Bath Life – Issue 450

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ALL THE ACTION FROM BATH BOULES 2021

ISSUE 450 / 13 – 26 AUGUST 2021 / £3

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ISSUE 450 / 13 – 26 AUGUST 2021 / MOVE IT UP A GEAR

LIFE AND CYCLES FROM THE BICYCLE CLIP DIARIES

PLUS REBRANDING OPERA WITH IFORD ARTS / A NEW AND MOVING HOLBURNE EXHIBIT / CATCHING UP WITH CHIPPY DAY / BIKE BATH IS BACK

© BELL A WEST; W W W.BELL AWEST.CO.UK

EDITOR’S LETTER

TOP: We want to ride our bicycles

(page 40)

ABOVE: On the trail of the Widcombe

artists (page 58)

© CHRIS DAW

I

’m a pedestrian kind of cyclist. I have no Lycra but I do have a bell and a wicker shopping basket attached. I like to go slowly and take in my surroundings – well I actually have no choice having never passed a cycling proficiency test.

In fact, I never even owned a bike until I came to Bath 21 years ago. But when I looked around and saw the beautiful green spaces that were suitable for an amateur like me, free from thundering juggernauts and tricky one-hand on the handle right turns, I was hooked.

We’re so fortunate to have easy and accessible routes, like the gorgeous Bristol and Bath Railway Path on our doorstep (turn to page 40 for author and proper cyclist Nick Raistrick’s humorous take on cycling this path).

And helping us step it up a gear is the return of Bike Bath (page 44) who will be offering up even more two-wheeling possibilities, all for a good cause.

We also go freewheeling our way around the enchanting enclave of Margaret’s Buildings – city centre-based yet a dreamy world apart – with its boutiques, galleries, chi-chi cafés, and the new Berdoulat interior store and studio, which is a treasure trove of design inspiration (page 60).

We submerge ourself in spa-life over on page 48, and for a weekend at the end of July we all submerged ourselves in the world of Bath Boules (page 16). I played on the Bath Life team for the morning and it has to be said my bouleing skills are about as good as my cycling skills. And yet that doesn’t stop me trying to muscle in on the glory of the later Bath Life team’s overall Saturday win.

In fact I’m just wrenching the stabilisers off my bike now so I can make this lap of honour really count…

SARAH MOOLLA

Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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Issue 450 / 13–26 August 2021 COVER We’re talking bikes over on page 40.

Photography by Bella West; www.bellawest.co.uk

16 BATH BOULES 2021 The return of the much needed

IRL celebration – and competition – all for a good cause

THE ARTS

29 ARTS INTRO A new permanent exhibit explores the

16

© LLOYD EVANS

BATH BOULES

Holburne’s connection to the slave trade

30 WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, family stuff, comedy and art

in Bath and beyond

37 BOOKS Mr B’s cruel summer 39 FILM Music, marriage and robots: what’s coming up at

The Little Theatre

LIFESTYLE

40 BICYCLE CLIP DIARIES Nick Raistrick takes in the

Bristol and Bath cycle path

48 SPA Sit back, relax and realign 52 RESTAURANT Nothing brightens a day like No 15 54 TAKE 5 From New York to Rowde with Chippy Day 54 FOOD & DRINK Trowbridge’s new beer festival

60

SHOPPING

57 INTRO The moving story behind Widcombe artist

Tim Williamson’s painting

58 EDITOR’S CHOICE Highlights from the Widcombe Art

Trail

60 MARGARET’S BUILDINGS The tranquil indie enclave

a little out of the city centre

BUSINESS

69 BATHWORKS News, views, and interviews from our

successful local businesses 72 BIZ Q&A Julie Butterworth on rebranding Iford Arts

80

PROPERTY

77 PROPERTY LEAD How a local not-for-profit is

addressing the housing crisis

78 PROPERTY NEWS Updates from the market 80 SHOWCASE A home fit for royalty

DEPARTMENTS

7 SPOTLIGHT Good news for Poirot enthusiasts 15 FLATLINE Flats is switching to pedal power 75 GREG INGHAM Reflecting on Bath’s legacy 82 LIVES Out of this world singer-songwriter Sally Robinson

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@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 Contributors Nic Bottomley, Elsie Chadwick, David Flatman, Emma Ingledew, Jessie Myers, Nick Raistrick and Matilda Walton Group advertising manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@ mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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© JESSIE MYERS

FOOD&DRINK

SPOTLIGHT

Cycling

PEDAL TO THE METAL

Matt Owens is on a mission to make the most of Bath’s musical talent

Music

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE A new, Americana-infused music festival is coming to Lyncombe Court in Bath on 4 September. The brainchild of Matt Owens, of Noah & the Whale fame, The 7 Hills music festival will host a line-up of talent from the world of folk, country, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and gospel alongside emerging local artists. The festival is part of Matt’s ongoing mission to revitalise Bath’s music scene.

“The posters on the walls of the Pavilion in Bath hint at a long-lost past when Bath was a major musical destination, venues like Moles had legendary bands playing pre-Glastonbury shows, massive names like Peter Gabriel moved here,” he says.

“So, where’s it all gone? There are a few disparate voices and great venues – but it’s lost its weight.

Artists often gravitate towards Bristol but there’s talent queuing up here! The 7 Hills, I hope, is one part of the solution.”

Tickets are on sale now.

For more: www.the7hills.com

Bath poet Mark De’Lisser has written a poem that grapples with the Abbey’s connections to the slave trade

There are plans for a new family cycle centre and activity park at the former Entry Hill golf course site. Dreamed up by skills coaching and mountain bike hire company Pedal Progression, the plan is to create a community resource that’ll bring the joy of biking to a wider audience.

There’s an open consultation on the development of the park with B&NES running until 6 September for locals to have their say on the future of the space.

Pedal Progression has also opened a temporary café for the month of August, where they’re inviting people in to learn more about the plans for the park, as well as providing a summer programme of

cycling events for children.

“We are excited to be able to move to this stage of the process and to get the views of the community,” says Matt George, director at Pedal Progression.

“There are many factors that will shape the final design, these include the visual landscape, ecology, location of houses, traffic and parking and noise considerations. We have considered these in our concept designs but now need to refine these based on the feedback from the community.”

Flip to page 40 for more on the thriving local cycling scene.

For more: www.pedalprogression.com / www.bathnes.gov.uk

Bath is set for an exciting new bike park

Bath Abbey

BE VERSED IN Bath poet Mark De’Lisser has written a new work in response to the memorials in Bath Abbey. The poem, Dark Shadows, was inspired by the Monuments, Empire & Slavery exhibition, which explores the Abbey’s connections with the British Empire and the transatlantic slave trade.

“Dark Shadows is a poem about acceptance, meeting ourselves where we are and moving forward from that place together,” says Mark.

“Rather than continually turning away and ignoring the parts of our past that make us uncomfortable or uneasy, I wanted Dark Shadows to instead invite the audience to feel that discomfort, to re-examine our history and in turn begin to heal the deep wounds that still

affect us today.

“Working with the Abbey has been an absolutely fantastic experience. They have been so open and willing to listen to and share the voices of the Black community. I really do admire the fact that the Abbey are willing to challenge themselves and look deeply at their connection with the transatlantic slave trade.

Hopefully this will inspire other institutions to do the same. In this way we can begin to have open and truthful conversations about Britain’s colonial history.” You can watch Mark perform Dark Shadows on the Abbey’s YouTube channel, and read the poem on the website.

For more: www.bathabbey.org

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SPOTLIGHT Theatre Royal

THE GREATEST DETECTIVE

Sir David Suchet is set to appear at Theatre Royal this November for Poirot and More, A Retrospective, as part of a major UK tour. He’ll be putting those little grey cells to work, reaching back through the history of his long career to share stories that shed light on some of his most beloved performances. Joining him is journalist, broadcaster, biographer and co-author of Poirot and Me, Geoffrey Wansell, who will interview David for the unique event.

“Regional theatre has always been very close to my heart as it’s where my career started and was nurtured,” says David. “To visit so many places that have meant so much to me during my 52-year career is wonderful. This show is my way of connecting and saying hello to people across the country after this terrible period and welcoming them back into the theatre. I am looking forward to sharing my memories, stories and favourite moments.”

David Suchet captivated fans as Agatha Christie’s iconic Belgian detective, Poirot for more than 25 years, alongside a flourishing theatrical career.

For more: www.theatreroyal.org

KIT T Y CL ARK PHOTOGR APHY

Wizz & Wild florist Issy Watts will lead a workshop

David Suchet will appear at Theatre Royal this November

The Holburne Museum

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Katie Hodge is the host of the retreat

© NATIONAL PORTR AIT GALLERY, LONDON

Not football, but Jane Austen. From 26 August, Bath has a rare opportunity to see the only widely accepted depiction of Jane Austen outside London. The sketch by Jane’s sister Cassandra has been loaned to The Holburne by the National Portrait Gallery in London, Jane Austen by and is the only Cassandra Austen, surviving memento circa 1810 of Austen’s features.

“Jane Austen is part of the Holburne’s history,’ says Chris Stephens, director of the museum.

“The museum is housed in the old entrance to the Sydney Pleasure Gardens where Austen liked to take breakfast and to enjoy fireworks and concerts while she lived across the road. I am delighted to bring her portrait back to the place she seems to have enjoyed more than any other in Bath, and I am deeply grateful to our friends at the National Portrait Gallery for making this homecoming possible.”

For more: www.holburne.org

Self-care

Polly Jackson AKA Whole Lotta Knots will lead a macrame workshop

KNOW WHEN TO RETREAT Escape for a self-care retreat this September. Bath-based yoga teacher, Katie Hodge (otherwise known as Katie J Yoga) will host the day of yoga, mindfulness, foraging, creative workshops and more at Manor Farm in Upton Cheyney on 25 September.

“The Self-Care Retreat was born from a passion to create a space where guests can be present and embrace joy,” Katy says. “It will be an experience for people who need to connect their body and mind via yoga, awaken the soul through creativity, and spend time in the tranquil countryside.”

The dreamy day away from it all includes sessions with Issy Watts of Wizz & Wild florist and Jo Stewart, a personal trainer and soft tissue therapist with Sustainable Fitness. There’s also a macramé workshop with Polly Jackson of Whole Lotta Knots on offer.

For more: www.katiejyoga.com

© BET T Y BHANDARI

IT’S COMING HOME

SPOTLIGHT

SUMMER IN THE CITY

Hot sultry days are made for languid city walks and lazing under the summer sun in the park – preferably complete with picnic. English weather is unreliable, that’s for sure, but when it delivers, it’s nothing short of glorious.

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FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN

Chain reaction

© TAKING PICTURES

Flats is more than happy to get on his bike and ride, but he’s also going to keep his motor running

“I have a new bicycle arriving next week and am fully buying into the movement movement”

L

ast week I hosted a lovely event for British Cycling.

I know what you’re thinking and you’re right: I do not look like the right human being to be hosting an event at which I am surrounded by elite cyclists and talking about elite cycling. I think they might have asked me to do it as a form of social inclusion but they wouldn’t be drawn on this, repeatedly refusing to comment.

My role was to ask questions of a couple of Olympic gold medalists that might illicit fun and informative answers for an educated audience. At one point one of said gurus turned a question back on me, asking how much I cycled and how often I chose the bike over the big, thirsty car I’d arrived in.

Obviously I answered ‘what car?’ to get everyone giggling, and then proceeded to tell the truth, which was, actually, quite often.

Having moved into town, I find myself using the car about half as often as I always have.

Now, I love my car, but I do not miss cramming it into the (seemingly shrinking) Broad Street car park and wasting infuriating minutes on parking apps trying to pay money to be there and scrambling to guess when I’ll be back and knowing that all this does is put a time pressure on whatever lunch or coffee rendezvous I’m attending.

My guess is that relatively soon Bath will become even more painful to drive around and through than it is now – which isn’t great – and that this is a conscious approach being taken by strategic decision makers.

In some ways I’m all for getting people out of cars and getting them involved in self-propulsion; it works for our bodies and it works for our environment. The thing is, though, sometimes you have toddlers and dogs and it’s raining and you’re late and it’s

miles away and driving is the only option. At those times, resentment will peak. There is another, wider argument here that we have become disconnected from our most immediate societies and that having ‘smaller’ lives with fewer miles being travelled and fewer appointments and activities being deemed vital would do us all a lot of good, but that’s probably for another week.

I have (nobly) decided to embrace the part-time abandonment of my motor car.

It is now three days since I parked it up, and that feels good. Walking through town to the gym or to the Thoughtful Bakery for a flat white and a cinnamon bun is feeling like a real, simple treat, and cycling to the shop for coffee beans or bin bags is both quicker and involves less parking admin.

I indeed have a new bicycle arriving next week and am fully buying into the movement movement. The problems might come when it rains – which will happen a lot – and when it’s freezing cold and icy. Say what you want about wrapping up warm, but I’ve got an app that heats up my car’s seats before I even leave the house. A cosy, inviting car can be a hard thing to walk past, but I will do my best for Queen and country to do the right thing. I do not see motor cars as an outright enemy, but I do see them as yet another modern convenience that we convince ourselves we cannot do without.

Actually I couldn’t – and wouldn’t – be without one, but learning to control my usage of it does somehow feel like a little bit of personal progress.

Oh, and my new bicycle might have a little motor attached to it, but don’t judge. It’s a start.

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. You can find more Flats on Twitter @davidflatman and Instagram @ dflatman

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 15

SCENE

BOULE’D OVER Zut alors! Il a plu un peu at Bath Boules, not that anyone let that put ’em off…

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

© LLOYD EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY

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

PHOTOS BY LLOYD EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.LLOYDEVANSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

SOCIETY

PLAYING IT BOULE

The feeling of gratefulness was palpable in Queen Square as the Bath Boules made its welcome IRL return for the 30th year (should’ve been its 31st but we all know what happened there). The sun shone, occasionally the rain showered, and we discovered our competitive spirits had made it through the pandemic unscathed. Especially Team Bath Life, who, for the first time ever, won on the Saturday. Not that we’re boasting.

New for this year was the Bath Boules app, created by Rocketmakers and Digital Wonderlab – it enabled people to keep track of the all-important scores (did we mention the Team Bath Life win?), check out the tasty treats available from the various food traders, and, most importantly, donate.

The amount raised from the event will be announced in September. In the past, the Bath Boules Trust has granted funds to over 70 local charities, and charities are encouraged to request a grant from the Trust at any time for consideration. Hot tip though, the trustees generally prefer to grant funds for specific projects or equipment that is going to make a real difference – whether it’s tens, hundreds, or thousands of pounds.

The Bath Boules 2021 was a result of a massive city-wide effort, from the teams (all 132 of them, including Team Bath Life who won on the Saturday – can’t remember if we said...), to the providers of delicious food and summer vibes, to the sponsors, including Le Sponsor Suprême, Brewin Dolphin. It was a true celebration of being together, of summer, of the city, and of all the funds being raised for local good causes.

For more: www.bathboules.com

Sophie Wainwright, Joe Stas, Andrew Summers, Casper Summers – Juice Recruitment

Ben, Karen, Beth Perry, Tanika, Alex, Charlotte, Juno the dog, Glenn Perry and Toby – Zest Lettings

SOCIETY

Jo Cox, Nick Hay, Helen Rich, David Cox, and Elliot Maddison Scott Harvey, Steve Caie, and Robert Mapstone

Sam Kolwocz, Elly Whittard, Sarah Baker, Matt Slate, Simon Jefferies, and Marcus Whittington – Vertex team It’s all in the wrist action

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PHOTOS BY LLOYD EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.LLOYDEVANSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Pat White, Dan Nichols and Sean Ingham, Team Bath Life

Jess Goldsmith, Kit Chapman, and Jenny Draper – Team Cobb Farr

The party atmosphere in full swing

Don’t break under the pressure

Chris Garratt,official Bath Boules Ref Sophie Wainwright, Joe Stas, Andrew Summers, and Casper Summers – Juice Recruitment

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

Phil Epsley, Bethan Paddy, and Wyn Thomas – Charles Stanley Wealth Managers Mathew Rose, Sam Rose, Alex Dixon, James Newman, Dylan Capella, Rohit Khunti, Jack Mead, and Harry O’Brien

PHOTOS BY LLOYD EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.LLOYDEVANSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

SOCIETY

The competitive spirit is catching Claire, Charlie, Mark, Simon and Craig – SOS Design

Carrie, Maddy and Andrew – Doodle Learning Sally Helvey, Katie Sirr, Rob Massey, Nick Hales, Rebecca Duncan, and Ella Dale – Cleveland Pools

© ALI WILSON

Game, set and match from above

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PHOTOS BY RICHARD JARRETT WWW.RICHARDJARRETT.COM

SOCIETY

Boule in one hand, drink in the other

Annie Miekus

Jonathan Jordan with Elisha and Liya Berman

Rebecca Goddard and Gemma Harvey with Wizzy Bear – Designability

All eyes on the cochonnet

The Western Building Consultants team

Annie Hill, Karen Sherwin, Louise Kelly, Louise Scarterfield, and Carmelia Adams – Mogers Drewett Feeling en Français

Franco de la Croix-Vaubois – Event Organisers Network

We took it all very seriously of course

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SOCIETY

Dan Kenyon – Milsted Langdon

PHOTOS BY RICHARD JARRETT WWW.RICHARDJARRETT.COM

Sunday Winners AD Chivers, Gary Tibbs and Sammy Mosley of CAB BANES, runners up Darren Clare, Les Redwood and Dave Hogan of Redwood Marketing, with Tom Annear of headline sponsors Brewin Dolphin holding the trophy

Jessica Spendlove – Novia

Cassy Olszewski

Jo Treasure, Paul Treasure, Tomas Waldron, Judy Okwuba, Ben Hudson and Jessie Myers

Andrew Berman and Sarah Davis – Catering Services International It was a superb day out for all the family

The one time it’s a good quality to aim low

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

John Salter

James Moon, Francis Moon, Lizzie Pike, and Charlie Robinson

Kelly Glaridis and Dimitris Pagratis – Meraki Van

BATH BOULES BOULE AND THE GANG

Social media was abuzz with selfies, snaps and lots of pétanque action – here’s just a few highlights of # Bath Boules 2021

les @BathBou

@barbre tonbath

n82 @ASimpso

@dodderel la ing @MediaTh

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inbath @ingridjlife oolla @Sarah_SM

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r @CobbFar @WittyEvents

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HISTORY LESSON

A new permanent exhibit in the Fletcher Gallery at The Holburne Museum acknowledges the Holburne family’s involvement in the slave trade.

A project from Jill Sutherland, a Holburne curatorial fellow (2019-2021), it centres the Plantation Day Book in the gallery that is actually dedicated to Georgian splendour and luxury – highlighting the horrors that enabled so much of it. The book belonged to Guy Ball, William Holburne’s greatgrandfather, and was an accounting tool used to record transactions of products – and people.

By 1787, Holburne’s aunt and her family held more than 27,000 acres in the Caribbean and owned

almost 3,000 enslaved people.

The exhibition includes the collaboration with Barbados Museum to reproduce the names of enslaved people on the plinth containing the book, along with an epitaph produced by BarbadianGlaswegian artist, Alberta Whittle. Alongside the book, panels feature detailing the countries where the Holburne family owned enslaved people, and also one with the details of the Georgian and Victorian anti-slavery activists.

The Holburne Museum; Great Pulteney Street; www.holburne.org

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

Laid Blak are just one of the acclaimed bands playing at the Bath’s first Reggae Festival on 21 August

WHAT’S ON 13 August – 9 September

EXHIBITIONS Until 18 August

ROO ABROOK Abrook works in mixed media collage, using her own original drawings and paintings, to depict portraits of women. The effect of combining colour, often metallic or fluorescent, with the faded pages of vintage novels, is delightfully harmonious, and contemporary.

Art Salon; www.artsalon.co.uk

Until 28 August

BETH CARTER Bristol artist Beth Carter’s ambiguous fictional compositions, with bird-heads and cat-heads appearing as her less predatory take on the Minotaur legend, beautifully conflates both classical and contemporary masculinity myths.

Beaux Arts; www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

Until 31 August

FOREST OF IMAGINATION The interactive travelling forest

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installations around the gardens include listening flowers, the foam forest, fog flowers, a seed hut, and two water play features from natural springs in the ground. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org

Until 4 September

MONUMENTS, EMPIRE AND SLAVERY The exhibition focusses on a number of the Abbey’s memorials that reveal the not always fair and just relationships between those commemorated in the Abbey, the city of Bath, the British Empire, and the slave trade in the 1700 and 1800s. Bath Abbey; www.bathabbey.org

Until 5 September

CANALETTO: PAINTING VENICE This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition will enable visitors to enjoy and study up-close 23 beautiful paintings that present not only cultural and historical themes of 18th-century Venice and the Grand Tour, but also

Always check Covid-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

explores the artist’s life, beliefs and values through his work. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 8 September

THOMAS LAWRENCE: COMING OF AGE The Holburne Museum’s first ever online exhibition gives insight into the early life of the great portrait painter, who honed his talents as a child, sketching in his father’s inn in Devizes, before then coming to capture Bath society.

Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

Until 19 September

FREUD, MINTON, RYAN: AN UNHOLY TRINITY This unique exhibition celebrates the life of Adrian Ryan (19201998), and his friends John Minton (1917-1957) and Lucian Freud (1922-2011). In the tight community of the art world of pre-war London, the three artists were colleagues and friends. As ambitious figurative painters

with – at first – hopeful and promising career trajectories, all three explored a relaxed intimacy behind closed doors, especially during the war years.

Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 26 September

DAVID A. PARFITT A new exhibition of paintings and prints by Somerset landscape artist David A. Parfitt at Black Swan Arts in Frome reflects on connections with nature, place and home. Most of the work in 20 Miles – a mixture of dramatic, sometimes almost abstract, watercolours and striking monochromatic monoprints – has been created in David’s studio during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. www.blackswanarts.org.uk

Until 7 October

FLIGHTS OF FANCY An exhibition by six local printmakers, Kate Bernstein, Dominique Coiffait, Charlotte Farmer, Polly Gough, Liz Saunders and Sarah Targett, who all make original limited

WHAT’S ON edition prints using a variety of techniques. Many of them met whilst printing at Marshfield Screen Print, a local screen print studio owned by Dominique. All work in the exhibition is available to buy at affordable prices with a commission paid to the RUH. www.artatruh.org

Until 10 October

MY KID COULD’VE DONE THAT! The Holburne Museum has staged this exhibition at The Edge arts centre at the University of Bath. It consists of brand-new work by 15 contemporary artists and their children, which then invites art lovers to determine just who created the work? Creative participants include Harriet Bowman and her son Len, Dickon Drury and son Cosmo, and Kate Owens with daughter Trudy. www.edgearts.org/ www.holburne.org above: Beaux Arts is hosting a collection of work by the Bristolbased artist Beth Carter middle: Myra Dubois in Dead Funny and conducting her own funeral at the Ustinov on 4 September below: The Hop Pickers

by John Minton is just one of the pieces on display at the Unholy Trinity exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery

Until 31 October OUCH!

This online exhibition draws on the themes of pain as explored by the University’s Bath Centre for Pain Research. It is made up of an interdisciplinary team who examine how pain affects people’s lives. The ‘in person’ exhibition of Ouch! is now rescheduled to take place at 44AD’s gallery in September. www.44ad.net

Until 31 October

Chippenham, Melksham and surrounding villages participating in real life, online and in exhibitions found all over north west Wiltshire. www.peacockartstrail.co.uk

MUSIC 13 August

FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL Local bands including Bare Jams, The Maitree Express and Plume are playing a free (but ticketed) musical event at Komedia as part of the Bath Fringe. Bare Jams has grown and evolved from the modest duo busking in 2011, into a six strong collective, blending a unique collaborative sound. Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

21 August

BATH REGGAE FESTIVAL 2021 From Kingston, Jamaica to Kensington Meadows, this is Bath’s very first annual reggae festival.

Enjoy a taste of Caribbean culture, soundtracked by the music of island life with perfomnces from a whole array of legendary and contemporary artists including Maxi Priest, Aswad, Big Mountain, Dawn Penn, Laid Blak, Hollie Cook, Wayne Wonder, Aleighcia Scott and Sister Nancy. Plus, there’s plenty of culinary delights from rum and cocktail bars to jerk chicken vans. www.bathreggaefestival.co.uk

21 August

SHOOTING STARS: CARINTHIA WEST, BRITAIN AND AMERICA IN THE 1970S Features a collection of 63 intimate natural and lifestyle portraits of the rich and famous, including Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood, taken in the 1970s in America and the UK by journalist and photographer Carinthia West. American Museum; www.americanmuseum.org

THE DRIFTERS The Drifters, who are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, have performed for the President of the United States, and are listed as one of the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, are back on the road and performing their classic hits from the last six decades including Saturday Night at the Movies, Under the Boardwalk and Kissin In The Back Row. The Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

Until 2022

28 / 29 August

SHOEPHORIA! Discover the fascinating evolution of shoe style over the last 300 years, from the actual footwear worn by Queen Mary and Queen Victoria through to the recent contemporary designers, such as Vivienne Westwood. Fashion Museum; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

11–19 September

PEACOCK ARTS TRAIL 2021 Peacock Arts Trail flies again with more than 70 artists and craftspeople from Corsham,

WEST OF ENGLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA After a year of virtual projects, the region’s finest young musicians in the West of England Youth Orchestra come together to perform a glorious programme of powerful orchestral music. The concert opens with the fire and fury of Mahler’s Totenfier from Symphony No. 2 and Mussorgsky’s arresting song cycle. Shostakovich’s dramatic Symphony No. 5, with its dark opening and triumphant finale, explores emotions. Wiltshire Music Centre; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

© THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

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

WHAT’S ON

7 HILLS The 7 Hills is a new music festival happening at Lyncombe Court and is inspired by the sounds and culture of Americana. The event is the brainchild of singer-songwriter and musician Matt Owens. Turn to page 7 to learn more about Matt’s determination to help highlight, promote, and celebrate the music scene in Bath. www.the7hills.com

COMEDY 3 & 4 September

KRATER COMEDY CLUB Kick-off your weekend with some proper good laughs and discover the best in live comedy, featuring Laura Lexx on the 3rd, and Joe Sutherland the following day. The cabaret style seating comes with several dining options, as well as table service.

Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

4 September

MYRA DUBOIS IN DEAD FUNNY Myra is dead; long live Myra!

Realising she stands to miss out on the most attention she’ll ever receive, the ‘acid-tongued and funny to the bone’ (Time Out) Myra brings forward her funeral to make sure people get it right. This show, which was one of the best reviewed of the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, is an irreverently sardonic and ‘incredibly quick-witted’ (The Scotsman) side-eye at death, dying and the theatrics of grief. Ustinov; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

THEATRE / CINEMA Until 21 August

GROAN UPS Following their smash hit success with The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery the multi award-winning Mischief Theatre present a brand-new comedy about the trials of growing up, following an unruly group of six-year-olds through to their anarchic times as teenagers and onto the challenges of adulthood. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

22 August

PETER & THE WOLF Shameless star David Threlfall is narrating this year’s Iford Arts production of Prokofiev’s Peter & The Wolf taking place in the stunning

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

grounds of Grade 1 listed Belcombe Court, and is just one production from a packed programme from the opera arts team based in Bradford on Avon. www.ifordarts.org.uk

25 – 28 August

CRIMES, CAMERA, ACTION This play whisks the audience to golden-era Hollywood and introduces a new lead detective, a world weary, hard-boiled private eye in the mould of Humphrey Bogart: meet Stan Shakespeare. The case?

A screen starlet is stabbed as a result of a prop mix-up on set. It sets in motion a fast-paced and hilarious chain of events that sees a cast of four exceptional comic actors take on multiple roles, sometimes within the same scene. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

31 August – 4 September

ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR Alan Ayckbourn’s comic masterpiece of social climbing in 1970s suburbia fuses a potent mix of farce and black comedy. Sidney Hopcroft, a smalltime tradesman, persuades wife Jane to throw a Christmas party hoping to find favour with a bank manager and local architect. Class differences and naked ambition comically combine as, one by one, the characters seek refuge in Jane’s kitchen. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

8 – 9 September

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR From trail running in Tajikistan to mountaineering on the world’s highest mountains and more, there are two different collections of short, adrenaline-fuelled films made by top adventure film-makers. As well as wild journeys and ground-breaking expeditions, audiences can expect captivating cinematography from little-known corners of the globe.

Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

FESTIVALS

14 & 15 August

THE WILTSHIRE GAME & COUNTRY FAIR Bowood House in Calne is the picturesque backdrop to the countryside activities, shopping, and event extravaganza. There’s the World of Dogs, an airgun and clay shooting tuition, fun family activities, and a huge crafts village with demonstrations such as glass blowing, blacksmiths and chainsaw carving, plus a delectable range of

above: The RUH’s Flights of Fancy exhibition is helping raise money for the hospital with works like this Tembo by Polly Gough for sale middle: See birds of prey at the Bath & West exhibition below: Reflection of Biba by Roo Abrook is on display at ArtSalon on Broad Street

© PETER HALL

4 September

WHAT’S ON

national and local food producers and specialist street foods and drinks. www.livingheritagecountryshows.com

27– 29 August

BATH & WEST COUNTRY FESTIVAL Over three days at the Shepton Mallet, The Showground, there are action packed events for all the family, and a haven for all enthusiasts of rural life. There’s live music, food and drink, roaming performers, a vintage fairground, canine corner, an art show, and main ring events to include show jumping, heavy horses, and stunts. www.bathandwest.com

10 – 12 September

VINTAGE NOSTALGIA FESTIVAL A fun and fabulously charming family festival in Stockton Park celebrating a rose-tinted past with jazz, swing, classic cars, vintage fashion, and dance. www.vintagenostalgiafestival.co.uk

OTHER

Until 25 August

FAMILY ACTIVITIES The Victoria Art Gallery and the Fashion Museum are hosting a whole range of arts and crafts children’s activities over the school summer holidays linked to their respective, An Unholy Trinity and Shoephoria! exhibitions. www.victoriagal. org.uk / www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Until 29 August

SUMMER SUNDAYS Every Sunday around the city centre, there’s going to be a range of pop-up, free performances including Jane Austen dancers, samba bands, and street theatre. Plus look out for free face painting, craft workshops and arts activities. www.welcometobath.co.uk

Until 12 September

TALES OF THE GARDEN Experience specially commissioned sculptures blooming up across the expansive landscaped grounds of Longleat. Using a variety of

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

materials and crafting methods, these nine installations tell the unique and fascinating story of the 1580 building that has been home to15 generations of the Thynne family, such as the time kangaroos roamed freely the lawns in the 1800s. Longleat; www.longleat.co.uk

14 August

CHARITY ZUMBATHON For just £10, dance away for two hours, from 2pm - 4pm, with the Dance Fit Bath team at Bath Pavilion, while also raising money Children’s Hospice South West.

Turn up, pay on the door and get a free t-shirt. www.facebook.com/dancefit © NEUMANNGR AHAM PHOTOGR APHY

CRAFT BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL The Trowbridge Craft Beer and Cider Festival at Innox Mills features up to 60 regional beers and ciders, plus street food and live music. Turn to page 55 for more on the festival. www.trowbridgebeerfest.co.uk

© @K ATIELO

27 – 30 August

19 & 26 August

EVENINGS AT THE ABBEY On Thursdays the Abbey is keeping its doors open from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Local residents and visitors to the city will be able to explore the Abbey after it has closed to the public, enjoy a selection of drinks from a pop-up bar and live entertainment by music students from Bath Spa University for just £6. For an extra £10 there is the opportunity to climb the Tower to see the ringing chamber, bells and clock face, and enjoy stunning views of across the city. www.bathabbey.org

22 August / 7 September / 26 September

SECRETS OF BATH WALKS

Explore history on our beautiful Bath doorstep with expertly guided walks that, not only reveal the background of some of the finest Palladian architecture in the world, but also introduce the routines, leisure and entertainment of the aristocracy. www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk n

top: The thrilling Banff Mountain Film Festival is heading to Komedia on 8 & 9 September above: Getting into the swing of it at the Vintage Nostalgia Festival, which runs from 10-12 September

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BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Holiday maker

Nic picks three compelling summery reads, each with a dark edge

“A sinister Gothic veneer to the sun-drenched Italian setting”

I

’m not sure what a ‘summer read’ is. I think it means a different thing to every reader – depending if your idea of the perfect read to accompany your holiday involves action, romance, blood and gore, comedy or just pure escapism.

I suppose to many it would help feel like a ‘summer read’ if the book’s setting is summery. And that at least is the case with the trio of novels I’ve picked out below – though the sunshine in each is accompanied by a darker edge.

Last year saw the long overdue reissue of The Dry Heart by Italian writer Natalia Ginzburg (Daunt Books, £8.99) which was originally published in 1947. The unnamed narrator and key protagonist of this sharp dark novella is a young socially alienated woman living in an insalubrious boarding house and dreaming of falling in love and marrying her way up and out of her situation. When she meets Alberto she soon realises he might not be the dream ticket, and yet he could still represent a chance for something better. At least he takes her out for coffee and on walks and pays her attention, even if he is eccentrically unforthcoming with his opinions and affections.

Their stuttering romance, if it can be called that, moves unsatisfactorily towards marriage and parenthood, with each step doing just enough to keep Alberto’s attention, despite his admission that his heart is preoccupied with another love. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the story only increases as the couple move into Alberto’s mother’s ancient and dusty former home. The absence of sense and passion in this dysfunctional marriage, and the presence of Alberto’s other flame somewhere in the wings, add a sinister Gothic veneer to the sundrenched Italian setting.

But the real gut-punch is that, from the very beginning, we know how it ends. The book starts with the narrator’s confession that “I shot him between the eyes”, so from the off we’re reading not to discover the endgame, but to work out how and why it came about.

Another reissued modern classic with a more domestic holiday setting (better befitting these last two years) is The Feast by Margaret Kennedy (Faber, £9.99). The sunny post-war

English Riviera locale – enhanced by the cover – hides a dark undertone that is swiftly revealed.

Just like The Dry Heart, this novel begins with the central event of its plot – in this case the sudden collapse and destruction of the clifftop Pendizack Manor Hotel.

What remains to be discovered, is who perished in this dramatic incident. Flashing back we begin to meet the eclectic mix of guests who may or may not have made it. We get to know a host of intriguing characters who all begin influencing one another’s lives (positively or negatively). There’s a wealthy family dabbling in tax avoidance, the Cove family with a slightly malnourished Dickensian vibe, and an elderly couple, the Paleys, who don’t speak a word to one another, until Mrs Paley resolves to dedicate herself to the committing of good deeds to all her fellow guests.

With equal measures of warmth and darkness, this highly entertaining, sometimes Christie-esque, novel explores the extremities of human nature against the backdrop of a late 1940s holiday season gone horribly wrong.

Finally, let’s head back to Italy for Last Summer in the City by Gianfranco Calligarich (Macmillan, £14.99), a short novel oozing a classy nostalgia reminiscent of Hemingway, Fitzgerald and co. The time period though is the 1960s and the city of the title threatens to be grey Milan where Leo has failed to come of age, but soon switches to Rome where he finally feels that he belongs.

He spends his days aimlessly meandering through piazzas, hanging out in bars and cafés drinking too much and attending parties. Until he discovers Arianna.

They become inseparable – together they walk the streets, drive around the city in Leo’s battered car, hit the coast. A hedonistic whirlwind relationship begins as this love affair upends Leo’s summer. But, of course, it can’t all go swimmingly forever – as promised there is darkness here too.

To quote Bananarama (which I don’t think I’ve managed to do in 15 years of Bath Life articles) it can be a cruel, cruel summer...

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

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

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FILM EMMA INGLEDEW

Midsummer nights

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT:

The singing Cannes sensation Annette; The Nest with Carrie Coon and Jude Law; Mick Fleetwood & Friends Celebrate the Music of Peter Green; Dan Stevens and Sandra Hüller star in the German comedy I’m Your Man

A German comedy, a singing Adam Driver, a creepy Jude Law, and a festival experience are all coming to The Little Theatre

A

s we near the midpoint of summer you may find yourself wondering what to do with your spare time.

Well don’t panic, luckily for us 2021 still has a great slate of upcoming releases to watch. Whether sheltering from that heatwave that will surely come any day now or more likely hiding away from the August rain, why not settle down for the summer with a great film.

If Love Island hasn’t sated your need for romance, try turning to German comedy I’m Your Man (dir. Maria Schrader). I’m Your Man focuses on scientist Alma (Maren Eggert) who reluctantly moves in with her perfect boyfriend Tom (Dan Stevens) for three weeks. The issue?

Tom is a robot built to fulfil her every desire.

The premise, whilst outlandish, has real heart, and develops quickly into more of a quirky rom-com rather than a sinister Black Mirror episode. This is a comedy that’s going to make you think, and also gives Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) a chance to flex his German skills as

“Annette received a five minute standing ovation at its Cannes debut”

well as flexing the fact that he’s, well, perfect.

If you read that and thought that that must be the weirdest film of the summer, then I’m afraid you’re completely wrong. Coming soon is the completely sung through musical Annette (dir. Leos Carax). Annette received a five minute standing ovation at its Cannes debut, and is a completely sung through musical starring Adam Driver as a provocative stand-up comic and Marion Cotillard as his opera singer wife.

The film follows them as together, they raise a child with a strange and unusual gift. Created

by Ron and Russell Mael from the band Sparks (who you’ll know all about if you came to our screening of Edgar Wright’s documentary on them) Annette is proudly unusual and different.

However, if you prefer your films more grounded in realism (and without any singing) then may I suggest The Nest (dir. Sean Durkin). Jude Law (who also produced the film) stars alongside Carrie Coon, with both of them delivering electrifying performances in this deeply engaging drama about a marriage coming apart at the seams. The film sometimes feels like a horror, with Law and Coon living in the haunted house of their own creation, as their pursuit of providing the perfect life for their family causes it all to unravel in a materialistic spiral.

Ultimately summer wouldn’t be summer without music festivals. Sadly, whilst many

were unfortunately cancelled this year, we can still regain the experience we’ve been missing with Mick Fleetwood & Friends Celebrate the Music of Peter Green. In February of 2020 Mick Fleetwood held a special tribute to legendary former Fleetwood Mac member Peter Green, who left the band in 1970. Fleetwood was joined by an army of talented guests including Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and The Who’s Pete Townshend performing some of Fleetwood Mac’s earliest hits, from Rattlesnake Shake to Rolling Man in the legendary London Palladium.

Fortunately, the concert was recorded, and the tribute is made all the more poignant due to how Peter Green passed away only months after the concert in July 2020. Now being rebroadcast just in time to fill that Glastonbury shaped hole we’ve been experiencing, so feel free to wear your own wellies to try and capture the full festival experience.

Emma Ingledew is a life long film fan who graduated with a BA in Film Studies to become manager at The Little Theatre Cinema, 1–2 St Michael’s Place; 01225 466822; www.picturehouses.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 39

PHOTO BY BELL A WEST PHOTOGR APHY; W W W.BELL AWEST.CO.UK

CARLESS WHISPERS Nick Raistrick, author of the very funny Bicycle Clip Diaries, celebrates life on a bike, and the time he cycled down the Bristol to Bath Railway Path

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

“The idea that people might want to walk or ride bicycles...was seen by many as dangerous and radical, revolutionary hippy nonsense”

I

CYCLING

was helping my Dad clear out his garage in Middlesbrough, when I found an envelope addressed to me in my Granddad’s handwriting. He’s been dead for more than a decade, so I was naturally curious. It contained two items; a pair of bicycle clips, and a 1937 guide to Japan.”

Thus began Nick’s quest. A search for meaning. On sensible bicycles.

Such as the traditional ‘Black Mamba’ he bought in Tanzania, which took him through Maasai country, or the mamachari he rode on the beaches of Zanzibar while avoiding dog-sized crabs.

He travelled to Colombia to experience ciclovía, and found his path blocked by an illegal guinea pig race. He admired the customised Rasta BMXs of the Caribbean coast, and found that gears can be quite useful in the Andes. He accidentally ended up on dual carriageways and in Nuneaton Wetherspoons; got caught in storms in the Peak District and the North York Moors; and followed in the pedal prints of Iggy Pop and David Bowie in Berlin. In Japan he was shocked to find that they ride on the pavement; got stressed about Donald Trump in a Zen museum, but found inner peace in a capsule hotel in Tokyo. It was a non-linear quest.

Which, incidentally, took in the Bristol and Bath Railway Path…

EXCERPT FROM THE BICYCLE CLIP DIARIES

It’s a Friday morning, and Denise, Charlotte and I are heading out on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. With unlimited time at our disposal, I could have possibly cycled all the way to Berlin, instead of cycling from Bristol to Brighton first, then flying the rest of the way from Gatwick. I haven’t even mentioned the bicycle clips to them at this stage, or that I’m on a quest.

It’s just a regular trip, and they have to go to work on Monday, but even this relatively modest low-grade, straight-line microadventure has puts us all in a good mood within minutes of striking out from Bristol.

The B2B is glorious; it follows the route of an old Midland Railway branch line, closed by the Beeching cuts to the rail networks in the 1960s. It’s leafy and carless and one of my favourite places to cycle.

It’s a mixed-use path, but at this time of the morning there are few people walking. They wouldn’t dare, because during the rush hour, it becomes a motorway for cyclists. The route has become incredibly popular; but there are only two lanes, so you are exposed to oncoming traffic as faster cyclists overtake slower riders.

Most people are heading from Bath to Bristol, but we are going the other way. Some of the riders coming against us look military in their demeanour. With grim-faced determination, some of the oncoming cyclists seem to bear down on us in waves. Some have underestimated their overtaking manoeuvre and weave in suddenly when they reach us. Others just don’t care that they have invaded our hypothetical lane space. It’s the cycling equivalent of manspreading I suppose. It’s only a handful of riders who treat other path-users with the contempt that skaters might during the ‘speed skaters only’ slot, but it has a big effect

above: Be sure to make some Instagram worthy breaks en route right: Cycling along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path 13-mile route

PHOTO BY JONATHAN BEWLEY; W W W.SUSTR ANS.ORG.UK

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

© SUSTR ANS PICTURE LIBR ARY

Enjoying the Bristol to Bath path, or the Bath to Bristol path, depending on how you look at it...

on the vibe. You’re going to work, so why the hurry, I think to myself.

Followed by the guilty reflection that I’ve been known to go pretty fast on this path; do I ride like that? Perhaps the bicycle clips were meant to teach me a lesson. Slow down.

I was once walking on the path with someone who was deliberately pushed out of the way by a cyclist, apparently for taking up too much room. We weren’t, as it happens, and they were riding two abreast. But speed wins. He fitted the offender profile perfectly: middle-aged male, road bike, lycra. His lack of bell shaving seconds off his personal best, no doubt.

In contrast, Charlotte has never ridden more than 40 miles in a day.

Her bike is a sensible, substantial and surprisingly heavy hybrid. She doesn’t wear cycle-specific clothing at all. In fact, her last bike was covered in foil as an anti-theft measure.

Denise looks the most professional of the three of us and rides a Cannondale, a fast road bike with drop handlebars.

She wears tight cycling shorts, and has her Garmin cycle computer which will provide us with a route. Taken together, we look a bit ridiculous, particularly as I’m riding a Brompton.

In fact, we don’t look like we should be riding together. Cycling in Britain has become such a tribal activity that seeing us makes people look twice. We do not look like a peloton. We are the cycling equivalent of a priest taking a walk with a skinhead and a deep-sea diver.

I am aware that the Brompton is a controversial choice in some quarters. Some people think these little folders are the cycling equivalent of the Mini, and a stylish, feelgood British-made design classic, at home on the Kings Road, and a UK manufacturing success story to boot.

But there are many more people, including cyclists, who despise them, with a deeply held passion. Purists don’t think they are real bicycles at all, and rail against their tiny wheels and slightly wheelchair aesthetics.

Non-cyclists think they are overpriced novelties for the urban smug, elitist metropolitan who probably work for the BBC. It causes some people further rage that mine is covered in leopardprint duct tape. My thinking behind this, is that anybody contemplating

its theft might not want to be making off with something as memorable as a leopard print Brompton. Of course, people who roll their eyes at a Brompton will probably explode at seeing one customised in this way. I enjoy their rage. It makes some people smile, too. They stop to ask about it, some asking if it’s a limited edition of some kind.

Like the Brompton, the Railway Path was an early adopter with its roots in the 1970s. People wanted to build another road or more houses on these disused railway paths, or possibly skyscrapers accessible by nuclear powered hovercraft, the kind of thing that was seen as normal in those days. The idea that people might want to walk or ride bicycles away from cars was seen by many as dangerous and radical, revolutionary hippy nonsense.

But the idea caught on, and green corridors where railways used to be have become popular around the world.

So whether you use the High Line in New York or the Tarka Trail in North Devon, you’ve got the floppy haired, flary trousered idealists of the late 1970s Sustrans campaign to thank. Even the Thailand-Burma Death Railway has become a cycle path in places.

They are great spaces, for insects, wildflowers and humans alike. The ‘B2B’ is more relaxed at the weekend, suggesting people are suffering from pre work fury.

It doesn’t take long for us to leave them all behind, the relentless head-down cyclists of the Bristol Bath railway path, whose purpose and demeanour are so different from our own. Before long we are heading onto Cycle Route 24, open countryside and B roads now. It’s only 76 miles to our Airbnb, and cycling through trees and fields on a car free path is made all the more delicious knowing that we don’t have to go to work. It feels like we have bunked off. n

“We do not look like a peloton. We are the cycling equivalent of a priest taking a walk with a skinhead and a deep-sea diver”

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

The Bicycle Clip Diaries by Nick Raistrick costs £12.99. For more: www.nickraistrick.com

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BIKE BATH

“The idea behind Bike Bath has always been to provide something for everyone”

RIDE ABOUT NOW ...it’s the Bike Bath challenge

B

ike Bath returns on 22 August with an opportunity for cyclists to get back on their bike and enjoy the stunning Somerset and Wiltshire countryside by signing up to take part. As well as Bike Bath’s usual home at the Bath Recreation Ground, this year there are new additional start and finish options at Frome RFC and Devizes Rugby Club with 25, 50 and 70 mile signposted routes out of each venue.

Jacko Jackson, event director for Bike Bath says, “The idea behind Bike Bath has always been to provide something for everyone. This year we are looking to promote initiatives around active travel, particularly as many people return to work after Covid restrictions lift. The short route in particular is designed with families, new cyclists, and new cyclecommuters looking to spend an enjoyable day

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

trying out cycling for leisure in mind.”

Now in its 10th year, the event’s supported charity is Dorothy House and is being sponsored by the Bath-based commercial property company HPH. Local cycling club, VC Walcot, continues to lend its support to the Bike Bath team, with many members volunteering on the day and organising training rides to prepare new cyclists for the event.

This year Bath Recreation Trust are also supporting the ride and CEO John Flinn comments, “Bike Bath has become a key event in our calendar and provides a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy riding from the city through the surrounding beautiful countryside. We are delighted to support the event to reach out to more people and promote positive lifestyles through active recreation.” ■ For more: www.bikebath.co.uk

ABOVE: Bike Bath offers routes for all abilities; BELOW: Bath Recreation Ground is home

to the cycling event

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

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REJUVENATE AND REVITALISE Founded in Wiltshire in 2013, REVITALISE SKINCARE CLINIC has recently opened a second clinic in the heart of Bath

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ocated on St James Parade close to Southgate, Revitalise Skincare Clinic is an exclusive medical aesthetic clinic with a particular expertise in medical facial aesthetics. Their philosophy is to achieve the best results for their patients through safe, high quality services whilst always acting in their best interests. Their ability to delivering great aesthetic results whilst at all times maintaining the highest standards of patient care with their registered membership of Save Face along with the Care Quality Commission ensuring their services have been approved as safe, effective, caring and well led. Revitalise Skincare clinic is inspected regularly by CQC to make sure services meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

Prior to every treatment they offer full consultations to educate their patients,discuss concerns, find out medical history and consider the most beneficial and safest treatment options.

MEET THE TEAM Arvin – CQC registered practitioner & aesthetic nurse prescriber Arvin is the founder and medical director of the Clinic. A registered general nurse with years of experience working for the NHS, during this time she developed an interest in medical aesthetics, going on to train in this area and become an independent nurse prescriber working for one of the UK’s leading cosmetic surgery practices. With a first-class reputation for her work and patient care, Arvin is highly experienced in performing a wide range of advanced medical aesthetic treatments and procedures such as non-surgical facelift with PDO threads, hollow under eye (tear trough) and dermatology treatments.

Dedicated to continuing professional development and maintaining medical ethics, Arvin regularly attends world class conferences and master classes in aesthetic medicine.

Clare – clinic manager & laser technician A member of the team since 2016, Clare brings over 15 years’ experience in customer service together with an extremely friendly and professional nature to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the clinic. Working alongside Arvin and preparing patients for treatments has given Clare extensive knowledge of medical aesthetics. Along with an NVQ level 3 diploma in Beauty Therapy, Clare holds

an NVQ level 4 in Laser treatments from the London College of Excellence, qualifying her to offer advanced laser hair removal services at the clinic.

Clare has a passion for skincare and has trained with the world class Obagi Medical AlumierMD to add chemical peels to the treatments that she offers.

Recently, Clare has trained in Medical Dermalux the multi-award winning Medical LED Phototherapy qualifying her to carry out Dermalux treatments at the clinic.

Sophie – clinic administrator A member of the team since 2017, Sophie has over 15 years’ customer service experience covering our front of house and has a natural ability to liaise with patients in a professional manner whilst putting them at ease is second to none. She has exceptional treatment knowledge to advise patients fully on potential treatment options and recently trained in Medical Dermalux the multi-award winning Medical LED Phototherapy qualifying her to carry out Dermalux treatments at the clinic. Sophie has a passion for holistic therapy and wellbeing and is a qualified Holistic Practitioner with over 12 years experience within the industry. n

AVAILABLE TREATMENTS Key treatments at the clinic include:

• Wrinkle reduction injections (Botox) • Dermal fillers • Non-surgical face lift with PDO threads • Prescription skincare for acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation • Mole and skin tag removal • Hyperhidrosis treatment (excessive sweating) • Advanced laser hair removal

Flat 1, Lombard House, St James Parade, Bath BA1 1UJ Tel: 01225 760 556 Email: info@revitaliseskincareclinic.co.uk Web: www.revitaliseskincareclinic.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 47

IT’S WRITTEN IN THE SPAS The best places in Bath to kick back, relax, and feel pampered Compiled by Elsie Chadwick

The celestial relaxation room at Thermae Bath Spa is also an acknowledgement of the Bath-based astronomer William Herschel

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“Inner peace is restored with the placement of rose quartz crystals”

SPAS

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Thermae Bath Spa, The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath Street, Bath; www.thermaebathspa.com

In the heart of the city, Thermae Bath Spa is an award-winning natural spa where it is possible to bathe in naturally warm, mineral-rich waters as the Celts and Romans did over 2,000 years ago. Thermae is a remarkable blend of old and new, with the historic spa buildings sitting alongside the bold glass, stone and light contemporary design of the spa’s New Royal Bath.

KICK BACK There’s the natural thermal waters of the Minerva Bath,

a state of the art Wellness Suite, and the open-air Rooftop Pool with spectacular views of the Bath skyline. A two-hour spa session enjoys access to all the facilities. Plus the soothing sounds of classical music are piped throughout the whole facility.

RELAX The Wellness Suite offers a multi-sensory experience. It

combines an infrared room, which transmits soothing infrared waves of light deep into the muscles and joints, a celestial relaxation room, which is also a tribute to Bath-based astronomer William Herschel, an invigorating ice chamber with a giant ice trough, and two stimulating aroma steam rooms infused with botanicals, herbs, and flowers..

GET PAMPERED As part of a Spa Treatment Package, a wide choice

of treatments are offered including the Bamboo Massage, which is a deep and firm massage with bamboo sticks and nourishing peach oil, and a bespoke facial and head massage using a combination of the finest pure essential oils and plant extracts to relax the mind and re-condition the skin. The Inner Peace Massage is featured in the Thermae Re-Kindle package and designed to restore harmony in the mind and body, commencing with a guided inhalation of rose oils, followed by a back massage and soothing mud mask on the feet. The inner peace is restored with the placement of rose quartz crystals to the palm of the hands and the heart chakra.

Homewood has created a pampering haven for their spa guests

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The Spa and Bath House at The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa; 16 Royal Crescent, Bath; www.royalcrescent.co.uk

This award-winning spa with its modern facilities, friendly therapists, exceptional treatments and tranquil Spa Garden, is tucked away at the bottom of the hotel’s acre of gardens. Spa days are priced from £140 per person, and rooms start from £330 per night.

KICK BACK The Spa and Bath House features a 12-metre relaxation

pool, vitality pool, steam room, Himalayan salt sauna, fully-equipped gym, and a range of luxurious treatments. There is also a dedicated Spa Garden where guests can relax after treatments with a glass of Champagne and an afternoon tea.

RELAX The relaxation pool is overlooked by two Gothic arch windows and a door, through which guests can see the beautiful gardens outside while they float along. Sunlight and birdsong streams through to the pool area, creating a blissful atmosphere in which guests can feel at one with nature. There is also a stunning 3D-effect silver leaf motif in the Spa’s reception area, continuing the theme of nature and adding interest to the space.

GET PAMPERED The signature Hero treatment delivers 90 minutes of

heaven. Targeting the back, face and scalp, this treatment incorporates hot stones, massage, exfoliation, scalp massage, and a facial. The luxury Jessica Pedicure is utterly decadent, guaranteeing baby soft feet and a perfect polish. The transformational Rejuvenating Age Support facial helps to restore your best ever skin, with immediate and longlasting results. The Deep Muscle Melt treatment is truly invigorating, enhancing the body’s circulation while targeting areas of tension.

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Homewood spa, Homewood, Abbey Lane, Freshford, Bath; www.homewoodbath.co.uk

The award-winning Spa and Bath House at The Royal Crescent Hotel is tucked away at the bottom of the hotel’s gardens

Harnessing the spirit of the Roman’s love of a good spa, Homewood has created a pampering haven for their spa guests. As well as treatments, facilities include an indoor hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room as well as a heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub with views over the valley. Treatments start at £85, spa days from £149, and spa breaks from £432.

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SPAS KICK BACK Outdoor swimming pool is heated at 28 degrees all year round, outdoor hot tub has with views over the Avon Valley, there’s an indoor hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, as well as treatment rooms, and seating includes armchairs, loungers and cabanas.

RELAX The spa nestles at the rear of the property, with nothing but countryside surrounding it. Take an early morning dip accompanied by the dawn chorus, or sunbathe throughout the afternoon sipping on the freshest cocktails with garnish from the no-dig kitchen garden, whilst taking in the eclectic collection of art, design and stunning greenery in the most ginormous pots.

GET PAMPERED Homewood spa has just introduced its ila CBD treatment range. CBD is a non-psychotropic compound found in the cannabis plant that interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body to help keep it in balance. CBD appears to be able to influence the immune system, helps alleviate pain, reduce insomnia, anxiety, nausea and inflammation. Treatments by ila include a body massage, and the CBD & Gold Age Restore Face Therapy.

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Aquarias Spa, Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire; www.whatleymanor.com

Aquarias Spa, which has just been voted Best Spa for Eco Conscious by The Good Spa Guide, is set in a pretty and peaceful countryside location in the Cotswolds, just a 40 minute drive from Bath. Expert therapists craft world-class luxurious face and body treatments. Rooms start from £279 and include full use of the Aquarias Spa. KICK BACK There is an indoor /outdoor hydrotherapy pool, thermal

cabins, salt scrub showers, tepidarium with heated stone recliners for complete body relaxation, spa lounge and spa garden along with complementary luxury robes, Ecoknit towels, and footwear

RELAX There is chilled ambient music playing in the spa lounge and also the tepidarium. The views from the spa lounge are of the fruit orchard and woodland.

GET PAMPERED One of their latest treatments is the float pod involving immersion in 500kg of Epsom salts mixed with 1,000 litres of

The Gainsborough Bath Spa taps into the original Roman Bath Springs

water. This buoyant environment allows effortless floating, and without the pull of gravity, all muscles are relaxed to help ease away aches and pains. The GaiYoga Lifting Facial is a stimulating workout for the face with a combination of advanced lifting and massage techniques.

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The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath; www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

The five-star Gainsborough Bath Spa taps into the original Roman Bath Springs and offers a contemporary perspective on the city’s thermal water heritage. Coupled with the historic use of aromatherapy, this spa, set beneath a glass atrium within the hotel, supports the philosophy of honouring the healing traditions of the region.

Treatments start at £120.

KICK BACK Located over two levels, the spa features 11 treatment rooms, which include a couple’s room featuring an authentic Japanese Ofuro bathtub where they are able to soak in the natural thermal waters. There is a fully equipped 24-hour fitness room for daily workouts. Guests are invited to enjoy the opulent and exclusive Bath House and a ‘take the waters’ circuit. This includes dipping in three natural thermal pools of varying temperatures, traditional and infrared saunas, the steam room, an ice alcove, and elegant relaxation areas.

Aquarias Spa in Whatley Manor has just been voted Best Spa for Eco Conscious

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RELAX The serene environment of the spa is bathed in natural light emanating from the four-storey glass atrium perched about the Bath House. The relaxation areas encourage guests to enjoy the sounds of the flowing waters around them. Bathing in mineral-rich natural thermal waters is the ultimate way to unwind and destress.

GET PAMPERED The Back to Vitality 60 minute treatment includes a selection of signature oils to choose from with powerful therapeutic benefits for body and mind. Carefully applied pressure is used to stimulate the nervous system with a combination of Swedish and neuromuscular techniques to relieve muscular tension, and lymphatic drainage to encourage healthy circulation. Followed by a bespoke facial to nourish, revitalise and rejuvenate the skin. n

© TOBY MITCHELL

NO.15 GREAT PULTENEY BY GUESTHOUSE

Where dynamic décor, eccentric elegance, and enticing cuisine blend to bring light, cheer and humour to Sarah Moolla’s grey day

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here have been just one too many grey days in the last 18 months. The weather, the news, Covid, Brexit – all a little bleak and devoid of any energy giving vibrancy. The day we visit No 15 is one such day – spitting with rain, too cold for the time of year, and the dreary pingdemic is just beginning to take hold.

Even the sweeping movie star elegance of Great Pulteney Street itself isn’t quite lifting our spirits.

But then there she is, halfway down – waving, fluttering, looking like your favourite batty aunty in a big flowery hat, amidst of a sea of uniform beige. It’s a wonderful welcome – the bobbing heads of pink and yellow of dahlias, feathery ferns, frothy sprays, and bright ribbons strewn over the Georgian wrought iron curlicue arch and railings of the Guesthouse-owned hotel. It’s like someone had eaten some sugar, and taken their new felt tip pens

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half way down Jane Austen land, and scribbled.

Inside the vivid wonderland continues with huge artworks on the wall, and bold conceptual pieces. But don’t be frightened into thinking this is some jarring psychedelic trip – this is still Bath after all and the ambience and décor is more one of genteel eccentricity than of garish outlandishness. Many of the details are from the reign of the previous owners Ian and Christa Taylor, such as room keys in the dolls’ house, the lost earring chandelier, the glass topped tables filled with costume jewellery and handheld mirrors. But there is also some new touches like decorators’ paintbrushes in a cabinet, and the refurbished, portrait-lined, basement dining room.

The menu is simple and offers proper British comfort food at its best – starters include Old Spot bath chaps, with preserved apple and bacon jam; chargrilled squid, red chilli, lemon and rocket; and prawn cocktail served with butter lettuce, avocado, shredded cucumber, spring onions

and a choice of Marie Rose, garlic butter, or mango and chilli relish sauce. I nervously opt for the gnocchi. Gnocchi when done right is amazing – and when done badly is horrid – soggy lumps of unpalatable playdough. Lucky my gut feeling No 15 will get it right is correct. The plump little pillows of silky potatoes glisten with a smooth, creamy coating of ricotta, along with cubes of salted pumpkin, hefty shards of sharp Winchester, a scattering of pine nuts, parsley and all drizzled in a light olive oil. My dining companion’s roasted cauliflower, crispy kale and toasted grains is a textured delight – delivering bite, crunch, with a kale pesto punch but without overpowering the piquancy of the cauliflower.

Options for main include line-caught seabass, lentils, spring greens, and hedgerow oil; old Spot shoulder steak, crispy pork belly, summer slaw, and chimichurri; and thyme and lemon roasted cornfed chicken breast, pressed thigh, tarragon and spinach. I play safe and order the mussels cooked in white wine, herbs and garlic with homemade fries – they are deliciously fleshy and fresh and the silver pewtered served chips are deep fried hot, seasoned, and flavoursome. But I will admit to coveting my companion’s dish – actually I’ll confess to not just coveting, but eating more than any reluctantly proffered fair share.

Her grilled Somerset dry-aged fillet steak cooked medium rare is an incredible slab of beef – buttery, tender, and juicy, enhanced by the smoky salty crumbs of pancetta, and sinus-clearing wallops of fresh horseradish, served with peppery watercress, sweet baby onions, and wide cut roasted carrots with a sticky Laycock honey glaze.

No time for regrets though because now the puddings come out to play, and do not disappoint. My Eton mess is a lip smacking sugar high of strawberry-filled meringue, fluffy marshmallow, tart strawberry compote, thick vanilla cream, and a large slice of vanilla-y, buttery shortbread.

The Double Decker dessert is a clever take on the Cadbury chocolate bar – lightly whipped nougat, dotted with raisins atop a biscuit base, all slathered in thick milk chocolate. It did arrive a little too hard to eat and needed a little time to soften but this is no big deal because in the meantime we order a margarita cocktail, which comes, not rimmed with salt, but with cracked pink peppercorns and the result is a zesty, racy, fiery delight. It’s a delicious representation of what No 15 does so well – without pretension (or hideous price tags by the way) it serves up great-tasting favourites with imagination, panache, and bags of colourful character. n

© TOBY MITCHELL

RESTAURANT

“My Eton mess is a lip smacking sugar high of strawberryfilled meringue” DINING DETAILS The Restaurant, No.15 Great Pulteney, 13-15 Great Pulteney Street, Bath. tel: 01225 807015; www.guesthousehotels.co.uk Opening hours Dinner: Sun-Thurs 6.30pm-9.30pm & Fri- Sat 6.30pm -10pm. See website for breakfast and lunch times Opened May 2021 Name of chef Matt Gillard Covers 36 Specialities The poached rhubarb and GuestHouse nutmeg ice cream has a rep already, as do the afternoon teas Prices Starters between £7.50-£20 for a sharing starter; Mains £14.50-£29; Desserts £7.50-£11 Disability access Yes Atmosphere Friendly and funky with a sense of out-there fun

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TAKE 5 Chippy Day left New York behind for the countryside lifestyle

Chippy day started his career as a trainee chef in Australia before moving to London for a career with Soho House.

Eventually, he decided it was time to return to the countryside, and moved to Rowde to take on The George & Dragon in 2004, where he’s been ever since.

How did you get started at The George & Dragon?

I think the seafood platter is one of my favourites. You get all this beautiful taste of seafood and it’s starting your main course all together – with oysters, scallops, fish cakes, a whole lobster and a whole crab. I enjoy it, and I love people’s faces when we put it down in front of them on the table – they go wow!

And it takes a good 45 minutes to an hour to eat it, which makes a really relaxed, lovely way of eating.

Has your role at The George & Dragon changed over time?

What’s the George & Dragon accommodation like?

What was it like working for Soho House?

& Dragon on Soho House, cooking with fish, and his favourite thing on the menu

I was the original general manager of Soho House in London when it first started in 1995, then I moved to pretty much every house that we opened until 2002. I worked in Soho House New York for 18 months and I loved it. New York is amazing, but it’s off the scale. People look at the clothes your wearing, the watch you have, how much you can help them with their career – all that sort of stuff. After a while I realised I didn’t have many friends – and that’s not like me. It was definitely time to go back to England!

What’s your approach to creating a great fish dish?

The key thing for me is freshness, so we buy four portions of most things and then if they don’t sell on the day, they get turned into something else – they become fish cakes, fish pie, or pâte. We speak to our fishmonger, Wings of St Mawes

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What’s your favourite thing on the menu?

I was living in London with my best mate, his wife, and their three children – my god children – and I wanted them to have the same sort of life we had growing up in the countryside. We looked at pubs from Kent all the way down to Somerset – about 30 different pubs. I remember walking into The George & Dragon one day and thinking: this is it. This is our pub.

I was the chef for the first ten years.

The people that were here before me started it as a fish restaurant, which I carried on as I had cooked a lot of fish when I trained as a chef in Australia. I had a wonderful sous chef called Tom Bryant who has now taken over and become executive chef of the pub, which has allowed me to move to front of house again, which I love. Looking after customers is really my forté.

CHIPPY DAY The owner of The George

in the morning and they tell us what’s on the market that day, we buy it, it’s couriered from Cornwall to us and on the table the next day.

It’s a bit like Christmas for us every day. We come to work and there’s a wonderful big box of fish arriving for us. It’s just beautiful and a joy to cook.

It’s all just been refreshed. There’s new wallpaper, new blinds and new carpet going down soon. We just want it to be really comfortable and cosy. The pub isn’t that pretty from the outside – I’ve tried to make it as pretty as possible, we repainted it and put in some climbing flowers up the walls, but it’s a bit of a bulky great big building. But then people come inside and they’re always quite impressed with the way the rooms are individually designed with a bit of quirkiness, but simplicity, too. The furnishings really speak for themselves.

What do you love about your work?

It’s been so busy since we reopened in April, and it’s been my biggest joy watching how the team has stepped up a gear. They all want to help where they can, and nothing is too much trouble. The team always throw in that little bit extra if you want a hot water bottle or blanket or a fan. The kitchen staff have just been brilliant as well, under the leadership of Tom. He is doing a fantastic job and has put a great team of people together. It just brings me so much joy seeing them all working together, and the compliments we’re getting about the service makes me very proud.

For more: The George & Dragon, High Street, Rowde; tel: 01380 723053; www.thegeorgeanddragonrowde.co.uk

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

CropDrop coordinates donations of excess produce to people in need

FOOD OF LOVE

Taste of Bath has announced a new longterm charity partner: Bath Foodbank. The partnership launched with a joint initiative with Swoon Gelato for the month of July – for every £25 spent with Taste of Bath, they donated a voucher for a delicious Swoon ice cream to the Foodbank.

“When asked how we could help, the Foodbank team told us that they love to be able to provide extra treats when they can, like toys at Christmas, or chocolate at Easter,” says Sal Godfrey, content manager at Taste of Bath. “These little touches can make an enormous difference to people in crisis.”

In addition to the collaboration with Swoon, they’ll also donate £1 from the sale of each Taste of Bath tea towel to the Foodbank on an ongoing basis.

For more: www.taste-of.co.uk

Volunteer Gilly Samuddin with a very enormous turnip!

CROP CIRCLES

CropDrop was established in 2020 to coordinate the redistribution of allotment produce to local people in need around Bath and North East Somerset. By the end of 2020 they had achieved 158 drops – equal to roughly 1,700kg of produce – from 17 different sources, delivered to 21 recipient organisations.

“Fast forward to 2021 and I’m currently working to see how much further we can go in creating links within communities across Bath and wider B&NES,” says Sam Rudd, volunteer project coordinator with CropDrop.

CropDrop currently has good relationships with the allotment keepers at Victoria Park, Bloomfield, Monksdale and Combe Down, and are working with the Bath Allotment Association to encourage other sites in the city to join. “Allotments and community growing schemes are large enough to offer the most regular weekly source of surplus in suitable quantities,” says Sam. They do also take donations for individuals, or recommend local options for donating where distance prohibits volunteers from collecting product.

If you want to get involved you can email sam.cropdrop@gmail.com, or get in touch via CropDrop’s website and social media.

For more: www.cropdrop.org.uk

CIDER I UP!

£1 from the sale of every Taste of Bath tea towel will go to the Bath Foodbank

Innox Mills will host the Trowbridge Craft Beer and Cider Festival at the end of the month. From 27-30 August, the courtyard of the development will come alive with up to 60 beers and ciders, street food and live music.

“Whether catching up with friends during the day or enjoying the evening festival atmosphere, we hope the Craft Beer and Cider Festival gives people in Trowbridge and the surrounding area a chance to experience a taster of what’s to come at Innox Mills, while enjoying some of the best independent beers, ales and ciders from the region along with some of the local musical talent that the area has to offer,” says Jonathan Dean, director of Innox Mills.

For more: www.trowbridgebeerfest.co.uk

The Trowbridge Craft Beer and Cider Festival runs from 27-30 August

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The George & Dragon Rowde, Devizes

A traditional 16th century coaching inn combining cool modern day style with country character.

B& B PL US DI NN ER RATE FO R BA TH LIF E RE AD ER S OF £14 5 PER RO OM PE R NI GH T (EX CLU DIN G DR INK S)

• 2 AA Rosettes and an Egon Ronay star • Daily fresh fish from Cornwall and award winning meats from Walter Rose & sons • Newly extended covered outside terrace • Pretty English garden with picnic benches • Bedrooms are now open for booking

“The potted crab was warm, spicy and wonderful, the whitebait fresh and crispy and the avocado with crayfish perfectly spot on.”

– Giles Coren

01380 723053 www.thegeorgeanddragonrowde.co.uk

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

BUILDING BRIDGES

Widcombe Art Trail is back and located in three venues – Widcombe Social Club, The Natural Theatre Company and St Matthew’s Church – creating an artists’ quarter at the bottom of Widcombe Hill for the weekend of 28 – 29 August. Twenty eight artists (see overleaf for more artwork) will be taking part, including Tim Williamson.

Tim’s painting here, which is on sale for £400, depicts Istvan who sold the Big Issue on Widcombe’s Halfpenny Bridge, and who unexpectedly passed away in 2018. Tim says, “We all knew and really liked Istvan in Widcombe, and we would chat often. I asked him to pose for the photograph in the manner of The Sower by Van Gogh, which I then painted.

“I gave the painting to him and he was really pleased, and said he’d never been painted before. After he died, the YMCA where Istvan had been staying, contacted me to say they’d found the picture.

It was rather strange collecting it back. If Istvan’s painting is sold, the proceeds will go to the YMCA.” Widcombe Art Trail runs 28 – 29 August, entry is free and the venues are open from 10.30am until 5.30pm; www.widcombearttrail.com

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A CORNER OF BATH BY RACHEL WARD, £12 For 2022, Rachel has produced a calendar of photographs showing local scenes and wildlife.

Venue Widcombe Social Club; www.rachelwardart.com

GEORGE STREET, BATH BY NICOLA HYMAN, £35 A pendant with a 360 degree image of George Street on a mini wine cork canvas.

Venue Natural Theatre Company; Instagram @art.jewelleryupcycled

THE ARTIST QUARTERS Between 28 – 29 August, we’re following the Widcombe Art Trail

HELFORD ESTUARY – CORNWALL BY KERRIE MCNEIL, £220 Kerry is an artist and printmaker specialising in screen prints inspired by the coast and local landscapes.

Venue Widcombe Social Club; www.kerriemcneil.weebly.com

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THE FIELDINGS COME TO WIDCOMBE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE, £750 David Lawrence’s work is rooted in the English Idiom: in its chronicles and customs, traditions and eccentricities.

Venue Widcombe Social Club; www. davidlawrenceart.com

PEONY HAZE

BY EMMA ROSE, £800 Finalist in ‘Creatives’ for Bath Life Awards, and a finalist in ‘Arts’ for Creative Bath Awards.

Venue St Matthew’s Church; www. emmaroseartworks.com

ED’S CHOICE

ECHINACEA PALETTE BY JESSICA PALMER, £175 Jessica’s work centres on experimenting with the possibilities of paper as a medium to capture movement, shape and space in figurative pieces of two and three dimensions.

Venue The Natural Theatre Company; www.jessicapalmerart.com

AUTUMN ON BATH CANAL

BY CATHERINE BEALE, £800 Luminous watercolours capture the low autumn light glowing on the surface of Bath’s canal as it glides gently beneath the shade of Regency bridges.

Venue Widcombe Social Club; www.catherinebeale.com

WIDCOMBE HIGH STREET

BY RICHARD FORD, £150 FRAMED A silvertone photograph, 24” x 18”, showing St Matthew's Church, where the exhibition is being held.

Venue St Matthew’s Church, Widcombe

COFFEE TABLE IN BRONZE RESIN BY CASPAR TAYLOR, £1,900 Caspar is an internationally renowned artist acknowledged for both his contemporary artworks and his more traditional sculpture and architectural restoration projects.

Venue St Matthew’s Church; www:caspartaylor.com SWALEDALE 1 BY MAX AIKEN, £320 Max focuses on landscape painting and works mainly in oils. His current work of Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales captures a sense of place.

Venue Widcombe Social Club; www.maxaiken.com

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STREET LIFE

BUILD IT UP Escape from the city centre to the indie, arty, community-driven Margaret’s Buildings

By Lydia Tewkesbury

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Photos by Jessie Myers, Soul Media

andwiched between two of Bath’s most iconic locations – the Circus and the Royal Crescent – and a little out the way of the city centre, Margaret’s Buildings has an other-wordly quality to it. This makes sense – one of the most gorgeous spots in the city, the properties surrounding have always been homes of the elite, and the little street was originally imagined to fulfil their shopping needs. These days, Margaret’s Buildings is a thriving, creative corner of the city filled with stylish shops, salons, galleries and cafés – and it is very much for everyone. From the blossoming tubs of flowers to the bustling cafés filled with happy patrons enjoying a much needed first coffee of the day, it’s completely charming, and has an observable beckoning effect on Royal Crescent visitors, many of whom seem to find themselves utterly incapable of walking past without feeling the pull to explore.

Here, we meet a few of the businesses in the Margaret’s Buildings community to find out what they think makes the street so unique.

‘SOMEWHERE REALLY SPECIAL’

Interior designers Berdoulat have been in practice for 16 years, but it’s only in recent months they’ve opened up a shop and café, following four years of work restoring the building. Alongside the brand’s own designs and curated selection of goods, Frome favourites Rye Bakery run a concession within the shop, where their bread and patisserie range have already collected a dedicated legion of fans. Berdoulat has further collaborated with ethical floral design studio Nice Bunch, and offers a selection of Nice Bunch founder Sula Jones’ beautiful arrangements of fresh and dried flowers.

“Historically it was a wine merchants, and high-class provisions store, selling teas and coffees, herbs and spices. Interestingly, if one looks at the history of shopkeepers and what they sold, it’s all either food and wine, or joinery, cabinet making, china and antiques – so we’re a combination of all those elements,” says Patrick Williams, director of Berdoulat. “We liked the idea of bringing the space alive, and it not feeling like a showroom for our furniture where one is scrutinised on entry. It felt like having a café would achieve this.”

The café tables are Berdoulat’s own design, and Patrick likes the idea that people get to give them a ‘test run’. “There’s nothing like being

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Neri Williams, co-director of Berdoulat

“There is something indefinable about this zen corner of Bath”

used by a busy café to show how a table will wear through use over time.”

Across the street sits Homefront Interiors. It’s one of those shops filled with such a diverse range of goods it’s hard to know where to look. It takes a minimum of three turns about the little shop to take it all in – the first just to gaze in awe, and the second and third to mooch through the myriad cute home accessories and striking jewellery, and flip through the eclectic art prints, many by local artists.

Vanessa Clark opened Homefront Interiors five years ago, having completely fallen in love with the location.

“When we first discovered Margaret’s Buildings, we felt we had discovered somewhere really special and unique,” she says. “The street is a tranquil shopping destination. A lovely place for a stroll, coffee and a bit of a browse.”

The Green Bird Café is one of a handful of coffee shops in the city to have achieved cult status. Warm, friendly, and always busy, it is the spot of choice for Bath’s brunchers. Owners Claire and Henry Hunton spent over a year searching for the perfect location to set up their first café, and when the opportunity for Margaret’s Buildings came up, they leapt at the chance.

“It was all about timing really,” Claire explains. “The property became vacant, we were ready to move in and were open within six weeks! We were actually interested in the property opposite which became The Foodie Bugle, but our friend who worked in our current property saw us looking, and told us the owner was looking to reassign the lease. It was about being in the right place at the right time!”

Six years on, and Green Bird is central in the Margaret’s Buildings community – they even offer a discount to fellow business owners on the street. “We get to see most of the other business owners on a daily basis when they pop in for coffee, so it’s great to have a chat about the street and any developments,” Claire says.

© MICHAEL BLY TH PHOTOGR APHY

STREET LIFE

Gray MCA specialises in fashion illustration

‘SURROUNDED BY HISTORY’

Uber Clothing has been in on Margaret’s Buildings for 16 years

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

“Margaret’s Building’s has a well-earned reputation as an enclave for the best of Fine Art,” says Ashley Gray, gallery director at Gray MCA, which specialises in artworks by the 20th century masters of fashion illustration. “It has been the home to modernism, fine art prints, antique maps, the best of St Ives artists, and now fashion and textiles.”

Gray MCA emanates a chic air of cool. Curators of the internationally acclaimed Drawing on Style exhibition in Mayfair, which runs during fashion week, Gray MCA offers a glimpse into the glam of the high fashion scene here in Bath, with evocative works that show off the elegance of fashion at its best. The Parisian-style of Margaret’s Buildings makes for a perfect pairing with the gallery – the vibes are there before you step foot inside. “There is something indefinable about this zen corner of Bath,” says Ashley. “Is the air cleaner? The breeze softer? The sun warmer? The atmosphere less intense? Or all of the above? I have time and again witnessed the relief on people’s faces when they arrive in our quiet corner of the city.”

Following a trip to Gray MCA, unleash the inner fashionista a couple of doors down in Uber Clothing Ltd. A true stalwart, the exclusive, European-inspired indie has made Margaret’s Buildings its home for the last 16 years.

“Uber Clothing was attracted to Margaret’s Buildings as a location for several reasons,” says Tanya Haughton-Allen, a director of Uber.

“I was given the most amazing piece of advice when I was younger

by Laura Ashley’s daughter-in-law – if you find an area undeveloped retail-wise and slightly off the beaten track, you can help build that area by opening an exciting, different type of retail outlet, which is what Uber Clothing helped to do.”

The collection favours small designers, with pieces sourced from all around Europe that adhere to traditional silhouettes, but with a twist.

Much like the shop’s characterful décor, it’s of a style that incites a second look.

Ellie Rose Bridal is the home of exclusive designs and bespoke service. Champions of designers from across the pond, the studio is filled with bridal styles from the likes of Californian sensation Hayley

Colette Lorimer is one of the local artists whose work you’ll find in Homefront Interiors – and she minds the shop once a week

Berdoulat offers a fine selection of wine, tea, cookery books and beautiful home accessories

“The street is a tranquil shopping destination”

STREET LIFE

“The community really looks out for each other” Paige and the Ti Adora by JLM Couture Collection, from Allison Webb. For owner Ellie Butler, part of the romance is in the location.

“Being located between the Royal Crescent and the Circus, you’re surrounded by history and gorgeous architecture,” she says. “Mainly though it’s the people and the businesses that really make Margaret’s buildings so special. The community really looks out for each other and it’s always so friendly – it’s a lovely place to be.”

At the end of the street is Bath Old Books. The faces of the shop’s four owning partners have changed over its 30 years, and although none of the originals remain (though one partner has 20 years with the shop behind them), the eclectic, Aladdin’s cave-type ethos is ever present.

“At the time of opening there were at least two other second hand bookshops in Margaret’s Buildings, so it was established as a focus for books,” says Richard Selby, one of the shop’s four partners. The street’s days as a bookish destination may have passed, but the community feel remains. “There is a real sense of community amongst the owners of the various businesses, coming together to finance summer floral displays and Christmas lighting. In quieter moments owners can be found chatting outside, a co-operative and helpful community.”

Book ending the street is Red Rag Gallery, which offers a broad selection of modern art and fine contemporary paintings by British artists, and has formed a vital part of the local scene for the last 12 years. With huge windows filled with striking works of art, it’s easy to be pulled through the doors, and sets the tone for the rest of the artsy spots along the street.

Margaret’s Buildings is a special place, says Carine Besse, gallery manager at Red Rag, “There are no chain shops at all, each shop is unique and run by people who are passionate about the products they are selling.” n

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

© ELLIE ROSE BRIDAL

above: Stop for brunch at The Greenbird Café; below: Bridal styles at Ellie Rose Bridal

Browse the fine art in Red Rag Gallery

Rye Bakery’s Berdoulat concession offers pastries, coffees and delicious bread

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Berdoulat, 8 Margaret’s Buildings; www.berdoulat.co.uk Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings; www.homefrontinteriors.co.uk The Green Bird Café, 11 Margaret’s Buildings, www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk Gray MCA, 5 Margaret’s Buildings; www.graymca.com Ellie Rose Bridal, 7 Margaret’s Buildings; www.ellierosebridal.co.uk Bath Old Books, 9C Margaret’s Buildings; Facebook @BathOldBooks Red Reg Gallery, Brock Street; www.redraggallery.co.uk

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www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 67

It’s the city’s business

BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>UNESCO SECOND AWARD (70) >>NATASHA LEWIS FOUNDATION (71) >>BIZ Q&A JULIE BUTTERWORTH OF IFORD ARTS (72)

© PAUL GILLIS

The BreakOut programme will ease holiday hunger and provide activities

Break free

B

The programme looking out for Bath’s young people this summer

ath & North East Somerset Council has secured more than £400,000 of funding to provide a free summer holiday activity scheme for vulnerable young people.

The BreakOut programme, led

by Bath Rugby Foundation, will provide a range of sporting and creative activities for young people age five to 16, and will run in partnership with Youth Connect South West, Bath Area Play Project, FareShare South West and a number of delivery providers. The scheme will help children stay active, social and healthy.

“It is proven that if a child experiences hunger for a prolonged period during the school holidays

BUSINESS CLUB

that the inequality already in existence between children from wealthier and poorer backgrounds grows even wider,” says Lynne Fernquest, Bath Rugby Foundation CEO. “To make this story even harder to hear, those young people most at risk of holiday hunger are more likely to suffer from social isolation and loneliness. The devastating impact of the pandemic on the mental and physical health of families on low incomes, disengaged teenagers and young adults is only now starting to become clear.

“However, programmes and partnerships like this one bring hope. I have seen first-hand the incredible difference a community can make when it comes together to solve its problems. Right now, I am proud to say that B&NES and its partners are doing just

that, and change is happening.”

B&NES received £414,000 from the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme to fund BreakOut for young people in receipt of free school meals during this year’s summer and Christmas holidays, and an additional £40,000 funded the programme in the Easter holidays.

Food parcels are also available from parents and carers when they collect their children from sessions.

BreakOut will run throughout the summer holidays across a wide range of areas covering Bath, Midsomer Norton and Keynsham. You can find out more details and book sessions on the Bath Rugby Foundation’s website.

For more: www.bathrugbyfoundation.com

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Bath Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

More than 300 children attended the SouthGate booknic

© TOM WREN SWNS

Emily McKay, head of communications and marketing at the Bath BID, and Ellie Leiper from The Grapes Bath

NOVEL IDEA

A-Z OF INDIE The Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID) has launched a new independent business directory, Indie Bath. The new publication is designed to make it easy for people to discover Bath’s independents, and features the latest business news, fun facts and easy ways to support small businesses alongside the directory.

“As Bath reopens and we welcome people back to the city, it is so important to support the city’s businesses,” says Allison Herbert, chief executive of Bath BID. “When we asked our Independents’ Collective

how best we could help them, they told us that they wanted a physical guide to indies in the city to allow businesses to promote each other. We are delighted to be able to offer this and hope that people will use the publication as a tool to discover businesses they haven’t come across before and be reminded of old favourites.”

Indie Bath will publish two issues a year. If you missed out on a listing in the first issue, you can secure a space in the winter edition by emailing info@bathbid.co.uk.

For more: www.welcometobath.co.uk

More than 300 school children from across Bath have taken part in an event celebrating the joy of reading. The ‘booknic’, organised by SouthGate Bath in partnership with the National Literacy Trust invited local schools to enjoy a picnic and a book while also taking part in some reading-themed fun.

“Supporting our community is so important to us and the Young Readers Programme plays a massive part in that. It’s a brilliant initiative that we look forward to every year and it’s great to see the children celebrating at our booknic event,” says Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate. “Thanks also needs to go to the National Literacy Trust for their hard work on this event and over the years. They’ve helped us to ensure that the additional support and books go to those who need them most.”

The booknic was part of the award-winning Young Readers Programme, sponsored by SouthGate’s co-owner British Land, and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

Since the programme launched in Bath, it has supported more than 1,800 children and donated 5,500 books.

For more: www.southgatebath.com

THE SPA ATTRACTION

Bath has earned a second UNESCO World Heritage Status as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe

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

Bath has secured a coveted second UNESCO World Heritage status as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. The award recognises historic spa towns based around mineral springs, which were pioneers of modern tourism and attracted a calibre of guest formerly monopolised by larger urban environments.

“This inscription is a confirmation of the exceptional historic value of Bath,” says councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People. “Our architectural and archaeological quality is already recognised, but this new accolade underlines the influence that the hot springs have had on the city. This is not just about history, as moving forward Bath will continue to successfully blend our outstanding heritage and wellbeing offer with our vibrant modern city.”

It comes after the Bath was named one of the World’s Greatest Places in TIME’s annual list – one of only two England locations to be mentioned. Turn to page 48 for our best of local spas round up.

For more: www.greatspasofeurope.eu

Natasha Lewis and David Bowler

© JENNIFER KELLY

BATHWORKS

Bath City Farm were one of 930 projects to receive funding through Quartet last year

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC STRONG FOUNDATIONS

Following the tragic passing of Natasha Lewis earlier this year, her fiancé and Get Fit In Bath co-founder, David Bowler has launched a foundation in her memory. The Natasha Lewis Foundation (NLF) will support athletes overcoming obstacles that might hinder them from reaching their full potential.

The NLF will provide everything from sports apparel and running shoes to strength and conditioning programmes, and health and nutrition support. Their first event, a half marathon, will take place on 5 September.

“Running was more than just a sport to Tash – it brought her complete happiness and a sense of freedom,” says David. “She would always say – ‘I don’t run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days.’ That is why we are marking the official launch of NLF with a half marathon race, to share in something she truly loved but can no longer do,” says David.

The half marathon is open to all abilities, whether you run the entire stretch or take it as a gentle walk, and you can get tickets now on Race Director – details of which are available through Get Fit In Bath’s social media.

Instagram @getfitinbath

FLYING HIGH

Mogers Drewett’s private client partner, David Hill, has been recognised by the prestigious Chambers High Net Worth Guide for the third year running.

“I am delighted that our clients are happy with the service they receive,” says David, whose practice includes estate and succession planning. “Developing long-term relationships with all our clients and professional partners is at the heart of what we do.”

Chambers independently researches lawyers across the UK, interviewing their clients and assessing quality of work to rank the top performing lawyers named in the High Net Worth Guide. www.mogersdrewett.com

ACTION STATIONS The Quartet Community Foundation distributed a record £5.2 million between April 2020 and March 2021, according to a new report. The Bath and West of England community foundation’s Covid impact report, titled A Year Like No Other, shines a light on the role of grant-making in community action. “During the pandemic we’ve worked like never before, with record levels of funds both raised and distributed,” says Suzanne Rolt, CEO of Quartet. “This has only been possible thanks to the generosity of our donors and fund holders. Through their support and by working collaboratively with partner community

organisations, we’ve been able to make a significant impact on local lives.

“We recognise that the need for support across local communities is as high today as it has been throughout the pandemic. This is not a return to business as usual – Quartet is helping organisations to adapt and to work in new ways. This requires longer term, strategic support.”

A total of 930 projects benefitted from their funds last year, including Bath City Farm, which used a grant of £8,875 to create opportunities for young people.

For more: www.quartetcf.org.uk

ON THE MOVE Share and Repair has a new home. Due to its success, the charity has moved to a new space on George Street, which will have more room for its rentable Library of Things, where borrowers can access everything from tools to sports equipment.

“We are very grateful to Bath and North East Somerset Council for allowing us to prove our concept and realise that what we offer would be sorely missed,” says Share and Repair founder, Lorna Volunteers Jilly and Ann preparing the way Montgomery. “We are incredibly thankful to B&NES that we will now have a stronger presence on George Street so we can give the people who space for DIY workshops on things like haven’t made it back into Bath in the last year sewing, bike maintenance and using tools a chance to benefit from our services.” alongside their current mending services.

The shop at 3 York Buildings also offers For more: www.sharerepair.org.uk

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

BATHWORKS

“HE IS RETHINKING THE WAY OPERA IS PRODUCED” concept, not a political dogma. This means ensuring that singers are able to earn a decent living and that audiences don’t have to see performances in big lavish places for them to have validity.

BIZ Q&A

Julie Butterworth Iford Arts’ interim marketing, PR, and sales manager on the next evolution of the 27-year-old opera company

What is Iford Arts?

We’re a small, independent opera company and charity based in Bradford on Avon. Iford Arts has shown its work to be of the highest quality, producing acclaimed performances in exquisitely intimate settings. This unique character, along with our New Generation Artists Programme, educational and outreach work, has given us national recognition and a renowned reputation for excellence.

How did Iford Arts begin?

It started in 1994 with Judy Eglington and John Edwards chatting with John Hignett and Elizabeth CartwrightHignett (the owners of Iford Manor at the time), and the idea came up that it would be nice to have live music in the gardens and cloister. They used to have small groups and ensembles playing in the gardens, and then one year a local amateur group put on an opera production, and it sold out really quickly – that gave Judy the idea to focus more on opera.

How has the organisachanged over the years?

In 2019, Iford Arts left our home of 25 years at Iford Manor (due to a change

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

of management) for the Grade I listed gardens of Belcombe Court, installing a spectacular geodesic dome for performances. The new venue significantly increased audience capacity from 90 to 245, allowing us to address reach, accessibility and review ticket prices, whilst retaining the intimacy that is our trademark.

How are you making opera more accessible?

Lockdown gave us the opportunity to really think about why we exist.

We realised that we had always been focused on supporting emerging artists within the industry and sharing opera with as many young people as we could.

One way of doing more of that was reduce our ticket prices. This had been impossible whilst performances had been limited to less than 100 seats, but with the festival now taking place in the much larger grounds of Belcombe Court, we could afford to have more seats and sell them at cheaper prices.

Why the rebrand?

Being called Iford Arts no longer worked as we were no longer at Iford, so we decided to rebrand the company.

At the end of this season, we will launch

as If Opera. We’ll continue producing incredible opera in amazing places like Belcombe Court, but we’re also planning to create experiences that feel more relevant to a wider audience and stage them in places that are more accessible to everyone.

What is If Opera’s first project?

Our first project after we launch If Opera at the end of this season is a film that explores how opera can support people who are experiencing grief. Our work will tackle issues that everyone can relate to. If we can engage an inner-city kid as much as an opera buff – we’re winning.

Tell us a bit about your new executive director Michael Volpe was the general director of Opera Holland Park until he announced his retirement early last year. The question implied in our new title – what if ? – is central to Michael’s vision for the future of our company.

He is rethinking the way opera is produced in this country, and the elitist image it has attracted. Michael believes the whole business is broken in so many ways, and his solution is to embody what he calls ‘opera socialism’ – as a

How do you fund it all?

As a not-for-profit charity, all of the money earned from ticket sales, donations, and funding from trusts and foundations goes towards meeting our charitable objectives. Each year, Iford Arts enjoys the fruits of a giant collaboration between its small executive team, more than 100 volunteers and around 2,600 audience members, together with financial support from 130 Visionaries, Angels, Patrons, Friends, and external funders. For over 25 years we have received no public funding, but when the pandemic hit, for the first time we were successful in securing some funding from Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund.

What is one thing you wish more people understood about opera?

The way it can make you feel. It has the ability to lift you up when you are at your lowest. I recently interviewed the actor David Threlfall, who said that experiencing live opera evoked a groundswell of emotion in him. He said: “It feels like being in the sail of ship that is filling with air and taking me along with it.” I completely agree with him.

What’s your favourite Iford Arts performance?

That’s so hard to answer! Can I pick a favourite year? 2018! Bernstein’s Candide, a collaboration with Opera Della Luna, directed by Jeff Clarke – a huge production with over 140 characters and costume changes, staged in the tiny cloister (6m sq); Handel’s Partenope, featuring the most beguiling of Handel’s sexy heroines and warriors, the Queen of Naples; and our last Iford Manor production, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.

The Act 3 aria, when Butterfly says goodbye to her son, blindfolds him, places a small American flag in his hands and goes behind a screen to kill herself, was such a powerful moment that the audience sat for minutes taking in what they had just experienced, no one wanting to break the silence to clap.

For more: Iford Arts; 15 Market Street, Bradford on Avon; www.ifordarts.org.uk

© SOUL MEDIA

BATHWORKS

© SOUL MEDIA

Bryn Jones showing us what a winner looks like

Nikki Portman

The Bath Life Awards celebrates the best of Bath’s businesses, from professional services to cafés, retail to charity

TESTIMONIAL

“The Awards are always such a great night. I love seeing all the local business people and friends in one place.”

Nikki Portman, owner and designer, Portman, Retail Winner 2020

The final countdown

W

ith less than one month to go until the Bath Life Awards on 9 September, the excitement our end is reaching fever pitch. Dresses have been ordered, haircuts booked and heels dug out of the back of the wardrobe and given a good dusting – we have officially entered prep season, a time of upping the already pandemic perfected skincare game for that Hollywood glow come the big night.

We’re counting down the days until everyone arrives at The Assembly Rooms in their finery ready to celebrate Bath’s best, brightest and most tenacious businesses. We

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact annie.kelly@ mediaclash.co.uk or pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk TICKETS See social media for updates.

Limited number of silver

looked a pandemic in the face and stepped out the other side shining – and now it’s time to party.

There are a few tickets left. They’re open to finalists only and won’t hang around for long, so make sure to snap them up before someone beats you to the punch. The more guests you bring, the livelier your table, after all.

We don’t know about anyone else, but finally approaching an IRL awards after so long away has brought us over all nostalgic. We’re flipping through our old photo albums, reminiscing on awards past. If you’d like to join in the fun, post your old awards snaps on social media using the hashtag #BathLifeAwards – we’d love to see them, and we might even repost our favourites.

For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

sponsorships, which include a table at the Awards. Please note: we sell out every year with many on the waiting list.

AWARDS The uberglam Bath Life Awards will be held in the Bath Assembly Rooms on

9 September 2021. Nothing beats being there…

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on @bathlifeawards Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates.

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

#BATH TOGETHER GREG INGHAM

By George!

The attraction of Bath, and the lure of the Georgians

W

hy are you here? Hmm, bit direct.

That’s not here as on planet earth here. But here, as in here in Bath..? The bigger existential question can wait for another column [Something to look forward to then – Ed] Ponder why you’re here – what first attracted you to Bath or has held you here? Multiple answers ostensibly: generational, familial, jobs, university, apparent chance, deep romance, lure of a better quality of living in the West Country, desire to quit the metropolis, and infinitely more besides. Somewhere lurking further upstream in much of the thinking is the lure of the bequeathed visible beauty of this city.

We are all beneficiaries of an extraordinary, brief flowering of creativity 250 years ago.

That strange alchemy of design and money and, well, geology with Bath stone and gambling with new money created a new

demi-world, attracting artists and aesthetes, chancers and fol-derols, new money and old vices; all housed in beguiling, honeyed neoclassicism.

We benefit aesthetically, most obviously: those joyful heartsurge moments when you scan afresh the visual, public glories of Georgian buildings. However low we go (and this year has had its moments), life seems better when staring at corporeal Georgian.

There’s more. Consider the direct economic value of those owning Georgian property, echoing down the generations, with whatever smartness being displayed now by clever buyers and doer-uppers being as nothing compared to the smartness of those who thought, who designed, who built them, back in the day. All those earning livings now from reimagining, designing, extending and updating in this mode of Scandiminimalism or that mode of abundant maximalism or the divine emergent mode of postecologicalism.

“However low we go… life seems better when staring at corporeal Georgian”

There’s the secondary value of the halo effect throughout Bath, however dimmed in the penumbra and however complicated in terms of impact on accessing the city and travel to work times. Then the tourist value, stayed but not stopped in this baleful time, supporting vastly finer arts, retail and hospitality offers than a quotidian city of 90,000 dwellers would otherwise sustain, enticed by splendour in the light. Yes, aesthetically, financially and reputationally, we have much to thank that bewigged band of the late 1700s. Their brief creativity bonds us here. (As an aside, there was a brief consideration that such was Bath’s superior reputation worldwide that the renamed local airport would have been better dubbed Bath International Airport, only to be ruled out by IATA on the need for names to be proximate.

Bath is closer to Lulsgate Bottom than Luton, Gatwick let alone Stansted is to London, but there we have it…)

That’s the easy part. Most of us can genealogise our rationale for being here in Bath all the way back to the Georgians. But… What are we doing here in Bath right now which in any way might have any impact on anyone being attracted to or being held by this city at any time in the future, let alone nearly 300 years hence?

It would be hubristic to

imagine that any Bathonian might have the enduring impact of either of the John Woods, inspirationally imaginative in all but nomenclature. Architects have a special place in shaping city vistas, of creating work that is seen by thousands immediately and potentially millions in decades to come. Look upon my works ye mighty and smile, as Shelley didn’t have it. Yet however talented Bath architects are – and, as a city, we are blessed – it’s tough to see that their current work may be around in 2321, let alone be the reason why people come here (teleported, obvs: Brunel’s brutal straight-line railways will be linear gardens by then).

Instead, we might set our sites a little lower. We who are beneficiaries of others’ creative brilliance should also consider what we as Bath residents, workers, owners, students, visitors are doing in any way to make this city a better place.

Perhaps part of the answer to that is for Bath to be a city of experiment, a sprawling petri dish of a place, a city of what ifs..?

– a city, in truth, giving homage to the Georgian boldness, and not just genuflecting before its untouchable past.

Greg Ingham was a journalist back in the day and runs MediaClash jointly with Jane Ingham. He chairs Creative Bath, and can be found @gregingh

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 75

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

Home Turf Lettings are looking for smaller lets from the private sector to help with the housing crisis

Rentals

HOME HELP

Local charity Developing Health & Independence Bath needs support from ethical landlords Home Turf Lettings (HTL) are looking for studios and one-bedroom homes in Bath to respond to the increase in housing demand from single individuals and couples. HTL, which is part of local charity Developing Health & Independence (DHI) is a not-forprofit lettings agency leasing properties from

private rented sector landlords and providing these to people in housing need.

They offer a guaranteed rental income for five years, whilst fully managing the property and tenants, and paying for day-today maintenance and repairs. Tenants can access practical support whenever required from the in-house advice floating support team, providing tenants with home advice and guidance.

David Walton, housing director for DHI says, “Helping people into homes of their own is at the heart of what we do and we want to provide good quality homes to people in housing need across the West of England.

Landlords are assured of hassle-free and guaranteed rent so their property is making money whilst doing good.”

Developing Health & Independence was set up in 1999 with the aim to help people out of the cycle of poverty, homelessness, social isolation or drug and alcohol abuse, by offering a tailored programme of support from a wide range of services. The charity has helped many thousands of people in Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire regain control of their lives.

For more: www.dhi-online.org.uk

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PROPERTY NEWS

New development

KNIGHT VISION Initial works have begun in preparation for a new Somerset housing development named Delamare Park, to provide new homes near Frome.

Housebuilder Barratt Homes has purchased the land at Green Pits Lane in the village of Nunney, which is three miles south-west of Frome. The site already has detailed planning permission consented for 82 new homes.

The new development will be called Delamare Park, after Sir John de la Mare who was a knight in the court of King Edward III and built nearby Nunney Castle, inspired by French castles while on campaign. The picturesque moated medieval castle dating back to the 1370s is the centrepiece of the village of Nunney.

James Dunne, managing director of Barratt David Wilson South West, says, “This is a wonderful spot with great deal of historic interest on the doorstep, not to mention the wonderful Somerset countryside just a stone’s throw away. We have named the development Delamare Park to help knit it into the fabric of the area and reflect its fascinating historic ties.”

For more: www.barratthomes.co.uk

Sir John de la Mare built Nunney Castle in 1370s

Careers

AT YOUR SERVICE Tony Lamb, who has moved from being in the British Army to helping run a Westbury housebuilding site, has talked about the shared skillset of both professions. Tony, who works for Vistry Group, which includes Bovis Homes and Linden Homes, says, “The skills required in the British Army and on site are definitely transferable, as you need to be disciplined, adaptable and good at overcoming challenges.

“There’s great camaraderie and I thought it would be hard to find another role like it as it’s those relationships you create that makes the teamwork so effortless. I wanted a job where you could have a similar bond with your colleagues, as well as opportunities for promotion, and in construction there is that clear career path.”

Tony, who lives in Trowbridge, is also a mentor with BuildForce, a charity that helps people with resettlement after they have left the forces. Managing director Dave Farley says, “It’s amazing to hear how transferable skills can be between two professions and it’s been a huge

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left: The Linden Homes’ Spinnaker development in Westbury below: Tony is responsible for helping deliver a phase of 80 new homes

advantage for us – having sites run with military precision!

“As part of the BuildForce scheme, we welcome ex-military personnel to our sites for mentoring and work placements for them to see if it’s a profession they’re interested in pursuing. It’s a fantastic organisation and we’re delighted to help.”

For more: www.vistrygroup.co.uk

PROPERTY

93 SYDNEY PLACE Matilda Walton tours an apartment fit for royalty

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T

he first floor apartment at 93 Sydney Place is a property worthy of a queen – literally.

Queen Charlotte, consort to George III lived in the building in 1817 on a visit to Bath to ‘take in the waters’. The rare and beautifully restored first floor is believed to have been used as the ballroom throughout her stay. From the imposing double doors at the entrance hall to the tall ceilings adorned with intricate cornices, you can certainly see it.

A new owner might be tempted to start adding the odd stylish twirl to a routine boogie around the kitchen.

It’s easy to consider oneself royalty when strolling these rooms, from the golden door and cupboard handles to the fabulous bespoke chandeliers designed for the property by the current owner, the apartment oozes luxury. Every aspect from cornice to ceiling rose – believed to be original – have been painstakingly restored. It is, quite simply, immaculate.

There is something particularly special about the doorways in this apartment – every single one has a grandeur that makes it feel as if each person should be announced as they walk through, as if a Georgian at a

high society ball. From the assertive points of the Doric porch to the sweeping curves of the entrance to the drawing room and the ten foot wedding doors into the bedroom, each gives the sense of stepping away from the world – and into the waiting arms of luxury. When thrown wide open, the bedroom doors offer a satisfying and dramatic front-to-back view of the apartment in its entirety.

For an apartment, it is spoiled for outside space, with a balcony that runs the width of the drawing room enjoying views across Sydney Gardens opposite, and live planning permission to restore a former balcony across the rear first floor, looking out across St Mary the Virgin Church, Bathwick. At the front of the apartment is perhaps its best feature, the breathtaking and envyinspiring first floor conservatory sun room – a rare feature that lends the entire property a distinguished air from others on the impressive street. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, or even an evening glass of something bubbly while passers-by gaze up at what they wish they had.

The bespoke and faultlessly contemporary walnut kitchen with marble worktop has been designed with a keen eye for the proportion of the space – a must in Georgian homes – and mirrors the curvature of the

room. The entire effect is one of high impact simplicity, and one that elevates the entire space.

It’s a suitably stylish abode in a location that was once considered the centre of fashionable life in Bath – it was the street Jane Austen called home during her time in the city, after all. In this gorgeous apartment, with the right owner, it can be so again.

HOUSE NUMBERS Price £1.25m Square feet 1,821 Bedrooms 2 For more: Strutt & Parker, 7-9 North Parade Buildings Bath; www.struttandparker.com

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BATH LIVES

“My songs were played by astronauts onboard the International Space Station” The Fifth View of Fuji, is about how I imagine it would feel to live next to an active volcano, and was written to

SALLY ROBINSON Indie-folk musician Sally Robinson, who studied music at Bath Spa University, has had her songs played in jaw-dropping settings, including volcanos and in outer space...

The Bath Spa University student and indie-folk musician is pushing the musical boundaries. Sally Robinson had the idea of getting her music heard in unique and remote locations all over (and above) the globe, so she sent her songs to scientists worldwide. This has led to her A-sides | B-sides Project being heard inside the Amazon Rainforest, at the North and South Poles, and by astronauts in space.

She recently released the third set, Fire, of her fourelement-themed project (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) .

This latest set has now been heard on three volcano monitoring stations on Montserrat, Anchorage, and Yellowstone. The fourth

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and final part of the project, Water, will be available to download on 21 September.

The A-sides | B-sides Project seeks to inspire people to engage in

conversations with people they wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to speak to, and connect people globally through music. It looks to bridge the gap between science and music.

The project has already had my songs played in incredible locations. I love the idea of my

voice being able to travel to these incredible spaces, particularly after the Covid lockdowns, so I set myself a challenge of being heard in the most remote locations possible. The tracks were sent to scientific research

facilities that are linked to the element they are representing.

Air was heard by astronauts on board the International Space Station, space scientists,

and meteorologists, including members of the team that work on NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover; Earth was heard by leading female climate scientists around the world, at conservation centres inside the Amazon Rainforest, and at scientific research facilities at both the North and South Poles; Fire has been heard by geologists working at volcano monitoring stations around the world; and the final set, Water, was sent to boats and submarines.

I spent most of my childhood on the beach and in nature,

so I’ve always been passionate about the natural world. My love of geology came from studying a Geology A Level at Swansea’s Gower College – my teacher was really passionate about the subject and had an extensive rock collection, which I spent hours studying (the volcanic rocks were always the coolest, hence I ended up writing a song about a volcano!)

sound calm and serene as it looks at the life and beauty the volcano would bring. Pele’s Hair was written about, and gets its name from, the formation of a type of volcanic glass; it forms in pale strands and is light enough to blow away in the wind.

I was attracted to Bath because of the high quality of Bath Spa University’s Commercial Music course, and

having the opportunity to live somewhere that’s been renowned for its beauty for such a long time. Being surrounded by so much history has been massively influential to my music.

My favourite place in Bath is the botanical gardens in Victoria Park – I went for many

walks here through lockdown, and it feels like such an oasis of peace and quiet within the city.

I’m now living in Cardiff, but, being a musician, Moles and Komedia will always have a special place in my heart.

I’ve just finished my degree and achieved a first! The

course was really good, and has equipped me with the skills to keep building my career. n Sally’s tracks are now available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon For more: www.sally-robinson.co.uk