiture and I’ve always championed my friend Grace O’Connor’s photorealistic paintings. Artistic influences come through textile design also, such as Kevin O’Brien’s sumptuous patterned devore fabrics and Porter Teleo’s hand rendered wall papers.

What brought you to Bath?

I came to Bath when I was 16 years old, moving from Surrey. My Dad was in the Ministry of Defence, which brought us here. I have ten brothers and sisters so it was quite a big move! We lived in Lyncombe Hill and I went to Prior Park.

How long have you been in Estate Agency?

After finishing University in Liverpool, I worked for a large corporate agency in Bristol, then went to manage Andrews Estate Agents in Bath City Centre for five years. In 2001, I set up on my own in Weston High Street taking over the old Hawkins & Jones branch. In total, I have been selling residential houses for 28 years.

Why do people use Kit Johnson Residential?

Because we have been the only Estate Agent in Weston Village for nearly 20 years. The amount of repeat business is recognition of our longevity and local community spirit. People enjoy doing business with us in a family orientated, friendly and independent manner. If you are walking past the office you will often see our company mascot, a Labradoodle called Flo. Flo has been brightening up our window for eight years – feel free to come in and say hello.

RICHARD PEARCE CEO, TCN 020 3958 5350 www.tcnuk.co.uk

Jo Berryman

Richard Pearce

What do you love most about working in property?

It’s such a dynamic industry that affects everyone’s lives everyday in some shape or form. In a rapidly changing and disrupted world, property sits at the heart of that change and I love the challenge of working out what that means for property. Whether humans or robots run the world in the years to come, real estate will be playing its part!

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

It has become more relevant as the offer has improved – for example better offices and more artisan leisure uses.

It has also helped being seen as part of the wider Bristol and Bath region. The next two years will see the biggest change of a generation in my view, as Bath Quays South comes to fruition. Although I would say that, wouldn’t I? What’s your favourite Bath property that you have sold/worked on?

Newark Works. It has the most extraordinary history and has been a blind spot for too long. Now is its time to shine again, hopefully even brighter than in its previous heyday.

What new plans do you have for next year?

Newark Works, a new creative campus in Bristol and Reading along with refurbished workspace in Norwich.

We are also looking at two more acquisitions in Bath and very much hope to bring these forward as creative work space and artisan activities in the near future.

If you weren’t working in property what would you be doing?

Teaching sailing and using it as a way to develop confidence, leadership and mindfulness. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 145

ADVERTISING FEATURE KATE JACKSON

LOUISE BRONSON

MOWBRAY WOODWARDS 01225 485700 www.mowbraywoodwards.co.uk What is the secret of good conveyancing?

It’s no secret! You need to be organised, put your client’s best interests at the forefront and keep channels of communication open on both sides.

What key advice would you give to a client?

Be prepared, be patient and don’t panic. Make sure your paperwork is completed as quickly as possible, be prepared to wait for the other side to sort theirs out, and don’t panic if they take a little longer or if problems arise. Your conveyancer/solicitor is there to inform, advise and support you to ensure the best outcome.

What makes Mowbray Woodwards different?

We make property law personal. When you are buying or selling a property, you want to know your solicitor is in control and moving things along as quickly as possible.

We believe in meeting our clients face-to-face, really getting to know them and understanding their situation so that we can provide a truly bespoke service. Our knowledge of the Bath market and a team with over 50 years’ experience means clients are in good hands.

TOGETHER 07540 307435 www.togethermoney.com/louise Tell us something about your company, and why people should contact you.

Together provides funding on residential, commercial and semi-commercial properties, as well as land and developments. We work with all kinds of clients, from SMEs and LLPs to soletraders and self-employed people. Whether it’s for residential investment, commercial acquisition, or to release equity for business investment, Together can help customers to access the finance they need.

Everyone has an opinion on property.

What misconceptions do people have about it?

A number of people are fearful of auctions for two reasons. One, they think that all property sold at auction has something ‘wrong’ with it and two, that they have to be a cash buyer. Neither are true so I would urge serious property investors to explore this avenue further.

What inspires you?

My dad. He was a local accountant and the main reason that I became a financial services professional. He took pride in his work and helped hundreds of small businesses.

Kate Jackson

MARK LODGE

AQUARIUS HOMES 01225 840 007 www.aquariushomesbath.com What do you love most about working in property?

Every property has a story. Working with the vendors to understand the unique selling points and being able to articulate these in both words, pictures and face to face is a challenge that requires quite a diverse skill set, if done right. There is a great sense of accomplishment when all elements come together and both the seller and buyer agree that they have a good deal.

What area do you specialise in?

With our partners Combe Down Build and Developments, we specialise in the complete end to end property market.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Meeting people for the first time, building their trust and developing a partnership to support each other through the selling, buying or renting process.

If you could change one thing about the Bath property market what would it be?

We are still seeing quite a bit of confusion around the new HMO (house of multiple occupants) additional licencing change, which was introduced in January. We fully understand and support the principle of the changes, but it would be useful to have a post-implementation review and for BANES to publish a clear and concise information sheet based on lessons learnt from both the council, landlords and estate agents. I would also like to see some incentives for landlords to encourage them to give more consideration to professional sharers when looking for tenants in an HMO property.

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

Louise Bronson

Mark Lodge

Scott Gurd

SCOTT GURD

CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER, UNIVIDUAL 01225 427 474; scott.gurd@unividual.co.uk www.unividual.co.uk What do you love most about working in financial services relative to property?

I enjoy the variety that comes with being a chartered financial planner. I look at all areas of financial planning from property, retirement planning, wealth management through to ensuring client risks are sufficiently protected.

Property however, is one of the few areas where you can impact people’s lives and finances in a short period of time. I recently received a card from a client thanking me for my help and expertise, as I had presented them with new options that gave them the ability to buy a home in Bath. There is no better feeling than that type of feedback. I enable clients in Bath to buy their first homes or move up the property ladder, which given the property prices in the area is no mean feat. In the UK, we are very proud of the homes we purchase and aiding clients in the process of achieving this is rewarding.

What guidance would you give someone searching for the ideal home?

Be patient and understand what you can afford first.

There is no point considering a million pound, five bed, detached property if you have no means to finance it. Equally, you may be looking at properties that are under your budget without having a true understanding of what your actual borrowing capabilities are. Before looking at lending options, I give clients a grasp of what they could potentially afford and the other costs they should make provision for. This then provides a foundation for clients to go out and search for a property they love.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

DUNCAN CRYER & MATTHEW COE

CRYER & COE ARCHITECTS 01173 634033; www.cryerandcoe.co.uk What part of your work do you particularly enjoy?

Very simply, realising the impact that our work has on the way people live day to day. We specialise in residential, commercial and care sector work across the South West and value the impact of problem solving with simple cost effective yet transformative ideas.

What common pitfalls do people make when buying or selling a house/commercial property?

Extremes, either not seeing the potential or being put off by the quantum of work involved to reveal that potential. We often visit

properties with clients on a speculative basis to give impartial advice on what work is required and what work could be undertaken to improve the current offering. Buy smart – speak to those in the know and ask for advice if you are worried about any aspect of the purchase.

What services do your clients currently require?

Increasingly people are finding that a good product must be matched with a good service.

We truly put the clients at the heart of each project and seek to meet their expectations (and hopefully exceed them), regardless of the size or typology of the commission. We’re always on hand for a friendly phone call, discussion or fat pen sketch about an idea.

What advice would you give someone looking to invest in property in the South West?

Get in while you can and think long term. We’re seeing a lot from influx from London at the moment so competition is increasing. There will be fluctuations in the market no doubt, but if you’ve got a longer term vision then you’ll be able to reap the rewards. It’s worth doing some digging online about the site, context, history and heritage as this will influence site potential, or chat to a friendly architect!

What’s the highest-profile property you’ve ever worked on?

We are currently working on an old Edwardian

bath house in north Bristol. After a new modern facility was built elsewhere, the building sat unused for nearly 20 years. We are in the process of transforming the space into offices for co-working, SME’s and startups. Our work has also taken us to 10 Downing Street, not to work on it but as an invited expert advisor to their chosen charity.

How is sustainability affecting the property market?

We believe there is an increasing consensus that we need to look after our planet a little better, being spearheaded by the younger generations. We’ve known about the warming of the planet for decades but recent documentaries such as Blue Planet have helped show the tangible effect we are having on our ecosystem. More and more people are looking to reduce their impact through use of sustainable building materials, better thermally performing building fabric and greener choices when it comes to how they travel.

We’re working on a Passivhaus social housing scheme in Bristol which will align with Bristol’s new Local Plan and hopefully continue the city’s drive to greater sustainability.

Regulations are continuing to be updated to reflect this push towards better performing (and built) property but still has a long way to go in comparison to our European counterparts.

FRANCINE WATSON

BRAD HUGHES

What area do you specialize in?

My team and I specialise in Residential Development across the South West. We advise developers from the very beginning, from when a new scheme goes into planning, through to providing guidance on specification, layouts, market intelligence and values. We then provide the sales and marketing strategy for the development, and are responsible for marketing the properties – whether that be off-plan or stock unit sales.

What do you love most about working in property?

I love seeing an unloved and disused listed building or a ‘not-fit-for-purpose’ brownfield site and being part of its transformation into fabulous new homes. There is nothing more satisfying.

Everyone has an opinion on property, what misconceptions do people have about it?

I hear it all the time, that new build homes are soulless, square boxes with no character. I say think again. The developers we work with deliver beautiful new homes that offer flexible, family living to accommodate our hectic, modern-day lives. Best of all, they are bright, light, easy to maintain and economically cheaper to run than older homes.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

I’m a stickler for detail and like to think we produce a much better product than our competitors. We are also always investing in new, greener initiatives such as electric car charging points and sustainable building methods.

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

There has been a dramatic increase in new properties coming to the market in Bath over the last few years, especially with the two MOD redevelopments being released at the same time. With this influx of new builds we’ve had to be more innovative and make sure ours stand out in quality.

What’s your favourite Bath property that you have sold/worked on?

The Lake House at Lansdown Court is an incredible detached dwelling in an enviable position.

What new plans do you have for next year?

We are very excited about the work we are now doing in the social housing sector. We are hoping to build more social housing than open market properties over the next few years, to do our bit to boost this area of the housing market.

KNIGHT FRANK 01225 325 999 www.knightfrank.co.uk

CROSSMAN HOMES 01225 471116 www.crossmanhomes.co.uk

Francine Watson

Brad Hughes

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ADVERTISING FEATURE BEN LANG

CHARLIE DOEL

STONEWOOD BUILDERS 01249 782293 www.stonewoodbuilders.co.uk What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Select a contractor you trust and who you feel you can work with, not just the cheapest. Building projects are rarely straight forward and a collaborative approach destresses and offers greatest value on all fronts.

What awards have you won this year?

Bath Property Awards – Best Contractor (End of 2019) Bath Life Awards – Home & Interiors (Highly Commended) Best of Houzz Awards – Design 2019 What professional accomplishment has made you proudest?

Our Federation Master Builder National Apprentice of the Year Award. Training and investing in people is the bedrock of our success What’s your favourite Bath property that you have sold/worked on?

There are too many to choose one. Bath has so many amazing buildings. Being part of helping to retain this Worldwide Heritage City whilst breathing new life into its buildings is a rewarding part of our work Tell us something about yourselves and why people should contact you?

We are surrounded by a brilliant, driven, intelligent, thoughtful and hardworking team, focused on making the building experience positive and enjoyable for everyone involved.

STRAKERS AUCTIONS 01249 765200 www.strakers.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job?

In the auction room, after I knock the gavel down and the property is sold, the sheer delight on some buyers/sellers faces makes all the stress worthwhile.

What do you anticipate for the property market for the next 12 months?

I’m not sure anyone knows the answer to this one!

However until the government sorts out Brexit, there will be uncertainty in the market and sales will continue to be hard to come by. The lettings fee ban will also hit the investment market as landlords look to sell rather than buy.

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

Strakers Auctions offer a service few can in Bath.

We love properties with issues or quirkiness and especially those that need renovation, so if you have a property which is hard to value or are having problems selling then auction could well be the answer.

Ben Lang

Charlie Doel

SUE COLEMAN

MARK VINCENT

PERFECT ROOMS & INTERIORS 01249 716445; perfectrooms@btconnect.com www.perfectrooms.co.uk

What do you love most about working in property?

The wide variety of fascinating properties I get to work in, meeting the most interesting people from all sorts of backgrounds and professions. Bath seems to draw in exceptionally talented people.

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Seek out independent estate agents and professionals who have lived and worked locally for a long time, and can give you honest and pragmatic advice about the area you wish to move to. A survey can provide a rational balance to what otherwise might be a costly emotional purchase.

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

There has been a large influx of people moving here from London and the home counties, which has had an impact on prices. The fall in the value of the pound has also led to an increase in ex-pats buying property in the city, helping Bath to remain a buoyant market compared to many.

What part of the work do you particularly enjoy?

Receiving genuine thanks from clients who are grateful for the impartial advice on the property, enabling them to make a reasoned decision on their purchase.

What do you love most about working in property/ interior design?

The creative process of evolving ideas into reality.

Whether a customer has no clue or has a firm idea of what they want, seeing the end result and having a happy customer is always a buzz.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

Myself and my team have the flexibility to provide a bespoke, personal service to clients. We recognise customers want locally made and quality. Our softfurnishings are made in-house and we make unique, quality pieces of furniture to order. We cater for small projects or end-to-end interior furnishings projects.

What’s your favourite project you have worked on?

We were recently involved in a full renovation of two town houses in Chelsea, working alongside a Corshambased architectural practice. We started with schemes, proposing fabrics and wallpapers then evolved to bespoke soft-furnishings and furniture including beds and sofas built to the customer’s specification and property dimensions. Next came the staging. The most satisfying aspect was having the whole team pull together and achieve an amazing result.

What turns a house into a home?

It’s the personal touches – the look and feel of fabrics, colours, textures in soft furnishings all add to the comfort of a home. Combine that with your own tastes and belongings, be it art on the walls or a favourite piece of furniture and it soon feels like home.

MARK VINCENT SURVEYING 01225 581591 www.mvsurveying.co.uk

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Mark Vincent

Sue Coleman

ADVERTISING FEATURE KEVIN MURPHY

DAN WHITING

MANAGING DIRECTOR, AARON EVANS ARCHITECTS 01225 466234; kevinm@aaronevans.com www.aaronevans.com Tell us something about yourselves and why people should contact you?

I have lived in Bath since 1982 and have over 30 years of professional experience in the city. In 2018 we celebrated 40 years in practice, so we are well versed in the Bath property market. We have successfully worked on every type of building; there are few sites we haven’t considered at sometime in the past!

What area do you specialize in?

Our work includes residential, retail, commercial and education sectors for developers, business owners and private clients. We specialise in challenging projects that require experience, creativity and lateral thinking, and have an excellent track record in delivering sensitive planning and listed building consents.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

We are client focused, experienced and tenacious.

We offer a bespoke, tailor-made approach to the delivery of every project, working closely with our clients and frequently providing advice to other property and legal professionals.

What awards have you won this year?

We were delighted to win the property category of the 2019 Bath Life Awards in February following our success as winners of the architect award in the inaugural Bath Property Awards last November.

THE BATH HOLIDAY COMPANY 01225 571234 hello@holiday-lets.com www.holiday-lets.com

Kevin Murphy

Dan Whiting

What makes your company unique?

We’re the oldest family-run holiday home company in Bath.

What lies at the heart of your business?

Bath. It is full of historic, unique, beautiful buildings that we are lucky enough to be able to share.

What do you offer?

Value and choice. Offering choice regardless of budget, allowing a whole new market segment to enjoy Bath in their own way. This is especially important when it comes to dining and enabling people to self cater. With food intolerances and special diets, not everyone wants to or can afford to eat out every meal.

What has changed in Bath?

There are lots of misconceptions about self-catering and especially since the advent of Airbnb, which has brought in a need to reinforce health and safety, value and a peaceful way of living for guests and the people of Bath alike. The risk is that people not operating diligently in these areas bring the overall standard of the industry down.

What is most rewarding?

We are proud that Bath is competing on the world stage and that we are a part of that; not only giving guests a great experience, but also bringing in more opportunity and revenue to the city of Bath.

JACK KING

SAVILLS 01225 474500 jack.king@savills.com www.savills.co.uk

DANIEL DALY

OWNER, HOST MY PROPERTY 01225 587071 hello@hostmyproperty.co.uk

What makes you different from others in your profession?

I strive to be dynamic within my profession, adjusting my approach to suit a variety of different circumstances, which gives my clients the best possible head start with their property sales and purchases.

What area do you specialize in?

I specialise in the city market for Savills and predominantly spend my days valuing Bath’s finest homes, with a view to then leading the sellers through the stressful process of finding a buyer, surveyors, solicitors and getting to a successful completion with their buyer.

What awards have you won this year?

We were incredibly proud to win the Best Residential Estate Agent Award at the inaugural Bath Property Awards, which was a fantastic event and we look forward to continuing this tradition year on year. Nationally, last month Savills took home both UK Sales Agency of the Year and Letting Agency of the Year at the coveted RESI Awards 2019.

www.hostmyproperty.co.uk

Jack King

Daniel Daly

What area do you specialise in?

We specialise in short-let property management, using websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com. We manage the entire process from guest bookings, right through to changeovers, cleaning and linen.

What do you love most about working in property?

The variety of properties we manage. Bath has many beautiful buildings and unique properties and they are all very different and individual. I’m still surprised when viewing a new property, and it’s such a privilege to live and work in this beautiful city.

What are the key values of your business?

Trust and honesty are at the centre of everything we do. We are a local business who focus on maintaining exceptionally high standards and building a trusting relationship with our clients and guests.

What new plans do you have for next year?

Next year we would like to keep on expanding and taking on new clients. Our business has grown organically with the focus being on quality over quantity.

Taking this approach within the short-let market has been key to our success.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE ANDY PARADISE

SIMON LORD & MARK BURY

DIRECTOR, THE FLYING PIG RENOVATION COMPANY

ALLEN AND HARRIS 01225 425111; www.allenandharris.co.uk

01225 420370; www.flyingpiginbath.co.uk Why should someone use Flying Pig? The Flying Pig Renovation Company is a true family run business with the core comprising of myself, my wife Sharon and two sons Zak and Kye working from our newly refurbished offices and warehouse alongside the canal in Bath.

We specialise in renovation projects ranging from small bathroom fit outs up to complete renovation of large stately manor houses. We help you every step of the way through a project and produce of own in house CAD drawings and specification tailored to your exacting needs. We directly employ all staff to ensure absolute consistency, reliability and most importantly the absolute best standards possible. We aim to achieve a cost effective project that is delivered on time and to your desired finish.

What’s your favourite property that you have worked on?

This is a very difficult question as we have been fortunate over the past years to work on some incredible properties that boast some of the finest period features in Bath. We’ve worked on the iconic Royal Crescent, renovating full houses in Great Pultney Street, Savile House in Weston Park, Tylehurst on Sion Hill and Avonstone House among many others. As well as domestic private clients, we have also carried out commercial works for global brands such as Aesop and Cereal magazine.

Andy Paradise

Simon Lord & Mark Bury

OLIVER HAWTHORNE

What do you love most about working in property?

Making clients’ hopes and aspirations a reality.

If you could change one thing about the Bath property market what would it be?

The acceleration of the development of the riverside area. It’s an eyesore and has been for too long.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

Unlike many competitors, we have two offices in Bath working together as one team. We offer local expertise; as team leaders we have 60 years’ combined Bath and London experience across all price sectors. We have national reach – the renowned London agent Barnard Marcus is owned by our parent company. The scope in our marketing proposition gives us the ability to serve all markets. Also, we strongly believe that in this market you cannot just rely on the auto-pilot of a website for results and our recent growth in market share supports that view.

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

Cooling in the buy-to-let market. Many are using company vehicles to build portfolios. There’s an increasing appetite for holiday let/Airbnb.

What are the key values of your business?

Strong work ethic, client first, whatever it takes attitude. As a business, team work is everything to us.

Our message to potential customers is everyone is welcome through our door, irrespective of the size of their budget.

HUBB PROPERTY GROUP 0117 422 0122 www.hubb.co.uk

MARCUS EVANS

What makes you different from others in your profession?

At Hubb Property Group, we work with investors on all our projects and we pride ourselves on our personal service...it’s important for us that we nurture relationships one-on-one. Of course, it goes without saying that we’re always striving to achieve the most attractive interest returns for our investors. We have a proven track record as experts in identifying and sourcing great opportunities, generating great returns and yields.

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Diversify. We always recommend our clients diversify their investments to minimise risk and ensure maximum success on their returns.

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

There’s no denying that all the Brexit uncertainty has caused a slowdown in the industry. However, with the influx of Londoners making Bath their new home, the market has remained robust.

The demographics have also changed, with the average buyers such as millennials and London leavers wanting a more modern home. This brings opportunities for investors like us to renovate and improve homes around the city.

What area do you specialize in?

New build homes. It is clear there is a fantastic range of properties available in Bath, but often people will not consider new builds. There have been countless times when we have seen purchasers adamant they would not consider us, but when they take a sneak peek at our show homes and admire the wonderful views along the river and of Bath they are soon living in one!

What professional accomplishment has made you proudest?

Becoming a sales and marketing director for Crest Nicholson. I was a sales advisor at Bath Riverside for many years, I took hold of every opportunity and worked hard. My background has kept me close to my roots, I do understand the challenges on the ground in terms of build and sales. The past five years have however been somewhat of a roller-coaster.

What advice would you give someone searching for the ideal home?

Keep an open mind and listen to the sales team. Crest Nicholson sales teams are true professionals, able to give you impartial advice on new homes they know a lot about, so any potential purchasers can make an informed decision that suits their needs and requirements within their price range. We genuinely care and want to help.

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CREST NICHOLSON REGENERATION 01225 463517; www.crestnicholson.com

Oliver Hawthorne

Marcus Evans

ADVERTISING FEATURE ALAN KERRISON

NATHAN HARRIS

DIRECTOR, AJ REMOVALS 01225 404060; enquiries@ajremovalsbath.co.uk

INTERACTION 01225 485600; www.interaction.uk.com

www.ajremovalsbath.co.uk How was your company started?

My business partner, James, and I started the company in December 2006. At the time, we were working part time for Rolfey’s, delivering and collecting items for the shop, and saw a gap in the market. We bought our first van and haven’t ever looked back. Now 12 years later, we’re a team of 15 with a fleet of nine vehicles.

What are the best aspects of your job?

We’re lucky to be able to get out and meet new people.

We deal with both domestic and commercial moves, alongside working with Curo and St John’s Foundation, so we get to converse with a variety of people from all walks of life on a daily basis. Being based in Bath, we’re also very fortunate to be surrounded by some incredible properties, so it’s also an added perk to be able to take in the interiors of these too!

What advice would you give customers planning a move?

Preparation is everything. Allow yourselves plenty of time to meet with your removal team and discuss your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and, ultimately, pick someone that you feel confident with.

We see you also move pianos. Is this as tricky as it sounds?

Pianos come in all shapes and sizes and some are certainly a little more challenging than others. It often tends to be the layout of houses that can make moving them tough, rather than the instruments themselves.

Alan Kerrison

Nathan Harris

LISA HOWELLS

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 reaction to an always on, constantly connected world we’ll see an increased need for private ‘me space’ adjacent to now prevalent collaborative ‘we space’. We can see this emerging in tech itself as people seek to regain balance and to become more intentional with their use of technology.

Tell us about one incredibly original or creative project you’ve been involved with When Runway East, a co-working office, wanted to create a space in Bristol, I was proud to be the lead designer. They wanted a place for start-up teams to work, meet, think (and drink) with customisable offices, and provide something unique. It’s such a great place to work.

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

Engage with a design company as early as possible.

Time will allow them to understand what you need, advise, and will give you choice.

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, CURO 01225 366000; www.curo-sales.co.uk.

Everyone has an opinion on property, what misconceptions do people have about Help to Buy? The government-backed Help to Buy Scheme is not just available for first time buyers, it’s for anyone who’s planning to buy a newly-built home up to £600,000.

The property you’re purchasing must be your only residence, but it’s a great help to move up from a two-bedroom property to a three-bedroom or even a four-bed family home. So, for expanding families it’s a great help.

What advice would you give someone searching for a new home?

Research the area thoroughly – check out local amenities, transport links and schools. I would also recommend speaking to your future neighbours to find out exactly what it’s like to be part of your chosen community and the residential development you’re considering. It’s important to find a solicitor that speaks your language and is easy to reach on the phone or email. When you choose your home, look for a property that you are able to grow into, and imagine how you would live there in five years’ time.

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

We’re all about creating thriving, sustainable communities and not just building homes. We’re also a ‘profit for purpose’ organisation.

ANGELA DUNLOP

SENIOR ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR – HEAD OF CONVEYANCING, WATKINS SOLICITORS 01225 904804; www.watkinssolicitors.co.uk

Lisa Howells

Angela Dunlop

What part of your work do you enjoy?

I love my job. 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. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 151

Professional studio • Families • Portraiture • Events • Weddings • Fashion • Architecture

Beata Cosgrove is a Bath photographer who has been working on her on-going project “Meet the Maker”, focussing on people who do manual work and are passionate about their creations.

Beata recently photographed cake maker Sandra Monger at work. Sandra is widely known for her spectacular show-stoppers, elegant classics and quirky, cute and fun cake creations, more of which can be seen at www.sandramongercakes.co.uk

In order to find how your business can be captured by Beata Cosgrove, please contact Beata

@ beatacosgrovephotography@gmail.com beatacosgrovephotography

@BeataCosgrove

BeataCosgrovePhotographer

www.beatacosgrovephotography.com

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

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

WESTSIDE DESIGN

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

ALLSOP CARPETS

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; www.bathkitchencompany.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

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

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

MENDIP FIREPLACES

ETONS OF BATH

www.westsidedesign.co.uk

Bath’s leading fireplace, wood burner, gas fire, chimney and flue specialist. From classic to contemporary, concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesney’s, Barbas Belfires, Hwam, Stuv and Jetmaster. Get in touch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD. info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

BONITI

CHEVERELL

LUCY COLLINS

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

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

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 155

AJ Removals Removals - Storage - Shipping - Packing

Tel: 01225 404060

enquiries@ajremovalsbath.co.uk

www.ajremovalsbath.co.uk

Unit 12 Stable Yard Industrial Estate, Windsor Bridge Road, Bath BA2 3AY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Would Jane Austen have been a property addict?

Peter Greatorex from THE APARTMENT COMPANY ponders… ane Austen held a special place in her heart for Bath, which is why our city still honours her today. Her novels are filled with fascinating characters, beautifully described with all their quirks. She seemed to notice every small detail, those that could be seen and, more importantly, felt. Yet amidst her weaving plots and twisting tales are some other very important stars, as alongside her characters are the properties in which they live, that they strive to obtain or admire from afar.

It is safe to say that if Jane were alive today she would be a property addict. Scouring the property websites such as Rightmove for those dream homes that only a lottery win would enable us to own, and having a nosy at the apartment down the street that has just come onto the market. We like to think she would

have continued to place glorious properties at the centre of all her stories.

As estate agents, we can learn a lot from her descriptions of fictional properties, let’s take Pemberley, for example, the home of Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Pemberley, she leads us to believe, is incredibly grand, set within a stunning landscape, and makes a lasting impression on first sight. She writes: “It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned.

Elizabeth was delighted.”

We hope you’ve had that feeling when you’ve seen a building or a future home that has taken your breath away. It may have been the home you’re in now, or a visit to an historic building,

and from the minute you step inside your imagination runs wild. Just like it did for Jane Austen, property plays a central part in all of our lives; each new home is kind of like a new chapter in our lives, and we’re proud that we can play our part in helping you along the way.

Whenever you’re ready to start the next chapter in your story, The Apartment Company is filled with property addicts looking forward to helping you move. We’re not here just for today, but for all the years to come. n

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

A PLACETO CALL HOME

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

RAISING HOPE A sneaky peek inside the contemporary yet elegant Hope House development in one of Bath’s most covetable locations Words by Lydia Tewkesbury Photos by Pete Helme Photography www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BATH LIFE I 159 141

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PROPERTY

W

e love the blending of old and new, and, at the Hope House development on Lansdown Road, you get just that; a suite of apartments in this recently renovated building, built circa 1781, and spreading out into an elegant development of brand new homes, Park Row. Back in the 18th century, Hope House – and its surrounding land – comprised the Regency home of one Charles Hamilton, a gardening enthusiastwho took advantage of the elevated position to craft terraces and parkland to give his new home the panoramic views over the city of Bath that it still enjoys today.

Indeed, Hailton’s extensive parkland and woodland will be preserved and improved during the new development, giving this singular address a real back-to-nature feeling, offering a true retreat from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city centre.

Designed with both heritage and contemporary living in mind, D4 Park Row – the spacious threebedroom property you see here – benefits from these glorious views with its southerly terrace and aspect.

Approached via a shared formal garden, the sunny home boasts a private patio and second floor terrace.

Inside, design is everything. The spare and refreshing space was carefully curated by the expert eye of interior designers Lambert & Brown, creating an inner world as breath-taking as that which lies outside.

The interiors are flawless, contemporary havens of light and space. With wide set glass doors thrown welcomingly outward, rooms flow seamlessly together, light pouring through at every opportunity.

This sense of space to breathe is only increased by the neutral palate of the decor, with the clean white lines of the home drawing the eye and creating a sense of harmony and calm.

The kitchen-dining area is functional but graceful.

An island breaks up the right angle of the kitchen for more casual dining – or perhaps a glass of wine after work – with a proper dining room table nearby for the family, or throwing dinner parties. The open-plan style means there is no more being ‘stuck in the kitchen’; it is a communal space, and all the better for it.

The gorgeous, 22ft first floor living and study area blends outdoors with in, bi-folding doors leading out onto a generous terrace, perfect for whiling away those long summer evenings.

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PROPERTY

Wander up the stairs and you’ll find the sleeping accommodation; two double bedrooms, both with immaculate en-suite bathrooms featuring large format porcelain floor tiles by Mandarin Stone and polished chrome brassware. Then, the master bedroom – the ultimate luxury of D4. Featuring a gorgeous, brushed marble tiled en suite and even a dressing room, it’s the haven you need to prepare for a busy day. And the views, of course, are panoramic.

Chatter around this development is loud.

With its own tennis courts and the city centre only a hop, skip and a jump away, these homes seem unlikely to be on the market for long.

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HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage

2168

Bedrooms

3

Bathrooms and WCs

3

Outside Private patio and extensive terrace on second floor. Communal formal gardens and tennis courts

Price

£1,525,000

Where House D4, Hope House, Lansdown Road, Bath, BA1 2SZ Savills, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath, BA1 2EN; www.savills.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Beautiful, charming, spacious BREWERY COURT is a new development of three-bedroom mews houses in the heart of Bradford on Avon

B

rewery Court is a small development in the grounds of the old G & T Spencer’s brewery in Whiteheads Lane.

With a history dating back to the early 19th Century, this bespoke development blends the historic architecture of the original building with the six new mews houses.

Philip Ratcliffe of local estate agents Kingstons is selling these delightful mews houses on behalf of developer, Juniper Homes. “With a bespoke high quality internal specification, meticulous design, dedicated resident access and parking within private landscaped grounds, Brewery Court ticks all the boxes, particularly for people looking for the ideal lock up and leave, giving them the freedom to travel.”

These very manageable new houses combine the honey coloured hues of Bath stone with the advantages of low maintenance that comes with a new build, all in a very central location.

With the emphasis on keeping active, being able to walk to almost everything in Bradford on Avon from Whiteheads Lane is a significant advantage. “People want to be connected to their local environment and Brewery Court lets you do just that,” says Philip. ”It’s the only new 166 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

development that gives you both security and peace of mind, whilst being close to the shops, cafes and thriving life that Bradford on Avon offers.” ■

TEN GREAT REASONS TO MOVE TO BREWERY COURT 1. Secure development with parking 2. All houses with rear gardens 3. Stunning specification throughout 4. Quartz worksurfaces in the kitchen 5. Engineered oak flooring throughout the living area 6. Just a few minutes walk to central Bradford on Avon 7. M4 just 20 minutes away 8. Just eight miles from Bath and a regular direct train 9. Under two hours from London Paddington 10. Got a house to sell? Juniper Homes WiseMove can help

Three-bedroom mews houses from £475,000.

Like to know more?

Call Philip Ratcliffe at Kingstons on 01225 867 591; www.brewerycourt.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Escape to rural Somerset Find your dream home at CREST NICHOLSON’S Vicarage Fields…

O

n the edge of the Mendip Hills lies Vicarage Fields, a rural retreat for homebuyers looking to embrace life in a close knit community.

Located in the quaint city of Wells, 20 miles from Bath, Vicarage Fields is surrounded by history and great architecture, while offering plenty of options for foodies and adventurists alike.

If you’re in the market for a new home, Vicarage Fields is a great place to live, with all the activities and attractions you could ever need right on your doorstep. An easy tenminute walk from Wells’ historic city centre, nearby attractions include the magnificent Wells

Cathedral, medieval Bishop’s Palace Gardens and Vicar’s Close. Walking through the centre takes you back in time with traditional narrow cobbled streets – it’s even home to the oldest street in Europe.

Somerset is renowned for its cider, with many local farms opening their doors for tours.

Wells itself offers an array of food markets with restaurants and pubs in the area known for serving the best locally sourced fresh produce.

There is an abundance of attractions to keep everyone entertained in this picturesque area of the South West. Weekends can be spent exploring The Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with views across its sweeping landscapes. Cheddar Gorge offers a limestone canyon with caves and walking trails, and the Chew Valley Lake is excellent for picnics and birdwatching.

A wide range of four bedroom homes are available at Vicarage Fields, each boasting generous bedrooms and outdoor space designed for traditional modern living. Spacious kitchen and dining areas provide the perfect hub for entertaining family and friends, with a separate lounge ideal for putting your feet up and relaxing after a long day.

Ready to make your countryside escape, but have your existing property to sell?

Crest Nicholson’s VIP Part Exchange scheme can help take the stress out of moving. Crest Nicholson can act as your cash buyer, cover agent and removal fees, and when you collect the keys to your new property, you will have up to two weeks to move home.

Vicarage Fields offers a traditional collection of three and four bedroom homes. Prices range from £320,000 to £575,000, with Help to Buy, Part Exchange, stamp duty incentives and extras such as carpets and turf available on selected properties. n To find out more, call our friendly sales team on 01749 600864, or visit our website at www.crestnicholson.com/ vicarage-fields. Alternatively, take a tour around one of the homes at our sales and marketing suite, open Friday to Wednesday from 10am until 5pm, and every Thursday from 12pm to 7pm. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 169

BATH LIVES

“It revolves around the sudden death of a young farmer” decides to take on the farm. At the same time, she promises their young son she will prove that his dad did not commit suicide. Two seemingly impossible tasks. A series of near fatal accidents then occur, and it would appear that her life, too, is threatened…

CAROLINE KINGTON The writer and documentary-maker on her late husband, Miles; rural dramas; and the joys of Limpley Stoke…

Celebrated musician, humorist and broadcaster Miles Kington famously invented Franglais – where would Bath Boules be without that English-French mash-up? – and had great fun with ‘Albanian Proverbs’, which appear profound but are actually meaningless. He lived in Limpley Stoke near Bath with his wife Caroline – no mean creative force herself – and the village became inspiration (some suggest; she denies it) for her series of comic novels.

She’s lately been finishing off a new book, A Long Shadow, and posthumously publishing stray pieces of Miles’ writing.

Moving to Limpley Stoke is a move Miles and I never regretted… The village, next

door to the more up-market and prettier Freshford, clings to the side of a very steep valley, sandwiched between a railway line and the A36, with the River Avon at the bottom. The villagers are endlessly kind and supportive – without being too intrusive – and are very

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proactive in organising social events. Together with Freshford we’ve launched a community shop, The Galleries, which has expanded to include a café, where I’m launching my new book.

I love Bath… To have a cultural centre, which is also beautiful and not too large, not very far away is really fortunate. The theatres (both mainstream and fringe), the cinemas, the museums and art galleries, the architecture, the restaurants and the bookshops, particularly Mr B’s and Toppings… Wow! We are so lucky.

A Long Shadow arose from a feature I’d made for Channel 4 news about women in farming… Both BSE and foot

and mouth disease were still very much an issue for farmers back then. Farms failed and, tragically, there was a marked rise in farm suicides. This became the background for my story, which revolves around the sudden death of a young farmer. Struggling to come to terms with this, his widow

It’s important that this is not just a novel about farming…

Though yes, the farm and the countryside are intrinsically important to it. In fact, the origins of the story stretch back to a seemingly unconnected event in the Second World War. Though everything is told from the viewpoints of two principal characters, there are many other threads which weave together to bring the story to its conclusion.

What I particularly like about it is that, ultimately, it is the reader – not the characters – who is in full possession of the facts.

My Summerstoke comedies are definitely not about life in Limpley Stoke… Though they

are set in a West Country village, it’s definitely not this one – nor is it Freshford. They tell of the rivalry between two very different farms in the village and of the lives, loves and antics of the community.

Completely different from A Long Shadow, they’re more for The Archers fans, perhaps.

After Miles had died, I posthumously published some of his work… Diagnosed

with cancer, he decided to write a book. How Shall I Tell The Dog? was brilliant, funny, not at all depressing – but unfinished when he died. So I completed it for him.

Then, as he’d left behind a huge amount of material, I edited two further books – a collection of Franglais columns written for Punch, Le Bumper Book of Franglais, and a collection of other writings,

The Best By Miles. I then set about fulfilling a promise I’d made him: to publish a collection of his letters.

I hadn’t realised the enormity of the task, however. He’d written over 20,000 of them, and it has taken me ages to reduce that to a representative sample. My Mother, The Bearded Lady: The Selected Letters of Miles Kington will be out in September, and I hope to see it launched at Mr B’s.

I always wanted to direct… But, to pay the rent, I started out as a drama teacher. I also worked in fringe theatre, writing, acting and eventually, yes, directing, then did a post-grad course at Bristol and went to work in television. There I became a documentary filmmaker, and after ten years at the BBC went freelance, combining TV with other fringe theatre work.

I’ve lost count of the number of documentaries I’ve made, but some of the subjects were tough, including street prostitution, battered women, and – most difficult of all – false memory syndrome.

Documentary making wasn’t all doom and gloom… I had

fun times, too. I loved making a film about Bath’s Natural Theatre Company, and doing a whole series for HTV on jazz. Covering the Bath International Festival was great fun, too.

Something not many people know about me is… I was so

reluctant to give up my involvement with the ‘real’ world when I first decided to write a novel, that I became a magistrate at Bath Magistrates’ Court. n A Long Shadow

by Caroline Kington is out now from Lightning Books; www.eye-books.com

Tel: 01225 312999 crescentflowers.co.uk