Bath Life – Issue 461

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ISSUE 461 / 14 – 27 JANUARY 2022 / £3

ISSUE 461 / 14 – 27 JANUARY 2022 / DEDICATED FOLLOWERS

TREND SETTERS CAFÉS AU LOVE

THE BEST BISTROS IN BATH

ABBEY EVER AFTER VEGANUARY AT ABBEY KITCHEN

GILTY PLEASURES LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE WITH GOLD

LOCATION LOCATION

PHOTOSHOOT SECRETS WITH THE CAMELLIA AGENCY

KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF FASHION FOR 2022

EDITOR’S LETTER

benefit us all (page 14) BELOW: Let Sassy & Boo add spark to your winter wardrobe (page 42)

H

© LOUIS SMITH; W W W.STUDIOWHISK.CO.UK

ABOVE: How Bath’s coffee shops

ow’s this bleak mid-Jan treating you so far? I’m not doing Veganuary, I would never do dry January, nor am I looking to get fit quick – so actually my new year has been pretty good so far. I may as well start as I mean to go on and that way there’s no unnecessary self-loathing if I fail or worse, mind-numbing tedium for all if I succeed.

Top of my to-do list this year is to continue producing a beautiful and vibrant magazine each fortnight that truly reflects this amazing city of ours. Take our cover for example – this to me sums up an example of the energy of positivity that makes Bath so great. Yes she’s a kick-ass model who can rock the socks and sandal look even in winter, but nearly all the clothes are actually all sourced from local Dorothy House charity shops by stylist Marianne Cantelo, who writes about trends of the unexpected over on page 42. The striking shoot by Egle Vasi was done in the Curfew pub on Cleveland Place, and the hair and make-up by Chantelle Moody. Even the socks tells a local story as they are the product of a new business venture, Worship The Ground, founded by Bath marketing PR and entrepreneur Sarah Baker.

All this incredible local talent rallied together to help promote the work and the retail side of the end of life hospice charity. This epitomises Bath at its best – working together, community-minded, and never compromising on style. (Even if the mum in me is slightly stressed about those spilled sweets.)

See you in two weeks with more Bath-based gorgeousness.

SARAH MOOLLA Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

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

Issue 461 / 14 – 27 January 2022 COVER Do fashion the unexpected way. See page 42.

Photo by Egle Vasi; www.eglevasi.com

© STEVGATE

HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

14 CAFE SOCIETY How our favourite coffee haunts support

6

the community

THE ARTS

27 ARTS INTRO Get up close and personal with influential Tudor

characters at The Holburne

82

28 WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, family entertainment, comedy, art

and fun in Bath and beyond

32 BOOKS January paperbacks recommendations from Mr B

FOOD&DRINK

34 TAKE 5 Bath Life Award-winner Good Day Café 35 FOOD & DRINK Try a CBD-infused cocktail at The Ivy Bath 36 RESTAURANT Exploring the vegan options at the Abbey Kitchen

SHOPPING

39 SHOPPING INTRO Getting in the mood for romance with

Nicholas Wylde

40 EDITOR’S CHOICE Golden girls 42 FASHION New year, be you

LIFESTYLE

46 REVIEW BA1’s Zac swaps the scissors for a saw 49 GREAT ESCAPES Five must visit locations 51 EDUCATION Pandemic lessons 52 C REATIVE BATH AWARDS Celebrating Bath’s arts, tech

and culture

BUSINESS

57 BATHWORKS Local business news, views, and interviews 60 AWARDS Q&A Homes and Interiors winners Woodhouse & Law 61 BIZ Q&A Alexandra Henry of I Love Colours Studio shares her

creative process

PROPERTY

65 PROPERTY LEAD HomeLets steps up to support the new Dyson

Cance Centre at the RUH

66 PROPERTY NEWS Updates from the market 68 SHOWCASE Lifestyle is central in Camden Terrace 72 RESIDENCE Spaces with character from Camellia Locations 79 MOODBOARD How to style a reading nook with Lola Swift

DEPARTMENTS

72

6 SPOTLIGHT Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam is set to direct a Stephen Sondheim classic at Theatre Royal 9 INSTAS New year, same glorious city 10 SCENE Partying with Whole Lotta Knots 13 FLATLINE Flats is a man about town 82 BATH LIVES Asel Sartbaeva on her life-saving vaccine innovation

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 Victoria Bond, Nic Bottomley, Marianne Cantelo, David Flatman and Matilda Walton Group advertising manager Pat White pat.white@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, Carriage Court, 22 Circus Mews, Bath, BA1 2PW 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Holocaust Memorial Day

ONE DAY

Klara Hilsenrath as a young girl (aged five) l with her parents Szulim and Frieda Hilsenrath on holiday in Rugen Island, a fashionable holiday resort for Berliners, in 1931

Photography

PICTURE PERFECT

On 27 January a special ceremony is taking place at the Guildhall to mark the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The theme for this Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘One Day’.

Christina Hilsenrath Craig, chair of the Friends of Bath Jewish Burial Ground is the guest speaker, talking about the ‘One Day’ in October 1938 that devastated the lives of her Polish Jewish grandparents, and her mother who came to England on the Kindertransport – an organised rescue effort of children from Nazicontrolled territory that took place during the nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. “With each succeeding year, it becomes clearer that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been learned,” says David Musgrave, chair of Bath Interfaith Group, which has organised the district-

It’s official – we can’t stop photographing our beautiful city.

A new study from image monitoring platform Pixsy has found that Bath residents photograph the city skyline the most – even more than Londoners, with 0.036 posts per Bathonian. The glorious architecture, community mindedness and vibrant group of keen photographers led on Instagram by IGers Bath drive our continuous city snaps.

Flip to page 9 for our round up of a few of our favourite photos of Bath from Instagram, and tag us in your posts @bathlifemag for a chance to see your images in print.

For more: www.pixsy.com

wide memorial event with Bath & North East Somerset Council.

“Just as religion has been used as a political tool of division through the centuries, so now as people of faith we recognise our responsibility to work to bridge those divisions. “ As the Catholic theologian Hans Kueng said: ‘No peace among the nations without peace among the religions’. Our faith traditions at their best speak to our present age, encouraging us to care for the planet as well as all our fellow human beings. Perhaps today could be the ‘One Day’ on which we all turn our back on what divides us and unite in working for a better future.”

Places are limited at the event and booking is essential. To secure a place at the ceremony, please email equality@bathnes.gov.uk For more: Facebook @bathinterfaith

The MISSRED cast recorded the album at Real World Studios

Arts

Bath makes photographers of us all

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

© STEVGATE

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

You can now buy the soundtrack for original musical MISSRED from Dare We? Productions.

The story of misfit orphan Fran Ethel Red’s arrival in a small South Devon Community set to take place in August 2021 at The Bath Forum was sadly cancelled due to Covid-19. But Mel Lawman, lyricist, writer and producer of MISSRED was not deterred. With as many of the cast, as safely possible, she recorded the album instead at Real World Studios.

“I was really excited when we found out we were going to be recording MISSRED at Real World Studios as so many famous people had recorded there,” says 11-year-old cast member James. “It felt like we were actual pop stars and I loved using all the proper microphones and seeing all of the equipment. It was an amazing opportunity and I will remember it forever.”

Mel hopes to stage the show at the Forum in 2023, and is currently seeking funding. The soundtrack is available from 4 Part Music.

For more: www.4partmusic.co.uk

Terry Gilliam will co-direct Into The Woods at Theatre Royal this August

The Vectiraptor greeni would have been the size of a wolf

Science

© ALL AN AMATO

BARE BONES

Arts

MAGIC AWAITS A new production of Into the Woods, the legendary Stephen Sondheim musical will come to life at Theatre Royal this August.

From Scenario Two and Theatre Royal Bath Productions, the eagerly anticipated production brings together a world-class, multi-awardwinning creative team including revered stage and film director Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame), co-director and choreographer Leah Hausman, designer Jon Bausor, costume designer Antony McDonald, video designer Will Duke, sound designer Paul Groothuis, and casting director David Grindrod.

For more: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Researchers from the University of Bath have uncovered a new species of dinosaur.

The bones of the Vectiraptor greeni were first discovered 20 years ago on the Isle of Wight by local collector Mick Green, who the specimen is named after – and now, almost two decades later, researchers have made the startling discovery about the bones, which show an older, more heavily built predecessor of the Velociraptor.

About the size of a wolf, the fearsome animal would have prowled England’s forests 125 million years ago. With huge slashing talons on its feet to dispatch its prey and finely serrated teeth – all the better for eating with – the bird-like dinosaur was a specialist hunter covered in long feathers.

“There’s an Vectiraptor greeni dorsal vertebra by Nick Longrich extraordinary diversity of dinosaurs known in England in the Cretaceous, and even after more than a century of study, we continue to find new species,” says Dr Nick Longrich, who led the study from the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. “Although palaeontologists have been studying these dinosaurs for a long time, it’s hard going. We have to wait for the sea cliffs to fall and expose bits of bone, or for the waves to wash them out of the rocks. We’ve spent two centuries on the Isle of Wight piecing together our picture of English dinosaurs.”

For more: www.bath.ac.uk

Charity

WALK THE WALK

Get the guys together for the Men’s Walk to Support in February

Join the Men’s Walk to Support for Dorothy House this February.

The eight-mile walk from Dorothy House in Winsley to Bath Pavilion is open to guys aged 12+ to join in solidarity, share stories, and raise funds for the end-of-life care charity.

Team up with your brother, your son, your dad, your best mates, or take on the walk solo – it’s up to you.

Entry is £25, and all participants will receive a free event t-shirt along with a free pint and food at the end – which comes just in time to watch the Six Nations England v Italy match at 3pm.

For more: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 7

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SPOTLIGHT

IT’S A NEW DAWN, IT’S A NEW DAY, IT’S A NEW YEAR... and we’re feeling good

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SCENE T H E L AT E S T A DV E N T U R E S I N PA R T Y- GO I N G AC ROSS BAT H Sophia Hall and Emily Mander

Susan Fisher and Tony Fisher Jane Jackson, Milly Jackson, Polly Jackson and Paul Jackson

Daishawn Honohan and Remo Delahunty Harriet Banks and Gabriella Cronchey

NEW SEASON

Guests gathered for an evening of drinks and live music from local band Tangled Oaks at Whole Lotta Knots (WLK) on Cheap Street to celebrate the launch of the interiors brand’s autumn/winter collection.

WLK founder Polly Jackson was on hand to host the private shopping experience, which was also a celebration of the pop-up shop itself – Polly’s first, after launching her business during the first lockdown.

Photos by Betty Bhandari www.thecreativecollaboration.co.uk

Ria Harrison, Tilly Morris and Annabelle Curtis Jack King and Kartinin Suoto

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

Vicky Cheadle and Emma Frayling

Four-legged guests were also welcome

SOCIETY

Stellan, Clementine, Andy, and Richard with pups Tova and Odey

Darren Cavanagh and Milo

WALKIES!

A group set out with their four-legged friends to raise money for the Bath Cats and Dogs Home’s (BCDH) Wag Walk. Owners and their furry companions had the option of a two or five-mile circuit along the beautiful National Trust Skyline route. The walkers were joined by BBC presenter and celebrity vet Dr James Greenwood, along with his lovely labradors Olly and Dolly.

Photos by BCDH and Amy Mitchell www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk

John Fisher and Julie

Dr James Greenwood with Olly and Dolly Senka and Carmen

Lloyd Evans, Kirsty Smith and Kevin

Ken Boyle and Mason

Josh Sham and Luna

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

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FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN

“The flip-flops and flat-white lifestyle suits me just nicely”

Thanks a latte Why Flats loves being part of Bath’s café society

T

here are pluses and minuses to living in central Bath. I can walk to the gym (though I tend to take my electric bike as the walk home is an uphill one), which I like, and I’m a 90-second plod from a pint of milk and some quick and easy tortellini (I go in my pyjamas). In contrast the council continues on its death-by-a-thousand-cuts mission – along with every other council in England – to make it less and less convenient to own a motor car. Unless it’s an electric one. Except I can’t seem to find a fast charger anywhere along the Georgian terrace I call home. It’s an odd one, and it’s also so boring that I can feel my eyelids closing in protest.

So back to the good bits! Folks often mention how handy it must be to be so near all the shops. Not really, if I’m honest. Now and then I take my two older girls to town to spend gift vouchers in Urban Outfitters – an upgrade on Smiggle, and we indeed walked to the pantomime on Christmas Eve, which was absolutely brilliant. I’m told Portman Bath is a cracking shop, but they don’t do charcoal or Japanese carving knives so it’s probably not a key destination for me, and Gieves and Hawkes remains heavenly.

But proximity to shops isn’t the thing. The thing is cafés. This morning I will leave my house at five to ten to meet a lovely friend at The Green Bird Café. He is a greedy pig so will eat their mushrooms on toast, and I’m on a diet, so I’ll likely buckle and have the same. With bacon. It’s skin-strippingly cold today so we’ll

sit inside, but often I wander past and see a neighbour or a friend sipping flat whites al fresco and join them for a quickie. Across the way is Berdoulat where you can buy pastries made by the Rye Bakery in Frome, pastries which are so good that, should I consume any while not in the presence of my beloved fiancée, it is viewed practically as an infidelity. Okay so they’re not Bertinet – the gold standard – but they’re extremely good.

It’s the ease of access to such high quality, low intensity places that makes living in town seem a good choice for now. Sure, when I get home with the dog and the kids from a muddy walk, those wellies must come in through the front door – there’s no side gate or shed. But that’s a day here or there. The good bits are good every day.

(On the subject of the front door, the one here is a worry. It’s gorgeous and old and I love it, but it doesn’t fill the whole door frame. To stand behind it when closed is still, in terms of sensation and breeze, to be outside. It needs a paint job, and I think pink is the way forward.

The same breeziness can be felt behind any of the windows which, while beautiful and almost all perfectly operational, only keep out about seven per cent of the cold. To patch up or to replace?

That’s an easy call, once you’ve seen both quotes.)

Yes, the flip-flops and flat-white lifestyle suits me just nicely. I think I’ll stay.

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 13

CAFÉS

FULL OF BEANS!

Not only are the best cafés in Bath nourishing our souls, they’re also helping to support local businesses

By Sarah Moolla

W

hether it’s an early morning cup of freshly brewed Colombian coffee to kickstart our day or a leisurely lunch with a good friend and great cake, Bath is brimming with a wonderful array of café options. Not only are they fuelling and uplifting us, but they’re also a stimulant and vital lifeline to many other Bath businesses. Ways they help the local economy include using small independent food producers, florists and crafters to shape the décor, and by showcasing artists in their spaces.

Cortado Café, 7 Bridge Street, Bath; www.cortadobath.co.uk Established in February 2020 by Argentinian/British couple Fran and Sophie, this minimalist indie café offers brunch, specialty coffee and lunch. Unique to Cortado are the juicy, hot and flavoursome Argentinian empanadas with mouth-watering fillings such as mince beef and Malbec; Bath Blue cheese, mushrooms and walnuts; and lentil dahl style chickpeas, fresh mango and coconut milk.

They work directly with Easy José for all their coffees, and the house coffee is the Community blend which is a fair-traded, organic, single origin Peruvian blend. All milk used is organic and from the nearby dairy farm in Chew Valley. For cakes and pastries it’s Homemade

by Ella and Lunita Pasteleria, Larkhall Butchers for meat, Scoop Wholesale for cupboard essentials, and drinks from the Canned Wine Co, Wolf Wine, and Electric Bear Brewing Company. The botanical decorations are from Botanica Studios based in Union Passage.

The Courtyard Café, 3 Lilliput Court, Bath; www.courtyardbath.co.uk This cosy, independent courtyard café, just a stone’s throw from Bath Abbey has been open since the 70s and since April 2017, has been under the ownership of Harry Bret, who also owns the nearby Common Room. Channi and Celia can be found front of house with Kirsty and Colin running the kitchen.

Inside is cosy and colourful with wood-clad and historic exposed stone walls and feature panelled ceiling, while outside is heated, covered, softened with planting and fairy lights in the trellis and there are blankets for cold days.

The vibe is casual, friendly, there’s always music inside and they serve all-day breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon teas, and Kirsty’s own cakes. All the dishes are homemade and freshly cooked-to-order, from 14 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

above: Blankets are supplied for sitting outside

at the Courtyard Café on cooler days;

right: All the dishes are homemade

the pancake stacks to the weekly-changing specials. Notable mentions have to go to their hugely popular Havana toast – spiced pulled pork, ham, sriracha mayo, cheese, and a fried egg on toast. New to the menu are rarebit crumpets, served three ways.

The Courtyard Café champions local, and uses Matthew Algie coffee and teas from the Teahouse Emporium. Much of the produce is supplied by Terry & Sons butchers, Hobbs House bread, and many of the drinks are sourced from Wolf Wine.

“All milk used is organic and from local dairy farm Chew Valley”

Unique to Cortado are the flavoursome Argentinian empanadas; inset: Owner Fran sources many ingredients locally

left: Just a few of the Good

Day Café’s team members;

above: Positive pick-me-ups

are the name of the game

Good Day Café, 12 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.gooddaycoffee.co.uk This positive city centre space dedicated to brunch, brownies and good times was set up in 2018 by Stephanie Wilder.

(Turn to page 34 for more on this Bath Life Award-winning story.) If the plants and pink weren’t distinguishing enough features for you to find it, look out for the bakery queues.

People come from all over the city to pick up the freshly made treats from the café’s very own next door bakery the Good Day Bakery. This is where thousands of brownies, brookies, pies and cookie doughs are made for café selling and also to be shipped all over the UK. Helping make all this happen is a bright and happy front of house team of 17.

The meat is supplied by Larkhall Butchers, vegan cakes are by Homemade by Ella, and the kombucha is from Bath Culture House. Bestsellers include the Good Day speciality Scotchies, which are brownie scotch eggs filled with different soft sweet centres, and rosemary-infused brioche French toast with pancetta and cherry tomatoes.

Cassia Bath, Sovereign Point, Midland Road, Bath; www.cassiacollective.co.uk This stunning riverside space is on a mission to change how people work, eat and socialise. Established in February 2021, owner Anna Sabine has been able to offer a much-needed alternative occasional office for the new home workers, events hosting, actively welcomes dogs, and is open seven days a week. There is also a policy of no children under 12 on weekdays to help augment the cool work station vibe. The formula has been so successful a second Cassia in Bradford on Avon has just opened.

The menu is deliciously brunchy and includes creamy vegan mushrooms on toast, and Cassia’s very own shakshuka served with a fried egg and toasted Hobbs House sourdough, and chorizo options.

Extract Roastery and The Colombian Co provide the coffee, and the maple iced latte is pretty special. For an anytime pick-me-up try the toxin-banishing Super Green smoothie.

The team here love a Bath indie collaboration including a recent Christmas Artisan Market with House of Leopards and Green Door chocolate, plus there’s a permanent retail edit from Julia Davey.

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

above: The Cassia team love

a Bath indie collaboration;

right: The shakshuka is

a Cassia special

The vegan-specialists Cascara opened in 2018; inset: Larkhall Farm Shop help provide some of the café’s ingredients

Cascara, 3 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.instagram.com/cascarabath Sus Davy set up her super-friendly vegan café in the heart of the city in October 2018. The two most popular dishes are the chickpea melt – a vegan version of a tuna melt, and the smoked salmon, which is actually made with carrot doused in a secret marinade to create a real smoky flavour.

The café gets its tea from just around the corner at the Teahouse Emporium, the coffee is from Bristol based roasters and it offers fresh juices, smoothies and ‘super’ lattes, all of which are made in-house.

The Fiery Orange juice with its fresh orange, ginger and carrot is the perfect immune booster this time of year. All the fruit and veg is from Larkhall Farm Shop, Bertinet Bakery Sourdough is the bread of choice and the kimchi is from Lucie at Bath Culture House.

Frome’s Little Jack Horner’s provide veggie and sausage rolls to Dexter’s; INSET: Owner Claire Abernethy-Hardy named the café after her dog

Dexter’s, 1 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; www.dexterscoffeeshop.com Dexter’s coffee shop is in great company with award-winning interior designers Woodhouse & Law and the celebrated florist Myrtle Mee for neighbours. It opened in the height of the pandemic June 2020 and in that short time has managed to become a firm favourite with locals including many of the Bath Rugby team. This may or may not have something to do with the fact owner Claire Abernethy-Hardy, who named the coffee house after her Jack Russell, gives out little white chocolate mice when a Babycino is ordered, and the players wanted in on the action. What is known though is they enjoyed Dexter’s coffee so much they got the Roastery, who provide Dexter’s, to fix them up at the Rec. Dexter’s immediate popularity may have also something to do with Claire’s community-minded spirit. During lockdown and various periods of isolation Claire personally delivered a customer a hot chocolate and a slice of orange and pistachio cake made by Wild Flour. Other bestsellers include the sweet potato goats cheese and kale veggie roll

by Little Jack Horners; and the legendary cinnamon buns.

There is also a dedicated art wall to help promote and showcase the work of local artists.

“The gorgeous macrame wall hanger and plant hangers are from Polly at Whole Lotta Knots”

CAFÉS

© JOANNA SULLIVAN

below: The Good Bear Café stocks many locally sourced wines, ciders and coffees; inset: Mauro Matta is looking forward to supper clubs returning soon

The Good Bear Café, 7 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath; www.thegoodbear.co.uk Specials at this always buzzing café include lentil salad with soft boiled egg and truffle oil; the peri peri eggs, which are poached free-range eggs on a muffin with chorizo and chilli hollandaise sauce; and the famous Veggie Bear Breakfast with slow roasted vine tomatoes, sauté mushrooms, sauté potatoes, baked beans, free-range fried egg, homemade chickpea patty, and artisan toast.

Mauro Matta set up The Good Bear Café in 2017 and as well as serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch specials, it has a license so it can offer a selection of carefully curated wines, along with Chew Valley Cider, Lost and Grounded Brewery, Round Hill Coffee roasters, and Bradley’s soft drinks.

It is hoped the brilliant supper clubs organised by local talented chefs as well as themed nights will soon be able to resume. The walls regularly display works by local artists and photographers, and is currently exhibiting the artwork of Jonathan Hope’s book B is Two Bubbles artwork.

NOOK, 12a Old Bond Street, Bath; www.nooktheshop.co.uk A little piece of Down Under has arrived in Bath via Frome. Millie Clifford dreamed up the idea of a health food café inspired by coastal Australia whilst sitting on a beach in Byron Bay eating poke bowls and drinking cold press juice in the early Aussie summer months of 2018. The vision was to create a place that sold all the healthy, wholesome and colourful food that these cafés had to offer. Think cold press juices, superfood smoothies, Aussie quality

above: Nook was inspired by coastal Australian

cafés; left: The emphasis is on healthy options

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 19

CAFÉS A FEW MORE CAFÉ SOCIETY…

above: The Artery

opened in June 2021;

right: Not just a café, the

venue also hosts supper clubs and offers plentiful arts space

The Abbey Deli, 2 Abbey Street, Bath; www.jjbeanos.com Berdoulat, 8 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.berdoulat.co.uk Best Of British, 12 Broad St, Bath; www.bestofbritishdeli.co.uk The Green Bird Café, 11 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.greenbirdcafe.co.uk Cafe Lucca, 1-2 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.cafelucca.co.uk The Colombian Company, 6 Abbeygate Street, Bath; www.thecolombiancompany.com Colonna & Small’s, 6 Chapel Row, Bath; www.colonnacoffee.com The Grumpy Baker, 1 Moorland Rd, Bath; www.facebook.com/grumpybakerbath Mjölk, 13 Abbey Churchyard, Bath; www.mjolkshop.square.site Mokoko Coffee 7 Dorchester Street, Southgate, Bath; www.mokokocoffee.com No. 11 Espresso Bar, 11 Princes St, Bath; www.no11espresso.com Picnic Coffee, 9 Saracen Street, Bath; www.picniccoffee.co.uk The Provenist, One Tram Yard, Walcot Street, Bath; www.theprovenist.com Rooted Café, 20 Newbridge Road, Bath; www.rootedcafe.co.uk Sweet Little Things, 6 Lower Borough Walls, Bath; www.sltbath.co.uk Taylor’s Bagels and Coffee, 6 London Street, Bath; www.instagram.com/taylors.bagels

speciality coffee, poke bowls, and acai smoothie bowls.

After the Frome success, Millie opened up the Bath branch in November 2021. Consistently loved is the original, organic sashimi salmon poke, the acai bowl is by far their best-selling product and the latest obsession is the aubergine broth bowl.

The café works with many small local indie businesses to create a wonderful drinks menu that includes speciality coffee from River Coffee Roasters, chai from Chai by Mira, alternative coffee drinks

by Superlatte, and cold press juices from Daily Dose. The gorgeous macramé wall hanger and plant hangers are from Polly at Whole Lotta Knots, and the plants are from Studio Botanica in Bath, and Pilea Plant Shop in Frome.

The Artery, 7 Richmond Place, Bath; www.thearterybath.co.uk This family-run business was established in June 2021 by Rob, Grace and Calum Horton and is located on the ground floor of a Grade II Listed terraced building in Lansdown previously occupied by The Richmond Arms. Along with the café offerings, it is continuing its supper clubs with Simi’s Kitchen and will be hosting further kitchen takeovers with Ping Coombes, holding magic nights from Ben Woodward, and is currently developing the live music offering.

Every wall, and every nook and cranny is decorated with work by local artists to be admired whilst enjoying amazing cakes from the Wild Flour Cake Company, sausage rolls from Little Jack Horner’s, tea and coffee from Bristol Twenty, Cider from Honey Midford Cider, guest ale from Box Steam Brewery, and gin from Bath Botanical Gin Distillery.

Popular menu choices include spicy chicken and crunchy veg wrap with cheddar and chipotle yoghurt and Monmouth Street-based Chai Walla’s world famous veggie samosas with mango chutney. n 20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Berdoulat opened in the city just last year

“Popular menu choices include Chai Walla’s world famous veggie samosas with mango chutney”

SPONSORED CONTENT

DEVON’S SOUTH COAST SECRET Perched on a secluded clifftop across the water from Salcombe, GARA ROCK is a boutique hotel like no other

T

ucked away at the end of winding rural lanes and with a far away quality, you will feel as if you’ve stepped into another world when you arrive. Greeted by panoramic views of the spectacular coastline, we like to think of it as our gorgeous little secret on the South Devon Coast.

Step out of the car and breathe in the fresh sea air. Listen to the waves crashing below. Blow the cobwebs away on the scenic South West Coast Path. Or head to the sandy beach below and enjoy a picnic when the sun shines.

The hotel itself provides an easygoing and down to earth atmosphere and welcomes families, couples, good friends and dogs too.

The interiors feature lots of soft, earthy, natural colours and textures, which are inspired by Gara Rock’s rugged surroundings.

Every area of the hotel has been created to feel soft, comfortable, informal, and inviting, day or night, whatever the season. It’s obtainable luxury that’s made up of sumptuous comfort and warmth, which can be seen in all the hotel accommodation.

“YOU WILL FEEL AS IF YOU’VE STEPPED INTO ANOTHER WORLD WHEN YOU ARRIVE” STAY...

From Gara Rock rooms and luxury suites boasting sea views through to self-catering apartments, you’ll find something for you… a dreamy getaway for two, a family escape with your fourlegged friend or a break with friends.

If you’re looking for something extra special, take a peek at the Out of the Ordinary collection. Get comfy in the master bedroom of the Penthouse with wow-factor sea views and freestanding roll top bath or put your feet up in the sumptuous open plan living area.

Feel instantly relaxed in the living space of the Signal House or unwind in the bubbling hot tub.

The Secret Suite is hidden from the main hotel. Nestled on the clifftop with glorious sea views, an inviting hot tub and luxurious styling, it’s a place to snuggle up and shut out the world.

EAT & DRINK...

Food is something delighted in at Gara Rock.

Enjoy a real taste of Devon in our award-winning restaurant, offering seasonal dishes prepared by our talented chefs.

In summertime, the terrace will be your new favourite spot. Incredible views, sea breeze, all the glorious weather and the enticing aroma of the ‘over the coals’ menu. Alfresco dining on sun-kissed days never looked so good.

PLAY… When you are not taking in your surroundings or catching the ferry to Salcombe, the hotel has an indoor pool with jacuzzi overlooking the sea… bliss!

And when it’s sunny, there’s no better place to be than the outdoor pool, with amazing views.

The spa is where you can take time out for you. Using local, organic products choose from a range of treatments including reflexology, body massages and facials.

On rainy days, order a drink and some popcorn and sink into the large comfy chairs in our cinema room. ■

Forget it all for a few nights (or more!) by the coast, come stay at Gara Rock.

Contact us on 0330 134 2809 or see Gararock.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 23

SPONSORED CONTENT

THE ARTS

QUEEN ELIZ ABETH I BY UNKNOWN ENGLISH ARTIST, CIRCA 1588 © NATIONAL PORTR AIT GALLERY, LONDON

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

HOUSE OF TUDOR

In partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, the Holburne Museum will present a major new exhibition featuring 25 famous Tudor portraits.

Through the paintings, the collection will explore this torrid period of religious conflict and political intrigue, involving many significant figures including Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Cranmer, Thomas More, William Cecil and Thomas Cromwell, along with the five Tudor monarchs – Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Holburne curator Monserrat Pis Marcos says, “This is an unmissable opportunity to get up close and personal with a selection of stunning portraits of some of the most influential characters of the Tudor era and learn about the lights and shadows of their personal lives as well as their connections at home and abroad.”

The Tudors: Passion, Power and Politics starts on 28 January until 8 May at the Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

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WHAT’S ON 15 January – 10 February

The Beaux Arts Winter Show includes Anna Gillespie’s stunning To the Limit III

EXHIBITIONS Until 22 January

WINTER OPEN EXHIBITION The Chelsea Road arts space is showcasing a collection of fine art and sculpture by 40 local artists including Maria van-Tintelen, James Nunn, and Lorelei Hunt. The Art Cohort; www.the-art-cohort.myshopify.com

Until 31 January

BEAUX ARTS WINTER SHOW Beaux Arts, which can be found on York Street, continues its winter show with a collection of established gallery favourites, with ceramics

by Katharina Klug, and new work

by Ruth Brownlee, Rachel Ross, Anna Gillespie, Andrew Crocker, Jack Doherty, Lara Scobie, Helen Simmonds and many others. Beaux Arts; www.beauxartsbath.co.uk

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

Until 27 February

MYTHS AND MONSTERS A colourful celebration of children’s book illustration featuring the art work of family favourites such as The Gruffalo, Iron Man, Little Ogre, and Monsters in Underpants, along with 3D models and interactive craft activities. Alongside are the paintings of Victoria Topping representing the mythological aspects with her depictions of Midas, Pan, Pegasus, Phoenix and Poseidon. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 27 February

BRONWYN WILLIAMS-ELLIS: MYTHICAL BEASTS PAST & PRESENT The lively and colourful beasts painted onto ceramic dishes featured in this show have been conceived as partners to the adjoining Myths &

Monsters exhibition. Always interested in early art and archaeology, it was during a visit to the Alhambra palace in Spain that Bath artist Bronwyn Williams-Ellis became excited by colour and drawing on surfacedecorated ceramics. Victoria Art Gallery; www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 24 April

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 Manolo Blahnik and Vivienne Westwood. Fashion Museum; www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Until 30 April

LIGHT AT MARSTON PARK An immersive light exhibition by

internationally acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro at Marston Park in Frome. The artist’s ephemeral light-based works have featured in urban landscapes and remote rural areas around the globe, including the acclaimed Field of Light, currently illuminating Uluru in Australia. www.marstonpark.co.uk

Until 15 May

OLD GHOSTS Old Ghosts by Glasgow-based artist Mick Peter takes a wry and affectionate look using a cartoonscome-to-life tableaux, at the idea of history as an industry. It’s a narrative trail through the museum and its garden that humorously critiques the conventions of heritage sites through various encounters, like that with a hapless signwriter who is desperately trying to complete

WHAT’S ON Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. More on page 27.

Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

THEATRE / CINEMA Until 22 January

above: Enjoy a live screening of the Bolshoi Ballet performing Jewels at the Little Theatre on 23 January left: Marston Park in Frome is hosting an immersive light exhibition by internationally acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro below: Helen is in lockdown but her neighbour is not following the rules in Mrs Delgado, at the Ustinov between 19 – 22 January

his task of refreshing the Museum’s signage. Inside there is also a ‘screen test’ happening which is a playful riff on the Holburne also as a filming location. Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

15 January – 27 February

SLOW TIME: SOMERSET REACQUAINTED TOUR This extraordinary exhibition features long-exposure photographs of the Somerset landscape created using nothing more than recycled drinks cans made into pinhole cameras. More than 100 participants took part in this recording the passage of time project initiated during the first lockdown. Black Swan Arts; www.blackswanarts.org.uk

27 January – 2 May

PEOPLE MAKE MUSEUMS Showcasing over 20 sculptural pieces these artworks have been specially made for this exhibition and aim to capture some of these complex, personal moments of connection; the fleeting conversations, sudden revelations, unspoken thoughts, sensations and feelings evoked by museum spaces and objects.

Holburne Museum; www.holburne.org

28 January – 8 May

THE TUDORS: PASSION, POWER AND POLITICS In partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, the Holburne Museum is hosting a major new exhibition featuring 25 famous Tudor portraits including the five monarchs of the time spanning 1485 – 1603; Henry VII,

THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE Hamish has written a play, an epic set in the French Revolution called A Tight Squeeze for the Scarlet Pimple.

Sean, on the other hand, wants to continue with their double act. He believes that if they perform a tribute to Morecambe and Wise, Hamish’s confidence will be restored and the duo will go on. But first Sean needs to persuade a guest star to appear in the play what Hamish wrote. With rave reviews and previous guest stars having included Nigel Havers, Kylie Minogue, and Joanna Lumley, this is in the ‘do not miss’ category. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

23 January

BOLSHOI BALLET: JEWELS (LIVE) 2022 This glamorous triptych of modern ballet was inspired by choreographer George Balanchine’s visit to the famous jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and created as an homage to the cities and dance schools of Paris, represented by emeralds for the elegance and sophistication, rubies for the speed and modernity of New York, and diamonds for an imperial St.Petersburg. The Little Theatre Cinema; www.picturehouses.com

19 – 22 January

DICK WHITTINGTON Family pantomime by ʻBest Panto’ Rose Bowl winners, St Philip & St James Church Drama Group. All the traditional panto fun plus a few surprises makes for a show not to be missed. Performances at St Philip & St James Church Hall, Odd Down.

Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/spsjdrama

19 – 22 January

MRS DELGADO Helen, along with 67 million other people, is in lockdown.

Unfortunately Helen’s nearest neighbour, Mrs Delgado, is not. A funny and poignant new story of desire, control, raised blinds and lowered boundaries, from triple Olivier Award-winner Mike Bartlett (King Charles III, Doctor Foster). Starring Rakhee Sharma (Macbeth, National Theatre; Wuthering Heights, Royal Exchange Manchester), and directed

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

by Olivier Award-winner Clare Lizzimore from the team behind the Old Fire Station’s 2019 hit Snowflake.

Ustinov; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

(Has This Been Going On) by ACE, Tempted by Squeeze and Living Years

by Mike and the Mechanics.

Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

24 – 29 January

20 January

25 – 29 January

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure gets a brilliantly farcical overhaul in Lotte Wakeman’s acclaimed production. Detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson are asked to unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville. With rumours of a cursed giant hound loose on the moors, they must act fast to try and save the Baskerville family’s last remaining heir. Theatre Royal Bath; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

CHILDREN Until 6 February

SNOW MOUSE Winter has arrived and the woods are covered in white, in this enchanting tale for the very young. A child hurries to put on their warm clothes so they can run outside and play in a sparkly new world. Just when they are starting to feel a little bit lonely, they find a sleeping mouse buried under the soft white flakes. Sliding, tumbling and laughing, they explore the winter wonderland together and keep each other safe and warm from the winter freeze. The Egg; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

MUSIC 19 January

PAUL CARRACK The rock, pop and soul singer Paul, now 68 and coming to Bath with a six-piece band, has been the subject of the BBC4 documentary The Man With The Golden Voice, which covered his phenomenal 50-year career. His recognisable vocals have graced many hits including How Long

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

THE DIANA ROSS STORY A musical celebration of the mighty Diana Ross and The Supremes presenting a chronological history of much-loved songs, from a career culminating in more than 100 million record sales with memorable hits such as Where Did Our Love Go, I’m Coming Out, Chain Reaction, Baby Love, Stop in The Name of Love, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

21 January

BRADFORD ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022 Showcasing the very best of local talent, Wiltshire Music Centre hosts Bradford Roots, which combines music, crafts, poetry, dance and food for the ultimate festival experience. From folk to jazz, indie to world and everything in between, this community music event is guaranteed to warm the soul. Artists include Georgia Lewis, Roaring Trowmen, and Arkansaw Jukebox. www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

30 January

SAMANTHA FISH Kill Or Be Kind has proven to be Samantha’s breakthrough album, which was recorded at the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis and produced by three-time Grammy winner Scott Billington and mixed by two-time Grammy winner Steve Reynolds. Boasting 11 original songs ranging from the electric cigar box stomp of Bulletproof to the sweet Memphis R&B of Trying Not To Fall in Love With You, the album has established Fish as a potent force in roots, Americana and rock and roll.

Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

4 February

LADY NADE Hot on the heels of her UK Americana Award nomination, Bristolian Lady Nade soars into 2022 with her third album Willing.

With soothing words and melodies that nourish the mind and body through life’s complicated tapestry, her performances are like a reunion.

Share a room with Lady Nade and her band, and she’ll give you her story. All of it. You will love her for it, and she will love you back.

Ustinov; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

above: Catch the US guitarist Samantha Fish at Komedia on 30 January right: Come and find the Gruffalo at the Victoria Art Gallery’s Myths and Monsters exhibition below: Thom Tuck and Dennis Herdman star in The Play What I Wrote on at Theatre Royal Bath until 22 January

© MANUEL HARL AN

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES Written by Alan Ayckbourn, a terrorist code-named Cerastes is on the loose, and an undercover antiterrorist squad have planned a sting to capture him as he steps off a train at a London station. The operation, led by Acting Major Quentin Sexton, has drawn in two outsiders – Ez and Barry. Perfect strangers as the start, their time waiting gives them the chance to get to know each other, and try to make sense of the chaos unfolding around them. The Mission Theatre; www.missiontheatre.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

left:

bikers.choppers.hound

by Nina Gronw-Lewis is part of the Black Swan Arts exhibition and was created using long exposure photography and drink cans below: Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman aka Fascinating Aïda perform at Bath Forum on 29 January

29 January

FASCINATING AÏDA Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman are back with a selection of old favourites, songs you haven’t heard before, and some you wish you’d never heard in the first place. Hilarious, topical, and unstoppable old-school glamour.

Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

3 February

COMEDY Every Sunday

DRAG KARAOKE AT MANDALYNS Most days of the week the welcoming LGBTQIA+ Mandalyns bar has always got something upbeat, fun, and groovy happening, and Sunday nights are no exception.

Their drag karaoke nights are so good, Sunday is the new Saturday. www.facebook.com/mandalynsbath

21 January

NO SUCH THING AS A FISH The UK’s top podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish, in which the writers of the BBC2 quiz show QI, discuss the weird and unbelievable facts they’ve uncovered, is on the road, with their Nerd Immunity tour. The show features a live recording of a podcast episode plus a first half stuffed to the gills with facts, comedy, and two years’ worth of pent-up nerdery that wouldn’t have worked over Zoom.

Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

26 January

JASON MANFORD Like Me is Jason’s latest stand-up offering, and with accolades like ‘expert observational comedy’ (The Guardian) and ‘blessed with the sort of laid-back charm and sharp turn of phrase you can’t manufacture’ (Daily Telegraph) is a sure-fire hit.

Bath Forum; www.bathforum.co.uk

FLO & JOAN Flo & Joan are the multi-award winning British musical comedy duo, and sisters, Nicola and Rosie Dempsey. The piano/percussion pair have played to sold-out audiences across the UK, North America and Australia, and their hour-long special is streaming in over 200 countries on Amazon Prime. Need more proof ?

You Tube their Drank Too Much song.

Komedia Bath; www.komedia.co.uk

OTHER

Until 30 January

NARNIA DIORAMA Make a trip into Milsom Place and follow the paw prints to discover a vision of Narnia. A wondrous magically lit diorama created by Planet Gold Decor will transport visitors into a magical world complete with a life-size lion, accompanied by his faithful Narnia animal companions, the witch’s throne and, of course, the essential wardrobe. www.milsomplace.co.uk

28 January

THE REAL DOWNTON ABBEY Join Lady Carnarvon at the Theatre Royal Bath as she opens the gates of Highclere Castle, also known as the real Downton Abbey, for an intimate look behind-the-scenes at this beloved British landmark.

With a range of seasonal recipes from Highclere’s kitchens and Lady Carnarvon’s own family recipes, gardening tips, fascinating histories and untold secrets from the castle’s archives. www.theatreroyal.org.uk n

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BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Turn over a new leaf Nic on three of the best January paperback releases

“The scope of this cleverly structured novel is as broad as that long life suggests” 32 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

A

fter weeks of our customers seeking out suggestions for hardback reads or big coffeetable covering tomes as Christmas gift treats, January is where the humble paperback takes centre stage once again. And so it should.

Invented by Allen Lane (the man behind Penguin) back in 1934 the paperback book is after all the original hand-held portable reading device. So convinced was Lane as to the convenient appeal of his affordable new format, that he also had the incredible Penguincubator made – a Penguin paperback vending machine that dispensed books on several London railway station platforms. This was not about punching C6 for a pack of cheesy nibbles, but this ingenious, sadly defunct, device allowed you to tap in F2 for Room with a View or D8 for The Great Gatsby.

A good paperback feels like a trusted companion as it slowly creases at the corners, acquires grains of sand or absorbs accidental water splashes as it travels with the reader to work, perches on tables at home, or joins them on holiday.

After the profligacy of their lavish autumnal publishing programme, in January publishers tend to focus their energy on releasing novels and non-fiction titles in paperback, either as originals or as new editions of the books that emerged in hardback last spring.

One that comes straight into paperback form is Late City by Robert Olen Butler (Oldcastle, £12.99), a historical novel about one character’s remarkable early twentieth century life. The dramas, triumphs and failures of Sam Cunningham’s life unfurl from his deathbed as he contemplates his 115-year life, which is drawing to an end just as the staggering results of the 2016 presidential election are announced. The scope of this cleverly structured novel is as broad as that long life suggests, covering Sam’s harsh childhood in an unenlightened Louisiana, him fighting for his country in the trenches of World War 1 and then his long career in newspapers.

By making his character a newspaperman, Butler allows himself to touch on many pivotal moments of twentieth century history through Sam’s inevitable recollection of them. But

that doesn’t mean we’re only treated to the wide-angle view – as much as it builds in a historical tour, Late City is primarily about the fictional character at its heart and the lifetime of relationships he recalls with a mix of regret and satisfaction.

Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse (Transworld, £8.99) is a gothic thriller that, in contrast to Late City, is all about pace rather than character detail. As the cover makes clear, with its “Overlook Hotel on an alpine lake” vibe, the action takes place in a seriously unsettling setting. Detective Elin Hunter finds herself vacationing at Le Sommet in the Swiss mountains, an overly minimalist hotel created from a recently defunct sanatorium (just to enhance the clinical and somewhat sinister atmosphere).

She’s there to celebrate her brother Isaac’s engagement, but it doesn’t take long for the wheels to come off both her downtime and the family celebrations, as Isaac’s fiancé Laura goes missing on their first night at the hotel.

From there, for a while, you know the drill; the weather sets in, they need to find their missing friend but at the same time that nagging feeling sets in – who or what might be behind the disappearance and when might they strike again?

One other novel of mystery and intrigue out in paperback in January is D.V. Bishop’s City of Vengeance (Macmillan, £8.99). This is a new find for fans of historical crime novels by the likes of CJ Sansom, but also for anyone who likes well-researched historical settings and context combined with gripping and skulduggerous plots. The action takes place in mid-16th century Florence where the death of a wealthy moneylender sends shockwaves through the city’s wealthy Renaissance society.

Cesare Aldo is the man tasked with investigating and resolving the case swiftly, though his efforts are soon complicated by threats from a rival that might ruin his reputation and the discovery of other more sinister plots.

You might have to resort to a bookshop rather than to a vintage book vending device to get hold of them, but all three of these will make for great paperback companions for early 2022.

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

TAKE 5 Steph Wilder, founder and baker at the helm of the Good Day Cafe

“My one piece of advice? Always show up, rain or shine” Why is Bath a great city to run your business?

The great community of business owners and regulars.

Can you share one piece of advice you always carry with you? © SOUL MEDIA

Always show up, rain or shine.

GOOD DAY CAFE

Stephanie Wilder on the business pivot that won a Bath Life Award

Good Day Cafe is a cult spot among Bath’s cake enthusiasts. Known for their sumptuous brownies, brookies (cookie stuffed brownies), scotchies (chocolate covered ‘scotch eggs’ packed with brownie batter and a variety of fillings) and cookie pies among other delicious things – the name is synonymous with sweet treats. During the first lockdown, owner Steph Wilder took her brownies national, with home delivery boxes that saw a portion of the proceeds donated to charity. The boxes have been a huge success, and raised funds for projects doing good all over Bath and beyond, an achievement that earned Good Day victory in the popular Café category of 2021’s Bath Life Awards.

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

How did it feel to win a Bath Life Award?

Honestly it’s such a boost after a year full of challenges for everyone. To win this year means even more considering the setbacks our industry has had.

And where do you keep the Award?

We have it displayed in our café stairwell, so you can’t miss it when you visit.

Why was 2021 Good Day’s year do you think?

This year has really been a time of perseverance and change for us. We’ve changed business model, expanded, and raised money for charity all in a time where circumstances were against us. All the other finalists are amazing cafés run by lovely people, but I think this year was just our year.

Tell us something surprising about you or your company

Good Day Bakery, our new bakery, and the entire baking side of our business, all came about because I only know how to bake one thing – brownies! It was the one thing I could definitely do well at the start.

For more: Good Day Cafe, Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.gooddaycoffee.co.uk

What made you stand out in such a quality category?

Everyone did such an amazing job to get through this year and everyone did their own thing to get to the finals. For us I think it’s the fact that we really leaned into a new part of our business, mail order brownies, and rolled with all the changes that the new business brought to us.

What do you really love about your job?

Working with really lovely people and serving really lovely people.

What are some challenges you’ve dealt with recently?

How unexpectedly footfall has changed in recent months. You can go from a record-breaking week to a relatively quiet one due to factors such as government restrictions and lockdowns. It’s always unexpected and forces you to think on your feet.

When lockdown hit, Good Day’s letterbox brownie boxes were big business

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

GRATE EXPECTATIONS

The Ivy in Bath has added a new range of CBD-infused cocktails to the drinks menu

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need chocolate to be sweet.

Cheesemongers Paxton & Whitfield has created a range of romantic cheese boxes for those who like to celebrate with something savoury. The range includes delicious gift box The Aphrodite, a box of best-selling artisan cheese including Cremoso, Old Groendal and Couer de Neufchatel with a jar of Paxton & Whitfield Apple and Chilli Jelly and a pack of light and buttery Poppy and Linseed Artisan Biscuits for Cheese.

For more: www.paxtonandwhitefield.co.uk

A DOSE OF CALM Looking to de-stress during dry January? The Ivy Brasserie Bath has you covered with a new range of Stress-Free Sipping drinks, a selection of low or no-alcohol beverages infused with natural CBD adaptogens. The range includes the alcoholfree Trip CBD Infused Cooler, a sparkling drink with 15mg of premium CBD and low-alcohol options like The CBD Spritz using Trip Peach & Ginger CBD, Aperol and Prosecco – a twist on the traditional Aperol Spritz. The CBD menu extends to beers, with a Lucky Trip Shandy made with Lucky Saint 0.5 per cent lager and softs, with the Trip Elderflower and Mint. The Stress-free Sipping menu launched alongside the new evening set menu and is available until 10 February.

For more: www.theivybathbrasserie.com

POUR A LITTLE SUGAR ON ME

Buy a cheesy gift this Valentine’s Day

Spending Valentine’s Day at home needn’t be dull. Cookery and belly dancing teacher Wafaa Powell is hosting an online baklava-making class from 6pm so you’ll have sweet treats to celebrate – and the pride of having made them yourself. Couples, friends and individuals are welcome to join the relaxed class for creating the sweet, nutty layered pastries with Wafaa, who specialises in teaching her students to craft delicious Lebanese dishes.

Sign up via her website.

For more: www.dancingflavours.co.uk

Spend a romantic night in learning how to make your own baklava this Valentine’s Day

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ABBEY KITCHEN

Lydia Tewkesbury enjoys a veg-powered meal in the Abbey Hotel’s restaurant

I

ventured out to The Abbey Hotel on a cold and quiet evening. The glow from the windows of the hotel’s restaurant, the Abbey Kitchen beckoned from the damp street in this especially cosy corner of Bath. A stone’s throw from Bath Abbey and some of the most Instagrammed of this city’s streets, the hotel offers solace from the bustling groups of tourists and shoppers, and if you nab a window seat – as we did – a great spot to people watch.

Led by head chef Marcus Bradley, a relative newcomer to the hotel, the menu draws inspiration from around the globe, with Japanese, Italian and Chinese elements cleverly incorporated into the array of dishes.

We began with one of my favourite parts of any restaurant experience – the bread and olives for the table.

Good bread will never not be a luxury to me – a regular of supermarket-purchased pre-sliced – and I will go hard on the bread basket every time.

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

The bread quickly consumed (my companion was equally enthusiastic), our starters arrived, mine a fun and creative vegan tartare of smoked beetroot. The dish appeared such a meaty pink, for a brief moment I thought to question my order, but instead dug into the earthy pile of root vegetable, which came with cute little spheres of pear dotted around the plate to accentuate the pretty dish and balance the deep flavour of the beets with a touch – but not overwhelming – of sweetness.

My companion meanwhile, opted for an equally attractive but decidedly meatier tonkatsu, a Japanese deep-fried pork belly dish topped with flecks of sea salt that the Kitchen opted to serve with a pile of edamame and bok choy.

Onwards to the main, I again picked the vegan option – I went all vegan all night without prior plan to do so, so if you’re doing Veganuary and going for dinner out in mixed company, the Abbey Kitchen is a good bet for

RESTAURANT

“I went all vegan all night without prior plan to do so” pleasing meaties and veggies alike.

The chestnut gnocchi with king oyster mushrooms and celeriac was another dish filled with seasonal flavour. The gnocchi packed a nutty punch, was hearty without being heavy and, much like the starter, making the very best of my favourite winter root vegetables.

My friend meanwhile had the buttermilk chicken – think roasted breast and crispy thigh served with lardo, sweet potato, and brussels sprouts, the meat utterly delicious, marinated to perfection, crispy and tender in all the right places. Sprouts can be polarising, but we’re both massive fans and it wouldn’t have felt like an evening out in December without them.

Finally, pudding, and to keep with my plant-based theme of the night I opted for the vegan chocolate torte. Served with a dollop of delicious peanut butter ice cream – and, unusually, a bit of granola-like oat crumble – the cake was tasty though not as I had anticipated, with a strong banana flavour. Fortunately for me, banana and peanut butter is one of my favourite combos – but be aware going in, the dish is a little more akin to chocolate-y banana bread than what you may be expecting. I was a little jealous of my friend’s pudding, the gorgeous-looking pavlova. Tart blackberry and apple glistened atop a shiny, crackled tonka bean meringue with a drizzle of Chantilly cream and more oat crumble – it was a delicious send off as we burrowed inside our coats and prepared to retreat back through atmospheric winter streets to the warmth of home. n

DINING DETAILS Abbey Hotel Kitchen, 1-3 North Parade Bath, BA1 1LF; 01225 461603; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk Opening hours 12-2pm / 6-9pm Owners KE Hotels Chef Marcus Bradley Established 2020 Covers 60 Price Starters £8-12, mains £14-£28, desserts £8-£12 Recommendations The chicken bao with Gouchujang honey and cucumber slaw is a must order speciality Vegetarian options There is a vegetarian and a vegan option for every course Disability access Yes, full disabled access available via hotel and street entrances Atmosphere The hotel has a fresh and modern feel, with Georgian-style arched doorways and oldie world-y fireplaces giving it a characterful vibe. The select menu covers all bases, offering a range of options that cater to a wide variety of preferences and dietary requirements, infused with international influences.

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

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SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

HEART OF GOLD

Missing the mistletoe and pining for presents?

That’s okay – St Valentine is headed our way soon. This delicate 9ct yellow gold and diamond heart pendant, from the Heart Collection exclusive to Nicholas Wylde is the perfect gift for those worthy of your love – and if no one measures up, remember you’re worth it…

From Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath; www.nicholaswylde.com

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

OCTAGONAL YELLOW SAPPHIRE SOLITAIRE, £2,995 This unique sapphire is a rich yellow in colour and is finished with a soft hammered gold finish, handmade at the on-site studio.

From Gold & Platinum Studio, 19 Northumberland Place, Bath; www.goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk

GILTY PLEASURES

FLORAL LOCKET NECKLACE, £15.95 Round locket with floral engraving on a long golden chain perfect for keeping images of your loved ones close at all times.

From French Grey Interiors,1 Burton Street, Bath, www.frenchgreyinteriors.co.uk

2022 has just begun and we’re hoping the year ahead is golden

ESSENTIALS RING 18CT YELLOW GOLD, £1,760 From the international goldsmith based in Vicenza, Italy, the FOPE Vendome collection demonstrates quality, style and precision in its custom-made distinctive design.

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

VELIVOLANT EARRINGS, £125 Handmade silver earrings, available in 14K gold-plated silver and oxidised silver.

From Icarus Jewellery, 3 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; www.icarusjewellery.com

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

YELLOW DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS, £565 Handcrafted with a beautiful sparkle and elegant timeless design.

From Jody Cory Goldsmiths, 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath; www.jodycory.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE LINKED RING, £3,260 18ct yellow gold set with 1.5ct salt and pepper diamond.

From Tina Engell, 3 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.tinaengell.com

MOON RABBIT NECKLACE, £34.95 The gold plated rabbits gazing at the moon sit on a textured sterling silver frame. The pendant comes with a classic box chain, and matching earrings are available.

From The Silver Shop of Bath, 25 Union Passage, Bath; www.thesilvershopofbath.co.uk YELLOW GOLD DIAMOND DROP PENDANT, £2,295 Eleven round brilliant cut diamonds are liberally sprinkled over the two drop elements, articulated at each junction for fluidity and movement.

From Orton Jewellery, 6-7 Market St, Bradford-on-Avon; www.ortonjewellery.co.uk DIVE, £380 A handmade ‘ripple’ bead in 9ct gold threads through the chain to create interest and to demonstrate the intertwining of plastic and the ocean.

From Emma Aitchison; www.emmaaitchison.com

DIAMOND WAVE CUFF, £6,250 An extra large style 9ct yellow/white gold, diamond nine stone torque bangle with nine brilliant cut diamonds.

From Nicholas Wylde, 12 Northumberland Place, Bath; www.nicholaswylde.com

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

TRENDS OF THE UNEXPECTED Fit for flares or jumping into jumpsuits?

Winter 2022 is the year you can wear it your way

By Marianne Cantelo

T

he chilly weather starts off fairly well with the promise of cosy, (if predictable) new coats and a tasteful palette referencing nature’s fading beauty. The sorts of ‘Gram looks where someone manages to take an excellent photograph of you from far away walking the dog and looking wholesome, or of you drinking a cup of tea holding the mug with two hands, in some rustic Scandi knitwear.

You feel like Diane Keaton, or Sally in When

Harry met Sally and that’s just great, even if your partner does mock your neck tie, non-prescription glasses, and tiny pumpkin collection that you have no intention of eating. After that, all sartorial etiquette goes out the window with Hallowe’en horrors and Christmas jumpers – that is until now, when things get proper cold.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

Yes there’s the jumpers, the big coats, and the wrap-twice scarves, but something else is happening. It’s 2022 and everything seems to be kicking off in the most unexpected ways. Finally in this new year, after such tumultuous times, and maybe because of such tumultuous times, we are being encouraged to express our own individuality – picking and choosing from ideas that are ‘new’ but when mixed with our style, are completely unique to our moods.

Take for example the amount of looks on the catwalk that used a colour palette that we might more commonly associate with spring or summer – bright yellow, bold blue, flamingo pink anyone? Your favourite summer dress might just be perfect for now. Try layering it over it a contrasting polo neck or blouse and keep your bare legs warm, with socks or tights that add another pop of colour and keep your look fresh.

MINI-BOOM

Similarly, the jumpsuit trend persists. By layering over fine knits, interesting blouses with volume, or again the classic polo, an old favourite you thought you were going to put away remains in circulation. Swap your sandals for ankle boots and you’ve got a versatile piece that is working hard all year round.

Another piece that I love the return of, is the mini skirt. There’s a lot of debate about ‘how old is too old?’ So this particular item is the equivalent of the middle finger to annoying people isn’t it? I recommend wearing it if you have legs that are, well, just legs. You’ll look great. For purely practical purposes, again, great socks and tights will keep you cosy. Of course, if you feel more comfortable with a bit of length, it’s pleasing to know that pleats remain prolific, I love an over-sized knit on top of a pleated midi with knee high boots – you can’t beat swirling away on a windy day.

SEND A FLARE

If you are a 70s-era fan then there are so many nods to this fantastic decade. Massive flares are back but top tip, wear them cropped to the ankle and avoid the dreaded ‘seep’.

We’ve all got not-so-fond memories of having damp flappy bellbottoms on wet days and let’s face it, we do live somewhere which is so spectacularly green and lovely because of an irritating amount of rainfall.

To help with all that rain though the oversized mac has made a welcome return. These are amazing if only because they are big enough to go over the jumpsuit, over the chunky knit, over the mini or midi skirt, over the massive flares and then whatever else you choose to stop you freezing your proverbials off while looking gorgeously, uniquely you.

And to truly stand out from the crowd, make sure you look in the men’s sections of the charity shops where you’ll always find some classic tailored bargains.

Marianne Cantelo is the business development project manager for Dorothy House Hospice Care. The charity has 25 high street shops across the region selling fantastic pre-loved items which provides a large part of their income, plus they have an online shop.

For more: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

Photography by Egle Vasi; www.eglevasi.com Shot in The Curfew, 11 Cleveland Place, West, Bath; www.thecurfewbath.co.uk Model is Angelica Baines from Mustard Models; www.bigmustard.co.uk Makeup by Chantelle Moody; www.instagram.com/chantellemoody.makeup Socks by Worship The Ground; www.worshiptheground.com Styling by Marianne Cantelo with clothes sourced from Dorothy House charity shops 42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

FASHION 1

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SHOPPING LIST

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1. See sweatshirt in grey marl with gold and black, £88, from Bathdesigners See+QUIN; www.seeandquin.co.uk 2. Sadie leopard socks made in Britain, £16, from Worship The Ground; www. instagram.com/worship.the.ground 3. Ginger colour block hat in lavender, £38, from Spirit Fashion; 3 High Street, Devizes; www.spiritfashion.co.uk 4. Made to order 1940s-style short sleeved v-neck button down Daisy dress, £225; www.pearllowe.co.uk 5. Kingsman optical round glasses, £285, from Cutler and Gross, 9 Bridge Street, Bath; www.cutlerandgross.com 6. Paper bag skirt in red needle cord, £275, from Cabbages & Roses 3 West End, Bruton; www.cabbagesandroses.com 7. Oak puffer coat with abstract leaf

by Stine Goya, now £266 reduced from £380, from Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk 8. Hand painted silk Glider shirt by Carole Waller, £345, www.carolewaller.co.uk (Shoes by Chanii B and trousers by Oska Bath, 30 Upper Borough Walls, Bath; www.bath.oska.com) www.bath.oska.com 9. Hand made in Bath using polymer clay and sterling silver Victorian Romance earrings, £25, from Ilista Studio; www.ilistastudio.com 10. St Lucia Victorian buttoned boots in Brandy and blue, £295, from Chanii B, 9 Milsom Place, Bath; www.chaniibshoes.com 11. Glitter bags fully lined with lightning bolt zip, prices start at £20, from Sassy & Boo, 9 Bartlett Street, Bath; www.luellafashion.com

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

QUALITY CBD WITHOUT COMPROMISE GOODBODY is making high quality CBD at an accessible price

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oodbody Botanicals is one of the UK’s foremost manufacturers and supplier of CBD oils and products.

Goodbody’s head office and production facility are in the Somerset countryside, just outside of Bath, where they produce their range of CBD products, available through various outlets and via their website: www.goodbodystore.com CBD or Cannabidiol is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant and in recent years has become a huge part of a healthy lifestyle as a natural way to help support pain, anxiety and sleepless nights.

“We test all our products using an accredited laboratory to ensure that they are all THC free in order to not contain the psychoactive effects commonly associated with other varieties of cannabis and making it totally legal in the UK,” Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, says.

“We consistently deliver our customers the highest quality CBD products you can receive in the market today. As a Public Limited Company, we do this through the quality of ingredients, rigorous testing, clear messaging, and customer services to make you feel reassured, every step

stronger than the cheapest CBD found in the market today.

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Following falling prices of raw materials in the CBD market and improved efficiencies, we are delighted that due to our ability to manage and test the whole process we are able to lead the way in offering consumers the best quality at the best price, and, as a trusted brand we are prepared to put a guarantee behind that.” n

of the way. Goodbody Botanicals is owned

by Goodbody Health, a health and wellness company.”

You will not find CBD of this quality, for this price, anywhere – guaranteed. Goodbody launched a price pledge with their membership scheme and new product range to include larger 30ml bottles. For members, 20 per cent CBD Oil is 20 per cent cheaper and 20 per cent

Goodbody, The Blue Building, Stubbs Lane, Beckington BA11 6TE info@goodbodystore.com www.goodbodystore.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 45

Zac did much of the BA1 Hair expansion work himself

CHANGE AHEAD

Sarah Moolla meets Zac Fennell co-owner (and occasional carpenter) of the community-minded BA1 Hair

I

like positive change usually – in fact I’d say I’m an ardent supporter of moving forward and embracing the new. Except when I’m in the hairdresser’s chair.

Then it’s all – just a trim please – I said just a trim! With a nervous hand flying up to check the millimetres being snipped at.

It’s not as if I even particularly like my hair – too long, a little shapeless, and always ends up clipped, tied, or vaguely messy bunned.

But come near me wielding scissors and new ideas, and I’m flinching, freaking out, and insisting I definitely and actively want more of the same nothingness, thank you very much.

But me and my hair have never met Zac Fennell of BA1 Hair for whom inactivity would be a complete anathema. Zac and Philip

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

Thomson are the owners of the Bartlett Street salon, which was originally founded in 1986, under the name of Artizan. You can’t claim to be a Bathonian and not have heard of them – and not just through their exceedingly loyal client base.

There’s their involvement in the local community, especially Eddie’s Street Cuts, where team member Eddie Ilic and co-owner Phil work with Julian House to give free haircuts for the homeless, plus Zac and Phil are advisors of The Hair Project. This Mumbai-based charity gives refuge, and teaches hair skills, to help rebuild the lives of young women broken by trafficking, prostitution and extreme poverty.

And even though coronavirus has stopped Zac from being able to visit and teach in person, he immediately utilised video calling to continue the lessons. “India had a terrible time with Covid,” says Zac. “And for a country where day to day life is a struggle, something like this was really not what they needed. However we still pushed the girls to train and keep up with their education through online training videos and Skype sessions.

“We are all so pleased that even though there was a pandemic, we were still able to open an academy in Chennai in South East India, and we were able to qualify eight girls during lockdown.”

For some this might have been achievement enough at a time the world was a standstill, but Zac also used the lockdown periods to expand the salon – and we’re not talking a few paint swatches or choosing new towels. He explains, “I’ve got four girls so home schooling and constant food shopping kept me really busy.

“I was lucky my wife Moo is a personal trainer and her company Moovit was really busy with online workouts and HIIT sessions. I joined her every day and it certainly helped me get through it all but I was still missing doing something creative.

“I’d always done carpentry as a hobby so I thought why not channel this into the new shop and salon layout. My house was like a saw mill from all the prepping and cutting of all the wood.” Zac used scaffolding boards to make

“In effect I was chopping wood instead of hair”

HEALTH & BEAUTY the wooden walls, and built the benches and the shelving units, and the results are stunning.

“I just loved creating and modelling different products. In effect I was chopping wood instead of hair.”

Being honest, it’s hearing this that really relaxes me – the evidence of Zac’s practical skill is in the four walls that surround us. My hair is transformed in less than hour from a baggy, scraggy mop to a graduated medium length bob. It’s looks amazing. My side parting has been mussed slightly so it looks less severe, the sides are left longer giving it swoosh and movement, and the back is precision cut giving the style its structure and body. Over a month later, and even with my own inept blow drying skills, it still looks like the best hair cut I have ever had. Thank goodness, and thank Zac, I didn’t flinch but instead leaned in and accepted the chic, sharp shock of a bob. ■

PHOTO BY CHRIS DAW

For more: BA1 Hair, 5 Bartlett Street, Bath; tel: 01225 420611; www.ba1hair.co.uk CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Bartlett Street salon expanded downstairs during lockdown; writer Sarah Moolla gets her new bobbed look from a persuasive Zac; co-owners Zac and Phil used the expansion opportunity to refresh the whole salon; Zac pictured with just a few of the participants of The Hair Project charity based in Mumbai; BA1 Hair, which was first established as Artizan, has been creating cutting-edge styles in Bath and beyond since 1986

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

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 FOUNDER

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.

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TRAVEL

1

THE GREAT ESCAPES

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Five dream locations for your holiday bucket list

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t’s 2022, we’re vaccinated, boosted, and we’re (cautiously) planning our holidays. With so much lost travel time to make up for – where should we go first? We ask Julie Pym, sales consultant with Bath-based C The World travel agents, to share her top five locations of a lifetime...

1

Mauritius for its beautiful beaches, reliable

weather, and wide range of luxury hotels.

It’s a fantastic family holiday destination and if you’re looking for something a little more active, twin it with a visit to La Reunion.

2

Vietnam. From north to south, Vietnam is

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fascinating. Without fail, our clients return from a holiday to Vietnam raving about the beautiful beaches, vibrant cities and wondrous culture. An overnight boat trip to Halong Bay features on nearly every Vietnam holiday we create – it’s an absolute must.

3

Venice is one of the most unique cities

in the world. While it can be busy midsummer, we know the best hotels in which to stay and restaurants to dine for an authentic Venetian experience. Venice is all about bridges (everyone has to visit the Rialto), gondola trips and fabulous cuisine.

Cyprus as there’s so much to experience in the interior of the island such as the Troodos Mountains and beautiful sleepy villages – plus they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the UK!

5

Sydney is simply iconic. The harbourside city boasting the world-famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge is just spectacular.

It’s a cosmopolitan, friendly city and is the perfect launch pad from which to visit Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains.

KEEPING UP WITH THE COVID RULES It’s a bit of a minefield with information changing on a daily (or sometimes even hourly) basis. C The World keeps its Travelling During Covid-19 page as up to date as possible but also advise heading straight to the source and checking the government’s Foreign Travel Advice for the latest.

For more: C The World, 21-22 The Corridor, Bath; www.ctheworld.co.uk

5

4

Cyprus is another favourite, just a 4.5-hour flight from Bristol. Cyprus has a long summer so it’s ideal for those looking for sun in spring or autumn, and is still warm even in winter. It has a great mix of accommodation from self-catering villas to luxurious five-star hotels. We always recommend hiring a car in

4 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 49

Nigel Dando WE BUY Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition.

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

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

SCHOOL GUIDE VICTORIA BOND

Online parents’ evenings have been welcomed by all

Lessons from lockdown The pandemic changed school life.

But are there parts we want to keep?

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© W W W.TES.COM/MAGA ZINE

s we begin a new year in the classroom, the only thing that is certain about education in 2022 is that nothing is certain. The current target is for exams to go ahead this summer but we all know the world has got an A* in Plan Bs. The most shared post on School Guide’s social media pages last year was a graphic created by a teacher that helped parents track back to the last time their child had a ‘normal’ school year. Over half a million mums and dads interacted with a post that clearly resonated deeply in terms of loss. Not just time lost in the classroom but in the lunch hall, on the football pitch and, most importantly, with their friends.

This graphic tracking the last normal school year was the most shared on School Guide’s social media

But there were positives that came with the ‘new normal’ too. Many parents’ priorities have shifted from obsessing over academics to a focus on their children’s well-being, especially the social experiences that school enables. Pastoral care and mental health provision has shot up parents’ must-have lists for choosing a school. Likewise, respect for teachers has soared as we battled with home-schooling and motivating our children to actually learn anything.

On a practical level, there were lockdown innovations that many mums and dads actually preferred such as online parents’ evenings and virtual open days. Some of us thought that our children being assessed by teachers was a jolly good idea, and, while the Department for Education insists that testing two-years of learning during one hour in a boiling hot exam hall is ‘the fairest way’, a growing number of educators are calling for an overhaul of a system. It could be that the pandemic is presaging the type of curriculum and skills we’ll need for a future in which resilience, critical thinking, leadership, courage and bold decision-making are valued above learning by rote.

Furthermore, as pupils adapt to

working on screens, the head of the UK’s biggest exam board, AQA, says it’s a matter of ‘not if, but when’ in terms of all school tests being taken on computers with GCSEs and A level exams potentially moving entirely online as soon as 2025.

Schools themselves, long criticised for being slow to change and adapt, were initially forced to improve online learning platforms and have gone on to embrace them. While online learning can never replace the benefits of pupils being physically present in front of a teacher, blended learning has opened up opportunities beyond the classroom. Art teachers in Swindon now take Year 9 to the Museum of Modern Art in New York at the touch of a button; and digital dissections have revolutionised access to biology labs.

Last, but by no means least, can we find any lockdown silver linings for our children? It would be wrong to not highlight how much our children have had to give up to protect our health service and their families. Obesity levels are at a record high, and absence rates show children who do not have Covid continue to regularly miss school.

But of what is new, do we want anything to endure? If I were to make a word cloud out of the conversations I had with hundreds of head teachers last year, one word would stand out: resilience.

Generation snowflake, super delicate and afraid to fail, has learnt that bouncing back is a superpower.

Yes, life throws us lemons, and, no, mum and dad don’t have all the answers. But the youngest members

PARENTS’ TOP THREE PANDEMIC KEEPERS 1. Online parents’ evenings Private, accessible and less stressful than battling for a car park space in the rain and dashing from classroom to classroom with seconds to spare between appointments.

Long live the Zoom Boom.

2. Spotlight on well-being A long overdue shift from obsessing over academics to a focus on mental health and well-being.

3. Descheduling (aka JOMO not FOMO) Sadly, lockdown stopped after-school activities but it also gave families the chance to redress the balance and dial down the perpetual taxi service. The Joy Of Missing Out is replacing the Fear Of Missing Out.

of our society have learnt the meaning of an age-old adage: this too shall pass.

Victoria Bond is founder & CEO of School Guide, an easy-to-use website that helps parents discover exam results, catchment maps and parent reviews for all their local schools For more: www.schoolguide.co.uk

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

CREATIVE BATH

Creativity’s the winner – always…

The Creative Bath Awards returned last month, celebrating the vibrant arts, tech and cultural scene of the city, as its founder GREG INGHAM reports…

TESTIMONIALS

“It was so nice to get out and see people – just being out at an event with the team was amazing let alone the shock of winning in the TV/Film category. We were honestly over the moon and it was just the pick-me-up we needed. We are deep in production of series two of Nick Cope’s Popcast and deadlines were all going out soon after, so to down tools a bit early to head to the Awards and actually win one was simply brilliant.”

Glynn Hayward, Complete Control “It was a pleasure to feel involved with such an inspirational bunch of people.

Venue was great, too” Mark Wynne, Your Playbook “Thank you all for my lovely Creative Bath Award! I had a total out-of-body experience when my name got called and I can remember Greg smiling at me and me just staring back blankly – for which apologies – such excitement! The Award is currently on display in our new Bradford on Avon Cassia. Big thanks to all your team for such a great night.”

Anna Sabine, Cassia

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f all the areas which have pivoted, responded, changed, adapted, chronicled and simply sought to assimilate the effects of the P-word-which-shall-not-bespoken-of, the creative crew of Bath has been in the forefront. Change and challenge is deep in the DNA of creative people: always testing and seeing the world differently, seeking new possibilities and new navigations. They have been stress-tested like never previously.

A key theme of the Creative Bath Awards was that response. Jump cut into a new reality, what do we actually do? How do artists, theatre companies and designers adapt?

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

Alex Duarte-Davies and Sophie Jacobs-Wyburn celebrating The Egg Assembly’s win

“I thought the Awards were fantastic!

I had no idea there was so much innovation and creativity in Bath.”

Jessica Gillingham, Abode PR

Or publishers, film-makers, writers, web developers? It was notable how many agencies have been extra busy with clients – clients either being more active, scrabbling to recover lost business; or clients changing, finding new routes to market and needing to communicate that. And likewise how brightly applied creativity shone through, how ingenuity created opportunity when it was most needed, such as with the overall Winner of Winners Matt Finch who inspired so many to sing to raise money for charity. Heart-soar moments never more needed…

You can see all the winners on pages 55, and on the Creative Bath Awards website.

Congrats to them each and also to our presenter Kate Cross from the egg, with her playful aposiopesis.

Above, beyond, around and through all the underlying thoughtfulness of creative

responses was the sheer joy on the night of the Awards at the newly-refurbed Doubletree by Hilton on Walcot Street. A pleasure deferred was a pleasure quadrupled, as attested by the babble of voices and boozy chit-chat and properly heartfelt ‘how are yous?’ and smiles and sheer warmth. The vibe was just the best.

Great acclaim was there too for the winner of the ‘Design a Creative Bath Award’ competition, Maggie David, from the headline sponsor Bath Spa University. Think, create, pitch, convince, win and then explain it all live on stage to an audience of creatives..? Tough gig, brilliantly handled.

Next time, we’ll be back in the Bath Boules marquee in Queen Square, celebrating more remarkable achievements in the creative, tech and cultural sector in Bath. And I, for one, just can’t wait.

For more: www.creativebathawards.org

Alison Curtis and Richard Chapple

Natalie Robinson, Steph Brown, Vicki Eastman, Olivia Evans, Liz Ivens, Paul MacKenzie Cummins and Emma Oliver

WINNING SMILES The Creative Bath Awards returned IRL in December with a fun, glitzy ceremony at the Doubletree by Hilton on Walcot Street. Bath’s creatives came together to celebrate the exceptional talent and innovation of businesses and individuals in our city.

Photos by Emma Curtis www.emmiec15.wixsite.com/ejphotography

Phil Dauncey, Hannah Sime and Vicki Cheadle

Sophie Purnell and Courtney Reeve Claudia May and Mark Smith

Tom Graham and Anna Sabine Emma Veal, Ben Veal, Darren McGrath, Jo Wren and Tom Passmore

Denise Wong and Laura Cook Evan Rudowski, Adam Walker, Sian Cox and James Routley

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TOP OF THE POPCAST COMPLETE CONTROL are powering up the Popcast for 2022

W

inning Creative Bath Awards’ TV & Film category for our first children’s TV series, Nick Cope’s Popcast, made for a great night out last month, and a chance to ‘down tools’ from the schedule for a bit.

Complete Control have a busy year ahead of them as the studio is working on the second series of Popcast, where a further 20 seven-minute episodes have been commissioned by CBeebies following the success of series one.

Popcast is a TV series fronted by accomplished singer/songwriter Nick Cope, where each episode sees Nick, and his friendly dog Norman the Whippet, looking for ideas for a new Popcast song as his quirky caravan is transported to a different location. Taking inspiration from his new surroundings, and with the help of ‘The Popcasters’, a team of young children who give Nick ideas and themes to sing about, Nick sits down to write an unforgettable song which is then

broadcast to the nation in that episode.

There’s an easy and homely charm to the show which combines the old fashioned and simple storytelling elements with songs like Baby’s Done a Poo, I’m a Little Lizard and A Round of Applause for the Dinosaurs that once you’ve heard you just can’t get out of your head.

Popcast is a collaboration between Complete Control, Nick Cope and Terrific Television to make a charming, original, witty yet complex mixed media TV series involving music, animation, children and animals.

Bath based Complete Control are best known as a leading children’s interactive production company specialising in creating digital experiences in the form of games and apps.

Working with the best in children’s media such as Peppa Pig, Teletubbies, Paw Patrol, Hey Duggee and many many more, Complete Control have been awarded two BAFTAs for their interactive work across children’s entertainment.

Over the last two years the studio has pivoted

slightly to devise and create its own mixed media TV format through Popcast. This has given Complete Control the opportunity to launch its own IP into the children’s space and a host of opportunities for content within this new business model.

Complete Control’s vision is to create the most imaginative, innovative and playful experiences for the younger generation. We are therefore very much open to hear from passionate and talented people with a burning idea for children’s content to help discover the next ‘must see, must play’ thing. ■

Studio 8, Church Farm, Corston, Bath BA2 9AP; www.completecontrol.co.uk; glynn@completecontrol.co.uk; contweetcontrol; completecontrolstudios

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS

Winner . BEST CREATIVE BUSINESS . Bath Life Awards 2021 Winner . ARTS . Creative Bath Awards 2021

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BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>GETTING WOMEN WELDING WITH BATH COLLEGE (58) >>STORM CONSULTANCY GETS B CORP STATUS (59) >>BIZ Q&A ALEXANDRA HENRY (61)

That’s a wrap DHI’s new online platform for young people is now live

T

ABOVE AND BELOW: The Natural Film Company created the educational videos on The Wrap

he Wrap is a new online platform supporting young people to make positive choices. The latest venture from Bath-based charity Developing Health and Wellbeing (DHI) brings together up-to-date information, self-help tools and access to support for under-18s covering issues ranging from drugs to sex and mental health. The platform emphasises education over intervention, with an impartial and non-judgemental tone that is informative rather than advisory.

With a focus on education over intervention, The Wrap builds on current government priorities linked to tackling problematic drug use and issues linked to drugs, like county lines.

The aim of The Wrap is to ensure young people are better informed, putting them in control of their decisions and helping to minimise risk, but also offers content to support parents and carers, teachers and other professionals working with young people to have open and honest conversations around difficult issues.

The Wrap also includes lesson plans and videos that teachers can use in school as part of the new Relationship, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum.

For more: www.thewrapdhi.org.uk

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Bath College has joined a scheme that will help address gender imbalance in the welding industry

Creativity Works is bringing artists into care homes to enhance wellbeing

GET TECHNICAL Bath College has joined a group of institutions in the South West offering free Train4Tomorrow bootcamps supporting adults to upskill or re-train to meet regional skills gaps in the digital and technical sectors.

As part of the programme, the college is offering 12 to 16-week intensive training courses in high-demand sectors including welding. In addition to supporting adults age 19+ who are employed, self-employed, career returners or unemployed for less than 12 months, Train4Tomorrow’s sources address gender imbalances in the sectors.

“The Train4Tomorrow programme offers adults in the

South West access to free and flexible training programmes with little or no experience required,” says Simon Tyrie, employment and skills project coordinator at Train4Tomorrow.

“The courses, which are worth up to £3,000 have been developed in response to regional skills gaps and help to support people into secure and well-paid employment. As well as being free, the courses run for an intensive 12-16 weeks, meaning people juggling employment and/ or caring responsibilities, can gain skills really quickly, and start putting them into practice as soon as they complete the course.”

For more: www.train4tomorrow.org.uk

WHERE THE ART IS

Creativity Works has partnered with Virgin Care to deliver the second phase of its Inspiring Care Homes Project. Funded by the B&NES Workforce Development Fund, the project seeks to support care home staff and residents by offering creative sessions hosted by 20 experienced and socially engaged artists.

“Everyone has been through an incredibly difficult time over the last year and the care sector has been hit particularly hard,” says Philippa Forsey, creative wellbeing manager at Creativity Works. “We know first-hand how creativity can help people, at any age, enhance their quality of life. Some people say they are not creative, but our experience shows that creativity can be accessed in many ways and promote a sense of fun, and that sharing together is a great way for everyone to appreciate each other’s creativity and ideas.”

The project will bring music, theatre, visual arts, poetry, pottery and creative writing to over 60 care homes between now and March, with a mix of in-person and online sessions.

For more: www.creativityworks.org.uk

MAKE AN IMPRESSION

Dr Jane Ellis-Brush has launched a new charity to provide workwear for women searching for employment

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

A new charity in Bath is sourcing high quality workwear donations for women trying to get into employment. First impressions was launched by Dr Jane EllisBrush, a lecturer at the University of Bath’s School of Management, to help women feel more confident and prepared for interview and give them the best chance at success. Jane was inspired to start First Impressions when a change of career meant that she suddenly found herself with an extensive corporate wardrobe she no longer needed.

“We want to work with local organisations to have a positive impact on the careers of young women, and women returning to work,” says Jane. “We’re offering a tailored service to focus on building inner confidence through wardrobe selection and interview coaching.”

As the charity grows, Jane and her School of Management colleague Nicola Lloyd have ambitions to provide mentors for women too.

“I am very grateful to the people and organisations who are making it possible, including 3SG Bath, Bath Women’s Fund, Mercy in Action and St John’s Foundation, who have given us our first grant to help us get plans off the ground,” she says.

For more: www.1stimpressions.org.uk

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Monkton Combe’s hockey stars

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC CLEVERSTICKS

Several pupils from Monkton Combe School have been selected to join the England Hockey Performance Centre. Following an extensive selection process, six Monkton students were chosen to attend the Bristol centre, where they will go for training sessions with high level coaches.

“We have a number of very talented hockey players in the school across all year groups, and we try to help all of them reach their potential,” says Chris Hibbert, head of hockey at the Bath boarding and day public school. “This selection to join the Bristol Performance Centre is wonderful recognition for these six Monkton pupils and a great opportunity to train alongside the very best players in the region and receive outstanding coaching.” www.monktoncombeschool.com

The team at Storm Consultancy are celebrating their new B corp status

GOING DOWN A STORM Storm Consultancy is officially the third company in the city to become a certified B Corp. The consultancy, which develops world-class web applications, websites and systems for start-ups, scale-ups and innovative corporates, went through the rigorous nine-month process of certification, which includes examinations of company policy and practise around team well-being, value created, environmental practises, community contribution and company governance,

FORWARD MOTION

BOWING OUT

Betty Suchar, chair of the board at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) retired recently after many years of service. A passionate advocate for the Institution since its relaunch in the early 1990s, though she is stepping down from her ‘hands on’ role, she’ll still be found welcoming members at weekly coffee mornings and the monthly in-house book club, as well as at the Literature and Humanities group.

“Her service as chair of the Management Committee over a number of years, steered the Institution and helped guide the decisions of the Board when it met,” says former chair of the board Steve Wharton. “A director for 12 years, she has ensured the maintenance and refreshing of institutional memory.” . www.brlsi.org

ethics, accountability and transparency.

“We’re incredibly proud to have been certified as a B Corp. It is a testament to the work and effort put in over many years that has built the type of business we have today,” says CEO David Kelly. “To be the first tech business of our kind in Bath and Bristol to achieve the accreditation is exceptionally gratifying. It is also the start of a journey as we work to better ourselves over the coming years.”

For more: www.stormconsultancy.co.uk

Bob Jordon, Dave Whittock, Jerry Pennell and Andy Cross of the Bath Motor Club celebrate the club’s Environmental Sustainability Award

Bath Motor Club has been awarded the Environmental Sustainability Award from Motorsport UK. The first recipient of the new award, the club was recognised for the steps taken to offset its carbon emissions, which it achieved via a partnership with local tree-planting initiative Co-forest. Co-forest is a local organisation that is planting new permanent forests with the help of businesses, organisations like Bath Motor Club and individuals looking to offset carbon.

“The environment has been on everyone’s mind for some time. We are all under pressure to make this world of ours a cleaner place and to do something positive to stop global warming increasing in the future,” says David Whittock, chairman of Bath Motor Club. “We believe we can make a difference without interrupting or changing the basics of our sport. With lockdown, it gave us time to think hard and fast about it, which led to us making a commitment to push forward and implement our environmental sustainability management system.”

For more: www.bathmotorclub.co.uk

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BATHWORKS The Woodhouse & Law team: Rowena Rutherfoord, Nick Woodhouse, Sandra Groso, John Law, Sophie Lamb, Rianne Leigh and Fiona Draymond

© SOUL MEDIA

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2021 John Law, one of the founding team of interior design firm WOODHOUSE & LAW shares his Bath Life Awards experience HOMES & INTERIORS WINNER Talk us through what it’s like to win a Bath Life Award?

We were thrilled to win after what has been a challenging 18 months for everyone. The night itself was so wonderful, seeing everyone together. And then to win was such a special way of celebrating the hard work and commitment of our wonderful team.

Where do you keep your Award?

It currently takes pride of place in our design studio.

Why do you think the judges chose Woodhouse & Law for the 2021 Homes & Interiors Award?

Despite the challenges of the pandemic and Brexit, we managed to grow, winning several highprofile projects within the city and beyond. This was balanced by our ongoing and local community work involving raising money for local causes, offering work

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

placement opportunities to new talent and helping to furnish refuge accommodation.

What is it about your company that helps set it apart?

We are a highly creative design service for both the home and the garden, all under the one roof.

Tell us about your favourite part of running Woodhouse & Law…

Getting to work on such a large and varied range of projects. We love embracing the individuality of each client, aiming to create exceptional designs that are equally as unique.

What are some of the regular challenges you deal with?

Logistics – particularly at present and in the aftermath of the pandemic and Brexit. Our team is working that bit harder to ensure that we meet client expectations and continue to focus on service, despite

those longer lead times and greater uncertainty than ever before.

What’s the best part about working in Bath?

Being able to work in a city so famed for its exceptional architecture and inspiring buildings.

Share with us the one piece of business advice you always carry with you?

To work alongside people that share the same values, and to appreciate the worth and professionalism

“IT HELPS TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY AND NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS EACH OTHER”

of those very people. Whether working alongside a local artisan or book keeper, it helps to be part of a community and network that supports each other and works to the same goals and aims.

Any exciting plans for us to watch out for?

We are about to launch our very own retail website showcasing an equally brand new and exclusive range of homewares.

Tell us something surprising about you or your company

There are more of us than you think! People are often surprised to hear that there are 12 of us, across the studio, showroom and on site.

For more: Woodhouse & Law, 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

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“I’VE JUST COMPLETED THE REFURBISHMENT OF A HISTORICAL FLAT IN GENEVA” people from all over the world finding a home there and therefore influencing the city’s culture and life. My client is of similar international background, travels extensively, and absolutely loves Japanese culture and decorative arts.

What was the brief?

To marry the beautiful architecture of the apartment with the client’s love for art and their meditative lifestyle, with a restrained colour palette so that the overall atmosphere is calming and leads to introspection. The interior includes references to classical, contemporary and mid-century design and creates an aesthetic that is truly personalised to the client’s lifestyle and tastes.

BIZ Q&A

Alexandra Henry

From physics to fine art, the interior designer behind I Love Colours Design Studio shares her development from science-y kid to artistic adult

I

Love Colours is an interior design studio working locally and internationally on a broad spectrum of residential and commercial projects. Led by Alexandra Henry, the design studio creates beautifully, individually tailored spaces with a comprehensive interior architecture and design service.

Alexandra works with clients from concept to completion – and often advises on the finishing touches like art, crockery and flower arrangements.

So, Alexandra, have you always had an eye for design?

I don’t remember being particularly artistically inclined as a child – quite the opposite, my strength in school was in maths and physics. After a gap year though, my interest in arts took a sharp turn and I decided to try for Fine Arts.

To my surprise, I was incredibly lucky

to be offered a place at university, where I had a fabulous time – it’s where my passion for colours developed.

How did you then make the jump from your Fine Arts degree into interiors?

After a few really fun years in advertising working for Saatchi & Saatchi as an art director, a friend asked me to design her high-end shoe shop – this was totally new to me and I thought that it would be exciting to learn something new.

Through word of mouth, this project led to others and before I knew it, I had to get new business cards printed with the title ‘interior designer’ on them.

What approaches do you take to make your service special?

I incorporate bespoke work for each project – I like to create something new that is not off-the-shelf and is unique

to each client. Experimenting with new materials in order to achieve an original object is something that I find interesting and challenging, but I work very closely with the maker on all the details, striving to obtain a perfect finish. There are always technical constraints that need to be addressed along the way so it’s a creative process from beginning to the end.

Can you tell us about a project you’ve recently worked on?

I’ve just completed the refurbishment of a flat in an historic building in the centre of Geneva, very similar to the beautiful Georgian style we see here in Bath. The flat hadn’t been touched since the 1960s and was in need of a complete transformation to accommodate the needs and lifestyle of the current owners. Geneva is a small but cosmopolitan city, with

Sounds gorgeous. How did you achieve the desired style?

We kept and restored most of the original features of the apartment and added layers of tactile finishes, like hand painted and hand embroidered silk wallpaper, wool and linen wall coverings in the bedrooms and a suede wall covering in the dressing room. The furniture, lighting and decorations, many bespoke, were mostly sourced and crafted in the UK and shipped to Geneva, whereas the art was sourced at art fairs from all around the world.

Can you tell us about a space in your own home you love and why?

I love our dining room – it has a lot of natural light and it’s the heart and soul of our home. Around my grandmother’s Art Deco dining table, we congregate for each meal – it’s also where we draw, paint and where home schooling took place during the lockdowns.

Where are your favourite places to shop for interiors in Bath?

Holloways of Ludlow on Milsom Street stocks beautiful modern furniture and lighting, which I like to mix with finds from the monthly antique market at Green Park Station.

For more: www.ilovecolours.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 61

Director of Mayd Studio Philippa May cheers the winners at the 2021 Awards

And the finalists are…

Nat Morris and Meg Smith of The Happy Donut Bakery

We’re eagerly anticipating the announcement of the Bath Life Award’s finalists for 2022

© SOUL MEDIA

© SOUL MEDIA

BATHWORKS

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

TESTIMONIAL

“It’s absolutely crazy to win. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, so it was so nice to win and have that reassurance that we are on the right track.”

Meg Smith and Nat Morris, Happy Donut Bakery, New Business winners 2021

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he entries are in. The nominations are closed. The Bath Life Awards 2022 are officially under way.

Now our team of Bath enthusiasts will come together for the difficult task of picking out the crème de la crème, the elite, the hidden gems among the hopeful to determine this year’s crop of finalists.

Are you eagerly awaiting the news? Start the countdown by signing up for our Grand Reveal Day on 20 January via the Awards website. On Zoom from 2pm, join us as we announce this year’s finalists category by category and start the celebrations for our city’s innovative, creative and community-driven businesses, projects, organisations and charities. Want to feel inspired for the new year? The Grand Reveal Day is a must-attend chance to meet the businesses that give Bath buzz – and learn how you can join in the fun. We’ll also be revealing those very finalists

in our next issue, so make sure to look out for that.

The Bath Life Awards is taking place on 3 March in The Assembly Rooms, and we’re thrilled to announce that David Flatman, TV sports pundit, former rugby union player, and Bath Life columnist (turn to page 13 to enjoy his latest see musings) is returning once again to host the city-wide celebration.

Nominations are closed, but it’s not too late to get involved. Sponsorships for the Awards are still available at a range of levels, with benefits like your own company table and the chance to present an Award to a lucky winner on stage.

Join sponsors including Minuteman Press, Hotel Indigo, Stone King, Enlightened Lighting, Apex City of Bath Hotel, Bath Rugby, Novia, Savills, Bath Audi, Freestyle Designs, Triangle Networks and Sub 13, and get involved in the biggest night of Bath’s business year.

For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

BENEFIT FROM THE AWARDS INITIAL SPONSORS

Scan this to see the Awards!

For main Sponsor opportunities, please contact annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk or pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk

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

The Dyson Cancer Centre is currently under construction at the RUH and due for completion in 2023

RUH

HEALTH CARE

Marcus Arundell of HomeLets at the site

Construction work on the new Dyson Cancer Centre at Royal United Hospital in Bath is now fully underway and HomeLets, the city centre lettings agent, is one of the project’s charitable supporters.

HomeLets first began working with the official NHS charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, the Forever Friends Appeal, back in 2017 and has been a supporter ever since.

The partnership has always been of significant importance to Marcus Arundell, managing director of HomeLets, after his late mother and founder of HomeLets, Caroline Arundell, passed away after a short battle with cancer in 2014. A former nurse, Caroline was recognised for her caring nature in both her roles within medicine and property.

Marcus says, “The new Dyson Cancer Centre will make a major difference to patients and their families as they navigate the challenges presented by cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as facilitating all-important future research.”

The Dyson Cancer Centre will bring the majority of cancer services, including research, under one roof, providing oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services, and a 22-bed inpatient ward. The facility is set to serve half a million people in the South West from its scheduled opening in 2023.

For more: www.homeletsbath.co.uk / www.dyson.co.uk

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PROPERTY NEWS

Much of Beckford’s Tower and surrounds are undergoing restoration work

Restoration

A long-lost grotto tunnel has been discovered as part of the restoration works at Beckford Tower.

In the two centuries since the death of William Beckford in 1844, who had commissioned build and the gardens, the original walls of the tower garden fell into disrepair, the paddocks became overgrown, other parts of the ride passed into different ownership and the famed grotto tunnel was filled-in, making its precise location something of a mystery.

In August, experts and volunteers from Bath Preservation Trust (BPT) set out to rediscover the grotto tunnel with the aid of a mechanical digger and a small black and white sketch from 1844. It wasn’t long before the top of a rustic, dry-stone arch appeared, and digging down to a depth of three and a half metres, a large part of the tunnel entrance was exposed.

“It was a wonderful moment,” says BPT’s Capital Works director Simon Butler. “To finally be able to see the entrance to the very tunnel that allowed William Beckford to pass unseen under the lane, which is still to be found almost opposite the current Granville Road.

“For safety reasons, we’ve backfilled the grotto tunnel, while we develop the design required to make it a safe and exciting part of the Beckford’s Tower visitor experience. If it can be stabilised and made safe for public access, we hope to be able to open the grotto tunnel, so that visitors will be able to once again walk along the paddocks’ avenue of lime trees.”

For more: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk

© TOM BURROWS

TUNNEL VISION

A sketch

by Willes Maddox of the grotto tunnel done in 1844 was used to try and find its location

© BECKFORD’S TOWER AND MUSEUM, BATH PRESERVATION TRUST

Guildhall

BRIDE AND PREJUDICE

A small wedding ceremony room in the Guildhall has been renamed The Jane Austen room

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

We may be slightly bias but we’re loving this new literary option for those about to get hitched. Couples can now choose to take their vows in a new Jane Austen-themed ceremony room.

One of the smaller rooms in the city’s Guildhall has been renamed The Jane Austen Room to celebrate the noted author’s connection with the city. It has been decorated in Regency style to reflect the period and features silhouette art, a picture of Jane, ink wells, feather pens and old books.

Interestingly, while Jane Austen who was born in 1775 and died in 1817, remains one of history’s most astute observers of love, The Pride marriage and & Prejudice flirtation, she never author never actually married actually married herself and once wrote to her niece, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”

For more: www.bathnes.gov.uk

We happily take on domestic, commercial and industrial contracts; from a simple home redecoration through to a large scale business renovation.

It is our company policy to ensure that every project is dealt with in a high quality professional manner and we are happy to make recommendations regarding materials to suit your needs and budget.

We use all varieties of paint and wallpaper from all of the major brands, including; Farrow & Ball | Dulux Trade Crown Trade | Neptune | Little Greene

T: 01761 431354 E: enquiries@ashleycollinspainting.co.uk

www.ashleycollinspainting.co.uk

5 CAMDEN TERRACE

With exquisite design and panoramic views, it’s hard not to fall in love with this Camden townhouse

By Matilda Walton

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

I

n Bath we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to picking our area of residence, but there is a particular draw to Camden epitomised by 5 Camden Terrace. Tucked above Camden Road, it’s one of an exclusive terrace of six Grade II listed townhouses. What is it that makes this spot in the city feel different? It’s fashionable in that ever so slightly off-the-beaten-track way, with many a home complete with art studio, exotic, luscious greenery, and a pop of colour about the front door that hints at the personality that lies within. It’s close to the city centre, but just distant enough to have its own identity, distinct from the streets below. The elevated location lends itself to exquisite views across the Bath, and from Number 5’s situation one can see all the way to Prior Park on a clear day, a feature its ample large windows make the most of.

The house exudes a simple and careful style, a credit to the current owners’ work – which includes a 2021 roof and leadwork replacement. Contemporary updates

PROPERTY

like the open-plan kitchen-dining room complete with hand-made units, stylish open shelving and a Corian work surface that incorporates appliances centre ease and flow and gives a welcoming, relaxed feel that sets the tone for the rest of the house. There are multiple options for dining – the beautiful front dining room, framed by cosy central marble fireplace and complete with open fire, or outside where a quiet and private courtyard beckons. Laid with pennant flagstones and artificial grass, the space is easily kept and ever-ready to enjoy.

Upstairs there’s the first floor sitting room – the best spot to enjoy the views across to Prior Park – with its own characterful fireplace a focal point. The room is styled with rustic stripped floorboards which sit in delicious contrast with the elegant corniced ceiling – a fusion of décor evident throughout that highlights the grander features typical of the Georgian townhouse, whilst maintaining a strong character all its own with contemporary, bohemian and Nordic elements.

Number 5 has four bedrooms – one with a cosy adjoining study, currently packed floor-to-ceiling with books and an irresistible squashy sofa. It is a reader’s absolute dream. The master bedroom sits at the top of

the house on the second floor, with the family bathroom (there’s another toilet on the lower ground floor), and from here, the views are utterly breath-taking. Picture it – throwing open the curtains every morning to the UNESCO World Heritage City below and the buzz of history, creativity and innovation it holds.

It’s hard to imagine a better spot to start your new life in the city.

HOUSE NUMBERS Price

POA

Bedrooms

4

Gardens 2 For more: Carter Jonas, 5 & 6 Wood Street, Bath; www.carterjonas.co.uk

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SPONSORED CONTENT

SAVILLS WELCOMES NEW OFFICE HEAD

SAVILLS starts 2022 by welcoming a new head of office into its well-established Bath team

S

avills is delighted to announce the appointment of senior residential sales director, Alistair Heather, to head up its Bath office.

Alistair, who joins Savills this month, further bolsters the senior team in Bath and his appointment reflects the rapid growth of the business. He takes over from Luke Brady, who has been at the helm since 2012, alongside his role as head of Savills southern residential sales business, which he will continue in.

Luke says, “Our local business has grown considerably over the last decade and we have seen our turnover quadruple. We decided that 2022 would be the ideal time to expand our senior team and for me to focus

my time on my regional role, which has also doubled in size, alongside my client work. It is a great pleasure to welcome Alistair to the team and I’m looking forward to working closely with him on the continued evolution of our business here in Bath.”

Alistair has worked as an agent in London and Bath for nearly two decades. He started his career working for a leading London agency in the Chelsea, South Kensington and south west London markets. In 2011, he joined another large property firm, co-founding its Notting Hill office.

He relocated to Bath with his family in 2019. He specialises in the sale of prime residential homes in the countryside market.

Commenting on his new role, he says: “Savills has an incredible reputation and I am hugely excited to be joining such a strong team here in Bath. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to market homes in one of the most architecturally and naturally beautiful parts of the country.

The pandemic has been an enormous catalyst for the property market and has brought Bath and its surrounds into sharper focus for national and international buyers. It is a genuine privilege to be entrusted by my clients with their homes and I really look forward to helping more people secure their ideal move this year.”

Alistair joins an experienced and well-established residential sales team of eight in the Bath office. Alongside residential sales sits a team of rural professionals and a specialist residential development sales team, which advises on and sells new home developments in and around the city.

Luke adds, “When Savills established its Bath office I don’t think anyone could have expected that we would grow into the business we are today. Our priority, as always, is our clients and investing in the best people enables us to continue to provide the seamless, high quality and professional service we pride ourselves on.” n

MEET THE TEAM LUKE BRADY

OLLY GERRISH

EMMA HISCOX

is head of Savills southern region residential division.

He has lived and worked in Bath for nearly two decades and specialises in the sale of prime property in the city.

joined Savills at the start of 2021 and concentrates on the mainstream city market.

is office coordinator.

She first joined Savills in 2002 for a 12-year period, and returned to the Bath office at the end of 2020.

MATTHEW PEGLER

TONY PERRY

BELINDA BRADLEY

has more than 25 years’ experience as an agent.

He focuses on the sale of country and village properties.

Born in Bath, Tony has enjoyed over 30 years in the local property business, in both town and country sales.

is a sales assistant with a diverse agency background spanning three decades and has worked for Savills for over 10 years.

JACK KING

CARLY COOKE

has worked in agency in Bath for 14 years and specialises in the prime city market.

has been with Savills since 2014 providing assistance to Luke Brady in his regional management role, and will support Alistair as head of the Bath office.

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

Savills Bath, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath BA1 2EN; 01225 474 500 www.savills.co.uk

RESIDENCE

“I realised there was a real need for new locations like this – so here we are”

ENTICING CHARACTERS Samantha Wolf uncovers properties worth sharing with photoshoot location agency Camellia Locations Compiled by Lydia Tewkesbury

THIS PAGE: Camellia House, the

one that started it all;

OPPOSITE PAGE: Samantha

discovered a local need for more stylish properties for photoshoot locations

W

hen Samantha Wolf started her new life in Wardour near Salisbury at the beginning of 2021 she stumbled across a hidden gem that would change her career trajectory. Camellia House is tucked away in the gardens of the sprawling New Wardour Estate. The 1769 property inspired an entire portfolio of photoshoot locations, including local spots like The Coaching Inn in Mells and The Wiltshire Pub, which lies at the edge of the Longleat Estate.

Camellia Locations came to life in the second half of last year. Have you always worked in property or is this a new experience for you?

I’ve always had a love of interiors and photography, but my background is in design and then for many years in the events industry, which allowed me to work with photographers and people in the creative world. My husband and I have also been renovating houses for the last six years, and I love designing them from start to finish, using my creative eye and having a blank canvas to start with.

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

RESIDENCE

“They’re either hidden gems that people wouldn’t have otherwise come across or they’re simply beautiful spaces with strong aesthetics”

Could you talk us through finding the property that inspired it all – Camellia House?

After moving to Wardour, I soon discovered the Camellia House, a stunning building with a rich history, unused and only known by a select few – it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. I wanted to share the space, with its incredible floor-to-ceiling arched windows, with others in the creative world and after speaking with the owners and local businesses, I realised there was a real need for new locations like this – so here we are.

When it comes to expanding your portfolio, what are you looking for in the places you wish to represent?

The right setting can really make a product shine, according to Samantha

We’re looking for traditional buildings of high quality with stylish interiors and grounds that have the potential for many photo opportunities. The Wiltshire Pub near Longleat appealed to us because of its incredible façade and grandeur. The Coaching Inn at Mells meanwhile attracted us because of its atmospheric rooms – it’s full of character, moody and enticing. Hidden gems that might not be known to the public are of particular interest to us as we love to offer these types of locations to the creative industries. We also have a new property in Bath launching very soon, so keep an eye out…

You’ve got two local pubs on the books – what features make a pub really stand out to a location scout?

Pubs with lots of different areas appeal to us because clients can then maximise on photo opportunities within the same venue. We love cosy lounges, rustic courtyards, welcoming bedrooms and beautiful bars.

Anything versatile or interesting that fits with our style – we’re always on the lookout to expand our portfolio.

What types of shoots happen in the properties you represent?

Product and fashion shoots, and we’re looking to work with local and independent shops as well as larger, well-known brands too. We are also looking to host photography events and have a number of workshops booked in for next year, which is something new we’re adding to our locations. We had a product placement shoot at one of our properties, No.2 Garden Cottage for ceramics made by the artist Louise Madzia and we loved seeing her pieces on display in this gorgeous location. The décor of the venue worked so well to showcase her work – it’s always inspiring to see how a particular setting can make a piece shine.

RESIDENCE

clockwise from top left: Camellia is all about characterful spaces;

Samantha Wolf, founder of Camellia Locations; The Wiltshire Pub; Samantha was drawn to the Wiltshire pub because it offers many different rooms to shoot in from the bar to its bedrooms and bathrooms too

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

Do you play a role in styling the properties?

Our role is just to discover these one-of-a-kind locations and the rest is entirely up to our clients. They are free to style the properties to fit their respective creative visions.

Is there a theme linking the portfolio together, do you think?

Our portfolio includes properties that have a sense of exclusivity about them. They’re either hidden gems that people otherwise wouldn’t have come across or they’re simply beautiful spaces with strong aesthetics – aspirational but very lived-in and filled with character.

Whose home would you most like to have a quick snoop around?

Ooh this is a hard one, there’s so many I’d love to snoop at! I would love to visit American actress Nina Dobrev’s home. I adore her style and the European influence she has injected into her LA home.

Who are your interior design icons and why?

I personally love the American modern farmhouse style and I’m a big fan of Studio McGee. Another interior designer I love is Rose Uniacke. I’m really drawn to clean and simple interiors with rustic contrasts and beautiful pieces that pull everything together.

Has getting into this line of worked changed the way you design your own home?

It actually has, yes. Being in the middle of a house renovation myself, the use of colours and light at the incredible locations I am lucky enough to work with, has certainly inspired my design decisions. Windows and light make everything right!

For more: www.camellia-locations.co.uk

Got an amazing local home? Want it to feature in Residence?

Contact lydia.tewkesbury@mediaclash.co.uk

Camellia’s locations offer style and versatility

RESIDENCE Beautiful bars make for interesting and unique photoshoot locations

“Windows and light make everything right” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 77

INTERIORS

MOODBOARD

A comfy deep chair like this one from Holloways of Ludlow on Milsom Street is essential for creating the perfect reading escape

Interior designer Lola Swift, in the first of our new series, creates a pinboard to help style your own reading nook

I

nspired by the beatutiful new home of Toppings & Company Booksellers, interior designer Lola Swift has created an ideas board for our very own at home reading nook. She says, “I wanted to encapsulate the sense of nostalgia, the literary ambience, but also that sense of calm that comes over us when we visit Toppings. How lovely would it be to make an area in your home a snug and safe place to escape the cold, snuggle in a chair and pick up a wonderful book.

Even just freshening up a bookshelf by adding a wallpaper at the back, can give an area that library/bookshop feel.”

For more: www.lolaswift.co.uk Add a splash of pattern and colour behind your bookshelf such as this Icons & Prism wallpaper

by Cole and Son

The Fulminare soy wax candle is a relaxing and calming scent made from basil, lemon and clove and is made by Bath's Natural Spa Factory Rustic warm colour palette of five nostalgic shades that combine richness with warmth and softness 1. Juniper Ash by Little Greene 2. Brompton Road

by Mylands 3. Rolling fog by Little Greene 4. Floris by Mylands 5. Skimming Stone

by Farrow and Ball

Use a fabric such as Andrew Martin's Delphini Shell that combines texture and a versatile group of colours to help blend together the room's different colours A stylish design book such as Beata Heuman's Every Room Should Sing can be dipped into whenever the home décor mood strikes

Any plant from Botanica Studios in Bath comes with lots of love and care, plus a handy label to help you look after it as well as Alice and her team do Picking up the blue tones by adding a soft herringbone woollen rug like this one from Capitol Carpets in Bath

Snuggle up with lots of soft cushions and luxe throws to truly enhance your reading time www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 79

SPONSORED CONTENT

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

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

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

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

COOPERS HOME APPLIANCES

WOOLF create completely unique, client-focused

Bath’s leading fireplace, wood burner, gas fire, chimney and flue specialist. From classic to contemporary, concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesney’s, Barbas Belfires, Hwam, Stuv and Jetmaster. Get in touch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD. info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

VIRTUOSO FLOORING

Coopers Home Appliances is an independent retailer trading continuously since 1947 and specialises in kitchen appliances. We have built an enviable reputation, delivering great products with an eye for the unusual.

Value driven and customer focused. Striving to make shopping a pleasurable and human experience – a real antidote to the soulless online shopping ‘trip’.

01225 311811; www.coopershomeappliances.com

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

SCHMIDT BATH

THE WOODEN FLOORING STUDIO

Providing bespoke kitchens and made-to-measure interiors across the Bath area for more than 35 years, Schmidt Bath offers luxury solutions for the home at affordable prices. With a dedicated in-house fitting team, your project will be completed to the highest standards.

Visit their showroom to see the latest ranges and more of what they can offer. 1 Park Road, Bath BA1 3EE; Tel: 01225 337276; www.schmidt-bath.com

MENDIP FIREPLACES

contemporary and traditional interiors, valued for their individual, beautifully tailored characterful design. With 25 years of industry expertise delivering space planning, detailed design, procurement, art curation and project management. An award-winning Interior Architecture & Design practice with studios in Bath & West London, WOOLF are accredited designers of historic, period, listed houses and hotels. Tel 01225 445670; woolfinterior.com

www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

A specialist in real wood flooring with a showroom based in Frome. Offering the area’s widest range with parquet, herringbone, planks and decorative panels to choose from. Ted Todd & Woodpecker showroom partners. Together with their own in-house installation craftspeople. Their boutique paint & wallpaper store is next door too. 43 to 44 Vallis Way, Frome BA11 3BA; 01373 228388; www.thewoodenflooringstudio.com

Offering stylish, innovative flooring solutions to meet the needs of the savvy Bath homeowner. Virtuoso employ the largest team of experienced fitters in Bath.

Their dedicated team are ready to turn your dream floor into a reality. Call now for a free consultation or visit their new show room on Moorland Road.

To enquire, email info@virtuosoflooring.co.uk or call 01225 972715; www.virtuosoflooring.co.uk

BONITI

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

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA; Tel: 01225 892 200; www.boniti.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81

BATH LIVES

“I started looking at why vaccines lose effectiveness” me deeply. This also coincided with the Soviet Union collapse and Kyrgyzstan gaining an independence.

If you asked any of my teachers about my performance at school, they

DR. ASEL SARTBAEVA

When this Woman of the Year winner isn’t saving millions saving lives thanks to her pioneering vaccine work, she can be found strolling around Walcot Street, ballroom dancing and lecturing at the University of Bath Dr. Asel Sartbaeva was born in Kyrgyzstan, which used to be a former republic in USSR. Having achieved an MSci degree, Asel then won a scholarship to do a PhD at Cambridge in 2001, followed by a move to Arizona for a post doctorate position for three years, and in 2007, she received a Glasstone Fellowship in Oxford and started her independent career.

She was a Glasstone fellow until 2010, when she got a prestigious Royal Society Research Fellowship in Oxford. In 2012, she was offered a lectureship in Bath where she remained a Royal Society Fellow until 2019.

Since 2019, she lectured in chemistry, and in 2021 was promoted to a reader (associate professor) in Chemistry. Asel is married, lives in Combe Down, and has two daughters aged 11 and six.

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

I grew up during the last days of Soviet Union, and inevitably

that coloured my perceptions, of course. I didn’t see the horrors of Soviet regime from times before, and I didn’t endure the communist party rule, as the change was happening in 80s and then 90s, when I was becoming an adolescent.

Kyrgyz people used to be nomadic before the Soviet Union, and the Kyrgyz way of

living was quite tribal. Within the family unit, women had to be quite strong, as in the nomadic way of living every member of the family had a job within the family unit. At the same time, women were never considered to be leaders, so there was always this tension in the expectation for women to be strong, but never speak, to be supportive, but not to be seen.

When I was 12 my parents got divorced, and that affected

around vaccine components and see if it would prevent the spoilage of vaccines. Silica is a great material to work with, as it is biocompatible, cheap, easy to manipulate and it could be grown as a shell on biologicals.

would probably say that I was good – not bad and not excellent – just good. I did like school, I think especially in the high school, the last three years, when I decided to become an excellent student, by studying harder.

I spent hours studying and I enjoyed being successful, getting the best marks etc. It also helped with building my self-confidence.

I would like to see our method of ensilication used for most vaccines, so that they can be

Between 12 – 15 years old, every autumn, I picked onions at a farm near our house. After

had admired it as a tourist on several visits. For me Bath as a Roman city and Bath as a Jane Austen city are equally important. The sense of history, and so well preserved history, is humbling. I also find the people of Bath are so friendly and so kind – I feel at home in Bath.

picking 10 big sacks of onions we were given 1 Kyrgystani Som. It was really hard labour.

When I was about 14, I thought that I wanted to become a medical doctor,

but after spending some time in a specialised anatomy class, I realised that it wasn’t for me. As I enjoyed physics, chemistry and programming it became apparent I should try to be a scientist.

When I took my daughter to be vaccinated when she was three days old, I saw the doctor taking

a vaccine out of the fridge and administering it to my daughter.

After seeing this I started looking at why vaccines lose effectiveness when outside the fridge and how this could be stopped.

Statistics show that millions of vulnerable people including about 2 million infants die from vaccine-preventable diseases every year, because

we cannot maintain cold chain.

So, I thought why not try and use an inorganic material, silica, to create a nano-shell

transported and stored without refrigeration. Imagine how much electricity this will save, how much money it will free and most importantly, how many lives could be saved by administering vaccines in time.

I moved to Bath in 2012 but

I enjoy ballroom dancing. My husband and I have been quite serious ballroom dancers before we had children. We competed in some amateur ballroom competitions and enjoyed it both socially and as exercise.

I love walking on Walcot Street with all the independent

shops and friendly shopkeepers, love having chats and buying something unusual. The canal walk, the Holburne Museum, the Pump Rooms and Bath Organic Gardens are all very special as well.

During the pandemic, one of our Combe Down neighbours

would take out a piano and give us all a concert – it is great to feel part of this community. n For more: www.bath.ac.uk