Bath Life - Issue 403

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @BathLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE CITY

ISSUE 403 / 25 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER 2019 / £3

THE PIG

FIELD TO FORK DINING ISSUE 403 / 25 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER 2019 / THE HIGH LIFE

ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT 24 HOURS OF LUXURY

SLEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

GO TO BED AND GET THOSE ZZZ’S

LIVING THE LIFE THE LUXE ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE: Fun is everywhere in this

property on page 113; BELOW: Luxe pyjamas from The Dressing Room, see page 80

L

et me be surrounded by luxury, I can do without the necessities!” So said Oscar Wilde. While we in no way suggest this as a robust guide for life, he does have a point. Everyone should have a bit of luxury in their lives and so in this issue – our special luxury issue – we have explored just what you can see, do and buy in Bath that is a little bit decadent. This doesn’t mean buying a private jet decked out in white leather interiors and a jacuzzi (the queen of style Coco Chanel herself said that vulgarity is the very opposite of luxury) but experiencing stuff that makes you feel great, whether that’s enjoying a banging whisky or a night out at the theatre. With that in mind, we’ve put together a 24-hour guide of how to do Bath the luxury way (page 29); we showcase the sumptuous foodie products made and sold locally (page 72) and we take a look inside the super-stylish home of a Bath couple (page 122).

Something that should be seen as a necessity – and definitely not a luxury – is sleep, but so many of us don’t get enough of it, so we’ve dedicated a whole feature to it (page 80), with gorgeous sleepwear items and bedding you’ll be putting on your Christmas list pronto. Elsewhere, we stay the night at The Pig just down the road (page 62) for a bit of country house fun. Enjoy!

HARRIET NOBLE Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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

Issue 403 / 25 October – 8 November 2019 COVER Antonio Lopez (1943-1987) Fashion Of The Times, New York Times 1965; exhibiting in December at Gray M.C.A; see page 29

THE LUXURY ISSUE

29 How to spend 24 hours of absolute luxury in Bath

THE ARTS

41 ARTS INTRO Going to the ocean 42 WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, art and family stuff –

plus our FilmBath Festival picks

53 THEATRE As nature intended 55 BOOKS Nic’s hot take on what we’ll be reading this

winter

FOOD&DRINK

59 FOOD & DRINK NEWS All of the city’s latest

culinerary developments

60 TRY 5 Dine out in Keynsham 62 THE PIG A night of rest and relaxation

SHOPPING

42

71 INTRO These earrings have got us buzzing 72 EDITOR’S CHOICE Eat, drink and be merry

122 29

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

62

Issue 403 / 25 October – 8 November 2019

LIFESTYLE

80 HOW TO SLEEP Tips and tricks for a quality forty

winks

100

100 GARDENS Life is better down at the allotment 130 LIVES Emma Reynolds is making yoga accessible

for everyone

BUSINESS

105 BATHWORKS The local businessess making the

headlines

PROPERTY

113 SHOWCASE A home made for dinner parties 122 RESIDENCE The epitome of stylish living, you’ll

want to nose around this Bath home

DEPARTMENTS 11 SPOTLIGHT 15 SOCIETY 23 A MAN’S WORLD

71 80

113

Editor Harriet Noble harriet.noble@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, David Flatman, Anna O’Callaghan and Nick Woodhouse 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 and Exeter. 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 Mozartfest

IN THE (WOLF)GANG

© BETINA SKOVBRO

Bath’s favourite chamber and orchestral music extravaganza is back. Mozartfest returns for its 29th year, with a jam-packed schedule of performances from worldrenowned classical performers taking place over nine days in November. The entirely privately funded festival began back in the Nineties with a generous personal bequest from local resident Mary Purnell, in memory of her late son, Mark, who loved the music of Mozart – and it has been a popular event ever since, with visitors travelling from all over the world to attend. It’s selling well – so well a few of the shows have already sold out – so make sure to grab those tickets while you still can. Particular highlights include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and ‘the dream team’ Alina Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien performing sonatas on the violin and piano respectively – among many more, with tickets available from as little as £12.

For more: www.bathmozartfest.org.uk

M2M

AIMING HIGH Ed Jackson has an extraordinary story. Paralysed by a freak accident that ended his rugby career, he fought for recovery bit by bit to climb Mount Snowdon one year on from the accident doctors thought would see him never walk again.

Wanting to share his incredible story of recovery, he teamed up with rugby pal Olly Barkley to form M2M Presents. The company’s mission is altruistic, a blend of fundraising events they plan and a trip known as CLIMB – a series of guided climbs for beginners and seasoned pros alike. This month, Ed will face his biggest challenge yet: Mera Peak. Sponsored by Berghaus and leading healthcare provider Exemplar, Ed will lead an expedition of 30 up all 6,500ft of the mountain in Nepal – an expedition that will take three weeks.

“I’m a rugby player. I needed a target, an endpoint. The next game or season to aim for. Sudoku as a hobby?

Just wasn’t going to work,” says Ed. The other arm of M2M Presents is a pop-up supper club called bEat, which has all the vibe of an after party in Ibiza rather than a black tie dinner. Euridge Manor, the sprawling mansion just outside of Bath provides the backdrop for the bEat event on 30 November, with Soho House chef Neil Smith in the kitchen and cocktails provided by Tanqueray.

All proceeds from CLIMB and bEat will go towards building a spinal unit in Chitwan, Nepal.

For more: www.them2mgroup.com @M2MPresents

Catch the Mozart extravaganza Mountain climbing – a doddle really

What sort of dress would you design?

Fashion and fairytale

© MONA JONES PHOTOLICIOUS

ONE UPON A TIME…

There’s still time to apply for the Fashion and Fairytale design competition. The stylish project, which culminates in an exhibition at the Assembly Rooms in 2020, invites young people from key stage one all the way through to undergrad to submit sustainable designs inspired by nature. The winning creator will have the immense honour of seeing their work exhibited alongside designer Cindy Beadman’s collection of ball gowns.

Fashion and Fairytale will collaborate with Bath schools, craftspeople, businesses, local charities, Mentoring Plus and Wiltshire Scrapstore to reach young people from a range of different backgrounds.

You’ve got until 31 January 2020.

For more: www.fashionandfairytale.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 11

SPOTLIGHT Banes

Citizen’s Advice Banes recently celebrated their 80th anniversary. They had a welldeserved vintage-style party – in homage to their beginnings in the forties – at the Hilton Bath City Hotel featuring Dr Phil Hammond.

The veteran comedian and champion of public services took an irreverent look at what Citizens Advice has achieved over the last 80 years before CEO Leslie Redwood claimed the stage to announce the volunteer-led service’s plans for the next 80.

Citizens Advice Banes has come a long way in its 80 years of existence, helping countless people with free, independent, confidential and impartial advice.

For more: www.cab-banes.org

The converted horsebox that served as the base for Citizens Advice in 1939 and throughout the Second World War

Bath Abbey Choir

IN THE KEY OF F

Sian Jones and Amy Seyers have become the first women appointed to Bath Abbey Choir. Lay-Clerks, they will be singing alto for the Abbey on a job share basis. There are other adult female choristers out there – Gloucester Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral both have women singing in the choir full time – it’s still an exciting development for Bath.

“Many other greater churches or cathedrals call their adult singers lay-clerks and of course the gender-neutral name better reflects the true composition of the alto, tenors and basses,” says Huw Williams, director of music at the Abbey. “We’re delighted that Sian and Amy are now officially permanent members of the Abbey Choir.

What has remained unchanged is that it still comprises adult singers who are able to perform to a high standard and who sing the alto, tenor and bass parts in the Abbey choirs. Arguably, they are the unsung heroes who support the Choirs of Boys and Girls and enable them to give of their best.”

For more: www.bathabbey.org

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

© SOULMEDIA

THE GOOD CITIZENS

A good ol’ knees up

Bath Life Awards

READY. SET. GO!

Pinch, punch… nominations open 1st of the month!

Can it possibly be that time of year already? Oh, yes.

Nominations for the Bath Life Awards open on 1 November, and we’re expecting a record number of entries for our ceremony in February.

You surely remember the 2019 awards, where we saw a record number of nominations, with an astounding 340 individual cases being made by local businesses for why they should be nominated.

Sponsorship-wise, just a handful of categories remain open a whole four months before the ceremony.

There are some extra glitzy ways to get sponsorship value with lead-up events like the Finalists’ & Sponsors’ Reception in January, Champagne Reception on Awards night on 27

February 2020 and a special dinner for winners in March.

“With limited category sponsorships available and nominations opening very soon, Awards time is upon us once again!” says Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash. “We’re fast approaching an incredible night of Bath celebration, and we’d encourage all local businesses to put their best foot forward for an Award.”

The Awards are free to enter, and any local company or organisation can put themselves forward. From arts and leisure, cafés and restaurants, education to tech, the largest companies to the smartest newcomers; the Bath Life Awards offer something for all.

Finalists will be announced on 15 January, and all decisions are made by a panel of independent judges, freshly selected each year.

If you fancy aligning your brand with Bath’s most talked-about Awards event, get in touch with Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk www.bathlifeawards.co.uk @bathlifeawards Sian Jones and Amy Seyers can now be seen performing with Bath Abbey Choir

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 Chair of Bath Festivals John Cullum and Catherine May

Julia Green, David Almond and Cressida Cowell

Chris May, Eleanor Household, Willow Household and Philip Raby Mark Langley and Kerry Irvine

Jasmine Barker, Holly Stocker, Abi Harris and Elysia Coillins

LIT FEST LAUNCH

Ian Stockley and Hadrian Briggs

As you will no doubt have noticed from the excited, book-wielding gaggles of children swanning about the city recently, the Bath Children’s Literature Festival came to town, bringing with it a whirlwind of author events and workshops.

The proceedings kicked off with a party at the festival’s official bookseller, Waterstones on Milsom Street – who you probably also spotted at their pop-up in the Guildhall throughout the eight-day event.

The party was star-studded – or perhaps we should say author-studded – with David Almond (Skellig) and current Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell (How To Train Your Dragon) both putting in appearances to celebrate the beginning of the festival, which went on to see thousands of children in attendance at a massive range of events around the city. www.bathfestivals.org.uk Photos by Gareth Hoskins

Sallie Taylor, Patrick Anketell-Jones and Charlotte Thursz

Catherine Bruton and Joanna Nadin

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SOCIETY

Chair of the Friends at the Victoria Art Gallery Dr Michael Rowe

Lucy Newark and Liz Bennington

Kersti Haabjoern and friend (left)

TWO FOR ONE

Art fans made haste to the Victoria Art Gallery for the joint private view of their current exhibitions of work by ceramicist James Tower and painter Richard Twose.

One of Britain’s most important 20th century potters, this exciting exhibition of James Tower’s pieces comprises 40 examples of his ceramics and sculptures – including some that were on display to the public for the very first time.

Also on display was the work of one-time jewellery designer Richard Twose. He began painting in 2000, and has since gathered up a fair few awards including second prize in the 2017 BP Portrait Award. The private view gave the gallery’s guests the chance to view the paintings, inspired by a residency at Elisabeth Frink’s former studio, with the artist himself in attendance. www.victoriagal.org.uk Photos by Anna Barclay

Karen Twose and Emma Rose

Lisa Moore, Gary Young and Natalie Young

Lucy Pearman, Giles Pearman and Chris Wordsworth

Tanji Kaler

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

Richard Twose

Nick Tower, Theresa Hallgarten and Tony Hallgarten

John Benington, Victoria Art gallery manager

SOCIETY

Victoria Thornton, Claire Smith and Eleanor Young

Martin Gledhill Jonathan Hetreed and Chris Rogers

Andrew Grant

THE THERAPEUTIC CITY

Architecture Is celebrated the launch of their brand new Therapeutic City Festival with a few chosen friends at The Guildhall last month. It was a pecha kucha event inspired by the lively Japanese presentation style whereby each speaker gives a presentation of 20 slides with only 20 seconds commentary for each slide. Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath and Caroline Kay, chief executive of Bath Preservation Trust chaired the event, with presentations from Martin Glendhill, senior teaching fellow at Bath University, Tom Boden of the National Trust, Claire Smith, partner at Buro Happold and Andrew Grant of Grant Associates. They all spoke on the core theme of the festival: why wellbeing is central to city management. www.therapeuticity.org Photos by Justin Towell

Caroline Kay and Funda Kemal Jean Gardner, Denise Rogen and Wera Hobhouse

Polly Andrew, Amy Frost and Ray Clarke

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

Sophie Turner, Lucy Barron and Justin Towell

Liz Mills, Marcus Grant and Deborah Grant

Allan Brodie

SOCIETY

Sara Loxton

Chris Barlett

Carol Symon

ART IN UNUSUAL PLACES

On a glorious September weekend, as part of the Combe Down Art Trail, artists Emma Rose and Carol Symon hosted an unusual art exhibition in a very unusual location – at the Skittle Alley of the King William IV pub on Combe Road.

Interestingly the wonderful old structure lent it self perfectly to displaying artwork.

Guests enjoy wine while having great fun and, of course, buying some beautiful art. www.emmaroseartworks.com David Waltho and Angela Waltho

Chrissy Klein

Philip de Glanville and Yolanda de Glanville

Rachel Al-Gafoor and Farris Al-Gafoor

Emma Rose

Richard Turner, Denis Clark, Jennie Clark and Marion Milne 20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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A MAN’S WORLD DAVID FLATMAN

Read it and sleep

© TAKING PICTURES

Despite his best efforts, Flats is having trouble sleeping in Japan

“The pills were small, diamond in shape, and blue – giving me cause for a viagra-stitch-uprelated concern”

O

ne of the great and most real luxuries in life is a good night’s sleep.

I once saw a presentation by a man who claimed to be an expert on the subject and his slumber tips were incredibly simple: all that stuff about firm mattresses and memory foam this and that is a load of tosh, you just need to get comfy. The softer and cosier the better, said the sleep doctor. It got a little awkward when it got to the questions section and I asked how best to sleep comfortably and still wake up with shoulders that aren’t agonisingly painful and locked in a crucifix position, and ideally with hands that weren’t entirely numb. It turned out he hadn’t banked on a broken rugby player attending his seminar.

Having pretended not to hear me, he proceeded to describe the value of a relaxing, set routine before bed time. Your body will learn that it’s time to rest and sleep will come more easily, he asserted. In truth, I didn’t need his expertise; I could sleep on a chicken’s lip. So I decided to look at my phone instead, what was – and is – in fact the only routine anybody actually executes before sleepy sleeps.

Other attendees talked about the problems they had with sleeping, and I did listen. I tried my best to empathise, but it’s hard when the problems of others are so unrelatable. Then came this trip to Japan, from where I type these words. The thing with jet lag is that it’s basically the same as new-baby sleep in conversational terms: it’s just so incredibly dull to anyone that isn’t living it. I love kids and babies and all that goes with them, and I love many of my friends’ kids very much, but I just don’t find their sleep patterns terribly interesting. Similarly, I want my friends to sleep well, but their not doing so is unlikely to ruin my day.

I therefore approach this paragraph with extreme caution.

I have, at the time of writing, been in Japan for a little over a month, and I have slept reasonably well for the last three nights. My average for the first four weeks?

Somewhere between two and three hours. Maggie Thatcher didn’t mind that, I do. Sea sickness and food poisoning are worse, but they go away quite quickly. It’s the staring that gets you. Just staring at blackness, knowing a ton of work awaits you when the sun comes up, and knowing your brain has to be sharp throughout. The frustration could make your eyeballs bleed.

So I’ve been thinking back to that seminar a lot, and regretting my relative arrogance on the day. I’ve tried my best to recall anything that might help me, and I tried it all. I even followed the advice of a man on Twitter, sprinkling ice water over my head and neck at 2am to ‘reset’ my body temperature. How he must have laughed. I vowed, night after interminable night, to appreciate sleep when it arrived. Sadly, it never did. So I went old school and found a mate who’d recently been to America. He’d stocked up on the sort of over the counter medication that would make a British physician wince, but he had my back. The fact that the pills he gave me were small, diamond in shape, and blue – gave me cause for a viagra-stitch-up-related concern, but I piled in. Three days later, I’m addicted.

I know this is boring, but it has taken over my mind and therefore my life. Don’t bother empathising, it’s too dull. All I ask is that, should you sleep well tonight, you revel smugly in the glory of your unconscious luxury.

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 23

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24 LUXE No, you’re not on the set of The Great Gatsby, it’s actually Bar 15 at No.15 Great Pulteney

LIVING IT UP The good things in life come in many different guises, from the refined and subtle, to the opulent and sparkly.

So we’ve come up with a handy guide on how to experience luxury in Bath... in just 24 hours

By Harriet Noble

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 29

24 LUXE

FIRST THING

How do you start off a day of decadence? Well, if it’s a sparkly, sunny but chilly autumn day (yes, we know it’s been raining a lot but this is our perfect day so we’re calling the shots on the weather) you might stroll down to Bertinet’s Bakery to pick up some warm pastry and a strong coffee. Pastry and coffee in hand you might stroll down to The Royal Crescent where you can sit on one of the benches and take in the welcome curved sight of the grand building. If the feeling takes you, stroll out onto Royal Victoria Park taking in the lines of red and orange autumny trees.

PHOTOGR APH BY JEAN CA Z ALS FROM CRUST BY RICHARD BERTINET (K YLE BOOKS)

MY IDEA OF LUXURY IS…

“Luxury for me is being by the water with a fishing rod and no phone. Or a new pair of shoes from Loake.”

Richard Bertinet, baking extraordinaire of Bertinet Kitchen and Bertinet Bakery “Something I take time out of every month to do is get a fresh manicure. I always look forward to seeing Maria at Vaughan; she makes sure I leave with beautiful nails and feeling pampered!

I think it’s important to invest in things that make you feel good!”

Isabelle Lennon, senior marketing and communications executive at Thermae Bath Spa “We are very spoilt in Bath for wonderful things around us, the sun setting over the Royal Crescent lighting up the golden Bath stone, the incredible panorama from Alexandra Park which never fails to impress

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

MID MORNING

Straight from the art: It’s time to take in an art gallery or two. What’s

looking particularly sumptuous at the moment? We’re informed from the team at Gray M.C.A on Margaret’s Buildings that fashion illustration is back in a big way and, boy, are these paintings beautiful.

Check out the collection by Bil Donovan, the artist in residence for Christian Dior in New York; and Antonio Lopez’s striking art, including Fashion of the Times, our beautiful front cover for this issue.

Axle Arts in Weston is also teaming with striking paintings at the moment – but is art actually a luxury?

“Most would argue that fine art is a luxury product but we prefer to consider it a necessity,” says Bridget Sterling from Axle Arts.

“Art and music can connect us to ourselves and to others by helping us to feel more.” Here here.

Prepare to rock: Head down to Mallory Jewellers where they offer everything from Rolex watches to engagement rings and everything in-between. Nicholas Wylde is another option too and, if you’ve been reluctantly dragged along for a friend or lover who wants to purchase a jewel, there’s complementary champagne, tea, coffee and mulled wine and mince pies this Christmas to keep you in the spirit while your other half oohs and aahs over giant rocks.

“Luxury for me is being by the water with a fishing rod and no phone”

me after 34 years. My little bit of luxury is having a spot of lunch in the Ivy brassiere” James Hughes, head of business at Loake Shoemakers “To be wearing cashmere and feeling the warmth and luxury it brings. Burning candles, it never stops feeling indulgent. In Bath I love to walk along the river and canal paths, I just love watching the water flow and the river bank wildlife. I also love a coffee in the beautiful Gainsborough Hotel lounge with my mum. Luxurious surrounding, great service and always leave feeling relaxed plus the biscuits are delicious.”

Ann Morley Jones, owner of Consciously You “A deli lunch (eaten al desko) from St James’ Cafe is one of my regular indulgences, the food and coffee is so fresh.”

Mary Stringer, marketing manager at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Richard Bertinet is all about the shoes; LEFT: A dreamy almond croissant curtesy of Richard Bertinet

© DERRYN VR ANCH

A

really good glass of red.

Cashmere. Precious interrupted time to read in front of a blazing fire. When we got talking about what luxury is and what it means, specifically to people in Bath, the answers were broad to say the least. There was lots of talk of ‘nice things’, but when we dug deeper, people talked about the ‘luxury’ of spending time with family, and about the importance of the little things in life.

Bath, of course, lends itself particularly well to the idea of luxury due to its grand architecture and glorious parks; wandering around the streets in town taking in the views is always a treat. So we’ve tried to encompass all kinds of luxury stuff in here – the palatial alongside the humble, and all in 24 hours. It’s optimistic we know; your energy levels and your wallet may suffer a wee bit and you may need a luxury weekend break to restore yourself from this luxurious 24 hours. Here are just some of the delights to be had.

© BIL DONOVAN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © SAR AH PARK YN PHOTOGR APHY CLOCKWISE: Alexandre Vaultier is by Bil Donovan and can be seen at Gray M.C.A; 18ct

white Gold 28.2ct citrine ring, £2,435 from Nicholas Wylde; 18ct rose gold green amethyst and diamond drop earrings £1,195 from Mallory; Dance for Pina III is by Alina Maksimenko and is exhibiting at Axle Arts; hot air balloon floating over Bath skies

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 31

ABOVE: Treatment suite at The Bath Priory; BELOW: Dark chocolate delice, white chocolate crunch, ginger, milk sorbet also at The Bath Priory

LUNCH

Treat eats: Head to The Bath Priory. At the moment they’re putting

on an autumn champagne lunch with a five-course tasting menu, including a crisp glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne. On the menu is smoked Loch Duart salmon, avocado, crème fraiche and caviar to start, or loin of venison, celeriac and cranberries. If you’re a little on the full side after your lunch, retire to one of their sofas in their plush sitting rooms followed by a stroll around the beautiful grounds.

AFTERNOON

And breathe: Stay put, you deserve it. The Bath Priory has a cracking

spa with an indoor pool and numerous treatments. What to go for?

Their signature relaxing massage involve lots of aromatic and lemony verbena that’s grown along the paths of Provence.

Sail away: Instagram goes nuts when there are hot air balloons above,

and with good reason; there’s something mesmeric about a shoal of hot air balloons gliding over Bath’s skyline. You can set off from the Royal Victoria Park, on what is described as a ‘magic carpet ride.’

“As the early days of ballooning were in France we always celebrate a flight with a complementary Champagne toast, or two, or a bucks fizz,” says Tony Rees from Bath Balloons.

EVENING

Time for a snifter: Freshen up for the evening with a cool cocktail at the Montagu Bar & Champagne Lounge at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. Queen of the Blues caught our eye, it’s a silky mixture of tequila, elderflower cordial, blue curacao, lime juice, and Champagne and is sure to slip down very easily. If whisky is more your thing, head to The Hideout where you can enjoy a 27 year-old Port Ellen Islay single malt scotch whisky.

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

“As the early days of ballooning were in France we celebrate with a complimentary champagne toast”

24 LUXE HOW TO DO LUXURY WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK…

• Catch a film at Tivoli; who cares what the film is like, you’ll come home raving about the oh-so comfy velvet armchairs.

• Peruse the amazing charity shops in town for beautiful designer gear. Our current favourite is Mercy in Action on Margaret’s Buildings, which is always chocka full of gorgeous pieces.

• Whatever your spiritual persuasion, evensong at Bath Abbey is always beautiful. Sit and listen in awe to the soaring voices.

© PIERS CUNLIFFE

• Picnic in style on the top of Alexandra Park for the best views of the city.

CLOCKWISE: Inside the Olive Tree Restaurant; Queen of the Blues cocktail from The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa; show time at the Theatre Royal; Port Ellen Islay single malt scotch whisky from The Hideout, a mere £300 for a 25ml measure

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 33

24 LUXE

“At the height of fashionable Georgian Bath, consuming small quantities of chocolate was the ultimate luxury ” The Henrietta Junior Suite at No.15 Great Pulteney

Best seats in the house: The Theatre Royal is glorious wherever your bottom’s parked but why not treat yourself to a performance seated in the Luxury Royal Circle. You’ll be in good company as these seats have been graced by royalty in the past including Princess Margaret.

If you’re a real theatre nut, you can get an associate membership – not only will you have access to the Theatre Royal Bath’s private members’ bar on club nights before the show but you can also meet the cast and company after curtain down on most opening nights.

Dining deluxe: Stroll up to the Olive Tree where chef Chris Cleghorn

will be making magic at the Michelin Star restaurant. The top-notch food is irrefutable – but its brand of quirky British interiors also hits the spot. While you’re there check out the The Old Q Bar, which rocks a pair of boxing gloves on the wall and a list of framed ‘rules’ telling us that indoor horse riding, stilts, pogo sticks and space hoppers are not permitted in the restaurant. Noted.

Bed time: Bath is positively overflowing with stylish and charming hotels. Why not head to No.15 Great Pulteney where the rooms have arty wall murals, stylish furnishings and a sense of fun pervading. You could opt for their Hideout Suite. Imagine a vast bathroom, with hot tub and steam room; cosy sitting room with gas fire and dedicated Sonos system and a king-size Hypnos Lansdowne Cashmere bed.

Of course, if you’re not quite ready for a sleep just yet, you could have a little nightcap in their beautiful bar downstairs. Why not. n

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

© CACASUYO PERU

Story time: Is there anything more heavenly than being read to?

There are all manner of characters and storytellers coming to Bath this autumn, all sharing their tales in evening events run by our amazing local book shops. Why not pop along to Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath this November to hear Rick Stein, Jo Wood, or Tim Burgess?

Or for avid fans of The Starless Sea, the author Erin Morgenstern will be chatting about her latest book at Komedia, presented by Mr B’s Emporium Bookshop.

CHOCOLATE VOYAGE: DID YOU KNOW?

“The typical definition of luxury is the state of great comfort or elegance especially when involving great expense and this was very much the case with the history of chocolate,” says Tracy Arden Chapman, master taster, chocolate educator, and judge at the International Chocolate Awards.

“During the Georgian and Victorian periods – and especially at the height of fashionable Georgian Bath, consuming small quantities of chocolate was the ultimate luxury. It was an exotic ingredient, very costly and greatly desired. People who had the time and money enjoyed a daily cup of drinking chocolate.”

CHOCOLATE EVENT: If you can’t get enough of the stuff, you can book yourself into a Chocolate Voyage tasting event with Tracy, where you’ll learn all about the art of chocolate tasting through sight and smell taking in cacao from the Amazon rainforest and more. www.chocolatevoyage.com

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Our goal is to provide the ethos of a high end detailing studio with the convenience of a mobile valeting service. We come to you, and our aim is to give you the freedom and flexibility to have your car professionally valeted or detailed at home or your place of work.

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“For a start the minimum time we would spend on an entry level valet is four hours,” explains owner James Dowding, “I’ll consult with the owner, inspect the car and discuss the options. What I will then bring to the process is my specialist training, the very best cleaning products and finally and most importantly – as the name suggests – a really deep attention to the smallest detail.

“Having attended an advanced Sonax product training course, I have expertise in areas such as decontamination washing, paint protection, machine polishing and ceramic coating, which carries a one year warranty.” says James.

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the line interior protection detail sees all hard surfaces vacuumed and then shampooed using specialist car shampoos. Fabric or leather seats along with floor mats, carpets and headlining are deep cleaned to remove stains and return colour, before being sealed to protect from water marks, stains and harmful UV damage.

Bad odours are also removed using air purification techniques.

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07545 525598; bathbespokedetailing.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 39

Image shows: Westex Westend Velvet

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

ON AN UNKNOWN BEACH Well, not exactly. It’s Porthmeor.

Imagined from the artistic seaside haven of St Ives, Elaine Pamphilon’s work has a quintessential air of the countryside.

The sense of place weaving through the landscape anchors the whimsical work as she creates a world you can’t help but want to fall into.

We don’t know about you, but we’d love to be taking a stroll across that peaceful, windswept beach right now.

“To make a painting look simple and spontaneous is difficult,” says Elaine. “The more I paint, the less I need on the canvas. Colours excite me and inspiration comes from the things I love –

everyday objects, souvenirs from travels, patterns and walking the romantic, wild countryside around our home.”

In Elaine’s work it is plain to see that she is inspired by her surroundings, and the intricacies of her paintings – from the depths of the colours in the shifting sand to the red front door barely glimpsed in the distance – serving as a reminder to stand up and take notice.

Price on enquiry, Beach Rivers, Porthmeor

by Elaine Pamphilon; Adam Gallery, 3 Northumberland Buildings; 01225 480406; www.adamgallery.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

WHAT’S ON

© MARC BRENNER

25 October – 24 November

Jodie Prenger and Tom Varey star in A Taste of Honey

EXHIBITIONS Until 24 November

EXPERIMENTS WITH FLYING Artist Richard Twose is displaying a collection of works inspired by a residency at Elisabeth Frink’s former studio. Influenced by her bird men, horses and bulls, Twose created his own characters using studies of acrobats at CircoMedia in Bristol.

The works deliberately test the limits of balance (and falling).

Mon-Sun, 10.30am-5pm; free with general admission; Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 14 December

PLAYING THE PICTURESQUE A lot of people think our obsession with the ideal ‘Insta-perfect’ life is a new phenomenon, but this exhibition is here to reject that assumption.

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

Playfully traversing the space between real and virtual realms, the work shows the way that 18th century artists and architects became obsessed with producing aesthetically pleasing, stylistic, ‘ideal’ landscapes.

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

Until 31 December

INTERVENTIONS/2 Yoko Ono’s first solo show to visit Bristol arrives there this month.

Including a series of iconic films that she made back in the ’60s and early ’70s – as well as the installation ARISING, first exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013 – INTERVENTIONS/2 asks Bristol audiences to engage with the city’s less proud history. The curator, Jimmy Galvin, says, “It is

a way to bring a new spotlight onto Bristol’s heritage and involvement with the slave trade, and, as with all great art, it gives us permission to open dialogue and create a better understanding of ourselves and our city’s past, as well as its future, and what role we need it to perform.”

Sat-Tues, 11am-4pm; The Georgian House Museum, Bristol; www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

6–12 November

PAINT-PAPER-METAL-CLAY Five artist pals have joined up for a show. They’ll display works in their chosen medium – from sculpture, to oils, to jewellery – each with their own unique style, giving the collection an eclectic and exciting feel.

10am-4pm (closed Sunday); free; Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute

12 November – 6 January

ART BAR UNWRAPPED A festive collaboration between four local artists: Emma Taylor, Emma Rose, James Nunn and Lucy Saunders. Expect a bright and beautiful selection of paintings, prints and cards, which you can peruse while sipping on a cocktail – or a coffee, if you prefer.

Mon-Sun, 8am-10pm; Abbey Hotel; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

13–17 November

CLIMATE CHANGE: AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE A selection of bold works tackle the extremes of climate change.

Paintings by local artists that depict the destructive heat, the devastation of the coral reef and the risk to our fresh water supply caused by climate

WHAT’S ON change will be on display side by side with artworks from local schools.

11am-5pm; free; 44AD Gallery; www.44ad.net

PLAYS/SHOWS 28 October – 2 November

A TASTE OF HONEY A career-defining, taboo-breaking play from the 1950s, Shelagh Delaney wrote A Taste of Honey when she was only 19. It’s a celebration of female spirit in working class Salford, depicting post-war life in all its exhilaration and deprivation.

Mon-Sat 7.30pm, matinees Weds and Sat 2.30pm; prices vary; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk ABOVE: Elsa Jean McTaggart: singing about tragedy with a smile; LEFT: Delve into the imaginative world of Richard Twose; BELOW: Catch Thomas Cameron, an exciting young talent in the classical music scene at The Mission Theatre

1 November

THE LITTLE PRINCE Enjoy the classic tale of The Little Prince who, after leaving the tiny asteroid he calls home, finds a strange land of grown ups, kings who reign over nothing and obsessive, starcounting businessmen.

6.30pm; £15 (£12.50 children and concessions); Edge Theatre; www.edgearts.org

5 – 9 November

CALENDAR GIRLS: THE MUSICAL The popular musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is making a muchanticipated stop in Bath and we can’t wait. Sarah Jane Buckley, Sue Devaney, Julia Hills, Judy Holt, Ruth Madoc, Lisa Maxwell and Rebecca Storm lead a production that received fantastic five-star reviews in the West End. Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Wed, Thurs, Sat matinees 2.30pm; prices vary; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

10 November

SINDHU VEE: SANDHOG Loving the children, spouse and aging parents can be really hard work. But it’s all worth it, right? This is the question Sindhu Vee aims to answer during her hilarious debut stand-up show, which earned her a nomination at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. (Flip to page 48, where we chat with Sindhu about some of her vices.)

Doors 6.30pm, show starts 7.30pm; £17.50 (£16 concs); Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

13–16 November

ENLIGHTENMENT Lia’s son Adam has been missing since a terrorist attack. Distraught,

she turns to a less-than-legit psychic and falls victim to a pushy TV producer determined to make a film about missing persons.

Is Adam alive? If so, why hasn’t he made contact? The story takes a turn when Lia learns of a backpacker with a lost memory stuck in a Thai hospital.

7.45pm; £12.50 (£10.50 concs); Mission Theatre; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

18 November

LOST VOICE GUY: I’M ONLY IN IT FOR THE PARKING Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley (AKA Lost Voice Guy) is back on popular demand following a sell-out spring tour. Lee is the first stand up comedian to perform using a communication aid. He has appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Last Leg and The Royal Variety Show among many others.

Doors 6.30pm, show starts 8pm; prices vary; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

26–30 November

WOMAN IN MIND Next Stage Theatre company presents their take on the classic story by Alan Ayckbourn. Expect neglected matriarchs, self-absorbed vicars, ineffectual medical professionals and waspish sisters in law. Standard Ayckbourn.

7.30pm, matinee Sat 2pm; Mission Theatre; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

MUSIC 30 October

SQUEEZE Quintessential Brit rockers of the ’70s are headed to Bath. The Difford and Tilbrook Songbook Tour is part fun night out, part awareness-raising activity for The Trussell Trust. It’s about more than dancing: you’ll also find multiple food bank drop-off points and collection boxes where you can donate non-perishable food or money.

Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm; prices vary; The Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

6 November

A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS English tenor Thomas Cameron has made quite a splash on the classical music scene. Scooping up nominations for the Classic Brit Awards in 2018 and then The Best in Music Award 2019, Cameron has more than proved his classical credentials. Go hear it for yourself.

7.30pm; £15 (£12 concs); The Mission Theatre; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

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

WHAT’S ON 8 November

EVA CASSIDY: THE STORY Elsa Jean McTaggart pays tribute to her all-time fave. Through a combination of video, storytelling and Elsa’s own beautiful singing accompanied by piano and guitar, she brings Cassidy’s tragic story to life.

7.30pm; £10; Mission Theatre; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

8 November

ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK Having recently released their brand new greatest hits collection as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are heading out on tour. The electronic synthesiser pioneers have also reissued their first four classic albums on 108g vinyl, mastered at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road.

Doors open 7pm; prices vary; Bath Pavilion; www.omd.uk.com

8–6 November

BATH MOZARTFEST It will hardly come as a surprise that during this nine-day classical music feast you should expect a lot of Mozart, but there’s some musicians exploring his contemporaries too.

Big names the English Chamber Orchestra are performing along with shows by La Nuova Musica and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

See page 11 for more.

Times, prices and venues vary; www.bathmozartfest.org.uk

15 November

THE BOWIE COLLECTIVE More than a tribute band, The Bowie Collective is an immersive theatre experience. World-class musicians, dancers and spectacular visual art – creepy hologram heads occupy the stage – this performance reaches out to Bowie fans of all generations.

Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm; prices vary; The Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

24 November

SHEELANAGIG Foot-stomping folk tunes and furious dance medleys characterise this string strumming quintet’s musical style.

A decade’s worth of touring the globe and they’ve added their own particular groove to the selection of traditional and original European folk music they play.

Doors 7.30pm; £14 on the door; www.chapelarts.org

24 November

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN

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

Enjoy some festive fun with the UK’s original ukulele orchestra.

The orchestra’s legendary live shows feature classics from all genres from Wagner to Nirvana, and for this show they’ll even toss in the odd Christmas classic too. Best of all, you can bring along your own uke from home and strum along from the safety of the audience.

3pm and 7.30pm; prices vary; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

FAMILY 27 October

ARTHUR’S DREAM BOAT This is a story about a little boy who has a dream. It’s about a beautiful pink and green boat with a stripy mast. When he wakes up, Arthur wants to tell everybody but – plot twist – nobody will listen. Even as the very boat he dreamt of starts growing on his head!

This magical children’s show by Long Nose Puppets is whimsical and lovely, escapist for children and adults alike. Doors 1.30pm, show 2pm; £8.50 (£28 for a family of four); Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

17 November

BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FAMILY RAVE: THE GREATEST SHOW This all things circus-themed, The Greatest Show-inspired ‘rave’ for families with children eight-yearsold and younger (older siblings also welcome) includes a multi-sensory dance floor complete with giant parachute, glitter cannons, balloons, craft and playdoh tables and even a baby chill out zone.

1.30pm; £8 advance, infants free; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

OTHER 28 October

SOMETIMES IN BATH Author Charles Nevin is having an event for his new book, Sometimes in Bath: Her Stories and History. In an exclusive reading from the book, Charles promises to make you view all the places you know and love in the city from a fresh perspective.

7pm; Bath Spa Hotel; search Bath Spa Hotel on Facebook for more information

30–31 October

WESTONBIRT SHOPPING FAIR Shop and donate to charity at the same time at Westonbirt Shopping Fair. It’s a great not-on-the-highstreet shopping opportunity where

ABOVE: Lee Ridley is the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid in his routines

GUNPOWDER, TREASON AND PLOT The best spots to celebrate Bonfire Night in Bath 1 November

LIGHT UP LANSDOWN Set to a blockbuster Disney soundtrack, this fireworks display is certainly quite something to behold. Determined to top itself year on year, they’ve always got a trick or two up their sleeves.

5pm; Bath Racecourse; advance adult £6, advance child (under18s) £4; www.bath-racecourse.co.uk

2 November

BATH FIREWORKS DISPLAY 2019 Grab your tickets for this year’s Bath Rotary Club’s fireworks display. Always a lovely community event, we defy anyone to spend fireworks night not getting a little bit swept up in the spirit of the impending winter. Tickets went on sale on 2 October, so make sure to grab yours before they sell out.

7pm; Bath Recreation Ground; prices vary online, cash only on the gate; www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

8 November

WALCOT FIREWORKS AND BONFIRE NIGHT The only big display in Bath where you can get up close to the bonfire and fireworks, this lovely family event attracts big crowds and, best of all, there’s no need to book. You can just show up and pay on the gate.

6.45pm; Walcot RFC; www.pitchero.com

Remember, remember the fifth of November at Light Up Lansdown

WHAT’S ON you’ll find a range of unique handmade stuff. We hate to say it – you know what’s coming – but it’s perfect for Christmas.

10am-4.30pm; £8/£7.50 booked online; Westonbirt School; www.westonbirtfair.org

designers. The awards take a moment to applaud those who keep Bath’s property sector thriving.

12-4pm; The Apex City of Bath Hotel; www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk

7 November

BATH ON ICE It's back. Bath’s favourite festive ice rink is returning to Victoria Park this November – and with that the countdown to Christmas will officially begin.

11.45am-10pm weekdays, 10.30am-10pm weekends; adult £11.50, child (under 16) £10; Royal Victoria Park; www.bathonice.com

ROMAN BATHS WEDDING OPEN EVENING If there’s a more romantic location for a wedding than the Roman Baths, we can’t think of it. If you don’t believe us, head down to this open evening, where you’ll find the baths beautifully decorated and wedding-ready. Various local wedding suppliers will be on hand to field any questions you may have during this uniquely relaxed evening event. 7-9pm; registration essential; www.bathvenues.co.uk

8 November

AUTUMN LEAVES Bath’s finest storytellers are gathering to celebrate the changing seasons. Go full autumn and head out into the dark of the evening for a night of stories, readings and poetry by local voices.

Doors 7pm; £12; St Michael’s Without; www.bathboxoffice.org

9 November

BATH VEGAN WINTER FESTIVAL A vegan feast of more than 60 stalls packed with free samples – reason enough to go in our opinion – along with cookery demos and fascinating talks about living the plant-based life. You never know, you might even find the perfect Christmas gift for the foodie in your life.

10.30am-4.30pm; £3 (£15 VIP); Bath Pavilion; www.veganeventsuk.co.uk

14 November

FARROW & BALL COLOUR WORKSHOP WITH AFTERNOON TEA Get a professional insight into how to best use colour in your home with Farrow & Ball colour curator Joa Studholme. Joa will introduce Farrow & Ball’s latest Colour by Nature collection, a 16-strong nature-inspired collection created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.

Afterwards you’ll be enjoy a full Taittinger Champagne afternoon tea.

12pm; £55; The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa; www.royalcrescent.co.uk

15 November

BATH PROPERTY AWARDS A celebration of Bath’s dynamic property sector – and the people working within it. The finalists represent a broad spectrum of the industry from letting agents to interior

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

15 November – 5 January

ABOVE:

BELOW:

Music is all about the attitude, as proved by Sheelanagig; “It’s just jam!” Lupita Nyong’o tells her young charges

15 November – 5 January

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MINI GOLF After dark the mini golf course in Royal Victoria Park will burst into magical light. Play a round in this atmospheric winter wonderland with glow in the dark golf balls.

Mon-Sun, 4-9.30pm; adult £7, child £6; Royal Victoria Park; www.bathonice.com

16–17 November

WIDCOMBE CHRISTMAS MARKET Now in its 13th year, Widcombe Christmas Market is renowned for its cute and clever quality gifts by local artists. If you're on the hunt for a gift with a difference, this should definitely be a shopping stop.

Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm; free; Widcombe Social Club, www.widcombechristmasmarket.com

20 November

TUTANKHAMUN – WONDERFUL THINGS A new Tutankhamun exhibition will begin a tour of the UK this autumn, and British Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) is celebrating with a lecture about the ancient Egyptian pharaoh.

Egyptologist Lee Young will share the story of the young king as well as the mythic ‘cursed’ expedition that uncovered his tomb. 7.30pm; £5 nonmembers; Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution; www.brlsi.org

22–23 November

MUDSLINGERS CERAMICS GROUP CHRISTMAS SALE Bath’s ceramicist collective, Mudslingers are having their Christmas sale. The wide-ranging ceramic works range from the practical – mugs, bowls and what have you – to decorative pieces.

Fri and Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Walcot Street Chapel; search Mudslingers on Facebook

7-18 NOVEMBER FILMBATH FESTIVAL

With a diverse offering of 37 features and 46 shorts from film makers all over the world, it's safe to say we're pretty excited about this year's FilmBath festival. There are, as ever, too many highlights to get into, but we’re particularly excited about Little Monsters (pictured above), starring Lupita Nyong’o keeping her young charges safe from zombies on an ill-fated school trip and JoJo Rabbit, the yet-to-be-released comedy about a young Nazi boy, his mother, the Jewish girl she’s hiding in the basement and his imaginary friend, Hitler.

Next, we’ll definitely be grabbing some tickets for Rocks. A low budget Brit flick, director Sarah Gavron tells the story of Shola (AKA Rocks) and her younger brother, faced with a foster home and separation – unless they hatch a plan to escape.

Despite the grim situation, the film promises to be funny, with a stellar cast of young actors bringing the story to life.

F-rated and from director Cheryl Hanes, Ai Wei Wei: Yours Truly is an absolute must. Yours Truly delves into his transformation of Alcatraz into a socially engaging work of art – a project he worked on under house arrest. Cheryl will be sticking around for a Q&A after this one for the lucky few who get tickets.

This year, the festival comes on the heels of FilmBath’s nomination for the Gamechanger award at the Screen Awards for the F-rating, which is applied to films directed and/or written by women – there are plenty at the festival. www.filmbath.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON

SEVEN DEADLY SINS SINDHU VEE Ahead of her forthcoming night at Komedia, comedian SINDHU VEE bares her wicked soul…

LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today?

Michael Fassbender (that’s any day, every day, by the way). He has the perfect mix of seeming like a guy who might be emotionally available and really able to understand emotions or not at all... but either way very sexual.

GREED: What should you really be cutting down on?

Ice cream because my digestive tract has ever-increasing levels of pure hatred for lactose. Sometimes, the fighting makes itself known outside my body and then, I'm not going to lie, everyone in the room becomes part of the hostilities.

GLUTTONY: What one thing would you happily eat or drink until you burst?

Pizza. Once, to impress a boy I wanted to date, I took on a dare that I would eat pizza three times a day until he couldn't handle it anymore. I won: at 41 days he told me to stop.

SLOTH: What should you be putting your back into right now?

Literally anything to do with admin paperwork. I’m behind on everything right now. I am sure I am late in getting some bill paid somewhere to someone or asking someone to pay me. That’s what I should be doing instead of answering these questions.

WRATH: What or who makes you angry?

For about 30 minutes after a nap I am

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

FURIOUS at everything that I encounter. I mean, EVERYTHING. I swore at a banana last Tuesday because the doorbell woke me up before my nap was done. And I wasn't even going to eat it.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of ?

Michael Fassbender’s love/lust interest. (see above)

PRIDE: What has been your proudest achievement?

November 2018 to January 2019 when I gave up all sugar, caffeine, alcohol, carbs, grains, most fruits, (I’m already vegetarian), potatoes. I didn't think I could ever do it without being in a mental asylum or coma.

But I did. WOW. It’s a toss up between that and when my youngest kid (not yet 10) sang

Amazing Grace a capella at a big family gathering. I was more nervous watching that than when I had to do Live at The Apollo (she has no clue what dying on stage can feel like, but I know. Very well). But she was fabulous. I can't even sing Baa Baa Black Sheep without someone complaining.

I was so proud of her and of myself for all the good actions I’ve so conscientiously done in my past lives that today I can have a child who can sing that well.* * I’m a Hindu so you can understand where I’m coming from. n

Sindhu Vee: Sandhog is at Komedia on Sunday 10 November; www.komedia.co.uk

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THEATRE ANNA O’CALLAGHAN

The bare naked ladies, hitting all the right notes

The naked truth Anna takes a look back at the history of – and opposition to – nudity at the Theatre Royal ahead of Calendar Girls The Musical coming to Bath

J

ust over 51 years ago, the musical Hair opened in the West End complete with full frontal nudity.

The first performance was on 25 September 1968. Until 26 September, the Licensing Act of 1737 gave the Lord Chamberlain powers to censor the content of theatre productions – so for more than 200 years, actors were not (officially) allowed to bare all. It might have been a significant production in the history of British theatre, but as an eleven-year-old, sat in the audience with my parents for our Christmas family theatre visit, I was really not feeling the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Hair made it to the Theatre Royal in 1989, a production which was remarkable only for its bad toupees.

From Alan Bleasdale’s Having a Ball, set in a vasectomy clinic to Mike Stott’s West End hit, Funny Peculiar, about a north country greengrocer’s attempts to be part of the permissive society, which played Bath within weeks of each other during the mid eighties, male nudity has been the subject of comedy.

Things reached a climax in 2001 with Puppetry of the Penis, which was to return to Bath by public demand on three occasions.

It was my job to defend the show after some letters were received, the writers disgusted by what they envisaged might be going to take place on stage and there was even vandalism caused to some of our display panels advertising the show. I am quoted in

the Bath Chronicle saying “Two Australians manipulating their genitalia into the Loch Ness Monster, the Eiffel Tower and a hamburger – we couldn’t pretend that’s supposed to be anything other than funny.”

During the 1990s Stephen Sinclair and Anthony McCarten’s Ladies Night (still the most commercially successful play in New Zealand’s theatre history), about a group of unemployed workers who develop a strip show inspired a raft of similarly-themed shows. Ladies Night found an enthusiastic, and of course, predominantly female audience, visiting Bath in 1991. An excellent production of The Full Monty, adapted from the BAFTA winning 1997 film, was a hot ticket at the Theatre Royal in 2014 immediately prior to a West End run.

Of course, nudity is not always a cause for laughter. Peter Shaffer’s magisterial Equus, which played in Bath earlier this year, features a famous nude scene between a disturbed teenager and a horse which, in Ned Bennett’s fabulous production, was both beautifully acted and profound. (In 2007, Daniel Radcliffe starred in Equus in the West End.) In 2003 a stage adaptation of The Graduate reached the tabloids because its star was not taking her clothes off. Glynis Barber felt her portrayal of Mrs Robinson was sexier and more erotic the way she played it. Unlike some other venues on the tour, the Theatre Royal had no complaints either about the nudity or the lack of it.

“The Graduate reached the tabloids because its star was not taking her clothes off ”

And so to Calendar Girls, the true story of a group of WI members who decide to produce a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia research, following the death of one of their husbands and end up raising millions of pounds for charity.

Numerous nude calendars have emulated their efforts, including one by our own front-of-house team, which featured staff circumspectly positioned behind the chocs and progs and dusting the chandelier.

The original stage play was based by Tim Firth on his award winning 2003 screenplay. He, and Take That’s Gary Barlow, collaborated on a new musical version of the story which started life as The Girls and is now called Calendar Girls The Musical. This acclaimed musical comedy plays the Theatre Royal at the beginning of November with a cast that includes Ruth Madoc and Rebecca Storm.

Generally on stage nudity still merits a warning – even in the twenty-first century.

There is a frisson of surprise from audiences if there is a sudden unexpected flash of flesh, but in the case of genteel Calendar Girls there will be plenty of strategically placed vases of flowers and plates of cakes. Even the Lord Chamberlain would approve.

Calendar Girls The Musical: Theatre Royal Bath 5 – 9 November

Anna O’Callaghan, marketing manager, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose; 01225 448844; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

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

Bath Life team 01225 475800

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Read it as new

Nic shares his highlights of the exciting books that are hitting the shelves

“To illuminate her social history further, she knits as she goes”

A

t our recent bookselling industry conference in glamorous – wait for it – Aston, there was a dinner sponsored by an excellent group of independent publishers which followed a tried and tested format. In return for eating two courses and drinking plentiful wine and throat-stripping coffee provided by the publishers, at various points in the evening we booksellers were duty bound to sit and listen politely to a dozen authors each give five minute introductions to their forthcoming books.

The break from form this time around was that, to a man and woman, each author kept their piece to within sight of the five minute quota and, still more remarkably, no one went completely off message, as tends to happen at least once during such gatherings.

In celebration, I thought I’d dedicate this column to sharing some titbits about the most exciting of the books that were revealed whilst the nation’s booksellers stuffed their faces with sticky toffee pudding.

Esther Rutter was so passionate about her subject from the moment she reached the microphone to tell us about her new book This Golden Fleece (Granta, £16.99) which reveals the history of Britain through its wool trade and wool crafting. To write this book, Rutter spent a year travelling around Britain to investigate how sheep, wool and knitting are inextricably linked to the history of so many of our communities. From the mills of Yorkshire to the market-towns of the Cotswolds, and from her own childhood on a Suffolk farm to the vast sheep-dotted Highland landscapes, she meanders and introduces us to those whose livelihood and heritage is owed to wool.

Unsurprisingly Rutter herself is a keen knitter. And to illuminate her social history further she knits as she goes – choosing an item relevant to the different regions from socks to vast indomitable fisherman’s jumpers.

The only other author to match Rutter’s level of openly geeky excitement was the irrepressible Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. A decade or so ago Pretor-Pinney had a surprise hit with The Cloudspotter’s Guide (Hodder, £12.99), a narrative introduction to the meteorological science of clouds and a manifesto to encourage us all to be more aware of them and to join him in marvelling at them every single day. Sounds niche? Well, that’s what the first 28 publishers who rejected it thought as well, but the book went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies so more fool us and them all.

In the strange and stressful times that we live in, perhaps more than ever we could use some downtime looking up. So A Cloud A Day (Pavilion, £20), Pretor-Pinney’s new highly visual love affair with cirrus, cumulus and many far rarer formations, is perhaps a timely arrival on the scene. Using photographs snapped by sky nerds all over the world and a few artistic interpretations thrown in, there’s a remarkable celestial image for every day of the year together with field notes and an explanation of what, in scientific terms, is actually making those peculiar puffy shapes.

Finally, the most famous of our dinner guests was undoubtedly Lenny Henry. He was back in the city of his birth to tell us about his new autobiography Who Am I, Again?

(Faber, £20). And if his hilarious quick-fire description of the book is anything to go by, then this is going to be one of 2019’s essential memoirs.

Just hearing him describe a few scenes from his Dudley childhood – and read about his no-nonsense mum – brought back to mind his stand-up routines and comedy creations of the eighties. And when the book emerges this month we’re promised many more laughs as well as insights and anecdotes from a remarkable career forged in an age of glaring racism. And if the book’s not enough he’s also passing by Bath’s Forum during his tour showcasing the book in November!

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

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Do you want to be part of a community climbing wall?

POWER10 and THE PERCY COMMUNITY CENTRE are looking for businesses to be involved in a very exciting community project right in the heart of Bath City Centre

O

ur vision is to build a traversing wall right here in the centre of Bath which will open new opportunities to the amazing young people and the diverse population that make up our wonderful city.

We want to help make the Percy Centre become the home to the first public access to all traversing wall in Bath. This wall would be a massively valuable resource to so many groups who access the centre and to the general public who fancy giving climbing a go.

Some of you may be aware of the Percy Community Centre, but most will probably have walked past this little hub of activity without being aware of it. To highlight just a small part of what The Percy Centre does; the centre offers parenting advice, free english lessons (which help integrate communities), support to adults with learning disabilities, enabling them to live independently. It provides a wealth of support to the elderly community who would otherwise be alone for days and hugely, and most importantly, it provides a sanctuary to children and young adults with behavioural issues and learning disabilities.

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

Climbing is known to help children and adults alike to conquer fears, reduce anxiety and stress, build body confidence and bring communities together. The Percy Centre currently helps over 58 different and diverse groups to come together, providing a hub of activity, help, support and sanctuary. Climbing isn’t biased to language, creed, age, diversity or fitness and for this reason it will sit so perfectly in the hub of the Percy Community Centre, a building with access to all.

first traversing wall in exchange for your logo being printed on it. Your logo will be displayed proudly to a large amount of people representing a truly unique way to show the people of Bath your generosity and community spirit.

We have a monumental task of raising £15,000 to fund the project, so we would love many businesses to be involved. We NEED YOU to truly make this happen and become something Bath can be proud of! ■

“THE CENTRE, DESPITE ITS INCREDIBLE WORK IS VASTLY UNDERFUNDED” However, the centre, despite its incredible work, is vastly underfunded and relies heavily on donations and grants. The build of this wall is a true community project, which is why we are reaching out to you, the vibrant businesses of Bath to help make this happen. We would like to offer you the opportunity to buy for a minimum donation of £250 a piece of Bath’s

We at Power10 and the Percy Centre would be so grateful to all who would like to be involved. To learn more and sign up to this amazing opportunity to be involved and have your plaque on the wall contact: team@power10bath.com or for direct donations: www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/percyclimbingwall

BOOK NOW FOR YOUR EVENTS, PRIVATE PARTIES, BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS 2-3 Barton Court, Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RZ | 01225 462276

Bonghy-Bo

FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S F O O D S C E N E

SHHH… IT’S A SECRET

The Grapes pub on Westgate Street and pop-up supper club The Secret Izakaya will reveal their exciting new collaboration soon. Budō Bā (translation: Grapes Bar) will be a take on the traditional Japanese Izakaya – a tapas-like dining experience where food and drink are considered of equal importance. Think: a handful of diners, seasonal goodies, beautifully restored Jacobean surrounds organised around an open-plan kitchen.

“I fell in love with the informality of izakayas after a few trips to Japan. Their liveliness was a far cry from what most of us think of Japanese restaurants and they captivated me the moment I stepped in,” says David Line, the chef behind Budō Bā.

They’ve got a ton planned, from a membership programme to sake tasting events, cookery classes, a ‘secret’ menu – and much more.

For more: Budō Bā will initially be open Friday and Saturday evenings; @BudoBaBath on Twitter It’s not so secret that this food is tasty

Just a sample of a Michelin star-worthy meal at Whatley Manor

WALK OF FAME The Michelin Stars are out! Bath’s locals have done very well, with a bunch of stars retained – and one or two gained.

Whatley Manor was the big success story this time around, going from one Michelin Star to two – only two years after earning the last one. “This is the dream. My team are so special to me – I am proud that together we have achieved this second star,” says Niall Keating, executive chef at Whatley Manor. “They work so hard to support me and help create a great customer experience at Whatley Manor.”

The Olive Tree team were also thrilled to retain their Michelin Star – a mere day after head chef Chris Cleghorn won Best Chef at the Crumbs Awards 2019.

“The team and I are thrilled to have maintained our Michelin Star for another year. It is all down to a collective attitude in the restaurant that is bursting with hard work and determination,” says Chris.

Other local successes include the Pony & Trap, Manor House at Castle Combe and Lucknam Park who all retained one star.

The KB90 in all its glory

HIGH TECH Café au Lait has had a top of the range, custom-made La Marzocco KB90 installed. Generally considered one of the best pieces of kit on the market for coffee enthusiasts, it’s going to be a game changer for the café on Dorchester Street.

“As a company we decided that after nine long years of hard work we deserved the best, and quite frankly this is the most top of the range machine on the market, and the first to be supplied to a coffee shop in the UK,” says Natalie, owner at Café Au Lait.

For more: www.cafeaulaitcom.wordpress.com/home

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TRY FIVE 2

3 1

DININg ouT IN KEyNShAM

Plenty of options for family dining, a catch up over pizza or a night on the town

DALIA COCINA This little Mexican café bar is an absolute treat. A mix of authentic fare along with the occasional full English, you can really be as adventurous (or not) as you like with your order.

Dalia Cocina is hosting Day of the Dead celebrations on 2 November, with live music and a BBQ. Tickets cost £20 – go grab one before you miss out. Not sure what Day of the Dead is? Then you’re in for a treat. Also known as Día de los Muertos, it’s a festival of colour and celebration in honour of deceased loved ones – dressing up very much encouraged. www.dalia-cocina.business.site

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SOMER DINING Seasonal and locally sourced where possible, head chef Chris Wicks is all about serving up great British food. Josh Eggleton of The Pony & Trap fame and Adrian Kirkmaa, food development manager at the St Monica Trust both played a part in creating the concept behind Somer Dining, so you know it’s going to be good.

Somer Dining holds monthly jazz nights, where you can eat from a set menu against the backdrop of delightfully performed music. In December they’ve got Scarlet Muses playing, an all-female jazz outfit playing a mix of Latin, jazz and swing music. www.somerdining.co.uk

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B BLOCK PIZZA With mozzarella specially made for the restaurant, Italian-style double zero flour and veg from the nearby Bristol Fruit and Veg Market, not to mention locally sourced meats, B Block Pizza can guarantee the freshest ingredients with the least impact on the planet.

But it’s not just pizzas – if you’re not a fan of those they’ve got a lovely selection of soups, salads and the odd panini to keep you going. www.b-blockpizza.co.uk

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LAVIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT A lovely family spot, expect a satisfying mix of pizzas, pasta and risottos – exactly what you need for a pick-me-up of a wintery evening.

The tagliatelle pescatore with calamari, king prawns, clams and more prawns cooked in white wine, garlic and tomato sauce proves a particular highlight and the al forni (for the uninitiated: oven baked pasta dishes) are also warming and delicious. Perhaps best of all, Lavianos offer a pretty extensive puddings menu – necessarily, in our opinion – filled with classics like banoffee pie, cheesecake and a delightful chocolate soufflé. www.lavianosrestaurant.co.uk

5

POMEGRANATE A decade-old Keynsham institution, Pomegranate is a must-stop for foodies.

The menu is absolutely massive, spanning everything from tapas to meat dishes, pasta

© JÉ-SHOOT PHOTOGR APHY

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and a delicious range of veggie options. The homemade cannelloni stuffed with fresh ricotta and spinach in a rich tomato sauce topped with béchamel sauce sounds amazing, while the pork tenderloin wrapped in pancetta is an absolute must for the meat eaters out there.

They’re a brunch, lunch and dinner type of deal, with great ambiance no matter what time of day you choose to pop in. n www.pomegranatekeynsham.co.uk

the pig near bath Comfort meets luxury in this heavenly rural retreat

By Harriet Noble 62 I bathLIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

RESTAURANT A pair of pigs welcome you to their digs

I

n a sweet little potting shed, I’m lying down on a bed and Georgie (the only masseuse I’ve ever seen wearing wellies – welcome to rural chic at The Pig) is giving me a massage. The shed is dimly lit, with soft music and warm scents. The wind is howling outside and I can hear the autumn leaves blowing around vigorously. I feel like a little field mouse nestled happily in a toasty cocoon.

This is our luxury issue so we decided to go all out and find somewhere that offered some treats, because we all need some of those sometimes. So here I am, feeling a little bit spoilt.

I’m no stranger to massages but this is the first one that I would genuinely describe as ‘bespoke’. Before it starts, my feet are dipped in warm water while Georgie and I chat about what kind of massage I’d like and I get to sniff lots of different oils and choose which ones I’d like her to use. The body treatment I opt for is a rose upper body massage which is a supremely soothing back, arm and hand massage. Georgie starts off with this rocking motion that lulls me into a pleasant coma-like state; she then does her massaging magic, including a facial massage with the rose oils.

After the massage, I’m shown to my room and I do a bit of exploring of The Pig. The look and feel of the place is strictly country house – with not a whiff of a hotel about it.

There are no matchy-matchy interiors; the sofas are, or deliberately made to look, leather and a bit worn; there is a line of wellies at the door, of which you can use for walks, and my beautiful room is vast – as is the bed and the free-standing bath – with the radio left on gently playing classical music when I arrive.

Come the evening, I am nestled in the big sofa in the sitting room, in front of the roaring fire, reading and sipping a cocktail called ‘Pisco’s Not Dead.’ This is pear and sage infused pisco, belsazar red vermouth, lime juice, demerara sugar and a splash of ginger beer. Brandy is not normally my go-to drink but the pisco is really warming and autumnal and just the ticket for a first drink of the evening.

Moving to the restaurant, which is part room and part conservatory, I’m seated in a cosy windowsill, wedged in with comfy cushions.

Herbs sit on the windowsill behind me, labelled with things like chard rhubarb and celeriac.

The kitchen garden is at the heart of The Pig and most of the food on their menu is grown in the grounds here, or somewhere local (the bread comes from our very own Richard Bertinet). In fact, one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip is wandering around the grounds taking in the gardens, greenhouse, and watching the deer scamper about in the deer park.

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RESTAURANT I start off with their homemade rosemary and thyme-infused rapeseed oil which comes with their smoked salt; all to dip into the warm bread. The salt is incredible; it’s like an edible fireplace. It’s the best salt I’ve ever had (there’s a sentence I thought I’ve never write) and the combination of it, with the bread and oil is exquisite.

There is a lot on the menu and I’m tempted by most of it so I go for for a few small to medium-sized dishes so I can try as much as possible. First up is the hock eggs and Colman’s dressing; a perfect starter with smooth, cushiony pork, full of subtle herby flavours set against the sweetness of the egg yolk and the tang of the Colman’s dressing.

The apple and mint glazed lamb belly is next and comes with a komatsuna – a leaf vegetable – salad and pickled shallots. This is probably my favourite course of the meal; the lamb is beautifully tender, with bags of depth and a sweet syrupy sauce that, when tasted with the sharp vinegary tang of the shallots is pretty much a perfect mouthful of food.

Next is my radish risotto, that comes with Yarlington blue and chives. If you get excited about combinations of textures, this one will definitely turn you on. You’ve got the crunch of the radishes, the al dente risotto, the creamy crumbly cheese and warm gooey risotto – and its pink. Really pink.

For pudding, I went for ginger rosemary set cream with quince from the garden, which is light, slippery as a seal and a delight.

With quite a full and happy belly by now, I retire to my room and my ocean-sized bed.

Next morning while eating my breakfast; on-trend kombucha, fruits from the garden, toast, and legions of tea, the restaurant is buzzing with guests diving into the neverending options all sourced, probably that morning, from the garden.

It’s no surprise that people rave about the food here: it’s inventive, beautifully cooked and unpretentious, with every plate looking lively and colourful.

The general ambience, mood and friendly staff are also up there rivalling the food as the best thing about this place. The team here look like they’re enjoying themselves – not always the case at hotels and restaurants – and they are easy, friendly and efficient.

The place has also got great attention to detail. I love that on arrival I experience by far and away the fastest check-in ever; I am sunk in a leather sofa with a cup of tea and a biscotti, my luggage whisked away from me, within in 45 seconds of arrival.

I also like the eclectic choice of magazines and books in my room, so much so that I ditch my own book and delve into them; and that there’s a huge sideboard in the sitting room with doorstep slices of cake in the afternoon which you can help yourself to.

This place is stylish but never feels stuffy. The Pig wears its coat of luxury very lightly.

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DINING DETAILS The Pig near Bath, Hunstrete, Pensford, Near Bath, BS39 4NS; 01761 490490; www.thepighotel.com In a nutshell Field-to-fork dining; friendly and efficient service; with a dash of luxury Menu Huge and imaginative, everything sourced form a 25 mile radius Wine Wide selection to choose from, plus a great choice of quirky cocktails Prices Starters £8 – £9; mains £12 – £26; desserts £3.50 – £12.50

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We’re celebrating not once, but twice The Dining Room by Chef Niall Keating at Whatley Manor has been awarded a second Michelin star.

Celebrate with us and enjoy a toast of Gusbourne Brut ‘Twenty Fifteen’ fine English sparkling wine with our compliments when you experience The Dining Room.

Dinner - Thursday to Sunday Lunch - Friday and Saturday Available until December 1st 2019.

Make your reservation online, call 01666 822 888 or email reservations@whatleymanor.com

Come and see the New ROARsome Natural History collection from Alex Monroe ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS | HANDMADE BESPOKE JEWELLERY | REPAIRS AND REMODELLING

9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LY | 01225 460072 The Designer Collections, 15 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR | 01225 448823 jody@jodycory.co.uk | www.jodycory.co.uk

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

QUEEN BEE Who knew pearls and bees would go so well together? These drop earrings are made from intricately enamelled golden bees with 18ct gold plating and lustrous fresh water pearls. Sashay your way through parties in town and wait for the compliments to pour in. ÂŁ65; available from The Roman Baths Shop, Stall Street, Bath; www.romanbaths.co.uk

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PREMIUM TWO LAYER BOX, £79.90 The ultimate selection from one of Bath’s most famous chocolatiers, the only downside to this extensive collection is you may be expected to share From www.charlottebrunswick.co.uk/shop-products

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT Some of the very tastiest treats you can buy in Bath – sharing optional

© JASON LOWE

KIMCHI £5.45 Naturally fermented veg: live, aromatic, made in Somerset and good for the gut From www.bathculturehouse.com

SEASONAL AUTUMNAL BOX, £40 Celebrate the tastes of the season with these meaty foodie favourites. A seasonal game darcy pie, mushroom parfait and chocolate orange bread and butter pudding make up just a few of the goodies inside From www.freshfordfoodco.com

CUSTOM MADE CAKE, FROM £37 FOR AN 8 INCH STANDARD CAKE Go the extra mile and have a custom cake made. Beautiful and delicious, you won’t regret it From www.thecakerybath.co.uk

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TÊTE DE MOINE, £35 Made from sweet Alpine milk, this cheese is rich, firm and the ultimate treat From www.finecheese.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE MALTED WHEAT SOURDOUGH, £3.50 We all know that a well-made, crusty loaf is one of life’s small luxuries From www.bertinetbakery.com

FESTIVE HONEY, £8.50 Calling itself the world’s first Christmas honey, this limited run of Festive Honey is jarred straight from the hives of bees fed on ivy plants From www.blackbeehoney.com

LARGE GIFT BOX, £40 Sloe gin, bramble vodka and a selection of preserves, this gift box will make a happy addition to the pile under the Christmas tree this year From www.heavenlyhedgerows.co.uk

HOPPED RHUBARB GIN, £38.50 Locally sourced rhubarb infused with gin flowers – the perfect winter warmer From www.thebathgincompany.co.uk

DOMAINE BELLLEVILLE GEVRY CHAMBERTIN CREUX BROUILLARD 2015, £57.70 Gevry Chambertin hails from the largest wineproducing community in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. It’s perfect for an evening curled up next to the fire From www.levignoble.co.uk

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Lolly’s Laundry Pom Amsterdam Mos Mosh Onjenu Great Plains One hundred Stars Indi & Cold Nice Things - Paloma French Connection Birkenstock Victoria

SPIRIT FASHION

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

BATH LONDON DEVON Independent boutique on Milsom Street specialising in Italian leather jackets, handbags, fashion & jewellery.

www.portmanlondon.uk www.kikiloungewear.com

+2019 BIKE sale

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SHOPPING

INIt’s THE CITY the wonderful array of

independent shops which make our city so vibrant and unique. Here we get into the heart of the community and get to know some of the most creative indies on our doorstep BLUE

Blue is arguably Bath’s best independent concept store, based at The Loft in the Bartlett Street Quarter.

A family-run business, the Blue team search far and wide across the globe to bring the freshest designs to Bath.

The unique shopping experience offered by the team is one of a kind. Blue customers benefit from one-to-one assistance, presented with stylish and unusual clothing, footwear and accessories that are seemingly impossible to find on the high street. Additionally, the home department offers eclectic furniture and accessories. Blue is a must-visit this Christmas. The array of amazing decorations, vast collection of baubles and elaborate gifts are not to be missed.

Blue, The Loft, 1-2 Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ; 01225 462111; www.bluewomensclothing.co.uk

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BREVITT RIEKER

Rieker Shoes in Union Street, Bath, opened the doors for the first time last October and has proved very popular with local residents and visitors alike.

Gorgeous shoes and boots are on offer for ladies and men that prove that it is possible to have comfortable feet and still be stylish.

The store also stocks a range of slippers, handbags and shoecare items.

Customers can benefit from free membership of the Rieker VIP scheme and also a loyalty card where you can save up six stamps for a free pair of shoes!

Life feels better with comfortable shoes.

3 Union street, Bath, Somerset, BA1 1RP; 01225 448680; www.rieker.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE FRAMING WORKSHOP

The Framing Workshop is a long-established bespoke framers, specialising in art and object framing, with quality materials, specialist craftsmanship and an individual service at the forefront of each and every job undertaken. They have been framing for 30 years in Bath’s artisan quarter and they love hearing the stories which come along with the art, objects and everything else they frame. They also make mirrors to order with any of their range of frames, and have a selection of collections and curiosities on display in the workshop to inspire you.

They talk through the process with you to ensure you find a framing solution to suit your requirements, be it simple or more specialised. Every frame is different, just as every client is.

Call in to see them, talk through ideas and share a story.

The Framing Workshop, 80 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BD; 01225 482748; www.theframingworkshop.com

CONSCIOUSLY YOU!

Consciously You! is a new sustainable lifestyle and gifts shop on Chelsea Road in Bath. With a beautiful collection of eco-friendly, organic and plastic-free products, alongside refillable kitchen, laundry and haircare products – all natural and free of chemicals.

We love to support independent businesses like ourselves, so many of our products are sourced locally and exclusive to us.

With Christmas on the horizon, we are giving our customers an alternative to the traditional Christmas gift, allowing them to create their own sustainable gift hampers, mixing and matching products that their friends and family will love.

1 Kennington Rd (adjoining Chelsea Rd), Bath BA1 3EA; @consciouslyyoubath consciously you Bath

JODY CORY

Jody Cory creates handmade jewellery in the heart of Bath.

Situated opposite the Abbey and Pump Rooms, the store is home to a collection of unique handcrafted jewellery that features many unusual gemstones, alongside traditional pieces. At their store in 15, Northumberland Place, they showcase jewellery by national and local designers along side Jody’s own handmade collections.

As well as selling jewellery, Jody also carries out jewellery repairs and commissions and can remodel your treasures from old to new.

Jody is an established, independent designer and goldsmith and is also a member of the prestigious National Association of Jewellers. When visiting the beautiful city of Bath, Jody Cory Goldsmiths is very much worth a visit.

9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath BA1 1LY; 01225 460072; www.jodycory.co.uk

LE VIGNOBLE

Tucked away in Milsom Place, Le Vignoble sells a vast selection of over 300 wines from all over the world. Focusing on unusual grape varieties and regions, most of the wines are made by small producers using traditional and responsible methods. As well as fine wines, they have a substantial range of entry- and mid-level wines, having something for everyone and every budget. They offer seasonal promotions as well as a discount on mixed cases all year round. Le Vignoble also stock select spirits and an extended range of gift-boxed wine and present packages in the lead-up to Christmas.

12-13 Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ 01225 465907; www.levignoble.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

PAPRIKA GIFTS

At Paprika Gifts the aim is to provide customers with the widest possible choice of quality items that they wouldn’t find together anywhere else. They have a carefully curated range of gifts including jewellery, accessories, homewares and decorations, with almost all of their products are sourced from design led UK companies.

Whether you should want some bamboo socks for the man in your life, a cute toy for a new arrival or stylish Ted Baker stationery, you’ll find something for everyone on your shopping list at Paprika Gifts.

8D Chelsea Road, Bath BA1 3DU 01225 443246; www.paprikagifts.co.uk

SPOTTY HERBERTS

Find Spotty Herberts, the independent, award-winning shop for children, right in the centre of town on one of Bath’s oldest cobbled streets.

They sell clothing for children up to ten – to grow up in, grow out of and hand on and on, and their unisex clothes are chosen for their thoughtful design, singularity and ethical production.

Clothing production is the second largest polluter in the world, using more water than any other apart from agriculture, and is responsible for the unfair working conditions of millions of people.

Spotty Herberts carefully select brands who have the vision to make clothes that children will love to wear without compromising the social and environmental aspects of production.

Shop independently, shop locally. Discover Spotty Herberts, a shop for children full of fun, silliness and wildness. Now that’s a real ‘Spotty Herbert’.

5 Queen Street, Bath BA1 1HE; 01225 331834; www.spottyherberts.com

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PORTMAN

Portman is an independent boutique on Milsom Street specialising in fashion, leather jackets and accessories.

Nickie Portman, owner of the boutique – which has a second branch in Lynmouth, North Devon – is the buyer, as well as the designer of the Portman brand jewellery and leather jackets.

“We mainly use Italian leather and manufacture ourselves, so our prices are fantastic for beautiful garments. Our fashion arrives weekly and we source gorgeous clothes for petite to plus sizes,” explains Nickie. “With a fast turnover, the shop is always full of new stock.

We listen to what our customers want and their feedback is great – especially as our customer base covers such a wide age range.”

Portman’s knitwear is high quality and very competitively priced at around £40, with a cashmere collection starting at £55. The shop includes a vast range of dresses, coats, jeans and bags – with a popular collection of leather rucksacks starting at £65.

“There’s so much to see – you should just pop in!” says Nickie.

28 Milsom St, Bath BA1 1DG; 07444 474947; www.nickieportman.co.uk You can also look online at www.portmanlondon.uk and www.kikiloungewear. com both run by Nickie’s daughters Jess and Kiana Portman.

TAKE CHARGE BIKES

Take Charge offers service and maintenance on all types of bikes. They also offer anybody who is considering an electric bike the chance to pop along and try a demo bike. An electric bike works like a regular bicycle, but with power assistance when you want it. With the range of speciality e-bikes you are sure to find a bike that can keep up with even the most demanding of terrain.

Trekking, mountain biking, in fact all your road/off road adventures become more fun with an electric bike.

Off street parking available next to the shop or very nearby.

1 Victoria Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EH; 01225 789568; www.takechargebikes.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE TR HAYES

TR Hayes has been selling furniture in Bath for over 100 years, and has built up a reputation for good quality and good service. The large store features many well-respected brands, with an amazing array of furniture of all types on display – you can browse Hypnos and Vispring, Stressless, Parker Knoll and Ercol ranges amongst others.

Never one to rest on its laurels, there is always something a bit different to catch the eye.

As well as furniture, TR Hayes supplies carpet, wooden and vinyl flooring and also made-to-measure curtains and blinds. There is a free estimating service and only experienced professional fitters are used.

A free interior design service is also now available – if you are feeling daunted by all the choice available, TR Hayes can help you create the home of your dreams.

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

THE DRESSING ROOM

The Dressing Room first opened its doors in 1985 and has been selling the finest in lingerie, beach and nightwear ever since. Tessa Brand says, “I’ve been the owner here for over sixteen years now and I still feel as passionate about what we do as I did on day one.”

Their offering is beautiful, practical, luxurious, basic, fancy and plain – literally something for everyone. “You can’t beat a great fitting bra, a snuggly dressing gown or a slinky silk number for a special weekend. And if you’re going away, we have the best beachwear collection in the south of England. Come and see!”

7 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2JU; 01225 330563; www.dressingroombath.com

VERVE LIVING BOUTIQUE POP UP SHOP

Located upstairs at Maison Georges Larnicol in the centre of Bath, Verve is an independent interiors store selling one-off furniture finds alongside contemporary accent pieces including textiles, artworks and giftware. Verve is passionate about supporting creativtity in all its forms and is proud to showcase work by local artists – limited edition prints as well as originals – and to support British designer-makers. Its aim is simple: to offer customers a collection of unique affordable pieces, including cards and gifts, that can’t be found anywhere else in Bath.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am–5.30pm (will also be open Sundays during November and December).

Upstairs @ Georges Larnicol Chocolate Shop, 5 Burton Street, Bath BA1 1BN; 07785 332536; www.verveliving.uk

WALLER&WOOD

Waller&Wood is a collaboration between creative partners Carole Waller and Gary Wood. This lovely space showcases their work in the heart of Bath, in Abbey Green with its cobbles and beautiful plane tree.

Carole creates distinctive wearable art; one-of-a-kind hand painted and printed scarves, clothing, paintings on cloth, and glass tables and panels for indoors and out. She is represented in the V&A textile collection and before opening Waller&Wood, sold to Harvey Nichols and Liberty.

Gary’s expertise is painted stoneware ceramics; pots for use, wall pieces and sculpture. Always keen to embrace new ideas, their work has a freshness and vitality of form, colour and texture.

The gallery also sells a beautiful selection of contemporary British handmade jewellery in unusual materials. Gary or Carole are usually to be found there in person, and are happy to discuss commissions for bespoke projects in cloth or clay.

4 Abbey Green, Bath BA1 1NW; 07803 033629; www.wallerandwood.co.uk

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sleep

“If we take better care of ourselves during our waking hours, sleep comes more easily�

Liberty print silk satin pillowcase from Coco & Wolf

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Golden slumbers It’s time to prioritise sleep – the deluxe way

By Harriet Noble

S

leep evades a lot of us. It’s a necessity, we know it is, and yet it’s seen by many as a luxury, so rarely do we get a solid night’s sleep.

Our office-bound sedentary lifestyles filled with screen time don’t help. We know we need more kip and yet, sometimes, we’re not great at prioritising it, which is strange really given the efforts we go to with other aspects of maintaining our health, like eating the right foods or drinking enough water.

Going to bed should be relaxing too; with amazing smellies, and soothing oils, scented candles and fluffy robes, pretty bedding and toasty slippers. So, we’ve trawled through the local shops to find beautiful sleep-related products and we’ve enlisted the help of local wellness, yoga and breathwork specialist expert Rowena Hunt for guidance on how to help you nod off.

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ARCHITECTS

’OVALI’ BATH, £1,364 OR £1,427 (DEPENDING ON SIZE)

Beautifully curved bath – perfect for sharing for for those who dig that.

From Ripples, Chelsea House, London Road, Bath; www.ripplesbathrooms.com

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SLEEP

BATH TIME

First, get ready for sleep with these bathing beauties BESPOKE GOLD BATH, (PRICE ON REQUEST)

Can there be anything more luxurious than having a soak in a gold bath? Perhaps eating a chocolate flake at the same time?

From Splinterworks, 18 Queen Square, Bath; www.splinterworks.co.uk

© STEPHANE ROCHER

ESSENTIAL OIL BATH BOMBS, £3.50 EACH Have yourself a relaxing aromatherapy bath with these pretty pastel-coloured bath bombs.

From Consciously You, Chelsea Road, Bath; Facebook: @consciouslyyouBath

BATH SALTS, £2.95 Banish stress with these floral fragrances From Somerset Toiletry; www.thesomersettoiletryco.co.uk

BATH OIL, £25.95 Think sunflower and sesame oils, chamomile and English grown Long Barn lavender fused together to make essential oils for the perfect relaxing bath oil.

Perfect for soothing tired limbs.

From Kilver Court, Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com

THIS WORKS: BATH SOAK £22, OIL £25, AND PILLOW SPRAY £19.50 Apparently Victoria Beckham uses these products.

Enough said.

From Rossiters of Bath; 38-41 Broad St, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

FIG SCENTED CANDLE, £12 Inhale scents from the Med with this gorgeous candle.

From Salcombe Trading; 76 Walcot Street, Bath; www.salcombetrading.co.uk

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SLEEP

DRESSING DOWN Then slip into something that makes you feel snug and rested...

SOCKS, £15 Keep those tootsies (and ankles) warm with these wonders.

From Salcombe Trading; 76 Walcot Street, Bath; www.salcombetrading.co.uk

BOIS PIERRE KIMONO, £150 We love this jacquard design in sateen damask; the sparkly satin fabric oozing ethereal winter fairy tale vibes.

From Kilver Court, Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com

PYJAMAS, £250 EACH Go arty with these limited edition remi rough pjs (left) or catch your zz’s with these Nicky Hirst pjs (below).

Both from Pjoys; www.pjoys.co.uk

ATLAS GOWN, £65.95 Richly hued gown with waist tie, featuring a mythologyinspired neoclassical print.

Perfect for lounging around or pair with jeans for a boho look.

From The Fashion Museum shop, Bennett Street, Bath; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk MUMMA NIGHT SHIRT, £42 Glide around graciously embracing your inner swan with this light, cotton nightie.

From Sleepy Doe; www.sleepydoe.com

SILK EYE MASK, £48 Treat your tired eyes to this light hypoallergenic cotton bamboo wadding mask, complete with dried lavender for the ultimate relaxing experience.

From Coco & Wolf; www.cocoandwolf.co.uk

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SHEEPSKIN SLIPPERS, £68 Chunky and toasty, these will keep your feet warm all winter.

From Uber Clothing, 6 Margaret’s Buildings, Lower Lansdown; Bath; www.uberview.co.uk

LILA TORMENT, OLIVIA VON HALLE PYJAMAS, £420 Velvety and silky, these dark colours will make you feel super sumptuous.

From The Dressing Room; 7 Quiet Street, Bath; www.dressingroombath.com

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SIMPLY BED Finally, cosy up with heavenly bedding...

DUNLOPILLO MILLENNIUM MATTRESS, FROM £1029 The breathable latex instantly responds to individual profiles and encourages a deeper sleep with seven, yes seven, comfort zones.

From Bed E Buys; Victoria Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, Bath; www.bedebuysltd.co.uk

LIBERTY PRINT PILLOWCASE, £26 This silky soft cotton on both sides pillow will ensure a happy place to rest your head.

From Coco & Wolf; www.cocoandwolf.co.uk

LIBERTY PRINT BEDSPREAD, PRICES START FROM £165 This pretty bedspread can be used as an extra layer in the cooler months or on their own the rest of the year. With a beautiful Liberty print both sides they are reversible too. What more could you want?

From Coco & Wolf; www.cocoandwolf.co.uk

ELLA LONGHAIRED SHEEPSKIN, £115 EACH Throw these on to your bed in the winter months for a soft and snuggly touch.

From Salcombe Trading; 6 Walcot Street, Bath; www.salcombetrading.co.uk

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SLEEP MAKE A HABIT OF IT

Bed-time routines revealed...

“In the winter my night-time routine usually starts with me listening to a podcast. At the moment I love listening to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast while I take my make-up off and change into comfy clothes. I think they are a great alternative to music and always help me wind down when I have had hectic days in the studio! I also love to drink a winter spiced tea and read before I go to bed as this really helps me to relax.”

Emma Dowse, Coco & Wolf

YVES DELORME BEDDING, £42.50 Go rural with this finely woven jacquard bedding.

From Kilver Court; Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com

“Make the bedroom a digital free zone, leave the phone at the door, and a night note book is all you need to get those thoughts out of your head. (A cup of night-time pukka tea also helps!)” Sarah Shore, Pjoys “Re-set house, I couldn’t go to bed with toys and dishes out. I try to get into bed at the same time each night (9.20pm.) Make a to-do list for the following day, read, sleep.”

Sophie, Sleepy Doe

BRITTANY BED, FROM £1079 Influenced by the regal decadence of the Louis XVI period, this design provides a cocooned feel when you are resting, characterised by sumptuous deep buttoning to the internal elements of the headboard and footboard.

From Silcox Son & Wicks; 5- 7 New Street, Bath; www.silcox.co.uk

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SLEEP Rowena Hunt also teaches breathwork and yoga in Bath

YOUR SLEEP QUESTIONS ANSWERED...

Local wellness, yoga and breathwork specialist Rowena Hunt guides us through it...

HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP? In order to prepare we can first adjust some of our daytime habits. Try to eat dinner as early as possible, so that the body is not still digesting food at bedtime and is able to rest fully. Aim to avoid caffeine in the afternoon and, if absolutely necessary, choose a green tea rather than a strong coffee. And allow yourself time and space in your day to mitigate the body’s stress responses; plug 3-5 minute ‘rests’ between each scheduled task in your day to simply sit and gaze out of the window, take a short walk, or breathe deeply for a few minutes. Finally, do something active every day, even if it’s a short walk to the coffee shop or dancing to your favourite song in the kitchen while cooking dinner. It is absolutely essential to remember that, if we take better care of ourselves during our waking hours, sleep comes more easily.

ARE THERE ANY ROUTINES THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Dim the lights in your home in the evening and perhaps even light some candles.

Choose a favourite herbal tea and give yourself at least an hour before bedtime that is screen-free to read a book or listen to restful music. You can also begin a bedtime deep breathing practice to teach the body

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to shift from the sympathetic nervous system response, ‘fight or flight’ where many of us live, to parasympathetic, ‘rest, digest and repair’. Science is beginning to understand what yogis have known for years – that just as the breath responds when we are scared, excited or resting, so we can use the breath as an access point to the body and mind. Here are a couple of simple breath techniques that will begin to teach the body to relax, helping to encourage deeper sleep: • Sit comfortably with a tall spine, close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose to prepare and induce a feeling of calm.

Try to keep your upper chest still while you inhale into your mid-chest cavity allowing it to expand and rise, returning to neutral as you exhale.

• Begin to count your breath, breathing in deeply for 3-4 seconds, then exhaling for 6-8 seconds. Ensure each exhalation is double the length of the inhalation, for about 10 rounds.

• Finally, we add the ‘humming bee’ sound.

Follow the directions above, still breathing through the nose, but allow each exhale to be accompanied by a humming sound created in the throat. Again do about 10 rounds.

• Then lie down and rest or, if in bed already, go to sleep.

HOW CAN PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR WORRIES AND THOUGHTS SO THAT THEY DON’T KEEP THEM AWAKE? It can be helpful to have a notebook and pen by the bed so you can do a ‘brain dump’ before bedtime. Each evening, write down everything that is bothering you, write a to-do list, and then end by writing down three things that you were grateful for today.

It may sound trite but, if we commit these things to paper and then end on a positive note, we no longer have to ruminate when we would rather be resting.

IF YOU SIMPLY CAN’T SLEEP, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Try keeping a sleep diary. Make a note at the end of each day of what you have done, what you have eaten, where you have been and how you feel, physically and mentally.

Then make a note each morning of how your sleep was. Over a couple of weeks a pattern often emerges of which habits help sleep and which hinder. And, if you are still facing challenges, visit a wellness consultant or talk to your doctor to find ways to adjust your life to better support effective sleep.

For more: www.rowenahunt.com

WITHIN YOU IS A STILLNESS AND A SANCTUARY THAT YOU CAN RETREAT TO ANY TIME AND BE YOURSELF

THE FI NEST I N LI NG E RI E , BEACH & NIGHT WE A R

Photo: © Beata Cosgrove Photography

Come and discover your inner sanctuary with our guided 20 minute meditation sessions. Classes run throughout the day – try your first for free by registering at www.thesoulspa.co.uk

Drop in £5 | Monthly membership £40 (unlimited daily meditations) Other things you’ll find at The Soul Spa: Workshops • Courses • Therapies First meditation starts at 6.30am, last one 7pm – check the website for details 2 Hetling Court BA1 1SH ( just a few steps from the Thermae Spa)

Tel: 01225 318226 | www.thesoulspa.co.uk

The Soul Spa

thesoulspa.uk

Consciously Life. Consciously Style.

Consciously You! A sustainable gifting and lifestyle boutique Organic Collections • Vegan Collections • Fair Trade 1 Kennington Rd (adjoining Chelsea Rd), Bath BA1 3EA @consciouslyyoubath

consciously you Bath

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MEET THE

HEAD TEACHER The experts at the helm

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

WELCOME TO KINGSWOOD SCHOOL to see their wholehearted engagement in success themselves, butlife equally importantly allfor aspects of school and the passion to support each other and to looksuch beyond they show both to achieve high Kingswood wayssuccess in whichfor they can make levels to of seek all-round themselves, a real but difference others’ lives. equallytoimportantly to support each other and to look beyond Kingswood to waysthings in which can up make What seek exciting arethey coming at a real difference to others’ lives. your school?

Exciting things happen every day at Kingswood, Whatbut exciting things are exciting coming current up at of course, perhaps the most your issue is the school? appointment of a new head from Exciting things every day 12 at September 2020!

I willhappen have completed Kingswood, of course, perhaps the most extremely rewarding years atbut Kingswood by then exciting current is the appointment and am delighted thatissue Andrew Gordon-Brown, a new head from September 2020!

I will who isofcurrently the headmaster of Truro School, have completed 12values extremely rewarding a school with very similar to Kingswood, years at Kingswood by then and am has been appointed as my successor. delighted that Andrew Gordon-Brown, who is currently the headmaster of Truro What do you find most satisfying about School, a school with very similar values SIMON MORRIS the job? to Kingswood, has been appointed as my HEADMASTER, KINGSWOOD SENIOR Headship is about enabling young people to successor.

SIMON MORRIS SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL OF THE thrive and the most satisfying aspect of the KINGSWOOD FOUNDATION role isWhat knowing a part do that you you findhave mostplayed satisfying HEADMASTER, KINGSWOOD SENIOR 01225 734200; www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk in helping createjob? the foundation for young aboutthe SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL OF THE people to prosper and grow.

The role is also Headship is about enabling young people FOUNDATION WhatKINGSWOOD are you most proud of professionally? extraordinarily varied, toaspect me of to thrive and thewhich most appeals satisfying Without a doubt the students at Kingswood. greatly.

On one daythat I may meet with the role is given knowing you have played 01225 734200; For such a diverse community, it is so rewarding students, staff, parents create and governors, but also a part in helping the foundation for to see their wholehearted engagement in all teach young a lesson and take in drama, music, www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk people to prosper and grow.sport The aspects of school life and the passion they show and other activities.

It is a role which is never role is also extraordinarily varied, which are you ofall-round professionally? anything appeals medynamic! greatly. On one given day I bothWhat to achieve suchmost highproud levels of otherto than Without a doubt the students at Kingswood. may meet with students, staff, parents and For such a diverse community, it is so rewarding governors, but also teach a lesson and take

in drama, music, sport and other activities. It How doeswhich your is school fromother others? is a role neverdiffer anything than It dynamic! is always difficult to compare schools, so perhaps I can answer this one by stressing what I think do your particularly Wefrom wantothers? to be How we does schoolwell! differ anIt all-round students excel insoall is always school difficultwhere to compare schools, perhaps can answer this At one by stressing aspects of Itheir school life.

Kingswood we what I strongly think weindo particularly well!

We want believe the importance of community to be an all-round school where students and in the importance of each individual within excel in all aspects of their school that community.

We place a great emphasis not life.on Athigh Kingswood believe achievement strongly in only levels ofwe academic theon importance ofacommunity and inand thea spirit and developing love of learning each within care that and ofimportance enquiry, butofalso onindividual strong pastoral place a great emphasis not oncommunity. the intrinsicWe value of extra-curricular activities. only on high levels of academic achievement and on developing love of learning and a What is your school’saethos? spirit of enquiry, but also on strong We wish to be a school which embraces pastoral care and on the intrinsic value of all-round excellence, so we are seeking to extracurricular activities. support our students on a journey which leads to the highest levels of achievements in all What is your school’s ethos? that Equally important how we Wethey wishdo. to be a school which is embraces help develop personal qualities. believe all-round excellence, so we areWe seeking to that this powerful combination of rounded support our students on a journey which achievement character all leads to theand highest levelsdevelopment, of achievements within an environment which is deliberately in all that they do. Equally important is how we both and unpretentious, ensures our helpambitious develop personal qualities. We believe students well equipped whenof they leave that thisare powerful combination rounded Kingswood to make a real difference in their all achievement and character development, lives beyond school. within an environment which is deliberately both ambitious and unpretentious, ensures our students are well equipped when they leave Kingswood to make a real difference in their lives beyond school.

What does wrap around care mean at Kingswood?

We always to look to support busy families and our wrap around care has a child-centred approach, whereby pupils can be dropped off at 7.30am for Breakfast Club, stay for supper and even Prep too. The Late Care at the Prep School is free until 5.30pm! We also offer Flexi Boarding for those needing their son or daughter to stay overnight.

Are all the meals cooked on the premises?

To find out more, visit our website and book your own personal tour www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk 92 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

We are very proud to say that all our meals are freshly cooked on the premises and are locally sourced. Furthermore, we are continually reducing our use of plastic and palm oil.

How many extra-curricular activities do you offer?

We offer an amazing and varied number of activities. With over 70 activities offered at the Prep School, and in excess of 100 offered at the Senior School, your son or daughter is sure to find something of interest.

ADVERTISING FEATURE MARK BREAREY

HEAD OF KINGSWOOD PREP SCHOOL 01225 734460; www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk How has the school changed since you were appointed?

KPS has always been a fantastic school, built around a strong ethos and excellent staff. We are a school that fits in with busy working and family lives and our wrap-around provision is second to none. With the support of the Head of the Foundation, Simon Morris, and our governors, we have transformed the facilities at KPS. Our Early Years Foundation Stage incorporates the new Baby and Toddler Rooms, as well as our previous Pre-School and Reception facilities.

Light, bright, airy classrooms, combined with the ‘richness’ of a school environment, mean that extraordinary opportunities are available to our youngest children. Our facilities have been further enhanced by our new Association Hall and Music Hub, which incorporates superb teaching spaces and practice rooms. Years five and six have new classrooms and we are very proud of our new Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths areas. Empowering our children with the skills to thrive in a rapidlychanging world is our mission. Although we endeavour to be forward thinking and at the cutting edge of technology, I would nevertheless like to think that the positive attitudes, values and manners expected of our children are still the same as when the school opened in 1995.

What challenges come with the role?

The role of the Head has changed during my tenure at KPS. The levels of inspection, compliance, governance and accountability have all risen.

My current key aim is to reduce the number of meetings and to spend more time with children, staff and parents. There are days when I am delighted that I am getting closer to this goal and others when I reflect on the day with less satisfaction, as it has been back-to-back meetings. I love the fact that no two days are the same and the children constantly surprise you with their infectious honesty and energy. Last week a little boy in year two remarked, “You are looking tired today, Sir!” Open, honest, empathetic and not afraid to say something – those were the positives I took from this! As it happens, he was quite right.

Do you still do any hands on teaching?

I spend Wednesday mornings in Reception, Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School and I am out on Monday and Wednesday evenings doing activities and on Saturday doing morning sport. I now have superb Senior Management and Leadership Teams, which should allow me to spend more time in the classroom.

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Teachers are the ‘dream keepers’ – they ignite a love and passion for all aspects of the curriculum and extra-curricular life; their inspiration has the potential to be life-long and life-changing - what a gift this is!

Patience, hard work, a sense of fun, being creative and imaginative, and never losing sight of what it is like to be seven or nine years old are fundamental attributes of an excellent and dynamic teacher. Children need the staff to believe in them, to be positive and inclusive, and to always have faith in what they can achieve.

What subject did you most enjoy at school?

I was inspired by my History teacher, who told amazing stories and brought characters and situations to life. I had a superb English teacher at secondary school who loved language and the power of words on paper. Both teachers imbued their lessons with fun, appropriate pace, challenging questioning and openness – the lessons were over far too quickly!

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ADVERTISING FEATURE LAUREL PENROSE

PRINCIPAL, BATH COLLEGE 01225 328720; www.bathcollege.ac.uk How is college different to school?

Further Education at college is great alternative to sixth form for those who are looking for excellent vocational, technical and employability skills. The college sets high and exacting standards while offering a different learning environment where our students are treated as adults and where employability skills are central to the study programmes. We offer a broad range of subjects, qualifications and pathways (including apprenticeships), with all our Level 3 courses carrying UCAS points, enabling progression onto Higher Education if desired.

How do you choose which courses to run?

We regularly reach out to local employers and make sure our courses are offering what they are looking for in new recruits.

In addition, we research local, regional and national employment trends and analysis.

This has resulted in 93 per cent of students progressing onto positive destinations in their chosen field of study or career.

Our curriculum is reviewed annually and amended in line with proven demand and

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needs. An example of this is the newly introduced courses of Psychology & Law and Fashion, Business & Retail, both of which have proved incredibly popular.

We also believe partnerships enhance the learning experience, good examples of this are our Bath Theatre Academy for Performing & Production Arts which works with the Theatre Royal, our Engineering department working with Rotork and our Catering Academy connecting with Michelin star restaurants.

When are you proudest to be Principal?

When students flourish, achieve and progress and our community of staff prosper.

Where do you see Bath College in five years?

I have big ambitions for the College over the next few years, pursuing excellence in all that we do. Ofsted graded us as ‘Good’ which we are delighted with, but it’s just the starting point. I am ambitious for the College and everyone who works and studies with us. By 2022 we aim to be the most sought after College in the region, in the hope that by 2025 we will be the most sought after College in the UK, not necessarily the biggest but definitely the best.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MARTIN BODEN

HEADMASTER, KING EDWARD’S SCHOOL 01225 464313; www.kesbath.com What makes King Edward’s the special school it is?

King Edward’s is renowned nationally for its consistently high standards, but it is also increasingly equally well known for its outstanding pastoral support and for the broad range of inspiring co-curricular opportunities it offers pupils. The link between these is often very evident; pupils who are happy and engaged and who feel well supported and valued in all

aspects of their school life are far more likely to make excellent progress in the classroom and to perform at their best level academically.

service programme which each week sees up to 50 of our Sixth Formers volunteer in local hospitals, hospices and primary schools.

What exciting things are coming up at school?

KES’ recent recognition by the Independent School Parent magazine as ‘Independent Performing Arts School of the Year’ coincided with the opening of our amazing new Drama Centre, The Rose, kitted out to the highest professional standards. Since then, we have extended and refurbished our Sixth Form Centre to create a superb social and study space and are about to open a new teaching block for Modern Languages, to include the latest digital laboratory set-ups. We also have plans to make significant further improvements for Music, Science and Sport; these are certainly exciting times at the school!

What do you find most satisfying in your role as headmaster of KES? I realise that, as head, I am very lucky to be able to call upon such inspiring teaching and support staff, as well as a community of pupils, parents and friends who are incredibly supportive of what we are trying to do here. As I enter my twelfth year as headmaster of KES, I understand increasingly that I am just one custodian amongst many of what I consider to be a great school whose success rests largely on sharing and growing from the values and ethos that underpin not just what we say, but what we do. I also aim to ensure that, amongst its many other qualities, KES is seen as a warm, welcoming, friendly and engaging school that promotes open-mindedness and encourages all its members to look outwards.

As Bath’s oldest school tell us a little bit more about the role King Edward’s plays in the city today…

We are proud of the role that KES has played in the city of Bath and beyond for well over four and a half centuries. The many community partnerships in which we are involved today include, amongst many others, providing Maths and English teaching for a number of local primary schools, a wider music education programme through our unique partnership with Bath Philharmonia and a cadet partnership with other local secondary schools as part of our CCF programme. We also have a thriving community

If you weren’t a Headmaster, you would be?

Only two people know that, later on the day that I am penning this, I will for the first time perform a solo guitar/vocal piece at one of our many school concerts. Given that I regularly exhort pupils to step outside their comfort zone, it is perhaps only fair that I do the same, but the truth is that I am quietly terrified! Sticking with this theme, if I wasn’t a Headmaster, I would love to be a drummer in a band, but I suspect that my greater talent will always lie in the appreciation of good music rather than the performance of it!

LUKE BROMWICH

HEADMASTER, ST MARGARET’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL 01249 857220; www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk What are the qualities of a good teacher?

The best teachers are those that are honest and reflective. Obviously, having a strong teaching pedagogy is key but ultimately, the best teachers are those that seek to improve. Teaching is a long-term game and so the best teachers also have to have endurance as this allows them to give their best, day in and day out. Schools are constantly evolving, and therefore teachers have to continually change and adapt their approach. As a result, I also value creativity and the willingness to try something new!

What subject did you most enjoy at school?

I enjoyed the practical subjects. I now know that I learn by talking and doing. The sciences, especially physics, and DT were my favourite slots on the weekly timetable. I love to find out about how things work and I have been told that I am very logical. Therefore, any subject where I was allowed to explore really appealed to me. In school, it is so important for teachers to consider the different ways that children learn. For me, sitting and working as an individual doesn’t work, I need to be able to work collaboratively. The best teachers accommodate for these differences in learning styles so that everyone in the class learns effectively.

What advice would you give your 10-year-old self?

To look after yourself. Teaching is a vocation and it takes true dedication.

For me, it is so important to look after yourself both mentally and physically so that you can respond effectively to the stresses and strains that come your way. When you look after yourself, you are the most effective version of yourself and ultimately this means that you can give more to your team and your school.

What is your school’s ethos?

At St Margaret’s our motto is ‘Commit to Excellence’. The pupils at the school define this as a promise to be ‘the best that they can be in all that they do’. In order for the pupils to be able to achieve this, our ethos revolves around our desire to provide them with ample opportunities to develop learning skills whilst developing moral values.

Our society is rapidly changing, the skills that people need in the workplace are ever evolving. By ensuring that our pupils all have ample time and guidance to develop a range of skills, we can equip them to thrive in our fast paced society. We also aim to instill a range of traditional values to ensure that they are adaptable learners who are equipped to positively contribute to society.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE What do you find most satisfying about the job?

Every decision, every day, must answer the all-important question – what is best for this particular child? The sheer diversity of days, of the same problem never crossing your threshold twice (and I am into my fifth year of headship) make for a rewarding and satisfying job. With a child-centred focus, the difference we make to each of our girls is humbling.

Do you still do any hands-on teaching?

My ideal day involves some time in the classroom. If I am not teaching, I will cover a lesson for a colleague so they can observe other lessons or complete some planning or research. Mustering for a fire practice with a Reception class covered in glue and cotton wool after one disastrous cover lesson at my former school reminded me of the incredible job our teachers do day in, day out with our children.

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Passion. The joy of the independent sector is that as passionate teachers we can enrich our students way beyond any constraints of a national curriculum. Young minds are phenomenally elastic and to imbue them with curiosity and a love of learning is critical if they are to become lifelong learners.

KATE REYNOLDS

HEAD, ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL BATH 01225 313877; www.royalhighbath.gdst.net

Why specialise in girls’ education?

Outstanding education is about equipping children to be as successful as possible in their chosen field. Having taught in co-ed, all boys and all girls schools I have seen how girls really can flourish and develop the positive mindset needed to negotiate life after school.

The Royal High School Bath has appointed Mrs Kate Reynolds as head from January 2020. Kate moves from Leweston, where she has been head since 2015 and was previously head of international students whilst teaching English and Drama – before that, she taught at Sherborne and Gillingham School. Kate has a commercial background, having practised law in London and Somerset before moving into teaching.

How does your commercial experience benefit you as a head?

I started my working life as a solicitor, which has taught me the importance of detail and logic. At the end of the day a school is a business, so I have been confident about keeping one eye on the smooth running of the commercial aspect of a school without ever losing sight of what matters: the children.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE starting up the Marines section of the CCF. In 2000, I took on the role of house master and then, in 2008, I joined Downside as deputy head, becoming head master in September 2018. Having been educated at Worth School, which was itself founded by Downside, the opportunity to take on the leadership of Downside at this important moment in its history has been an enormous privilege.

What is your school’s ethos?

At Downside we value and accept each individual as they are, in a community which is guided by the universally understood principles of the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict. This enables children to grow and develop in confidence to reach a potential beyond their expectations and find their purpose and meaning in life. The school offers an academically and intellectually inspiring environment, together with challenges provided by a varied and exciting co-curricular programme which includes sport, the arts, community outreach and environmental awareness. There is encouragement and the opportunity to serve and lead others, and a rich spiritual life gives the school community a firm foundation.

ANDREW HOBBS

HEADMASTER, DOWNSIDE SCHOOL 01761 235103; admissions@downside.co.uk; www.downside.co.uk Where did you begin your career?

My first teaching post was at Hurstpierpoint CoIlege in Sussex. After that, I went to Canford School in Dorset where I spent 16 highly enjoyable years and learnt an enormous amount under the headship of John Lever.

He gave me opportunities for leadership in the academic, pastoral and co-curricular areas of school life. I was the head of classics, as well as having responsibility for running cricket and then rugby for a time, and

What do you find most fulfilling about the job?

It is hugely enjoyable to build strong relationships with families and work with committed and gifted colleagues to ensure that every one of our pupils can grow and develop as an individual. The ability to make a positive difference in the lives of young people and to open up opportunities to them is hugely fulfilling. I particularly enjoy my interactions with pupils. There are always new things to learn and, reading the articles written by pupils in our recently published academic journal, Tessera, I am reminded how ambiguous the dividing line is between who is teaching and who is learning.

You are welcome to make a private visit to the school or join us for our next Open Morning on Saturday 7 March 2020.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE Where did you begin your career?

I started as a History teacher at St Benedict’s School in Ealing. After two years there I moved to Eton for ten years where I was head of History, coached the 1st XV Rugby Team and was a deputy boarding housemaster. I then moved to Merchant Taylors’ School in London to become the academic deputy head. I was at Taylors’ for five years, coaching rugby and cricket alongside running the academic life of the school. I moved to Prior Park this summer.

BEN HORAN

HEADMASTER, PRIOR PARK COLLEGE 01225 835353; www.priorparkcollege.com Describe your typical day There is no such thing; that’s what makes this a brilliant job. What I can say is that each day will have a mixture of spending time with the young people at Prior Park, meeting with staff and seeing parents. If I’m really lucky, then I will also get to do some History teaching or Sports coaching.

What exciting things are coming up at your school?

In my first ever assembly at Prior, inspired by a trip to the musical Hamilton, I spoke to the school about the importance of taking your ‘shot’. I asked them to focus on standing for something bigger than themselves. I’ve been wowed by the response. The pupils have really taken a lead and are becoming ever more engaged. Be it peer mentoring, a commitment to the climate strike movement or their introduction of greater student representation, they’re stepping up.

How has schooling changed since you began teaching?

Eighteen years isn’t that long a time, but there have been a vast number of changes in education. Those changes all stem from challenges facing young people. I’m a History teacher, so I shan’t be too sweeping in my

statements, but I do think that it is harder to be a teenager now than at any time since the late 1950s. There are no guarantees anymore.

In terms of careers, housing, and even the climate, they live in a world of uncertainty. It is our job as a school to help them prepare for an uncertain future. We don’t do this by sitting them in front of banks of computers, learning to code for the ‘jobs that don’t exist yet’ which you’ll hear a lot of schools bang on about.

Computers may well be writing most of the code themselves in five years anyway! Instead, at Prior Park we teach creativity and teamwork, kindness and resilience. We know young people need room to explore who they want to be.

They need a school like Prior that gives them room to grow. We understand that parents want a school where children become confident young adults who know their own mind.

How does your school differ from others?

Nowadays, all schools talk about pastoral care, but for Prior it is part of our DNA. This is, without any shadow of a doubt, the most caring and loving community I’ve ever been part of. Schools don’t talk enough about love.

Prior Park is a school filled with love. Pupils love learning, playing and performing together.

Teachers love sharing their passion for their subject. Parents love the fact that at Prior we care, deeply, about their children’s happiness and success – in that order!

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THE GREEN LIGHT

Nick charts the history of St Stephen’s Millennium Green, and tells us why it’s become such a thriving hub for Lansdown Words and photos by Nick Woodhouse

T

he weather had been unusually kind to us given the downpours that week.

As I opened the gate to Lansdown’s Millennium Green, the bells of St Stephen’s Church chimed, heralding a new hour, sought or otherwise.

Within the garden, a decidedly new season was also being ushered in, perhaps though with a quieter fanfare. The rouged sedum was unfurling its billowing autumnal gown through beds that stood in colourful rebellion to a new claimant, the colder months. The aster, the perennial tortoise, was now holding its stellar, magenta form majestically over peers that had, until then, won the race to shine. Now they

one end of the space had become untended and unloved. The soil here was of a more demanding and less forgiving clay. With 2000 soon approaching, an application was made to create a Millennium Green where these plots once stood. An award was granted by The Millennium Commission, but on the condition that this sum was matched by the community itself. And so, a fundraising campaign started, resulting in the successful purchase of the land from The Diocese of Bath and Wells.

A charitable trust was in turn created for the day-to-day running of the space and to implement its agreed design, the brainchild of former theatre designer Ken Bridgeman.

Given his profession, it is perhaps fitting that the space takes the form of a natural amphitheatre, one that works with the lay of the land. The initial hard landscaping works were followed by regular Sunday planting sessions by local residents over the course of two years.

Finally, in the summer of 2000, former MP Don Foster opened The Millennium Green that we see today.

John has now been a regular gardener here for six years, his professional input key to the space’s ongoing maintenance. The green receives no local funding, so an annual series of events is in place to help cover this and other ongoing costs, such as public liability insurance. An open garden day is the biggest fundraiser each year; a handful of local gardens have been successfully opening to the public each summer since 2000.

Medlars, crab apples, mulberries, apples and walnuts are all grown here, often used to make jams and chutneys to raise funds at the annual produce sale. Punch and Judy make their annual appearance then too, their reciprocal bickering soothed by teas on the green. Events such as an Easter egg hunt, talks by local professionals and jazz nights have also become stalwarts on the green, all benefiting from the

“The space takes the form of a natural amphitheatre, one that works with the lay of the land” stood down, their seed heads reminding us wistfully of summer days passed.

Trustees Brenda and Jackie were waiting for me, sitting on one of the benches perched over the green’s tended lawn. Their involvement with this community project precedes the green’s opening in 2000, the year that gives the space its name. Four years previously, the plot holders of St Stephens’s allotments had been given notice to quit; the owners of the land were applying for permission for a housing development here. Whilst some plot holders left, the majority stayed on to fight the application. They won the ensuing public enquiry and the allotments now fall under a new lease, expiring in 2050.

St Stephen’s Allotments are now an ongoing and thriving hub for the Lansdown community, with a waiting list for its plots.

By 1998, however, several of the plots at

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amphitheatre layout of the space. Recently a “Fund A Day” scheme has also been introduced to those wishing to support the community gardens further. A contribution of a day’s running costs of the green is suggested, and the donor can choose a special day of the year on which to mark this contribution.

The funds raised from such events also help to supplement existing and donated planting. Brenda and Jackie are forever at local nurseries and garden centres hoping to source suitable plants on a shoestring. This autumn for instance will see the planting of additional spring bulbs and improvements to the wildlife pond. The latter is key to their trust’s ethos of a space that promotes nature and appeals to all ages. Wrens recently nested here and the higher fringes of the space have been left to grow that bit wilder, whilst seed heads in the beds are actively left for birds to find and devour. Pond-dipping sessions have also been introduced, allowing us to see first-hand the newt and dragonflies that this very approach attracts. Visits by local school children allow them to make their own compost and to navigate their way through the timber fort, tunnels and mowed lawn patterns to find the garden’s hidden ornamental pig.

As I bid my farewells to Brenda and Jackie, I spot a wall lovingly painted by local children.

Colourful flower motifs again defy the colder months. A reminder that autumn may be upon us but there is still so much in our very own gardens to give cheer.

St Stephen’s Millennium Green www.millenniumgreen.org.uk

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

GARDENS

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

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STONE SPECIALISTS

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It’s the city’s business

BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>WOMEN IN BIZ AT ROYDS WITHY KING (105) >>NEW TO BATH HAPTICITY (106) >>AWARD FOR BLUESKYTEC (107)

PLAN ABOUT TOWN Development plans for the Royal Mineral Water Hospital are now available to the public. The Min was sold by the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust back in 2017 and has since been acquired by the Fragrance Group who, in partnership with Bath-based architects Stride Treglown are transforming the Grade II listed building into a luxury hotel.

“We’re breathing new life into these redundant buildings to ensure they can continue to play a vibrant role in the city centre, bringing new jobs for the people of Bath and increased revenue for the city as a whole,” says Martin Rogers of the Global Hotels & Leisure Consultancy on behalf of the Fragrance Group. “We have been liaising closely with officers from Bath and North East Somerset Council, and with Historic England, as well as other planning experts to bring forward these exciting proposals for a high-quality hotel, spa and restaurant which respect the history, heritage and architecture of the original buildings.

“We have worked hard to ensure that guests and visitors will be able to enjoy the building’s heritage, including its historic links to Bath’s thermal waters.”

For more: www.theminexhibition.co.uk

The Min reimagined

Amanda Dow, director of HR at Royds Withy King

Royds Withy King ranked top for gender diversity Royds Withy King has been ranked second among UK Top 100 law firms for gender diversity. Of the firm’s 213 lawyers, 64 per cent identify as female, making it second only to Irwin Mitchell in terms of gender diversity.

“We are pleased to be recognised for our work in this area as part of our wider commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I),” says Graham Street, managing partner at Royds Withy King.

The firm was also recognised in The Lawyers Report for equity partnership gender diversity. It came ninth, having 33 per cent female equity partners, and 26th for partnership gender diversity. The firm

has set itself a target to increase its female partners from 34 to 40 per cent by 2025.

“We are continually looking at our gender balance to make sure that both men and women feel they have access to the same opportunities, whether that is in business support roles or in senior legal positions,” explains Amanda Dow, director of HR. “We have recently re-launched our flexible working policy to ensure a fairer and more consistent approach while investing in a robust Learning and Development curriculum, Mentoring Partnerships and our staff-run Gender Equality Network.”

For more: www.roydswithyking.com

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

BATHWORKS

PROPERTY AWARDS SET FOR SELL OUT SUCCESS The Bath Property Awards are only a few weeks away.

The ceremony will take place at The Apex Hotel as a lunchtime event on 15 November, where companies will learn who will take home each of the nineteen hand-made trophies.

For the full list The awards brings the Bath of companies who property community together impressed the judges enough to make the finalist list, check the “It’s wonderful to have our finalists and Awards website, and Bath Property sponsors meet and greet ahead of the Awards’ social media.

Awards,” says Steph Dodd, event director Finalists and sponsors of the event were at MediaClash, organisers of the event. invited to an evening of networking at the “Choosing the Award winners will be Bird, Bath Hotel ahead of the Awards. a tough task with so many high-quality The reception was to highlight the special companies involved.” achievements of those shortlisted amongst For more: bathpropertyawards.co.uk a high quality set of finalists. @BathPropertyAwd

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FRESH TALENT Khadeeja Osman, Sheryl Marsh and Siân Bentley The team: Sarah Skeels, Helen Carey and Neil Craggs

HAPTICITY

Three students from Bath Spa University are getting a taste of life with Bath and North East Somerset Council. The three interns are working on sustainability projects to do with the environment, waste and the council’s pledge to encourage people to eliminate at least three single use plastic items over the next year.

“This placement has allowed me to play to my strengths, whilst still being challenging. It also incorporates a lot of what I have studied in my first year at university and I will be able to carry the skills forward throughout the rest of my degree and beyond,” says intern Siân Bentley. “Working within the sustainability department is an amazing insight into the inner workings of local government, especially with the declaration of the climate emergency and increasing public interest in sustainability issues.”

For more: www.bathnes.gov.uk 106 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Comprised of husband and wife team Neil Craggs and Helen Carey, Hapticity Architects and Interiors is an exciting addition to the Bath property scene. Both of the Welsh School of Architecture they’ve done some high flying work in London and Sydney before deciding to settle down in Bath for a bit. Helen is no stranger to Bath, having worked for 12 years with Simon Morray-Jones Architects on projects in the city, nearby in Frome and further afield in London and Dorset. Her final project with Simon was a Grade II listed building renovated specifically for Unique Homestays. Neil, meanwhile, was working with Yiangou Architects in the Cotswolds, an associate architect on a whole range of renovations, extensions and replacement dwellings.

Together as Hapticity, Helen and Neil offer the complete service from feasibility studies and master planning to the nitty gritty like ironmongery, joinery and soft furnishings.

For more: www.hapticity.co.uk

BATH SPORTS NEWS Bringing you the latest in sporting news

BUSINESS MATTERS DIARY From networking breakfasts to invaluable evening courses, make a note of the meetings and classes that will help your business flourish 6 NOVEMBER CORSHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NOVEMBER EVENT Hosted by Corsham Print, the Corsham Chamber of Commerce November Event is a networking breakfast meeting with an informative talk. This month, Chris Perry of Corsham Print will be dispelling some of the myths that plague the print and paper industry.

7.30-9am; various prices; Corsham Print; www.corshamchamber.com

Stephen Baddeley of Team Bath with Rengen CEO Iestyn Lewis

BOOST FOR TEAM BATH Team Bath has partnered with Rengen to support the university’s health and sports activities. The corporate partnership will help fund Team Bath Netball’s appearance in the 2020 Vitality Netball Superleague and the rugby team in the national BUCS Super Rugby League.

“We are energised by this new partnership as we open a fresh, academic sporting year.

It is fantastic to link up with a successful local company that is so active within the city and the region,” says director of sport Stephen Baddeley. “Iestyn Lewis, as CEO of Rengen, understands our DNA and what is needed to help young people stay healthy and thrive in their sporting careers as well as balancing their work, studies and sport, and we are grateful for Rengen’s support.”

For more: www.teambath.com

ALL ABOUT THE AUDIENCE Bath Rugby donated tickets for its game against the Worcester Warriors to some deserving youngsters who take part in its charity programmes. The charity, Bath Rugby Foundation works with children who have had a tough start in life to help them succeed, and, for many, this was their first ever game at The Rec. “We always receive great support from Bath Rugby’s staff, players and, of course, supporters,” says Lynn Fernquest, Bath Rugby Foundation CEO. “Our coaches work with children and young people who have not been given an equal chance of success and are certainly not able to regularly attend Bath Rugby matches. Many are loyal Bath Rugby supporters but have never been to The Rec. “This is a wonderful gift to a young person who, through no fault of their own, has had a difficult start to life.”

For more: www.bathrugbyfoundation.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

14 NOVEMBER BS31 BUSINESS NETWORK MEETING Part networking, part training, this Keynshambased event provides a great opportunity to meet new people and learn new things. With time either side dedicated to networking, the meeting features a talk from Nick Sladek on how to successfully market your business.

6.30-9pm; £5.98; Keynsham Town FC; search BS31 Business Network on Facebook 19 NOVEMBER ACTIONCLUB TASTER SESSION What is your purpose? Why are you doing what you’re doing? These are just a couple of the questions this complementary ActionCLUB taster session will help you tackle. If you like it, you can sign up for the whole 12-month programme.

4.30-7.30pm; Unit R17, Marshall Way, Frome; www.actioncoach.co.uk

Exciting times ahead for Blueskytec

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Blueskytec, based down on Barton Street, has won The Innovation Award at the UK Space Conference 2019. The cyber security company beat off competition from around the country to wow the judges from world-leading aerospace companies.

“We are absolutely delighted to win this award. We have spent the past five years developing our patent pending technology and are extremely proud to have it recognised at such a prestigious event. Our belief is that there is a gap in the market for a high integrity, low cost commercial solution in cyber security, and the growing market for space technology provides huge opportunities for Blueskytec,” says Dr Chris Mobley. www.blueskytec.com

GROWTH ON GROWTH

Stone King has recorded a 10 per cent growth in turnover this year. In its latest financial statement, recorded turnover was up to £19.8 million.

“We had a strong year across the board with a number of key hires, new service launches and our Leeds office moved into larger premises to accommodate our growing presence in the region,” says managing partner Steven Greenwood.

“A key focus has been growing our service offering in Further Education. We supported this with the appointment of nationally-recognised expert Tom Morrison as partner in January, to head this area or work. The appointment of employment expert Dr John McMullen as a partner in our Employment Team has also been a coup for us.” www.stoneking.co.uk

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BATHWORKS

“PHOTOGRAPHY GETS ME UP IN THE MORNING” train rides and I’m back in Paris.

Paris will always be special to me. It is where I met the love of my life and is where I am still enjoying fabulous experiences. Paris is where I really found and distilled my style to the point where people could pick out my photographs as a Claire Morris.

The colours, textures and energy of the city are a true inspiration.

Paris is incredible and will remain a strong and present part of my life and business. It is though, great to balance that with the comforts of being based in Bath too.

ONE TO WATCH

Claire Morris Photography Claire Morris is a photographer with a thriving international business based in Bath and Paris.

Her camera has taken her all around the world shooting weddings in exclusive locales So, Claire, how did you end up in wedding photography?

I’ve been photographing professionally since 2001. It’s funny, I never dreamed of being a wedding photographer, but then a friend asked me to shoot her wedding in 2008. At that time most wedding photographs were ‘stand under an arch and smile awkwardly’, so it had never appealed to me – I was used to shooting for the country’s top music and fashion magazines.

But, I agreed to shoot her wedding and realised I could bring some of my fashion and editorial experience and expertise into the style of wedding photography. It was so much fun! I was on such a high, surrounded by raw emotion and party atmosphere, that I instantly fell in love with wedding photography.

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What keeps you in love with weddings?

My work takes me all over the world and into some of the most exclusive luxury hotels and wedding venues. They present me with so many creative opportunities for stunning photographs – I am really spoilt visually.

My business ethos is ‘I want you to look and feel amazing’ and this is what I pride myself on.

I just love the moment the client sees the back of the camera and falls in love. They say ‘OMG you made me look amazing’. They are so excited and I know it makes their wedding day more special, knowing they are going to love the photos and look back on them in years to come and think ‘god I looked amazing’.

My super power, as people call

it, is to be able to pose my clients to look fantastic. I have tried and tested secrets that ensure I get the best out of the client and make them look outstanding.

So you’re based in Bath and Paris, right? What’s that like?

As I serve a luxury destination client, I’m always travelling around the world. I am asked to photograph weddings throughout France, Italy, Greece and as far as Thailand, so it’s never mattered where I am based. I can live and work anywhere.

Bath, for us, has the perfect balance of everything we could want in a home.

It’s very well connected for travelling for weddings. Bristol Airport makes it easy to get to Nice and most of Europe – and two short

Travelling constantly, you must have had some amazing experiences. Tell us about one of your most memorable shoots Back in June 2014, I was commissioned to document Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Paris at The British Embassy over three days – they were the most surreal days of my life.

The most special moment was photographing The Investiture. I was in the most beautiful Parisian room with no more than 20 people, including The Queen, Yeomen and guests. The summer light spilled into the room lighting up the Queen like an angel. She had such an ethereal presence. It was truly a ‘pinch me’ moment.

What about your business makes you proud?

I never gave up. That’s the hardest challenge to get through when first running a business. There were many times I wanted to give up because it was so hard, but I kept going and now I’m on top of my game, being featured in all the top fashion and luxury wedding magazines, shooting celebrities and some of the most extravagant weddings in the world.

I’m very proud of myself for that.

I’ve worked crazy hard and taken a lot of risks to get where I am.

I never wanted to do anything else and had to do everything possible to make it work. Photography gets me up in the morning – it’s what my heart beats for.

For more: www.clairemorrisphotography.com

BATHWORKS

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2019 The team at Marlborough Tavern were absolutely thrilled to win a Bath Life Award. Managing director Joe Cussens gives us the inside story on what makes the pub special…

Where do you keep the award?

On the bar for everyone to see.

Why do you think you won?

I think we’re going through something of a purple patch at The Marlborough at the moment; both the service and food offering are really strong right now. That combined with the friendly pub atmosphere probably helped give us a strong case.

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

At the moment I’d say our food is consistently really strong. Our head chef, Jack Scarterfield puts together great menus – just the right balance of creativity and originality blended with a classic gastropub grounding. We’ve also been putting on a series of great foodie nights, which have gone down really well.

The food aside, the pub just seems to have a really nice feel about it.

GASTROPUB WINNER SPONSORED BY

I’m not really sure where that comes from, probably a combination of nice customers, nice staff and a comfortable, well put-together interior look.

What do you really love about your job?

The best thing is meeting customers and helping them to have a great evening (or lunch). That’s really why we got into this game in the first place, and it’s the reason why we love what we do. We get to welcome guests from all parts of the world – I especially enjoy meeting and talking with them.

Where do the frustrations lie?

It’s always really disappointing if a customer goes away unhappy.

Our job is to make sure all our customers have a great time, and the vast majority of the time we achieve this, but sadly, in hospitality, it’s inevitable that occasionally you will get it wrong. To serve up a top meal and customer experience it takes lots of steps and involves lots

Hello

T CONTAC Y US TODA E FOR MOR DETAILS

Autumn

Hello

New Home

Fabia Selwood-Miller picks up the award for Marlborough Tavern

of people, and it only takes one of those going wrong to potentially leave a customer disappointed.

When that happens we feel frustrated as somehow we’ve failed to do our job.

What’s the best part about working in Bath?

Well, not only is it beautiful but Bath is a real foodie city. There is an abundance of independent cafes, restaurants and pubs for people to choose from. Having healthy competition gets us thinking of new events, changing our menu to suit the seasons and keeping our customers happy.

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

Ask us a bout your FRE VALUATIO E N and FREE PR OPERTY WEBSITE

Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you react to it.

Any exciting plans for us to watch out for?

This year we have already made some change to our garden and interior – next up we would like to refurb the bar.

Tell us something surprising about you

I can ride a unicycle. Well, at least I used to be able to – it’s probably been thirty years since I last gave it a go!

For more: www.marlborough-tavern.com

Turn over a new leaf this autumn and market your property with Bath Stone Property.

01225 422224 bathstoneproperty.com

© SOUL MEDIA

So, what was it like to win a Bath Life award?

It was great! I was delighted for all our staff who work at the pub. They work really hard and are very passionate about the business and giving great service, so it’s nice for them to get the recognition – it felt very much deserved.

NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL AT T H E RO M A N BAT H S A N D P U M P R O O M 7. 45pm – 1. 30 a m Pump Room: £150 | Terrace: £135 | Reception Hall: £127.50 | Kingston Room: £110

Count down to 2020 in spectacular style! Dust off your finest suit and bring out that ballgown – join us at the Roman Baths and Pump Room for an unforgettable start to the New Year!

Begin the evening with a sparkling reception around the torch-lit Roman Baths, before moving upstairs for an indulgent five-course dinner with half a bottle of wine, followed by live music and midnight celebrations.

Buy tickets now at: searcys-bath.designmynight.com For more information, call 01225 444477

A PLACETO CALL HOME

PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

32 NORTHAMPTON STREET Unadulterated splendour and a colourful sense of mischief underpin this glorious property

By Harriet Noble www.mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK I BATH LIFE I 141 113

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PROPERTY

A

s this is our special luxury issue, we were intent on finding a really opulent property, not difficult in Bath, I know; and one with something a little bit extra.

This huge personality of a house caught our attention because, yes, it certainly manages to ooze luxury but it’s also fun. Really fun.

Why? Well, the current owners have clearly eyed up the whopping size of the rooms, the grand old fireplaces and sky-high Georgian ceilings (it was built in 1796) and instead of veering off to the gracious, curtseying world of respectability and china teacups have boldly lunged in the other direction; it’s like a million ideas exploded here, throwing up chandeliers alongside leopard-skin rugs, floor length curtains in eye-popping colours to sensual chaise-longs, jenga-style statues of books alongside free-standing claw-foot baths and fairy lights.

And yet not only does it really work, but the bricks, mortar and razzle dazzle interiors do more than make it look like a great place to rest your head; it looks like a place where legendary house parties happen. Or where you’ll have the best game of hide and seek. Or where you might host a decadent cocktails and life-drawing class for a group of your eclectic friends.

If you’re a shy, retiring type whose heart doesn’t happily break with the Studio 54 meets Marie Antoinette boudoir interiors, then that’s your call. So, stripping it down, where to start with this big house?

Don’t be overwhelmed; we’ll start at the top – the third floor. Here you’ll find three bedrooms, the smallest with a French double bed and views towards St James’s Square, another large double room with built in cupboard and original stone fireplace and the third bedroom, also a double, looking out over the garden with views over Bath towards Prior Park.

Downstairs, onto the second floor, is the master bedroom – a lovely light room with three large Georgian sash windows with open aspect, two original built in wardrobes, fireplace and original wooden floorboards. The sunny bathroom next door is mega, and is fitted with Philippe Starck units, giving you plenty of room to saunter fragrantly around in après your bubble bath.

Another flight of stairs down and you’re on the first floor – home to the dramatic drawing room with high ceilings, decorative original cornicing, three windows

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PROPERTY

with original shutters and a large Carrara marble fireplace with iron inset. This light and airy room opens out onto the withdrawing room, currently used as an office, which has an original fireplace surrounded by Georgian alcoves.

On the ground floor, hope you’re knees are holding up, the wide hall opens into the sitting room; a gorgeous room painted in chartreuse with dado rail in brassica and an original Sienna Marble fireplace – the best working fireplace in the house according to the owner – and two Georgian windows with original shutters. The adjoining kitchen has a rangemaster, granite and wood tops, lots of cupboards, room for a huge table, and open aspect onto the garden and porcelain tiles on the floor with underfloor heating.

There is a separate apartment on the lower ground floor, which offers a bedroom, kitchen and shower room, courtyard garden and its own access – perfect for guests or perhaps a spirited offspring who’s recently acquired a drum set. It has its own entrance from the street, so no waking up the whole house after a late night out, and its also accessible from the house, so it could be incorporated back into the house or used as a separate self-contained home or work space.

Travelling outside, there is a decent-sized garden, especially for a property so central, with plenty of space for tables and chairs on the terrace, while the mature willow and hazel tree, shrubs and borders offer a little haven of greenery. So, that’s it. If you or your friends decide to buy this property, please remember to have that house-warming party, we’ll be there.

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HOUSE NUMBERS Square footage

3126

Bedrooms

5

Bathrooms

2

Price

£1,350,000

Where Northampton Street Homes of Bath Fine & Country, 36 Gay Street, BA1 2NT; 01225 320032; www.homesofbath.co.uk

residence

ON POINT

We meet the minds behind architectural and interior design company Point Three Design and take a peek inside their faultlessly stylish home Words by Lydia Tewkesbury Photos by Crescent Photography

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H

usband and wife team, Jez and Sarah Flavell make up the architectural designer (him) and interior designer (her) for Point Three Design.

Transplants from London, the pair came to Bath on a search for a home they could make their mark on, and they’ve done exactly that in their Grade II Listed Georgian town house on Charlotte Street. Sarah explains the inspiration behind the unique but minimalist design, bold colour choices and the process of updating the home without losing its period feel.

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

We wanted to keep the bones of the house quite classic to suit its period, so chose fairly traditional bathroom fittings, herringbone floors, reeded ebony door handles, brass push plates, column radiators, to sit alongside our more modern furnishings. We very much like the mix of vintage and modern. We have collected some unique finds over the years, such as various 1960’s light fittings, mid-century modern pieces of furniture and have artwork, framed family pictures and personal mementos, which helps to give the interior personality. We also selected a Georgianinspired palette of colours in a matt finish.

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RESIDENCE

The kitchen is quite classic style too, but we utilized tall units to make them more like pieces of furniture and then the dark colour gives it a modern feel. Four years ago, before dark kitchens were appearing readily on the high street, this felt like quite a shocking move to our friends and family.

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

Jez and I are constantly looking and taking inspiration on board everywhere we go – it’s second nature. We installed our black and white shower room tiles, because we were inspired by the spectacular floor at Cecconi’s restaurant in Mayfair. I was watching the TV drama Sharp Objects recently and fell in love with the fabulous vintage De Gournay wallpaper, which was used in the main house in one of the sets.

What are your favourite independent homeware shops in Bath?

We love Felix and Beau Nash for vintage lighting and are very excited about 8 Holland Street in the beautiful shop on Margaret’s Buildings. For affordable eclectic furniture and accessories, I often turn to Graham & Greene, which always has good quality, timeless pieces with a touch of humour. Their upholstery is such good value and comes in very classic shapes and countless colours of velvet.

Sleek and modern, the perfect room for hosting dinner guests

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“We have collected some unique finds over the years”

RESIDENCE

CLOCKWISE: Sarah Flavell and Jez Flavell; unique finds collected over the years add personality; the dark colour gives the home a modern feel

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RESIDENCE Do you have a favourite room?

I love the calm and tranquility of our bedroom, which is a bit like a hotel suite. It’s painted in an antique rose colour, which we have repeated in the bedroom of our last three properties because, as well as being really beautiful, it matches an eiderdown we have had since before we were married. I found a 1960’s dressing table in Sisi & May, now sadly closed, that I adore. We also have a vintage Murano glass pendant light in a similar rose pink. We commissioned built-in wardrobes that fit into recesses but look like freestanding furniture. I find it a really lovely space in which to get ready or to relax.

What do you want people to feel when they enter your home?

I want visitors to feel welcome and comfortable.

Although we are quite particular about having an orderly home, I still want people to feel relaxed. I also want it to smell good when you come in and keep lots of candles and scents around the place, my favourite being the Union of London one, which was a gift and specially made for “The Flavell’s”.

What did you learn from designing your own home?

I learn something with every project. There are so many amazing crafts and trades people we come across in our line of work who are so skilled at what they do. It’s great

“Jez and I are constantly looking and taking inspiration on board everywhere we go – its second nature”

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

utilizing them and gleaning something new – I recently learned lemon juice is the most corrosive thing you can spill on marble.

Do you feel that your home says something about you?

The interior of our home reflects both of our personalities, Jez is more of a minimalist so we have lots of built in cupboards where things can be stored away but there are chosen items on display as I couldn’t live in a total stark house.

How does working in architecture and design influence help you decorate your own home?

We are constantly exposed to new items such as finishes and furniture, but trends come and go – we value investing in timeless pieces, which still hold up years later. We made a conscious decision when we first started buying pieces together, to try to save up for things we loved, which have moved from house to house over the years. It is very tempting to go for the next new thing, but we do return to beautifully made classic items or reclaimed, one-off finds, which can take on patina and are not merely throw away items.

For more: www.pointthreedesign.com Got an amazing local home? Want it to feature in Residence? Contact lydia.tewkesbury@mediaclash.co.uk

Whether you’re lounging in the tub or sitting on the sofa, this cosy bathroom is made for relaxation

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

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

Contact Clair on 01225 426906 or 07855 79731 www.clairstrong.co.uk

ALLSOP CARPETS

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

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 www.westsidedesign.co.uk

MENDIP FIREPLACES

ETONS OF BATH

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

CHEVERELL

www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

www.cheverell.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

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

BONITI

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

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

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;

LUCY COLLINS

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 129

BATH LIVES

“Yoga is not about the destination, it is about the journey” At Three Ways School, and other schools and organisations like it, I work with the same groups of children for at least a term, enabling me, the staff and parents to see some significant changes in confidence, self belief, physical strength and mobility, as well as use of calming strategies.

EMMA REYNOLDS The Bath yoga teacher making the practice accessible to everyone Living in alternative Islington in the ’70s, yoga had a following,

and as a young child I went to my mum’s yoga class, where the beautiful and calm Swedish yoga teacher Benty left a lasting impression on me.

One of my children has cerebral palsy and when he was two, yoga came back into

my life as we practiced together as part of his daily physio. The benefits to him were clear to see, but I was struck by how much it helped me too.

I started to concentrate more on yoga, developing my practice, trying lots of different yoga and most importantly practicing more frequently. I believe this gave me the clarity to see that I wanted to train as a yoga teacher – then

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I discovered Special Yoga For Special Children.

I have gone on to train with Rainbow Kids, who specialise in teaching the practice to children, and I have become a Hatha yoga teacher.

I believe yoga is for every body and every mind. I see each

person as an individual and create a class that is accessible to them.

I have learnt not to over plan – I have a couple of different themes set and what I’d like the class to achieve, but until I arrive and feel the energy I’m not entirely certain!

I have a large bag, now known as my Mary Poppins Bag of Yoga, which holds all sorts of engaging tools for yoga and breath work – scarves, feathers, bubbles and even a yogi bear!

Yoga should be accessible to everyone, not just the very flexible we see on social media.

Disabilities shouldn’t prevent anyone from reaching their potential, whatever that may be.

Yoga is not about the destination, it is about the journey.

When I’m teaching adults, my classes have a flow and we hold asanas for a few breaths,

creating a mix of strength and stretch with lots of breath work and stillness of the mind. I have some special classes for adults, too – I teach the staff at Three Ways School a restorative class at the end of their busy week, and a gentle flow in Yoga For Hot Women, a class specifically for women going through the menopause.

When I teach children I sing – but not always! I use games, books, music – whatever I feel will engage that group. We might do a mindful art activity or some origami. We build mandalas and work as a team supporting and sharing with each other. Yoga poses are fun, sometimes noisy, and children often make some up themselves.

I teach children from the age of two upwards so my classes vary depending on their needs. Some children are noise

sensitive, so we will have a quiet class, but a mainstream children’s yoga class may not seem like yoga.

It can be loud, lots of laughing, moving and music. My years of teaching experience means that I am able to see how far the fun can go before I bring them to a place of calm. My classes start with a fun warm up, then perhaps a journey or story told with yoga poses. We will play some games, perhaps musical yoga poses, before I bring them to a place of calm, spend some time focusing on breathing before coming into a still, quiet place.

My yoga practice has changed considerably over recent years.

I regularly attend other people’s classes and really feel I benefit from them.

We are always learning and growing. My home practice is something I really love. When I stopped worrying about what I should do and how I should do it and instead listened to my body, I really started to feel the benefits.

Yoga has changed so much for me – I am calmer, much more grounded and able to deal with the stresses and strains of modern life. n

www.yogaclassesbath.co.uk