Bath Life – Issue 524

JANE AUSTEN

250 SPECIAL

ISSUE 524 / FEBRUARY 2025 / A CAST OF THOUSANDS

Leading Lights

ISSUE 524 / FEBRUARY 2025/ £5

THE 38 NEW BATH BUSINESSES BRINGING SUCCESS TO THE CITY

SWEET BRIAR THE NEW DINING SPOT AT NUMBER ONE BRUTON

ON PARADE

SECRETS BEHIND BATH’S FAMOUS REGENCY PROMENADE

IN PRAISE OF THE SPROUT

WHY IT’S MORE THAN JUST A FESTIVE SIDE DISH

TOWN & GOWN

GIVING REGENCY WEAR A 21ST CENTURY SPIN

GOLDEN YEARS

THE CHANGING FACE OF RETIREMENT

PLUS BEAUTY AT THE TOWNHOUSE CLINIC / HOT TAKES WITH DAVID FLATMAN / BATH LIVES WITH MARTIN SLATER

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

EDITOR’S LETTER

hen I moved to Bath some 20 odd years ago I vaguely knew about the Jane Austen connection to the city. Like, wasn’t it that she didn’t like the place? Or was she sent here to convalesce? Or was it to party…? I was never really sure, and within a few months I was no longer a visitor but a resident, and I stopped thinking about it. Such things are for tourists surely?

And then you realise the literary legend is sown into the very fabric of our everyday life in Bath. From the utterly fabulous and ever so slightly camp Regency Parade every e te ber t at fills our streets s o s and burger bars with bustles, bonnets and wannabe Mr Darcys (page 56) to the TV and movie crews that descend u on us to fil er classic no els age 50) through to the glorious Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street which chronicles her all too short life with facts, stats, and fascinating memorabilia (page 59) and which is fronted by the instantly recognisable mutton-chopped doorman, actually called Martin Slater, who we meet over on page 98.The centre also happens to have a treasure trove of a gift shop (page 61).

We can say without prejudice, and with nothing but pride, to have the in uence o iss Austen ose t birt day is being celebrated this year, in our fair city is a privilege and it is an honour to pay homage to her in this special issue.

SARAH MOOLLA Follow us on @BathLifeMag

@bathlifemag

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Issue 524 / February 2025 COVER Nicholas H Wood, the plaster cast sculpture maker, is just one of the new businesses to Bath featured in our round up on page 22; www.nicholashwood.co.uk

22 68

BUSINESS NEWS

22 NEW BEGINNINGS The 38 new faces joining Bath’s biz scene

THE ARTS 41 42 49 50

ARTS INTRO A Bowie spectacular comes to the Forum WHAT’S ON People to see, places to go BOOKS r on t e di erent Emma publications JANE AUSTEN SPECIAL Celebrating 250 years of the literary

legend, and her connection to Bath

LIFESTYLE

61 SHOP LEAD A ery re ar able first edition 62 EDITOR’S CHOICE A few Austen-tatious accessories 64 FASHION Get garbed the Regency way

FOOD & DRINK

67 NEWS FEED Verity Genco on the non-festive appeal of sprouts 68 RESTAURANT Calling in at Briar at Number One Bruton

BEAUTY

73 REVIEW The mega-facial at The Townhouse Clinic

RETIREMENT

41

74 LATER LIFE CARE The luxe and local options

PROPERTY

83 PROPERTY LEAD Plans for the Bath Press site 84 SHOWCASE Explore a beautiful Bruton apartment

DEPARTMENTS 11 13 15 21 98

SPOTLIGHT The sun comes to the Assembly Room INSTABATH Only, not lonely SCENE Hello party people!

FLATLINE Flats is feeling the heat BATH LIVES Meet the Jane Austen Centre greeter Martin Slater

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Matt Bielby, Marianne Cantelo, Elsie Chadwick, David Flatman, Ellie Hendricks, John Mather and Lydia Tewkesbury Commercial director Pat White pat.white@ mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Business development manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@mediaclash. co.uk Business development executive Ruby Coburn ruby.coburn@mediaclash.co.uk Marketing executive Grace Goodall grace.goodall@mediaclash.co.uk Production and distribution manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Gemma Bourne Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Media House, 1 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT. tel: 01225 475800; www.mediaclash.co.uk. Instagram @TheMediaClash ©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 and Bristol.

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

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 9

SPOTLIGHT PHOTO BY GUIDO HAR ARI

Charity

ZIPPING ABOUT The Bath City Zipline is coming to the grounds in front of the Royal Crescent thanks to Dorothy House Hospice Care. Taking place from the 28 February until 2 March on the lower lawn, this unique ee end o co unity undraising is t e first e ent of its kind for Bath.

Registration for the Bath City Zipline is £35 and participants are required to raise £150 in support of Dorothy House Hospice Care to help raise vital income for specialist end of life care across the city and beyond. The event will also see pop-ups of preloved clothing and Dorothy House’s own brand Find Ubiety beauty and home fragrances.

For more: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

Recordings of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan have come to light

Music

LOST WORLD

Zipping around for a good cause

A new album of unheard recordings by the Pakistan musical legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has just been released 34 years after they were recorded. The ‘lost album’ — named Chain of Light — which was originally recorded in April 1990, was discovered in the tape archives of Real World Records, based in Box just outside of Bath, which is the label that signed Khan in 1989.

Khan, who died in 1997 aged 48, became friends with musician and producer Peter Gabriel, who owns Real World Records, after a watershed performance at the 1985 WOMAD

festival. Peter, who also founded WOMAD, says, “I’ve had the privilege to or it a tonne o di erent usicians from all over the world in my time, but perhaps the greatest singer of them all was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. What he could do and make you feel with his voice was quite extraordinary and we were very proud to have played a role in getting him to a much wider global audience.

“It was a real delight when we found out this tape had been in our library.

This album really shows him at his peak.

It’s a wonderful record.”

For more: www.realworldrecords.com ©NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES, JAMES DOBSON

Art

CLOSE TO THE SUN On display at the Assembly Rooms, which is currently undergoing a £17m National Trust project of restoration, is artist Luke Jerram’s newest sculpture, Helios.

Here until 23 February, the sculpture is an approximate scale of 1:200 million, with each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture representing 200km of the sun’s surface and is accompanied by a surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson, which includes NASA recordings of the sun, .

Luke Jerram says, “Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect, its extraordinarily detailed surface including suns ots s icules and fila ents. e ort ern ig ts are one of the greatest wonders and displays of art in the natural world. e incor orated t e source o t e solar ares ic caused t is phenomenon to be visible over the UK in May 2024. I hope that the soundscape, lighting and sheer scale of Helios will combine to make an extraordinary and uplifting experience for the public.”

For more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

See Helios at Bath Assembly Rooms

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SPOTLIGHT

ALONE AGAIN, NATURALLY

It’s still winter, and we reserve the right to not be sociable

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SPONSORED BY

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

Helena Miscioscia and Ellen Tovey

Honey Langcaster-James and Victoria von Stein

Balbina Garza, Helen Clement, Neri Williams and Libby Dillon

Sacha Galliger and Roberta Taker Zoë Woolley and Jerry Suenson-Taylor

Simon Gardner and Tim Bale

GATHER ROUND

Jilly Edwards

Gather Gallery, the pop up exhibition space in Milsom Place, celebrated two events last year – The Held Gaze in October and then Rooted in November. Both were curated collections organised by Zoë Woolley, Libby Dillon and Helena Miscioscia, bringing together the immense talents of just a few local artists.

Photos by Helena Miscioscia www.milsomplace.co.uk

The work of Helena Miscioscia

Wera Hobhouse and Caroline Waterlow

Lindsay and Federica Dell Admiring Libby Dillon’s The Light Fantastic

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

SPONSORED BY

dd Dan Bethell

Georgina Harland

Russell North, Michal Janca, Connor Wicheard, Kate French and Charlie Brown

MEDALS OF HONOUR Professor Phil Taylor, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Bath, hosted an afternoon at Claverton Rooms at the University of Bath in November to celebrate the achievements of University of Bathbased athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The eleven athletes in attendance included double Paralympic wheelchair fencing champion Dimitri Coutya, Olympic swimming gold-medallist Kieran Bird, and fellow medallists Dan Bethell (parabadminton), Piers Gilliver (wheelchair fencing) and Becky Wilde (rowing).

Photos by Anna Barclay

Jason Gardener

For more: www.teambath.com

Kieran Bird, Jacob Whittle, David McNulty, Freya Anderson, Leah Crisp, Kelly Newton, Calum Jarvis and Dr Victoria Jones

Professor Phil Taylor was one of the speakers

Henrique Mascarenhas, Ted Allen and Sofia Sjoborg

Dimitri Coutya Piers Gilliver

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

It was a warm welcome for the athletes

Stephen Baddeley

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FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN © BETTY BHANDARI BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY; WWW.BETTYBHANDARIBRANDPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

“I’ve spent the last few months Googling ways in which I might turbocharge myself”

The heat is on

Flats has a hot-take shortcut on how to be a new year new man

N

ew Year, new me, yeah? ea . efinitely. is year is the one. It’s the year I start going to bed at 9pm, the year I start writing a gratitude journal every morning before I bounce into the kitchen with our toddlers – their favourite music playing – and make them an organic, high protein breakfast in an immaculate kitchen. It’s the year I silently slip out of the house at 4am for a brutal workout, before returning home to bed with a cup of Earl Grey for my deserving wife. And obviously it’s the year I accidentally fil all o t at it t e tri od and ig end camera I positioned moments earlier, otherwise it never happened, and how else will I make you both envy me and feel bad about your own slobbish existence? Let me be your humble hero.

Obviously this is all tosh. The only bit I can see happening is the cup of tea bit, and that will happen an absolute maximum o ti es t is year rec on. ot because

I’m an awful beast of a husband, but because I’m like a hibernating grizzly in the mornings. Truly, I’ve spent the last few months Googling ways in which I might turbocharge myself in those earlier hours.

This week I set my alarm for 5.45am and was at SoFit gym in Combe Down by 6.15 for a bootcamp cardio session. It was super busy and vibey, and a great workout. “This’ll wake me up,” I thought, as I sipped espresso in the car on the way through town, but it did not.

The workout was super, the other attendees were fun and friendly, but I honestly felt like I could fall asleep at the wheel on the way home, to the extent that I opened the windows for shots of freezing morning air.

There is a peculiar resistance within me surrounding bed times. I know very well that I need sleep; I’m no Winston Churchill on the ‘kip versus productivity’ scale. But still fig t t at by staying u late e ery nig t I’m at home, usually – just like last night – watching car review videos I’ve already seen!

Madness. Mind you, it’s not like I’m out

partying, so there’s that. So perhaps I can work on that by trying to stop being such a childish muppet (I should be a therapist).

My other three plans, though, are more realistic. Now, whenever I announce an idea or project to my wife, she says the same things to me: “Yeah cool, just get and do it then”, and “It’s funny how your plans always just seem to revolve around buying expensive things.” These two responses annoy me, but only because they cut through the crap. e first o er t o standard res onses came when I announced that this year I’d like to declutter our home to the point where, without wanting to turn it into a laboratory, everything has its place. She said what she said because, it turns out, I may have broadcast this idea before, without ever having done much in the way of activating it. And the second response came when I mentioned my second idea, a way more fun one. I think we need a sauna at home.

Everyone goes mad for ice baths and cold lunging but y researc tells e firstly that such cold shocks would increase my risk of cardiac arrest, and secondly that I hate cold water so would never use it. A sauna though, could just work. I’d have him all fired u by . a and sli in t ere or minutes before the kids wake up, reaping all t e docu ented benefits and only a ing to climb in and sit down!

This all sounds like a joke, but I’m serious.

I’ve researched them hard, spoken to mates who have them, and I think this is the way to start my days. I’ve even had a bloke round to measure up. They say you can’t put a price on your own wellbeing, but we’ll see about that when his quote comes through… but so far the intent is there.

Oh, and the third idea is a toilet that washes my bum for me. Ideally with a heated seat. This isn’t so much about turbocharging my mornings, but more about the fact that I really, really want one. Maybe my wife’s got a point…

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on e n n n n www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 21

NEW FACES IN BATH! Celebrating the launch of 38 new local ventures in 2024

By Sarah Moolla

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

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NEW BUSINESSES

ith all the retrospective celebrations of 250 years of Jane Austen, it can sometimes be forgotten, by even us residents, that Bath is a city that continues to e ol e and ouris .

Commerce, enterprise, and growth sit side by side with bustles, bonnets and Bath stone crescents to help tell our story. at s great to see is t e nu ber o s all businesses t at are establishing themselves amongst the big boys of retail, with new indie ge s suc as ic olas H ood as seen on our co er and le t o specialise in casting plaster replicas of famous artworks, and Café Pastel adding a new level of prettiness to the already Bridgerton picture perfect Abbey reen. Here e a e trac ed do n ore o t ose ne aried and onder ul entures el ing bringing ne energy to t e city.

18 Green Street, 18 Green Street, Bath; www.18greenstreet.co.uk 18 Green Street, the new wine bar and shop that opened in October on yes you guessed it reen treet in t e city centre occu ies a year old building t at as been a orist a greengrocer and a fis onger o er t e years.

Co-owner Madeline Heap says, “There are no parameters for the type of wines served and sold at 18 Green Street, but wines that are pure, re ecting t e land and cli ate t e gra es are gro n in are a oured as are s all inde endent roducers. A ong t e ines are ura icons gro er c a agnes and fine ines in large or at. ere s also t e opportunity to experiment with tastes with the likes of Lebanese pet-nat and indigenous lo enian arieties.

PHOTO BY @WILLIAM _ KING_ PHOTOGR APHY

Nicholas H Wood has opened in Milsom Place

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

NEW BUSINESSES Albaray, 24 New Bond Street, Bath; www.albaray.co.uk Albaray, the womenswear fashion brand, opened its second retail store on New Bond Street in May. The independent female-founded clothes brand led by Paula Stewart, Karen Peacock and Kirstie Di Stazio, along with a small in-house team, focuses on contemporary style that has a lower impact on the planet. Karen says, “As a brand, we believe fashion should be e ortless ins iring o er ersatility and be made responsibly, and we are excited to share this vision with the community in Bath.

The area has an excellent local scene and energy which we love being a part of.”

Bardacious, 8 - 9 Quiet Street, Bath; www.bardacious.co.uk A little piece of Mexico has landed on Quiet Street, bringing with it noisy, bold, spicy, and colourful e ican cuisine. ardacious ser es a our ul ealt y small plates and piled-high tacos, plus signature specials which include the Ancho chilli tomahawk steak and the lobster and crab platter, with a happy side serving of party vibes.

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

Amorino Gelato, 19 Union Street, Bath; www.amorino.com Childhood friends Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi decided to combine their two passions, Italy and gelato, and together co-founded A orino. eir first store as actually in aris in and t eir ethos (making ice cream the artisan way, using only carefully sourced ingredients all o ic are ree o reser ati es artificial a ours and a our en ancers soon caug t on. ey re also reno ned or t eir sorbets and in t e entire range as a arded t e egan ociety s seal of approval. In September, the distinctive Amorino signature style – serving the gelato in the shape of a rose! – came to Bath.

Arlo & Jacob, 3 Broad Street, Bath; www.arloandjacob.com Makers of handcrafted British furniture, Arlo & Jacob opened a new Bath showroom in September. The small modern family business, which specialises in luxury sofas, chairs, footstools, and tables, set up home on Broad Street along with a team of design experts.

“Arlo & Jacob opened a new Bath showroom in September”

NEW BUSINESSES

Coret Coffee and Wine, 41 Milsom Street, Bath; Instagram @coret_coffee is ne co ee and ine bar only o ened in ece ber. et u by oby ibbs t e ne ilso lace s ace o ers a ide selection o co ee sourced ro ulti le roasters during t e day and on selected e enings t ere s a curated ine enu. oby says A ter years o or ing in t e at co ee scene elt it as ti e to branc out into y o n enture. oret is a co bination o y e erience or ing in co ee s o s seeing at or s and at doesn t or .

“I felt it was time to branch out into my own venture”

NEW BUSINESSES BRaC, Nelson Villas, Nelson Place West, Bath; Instagram @brac____ BRaC opened in October and can be found in a picturesque location next to the river, alongside Norfolk Crescent. It was created by the team at enterprising and ever-evolving foodie specialist Sam’s Kitchen ents and o ers su ersi e ocaccia sand ic es co ee ro local roasters li ton o ee as ue burnt c eeseca e and sour cherry amaretti biscuits.

The Broad Street Townhouse, 32 Broad Street, Bath; www.butcombe.com A brand-new cocktail experience launched in Bath in November. The Broad Street Townhouse, owned by Butcombe Pubs and Inns, opens up its downstairs bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with mixologists conjuring up a variety of classics with a twist, such as the Tiramisu Espresso Martini and the Perfect Macha, made with tequila and spicy jalapeno.

Brasserie Beau, South Parade, Bath; www.brasseriebeau.co.uk An elegant new restaurant opened within Hotel Indigo Bath in May. ocated on t e ground oor it an outdoor terrace rasserie eau is a more casual version of The Elder (also housed within the Grade I building), but with no less care and attention given to the food. Executive chef Liam Goldstone and his team are committed to celebrating the best o ritain using only t e finest ingredients.

Briar, 1 High Street, Bruton; www.numberonebruton.com The debut restaurant from one of Britain’s most exciting young chefs, Sam Lomas, opened in September at Number One Bruton in Somerset.

Sam, a Great British Menu alumnus, showcases his dedication to farm-to-table cooking and deep appreciation for Somerset’s rich food heritage at the new Briar restaurant with dishes that include homemade smoked pork sausage and Westcombe cheddar gougeres. Turn to page 68 to read about our visit.

Café Pastel, 8 Abbey Green, Bath; Instagram @cafepastelbath Despite only having opened in August, Café Pastel is already an Instagrammers fave thanks to its pretty colours and gorgeous location of Abbey Green. Founded by pastry chef Duygu Dalkiliç, the menu includes s eet bite si e astries din y little acarons and delicious homemade sandwiches.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 27

NEW BUSINESSES Camella Estate Agents, 20 Wellsway, Bath; www.camella.co.uk Melissa Anderson began her estate agent journey on Batheaston High Street, where she built on the foundations of being ‘beautifully boutique’. She has now opened a second branch in Bear Flat.

Fat Boys ‘Bath Café’, 6 North Parade, Bath; Instagram @fatboys_bath Back in July, the antiques shop on the corner of Pierrepont Street and ort arade trans or ed art o its interior into a co ee bar and ca e serving hot and cold food so you can peruse the curios while you dine.

Cordiality; www.yourcordiality.com Best friends Jamillah Booty and Tine Stapelfeldt set about creating the perfect beverage to suit their lifestyles, tastes and expectations.

The result is Cordiality, which launched in March – a deliciously refreshing low-alcohol cordial made up of the essence of fruit and herbs such as rhubarb, ginger, lavender and bay, and designed to be mixed with sparkling water and ice.

Eat a Pitta, 19 Westgate Street, Bath; www.eatapitta.co.uk Bristol legends Eat a Pitta launched on Westgate Street in Bath in February serving salad boxes and ittas stu ed it res ly made falafel, homemade hummus and a wide choice of salads and sauces – all inspired by founder Dan Levy’s Algerian heritage.

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

Gaia, 12 Chelsea Road, Bath; Instagram @gaiabath Ann Perry, who previously used the Chelsea Road space for her refillable eco store onsciously ou rebranded and relaunc ed in June to create Gaia, this time also focussing on local food. She says, “By shopping at Gaia, our customers are not only investing in the growth of our local economy but also promoting sustainable practices and fostering a strong sense of community.”

Monica Vinader, 15 New Bond Street, Bath; www.monicavinader.com e first at branc o e ellery s o onica inader ic as ounded in o ened in ebruary. e co any it establis ed branc es across t e Hong ong and inga ore arri ed on e ond treet it its de i fine range o conte orary and sustainable e ellery.

“Monica Vinader, which was founded in 2008, opened in February”

The Melter Goldsmith, 17 Argyle Street, Bathwick, Bath; www.themelter.co.uk Jacob has been creating bespoke jewellery from his gallery and studio in the centre of Bath since August. He discovered his love for jewellery while working as a designer in the space industry. He enjoyed the freedom and beauty of the craft and started creating pieces for his friends and family. In 2021, Jacob then decided to pursue a career in the jewellery industry, and began working at a local jewellery shop in his hometown of Winchester, where he learned about the trade and honed his skills.

“Jacob decided to pursue a career in the jewellery industry”

NEW BUSINESSES George Fisher Bath, 7 - 8 Abbeygate Street, Bath; www.georgefisher.co.uk George Fisher, one of the country’s oldest outdoor retailers, opened a ne store in at in A ril o ering s ecialist ad ice alongside goods from brands including Patagonia, Rab, Berghaus, The North Face, Passenger, and Merrell.

Chris Tiso, CEO of Tiso & George Fisher, says, “Bath is surrounded by beautiful countryside which makes it an attraction for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the nearby Cotswolds for recreational walks, hiking and water sports which George Fisher perfectly cater for.”

The Iford Cider Taphouse, Iford Cider HQ, Iford, nr Bath; www.ifordcider.com ac in ay t ose cle er cider makers Iford Cider created the perfect spot to sit and sup their drinks. The taphouse itself is situated on the Iford Estate at the to o t e alley it t e rolling hills making for some spectacular sunsets.

Their summer launch of the Smokeshow saw slo er ented oodfired sourdoug i as ser ed alongside their wild fermented, fresh juice cider.

The Halfpenny, 17 -18 Claverton Buildings, Widcombe, Bath; www.thehalfpenny.co.uk May saw the opening of this cafe in central idco be ser ing brea asts brunc es a es bagels sou and s all lates along it co ees teas and alcohol, including speciality cocktails.

Lilliput Farm Kitchen, Toghill Barns, London Road, Wick; www.lilliputfarm.com euan a ies o a eared in s Masterchef: The Professionals, heads u t e itc en at illi ut ar itc en ic as set u in a con erted barn near Wick. A ‘nose-to-tail’ philosophy structures the local Cotswolds produce-centred menu and you can expect the unexpected such as lasagne croquettes and walnut ketchup, but do expect a load of accolades heading this young chef ’s way.

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

NEW BUSINESSES

PHOTO BY CL AIRE THATCHER

MI Wealth, Charlcombe, Bath; www.miwealth.co.uk arlier t is year financial adviser Maria Isaeva broug t er ser ices to a at audience. aria has over 15 years’ e erience in t e ealt anage ent industry and rior to setting u ealt onsultancy s e anaged ort olios or large institutional clients in uro e t e A and Australia. it ealt er role is to ro ide e ert financial and in est ent lanning ad ice and ser ice to er clients.

Neuhaus Chocolates, 2 Milsom Street, Bath; www.neuhauschocolates.com eu aus ic o ened u at t e botto o ilso treet in uly is a elgian c ocolatier t at a es lu ury c ocolates tru es ice crea and biscuits. e co any as ounded in by ean eu aus a iss i igrant o o ened a ar acy in russels aleries oyales aint Hubert and used to co er t e edicine in c ocolate to a e it ore alatable or is clients.

Frites Caesar, 27 Westgate Street, Bath; www.fritescaesar.co.uk ould you li e ries it t at en you e co e to t e rig t lace. At rites aesar ic o ened on estgate treet in e te ber e eryt ing ro stea lobster fillet o la b rat urst sausage and slabs o allou i co es on a bed o golden rites.

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

Nicholas H Wood, Milsom Place, Bath; www.nicholashwood.co.uk e ery intriguing ic olas H ood as set u in ilso lace it s ecialises in casting laster re licas o a ous art or s by scul tors suc as ic elangelo ernini and Houdon and as a studio based out in el s a . t s using its ne s ace to not only s o case t e collection but also ost scul ture or s o s and li e dra ing classes.

Piglet in Bed, Old Bond Street, Bath; www.pigletinbed.com Running initially as an e-commerce business when it was founded by Jessica Hanley in 2017, the British bedding and lifestyle brand Piglet in Bed, known for its 100 per cent linen bedding and natural homewares, opened a store in Bath in January. “The position on Old Bond Street is ideal, being at the centre of the hustle and bustle,” says Jessica.

“Piglet in Bed is known for its 100 per cent linen bedding”

“The Kiwi brand was founded in 1946”

PHOTO BY PETE HELME PHOTOGR APHY

Rodd & Gunn, 25 New Bond Street, Bath; www.roddandgunn.com The New Zealand menswear store Rodd & Gunn opened up on New Bond Street in August, taking up a space spanning 1,737 square feet. The Kiwi brand, which was founded in 1946, is renown for classic tailoring and styles, as well as incorporating sustainability at the core of all its production.

NEW BUSINESSES

Rituals, SouthGate Shopping Centre, Bath; www.rituals.com In August, Rituals – renowned for its luxurious home, bath, and body products – celebrated its grand Bath opening. Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, said: “It’s great to be able to announce the arrival of another exciting new brand at SouthGate Bath.”

RootSpice, 15 Argyle Street, Bathwick, Bath; www.rootspice.co.uk Back in October, Bath Life enjoyed a visit to chef Soyful Alom’s new cuisine venture, RootSpice, which is tucked away in the depths of Argyle Street, and discovered a world o ibrant a ours and great Indian cuisine.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 35

NEW BUSINESSES

Seoul Story, 41 - 42 St James’s Parade, Bath; www.seoulstory.co.uk The signs were up for about two years before we saw t is orean restaurant finally o ened its doors. e expected favourites are all there including kimchi stew, the Korean rice bowl bibimbap, and pajeon pancakes.

But the real USP for this place is the house speciality – Korean BBQ – with each table equipped with a grill, allowing diners to get their rare, medium, or well-done options exactly as they prefer.

Sanremo Bath, 15 High Street, Bath; www.sanremobath.co.uk This Italian Restaurant opened up near The Corridor, on the site of the old NatWest bank, at the very end of 2023, serving modern Italian cuisine, such as handcrafted pastas, rustic i as and ood fired dis es created by head chef Gianluca Augello.

Slim Chickens, 8 Brunel Square, Bath; www.slimchickens.co.uk Born in Arkansas back in 2003, Slims has made a name for itself with mouth-watering, freshlycooked chicken and 15 legendary signature dipping sauces. In November it brought a little slice of that Southern hospitality to Brunel Square, near Bath Spa train station.

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

“In April the space became a coffee lounge”

Silcox Coffee, 5-7 New Street, Bath; Instagram@silcoxcoffee The beloved Silcox Son & Wicks furniture emporium, which was nestled in the heart of Kingsmead Square for over a century, has established a new legacy. In April the s ace beca e a co ee lounge ser ing cra ted co ee by li ton o ee oasters and delicious cakes and bakes from the Sweet Little Things Bakery.

NEW BUSINESSES Snappy Snaps, 2 Lower Borough Walls, Bath; www.snappysnaps.co.uk e oto rinting s ecialist ic as first established in 1983, opened a brand new branch in Lower Borough Walls in September, providing services that include transforming photos into quality prints, wall art, books, and personalised gifts, some of which can be done in one day.

Taylor’s Bagels, 42 Moorland Road, Bath; www.taylorsbagels.com Taylor’s Bagels, which was founded by siblings Kai and Nat Taylor in 2019 (the pair were then joined by Elise Davies in 2021), opened a third shop on Moorland Road in July, to complement the London Road outlet and Odd Down bakery and store, where their legendary bagels and pastries are hand rolled, boiled, and baked.

Solina Pasta, Grand Parade, Bath; www.solinapasta.com Set in the imposing Empire building on Grand Parade, Solina, which is owned by The Walcot Group also responsible for Walcot House and Green Street Butchers, brought a buzz to the humble pasta dish when it opened its doors in September. With a no reservation policy, their casual dining style has captured the hearts of locals with their signature dishes including spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, and chilli, and Westcombe ricotta ravioli with sage butter.

The Treetop Café, Royal Victoria Park, Bath; www.treetopcafebath.co.uk Excel Tennis, the team behind Victoria Falls Golf, Bath on Ice, and Bath on t e eac added anot er oodie o ering to its ort olio in August. e reeto a a ne a ily run ca located on t e oyal A enue in Victoria Park, serves freshly made focaccia sandwiches, sourdough toasts and salads, alongside homemade pastries and cakes. n

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

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

LET’S DANCE

Interpreting the work of a genius like David Bowie takes guts because there’s every chance of paling by comparison, but this Bowie experience stays the right side of paying homage (and totally avoids the two-bit tribute routine) in a two-hour innovative and imaginative celebration of the legend.

Capturing the spirit of Bowie is Laurence Knight, accompanied by a seven-piece band, who perform all the hits from A to Ziggy, with a multitude o s ectacular costu e c anges re ecting o ie s e er e ol ing ersona.

THE BOWIE SHOW – A Voyage into the Mind of the Rock’n’Roll Alien is at Bath Forum on 1 February; www.bathforum.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

WHAT’S ON 25 January – 22 February

Erica Sturla is just one of the many artists on display at the Bath Art Fair being held at Bath Pavilion 21 - 23 February

EXHIBITIONS Until 8 March

MEMORY PLAY Within this new body of work by Alexis Soul-Gray on display at Bo Lee and Workman, there is a sense of a carefully managed tumult of imagery and texture tousling for foreground status – an organised parade of fallings apart and comings together as they provoke a sort of merry-go-round methodology. www.boleeworkman.com

Until 13 April

ESSENCE OF BATH Perry Harris, the Bath-centric artist focuses on cartoons of the city and watercolours of favourite local landscapes in an exhibition which complements the Victoria Art Gallery’s Mirror of Mirth collection running at the same time. www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 21 April

MIRROR OF MIRTH Artist satirists Thomas Rowlandson and John Nixon exposed the follies of Bath’s Georgian high society and the lower classes during the late 18th century, Rowlandson with his celebrated and boisterous Comforts

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

of Bath series, and Nixon’s with more teasing observational sketches. www.victoriagal.org.uk

Until 27 April

I HAVE MORE SOULS THAN ONE Bath born Joshua Donkor is a painter of Ghanaian and British heritage who now lives in London.

His art currently on display at The Holburne touches on themes of memory, nostalgia, family dynamics and diaspora with cultural identity central to the work. www.holburne.org

Until 5 May

ICONIC: PORTRAITURE FROM FRANCIS BACON TO ANDY WARHOL This unique Holburne exhibition brings rarely-seen works together including that of Peter Blake, Pauline Boty, Richard Hamilton, and Gerhard Richter, to explore the ways artists are inspired by photography. www.holburne.org

Until 26 May

DIEDRICK BRACKENS: WOVEN STORIES The four large-scale, hand-crafted tapestry works by the Texan artist include techniques from West

African weaving, quilting from the American South and European tapestry-making in which is presented rich, nuanced visions of African American life and identity, while also alluding to the complicated histories of labour and migration. www.holburne.org

8 February – 27 April

AN UNCOMMON THREAD This new Hauser & Wirth Somerset collection features ten contemporary artists – Rachael Louise Bailey, Max Boyla, KV Duong, Charlotte Edey, Nour Jaouda, Lindsey Mendick, Jack O’Brien, Nengi Omuku, Tai Shani and Georg Wilson – with an exhibition highlighting the transformative power of unconventional mediums in evoking personal and collective memories. www.hauserwirth.com

17 – 23 February

I’M A PERFECT 10 Scottish artist Emily Brooks Millar brings her new exhibition to 44AD Artspace in which she delves into themes of wellness culture, selfimprovement, and morality through a series of vibrant mixed-media pieces. www.44ad.net

21 – 23 February

BATH ART FAIR A relaxed and enjoyable way to explore and purchase the work of over 80 artists from all over the UK including the South West, many of whom will be there in person.

The eclectic range of work at the Bath Pavilion comes from new, established and upcoming artists, curated by organiser Alce Harfield. www.bathartfair.co.uk

THEATRE / CINEMA 30 – 31 January

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE LAST ACT Drawn from two years of Sussex retirement for the funeral of his friend, Dr Watson, Holmes returns to Baker Street to resolve ‘the last act’ of his epic career. A theatrical evening then unfolds, with fourteen characters, all played by Nigel Miles-Thomas in a tour de force performance. www.theatreroyal.org.uk

31 January

STABLE Written by Taruna Nalini, and presented by Theatre Nisha

WHAT’S ON

UK at Rondo Theatre, Stable follows the slow and dangerous collapse of a therapist’s internal compass leading to devastating consequences. www.rondotheatre.co.uk

Rondo, promising an immersive journey into the evocative soundscapes and stirring melodies. www.rondotheatre.co.uk

7 February — 8 March

BACHFEST Six concerts celebrating the music of J S Bach and his Baroque contemporaries opening with Olivier Latry, the organist at Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral, playing a programme of Bach plus French works from Couperin and Marchand on the famous Klais organ in Bath Abbey. Also performing are Florilegium joined by soprano Helen Charleston; Baroque violinist Rachel Podger; respected contemporary cellist Adrian Brendel; Mahan Esfahani, probably today’s greatest advocate of the harpsichord; and Bach’s great Mass in B Minor is performed by the choir and orchestra of The English Concert, directed by Kristian Bezuidenhout at Bath Abbey. www.bathbachfest.co.uk

DOUBT A PARABLE Maxine Peake, stars with Olivier Award winner Ben Daniels at the Ustinov in this new production of John Patrick Shanley’s awardwinning drama about a nun who believes one of the priests is abusing a pupil at her school but has no proof. www.theatreroyal.org.uk

18 – 22 February

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins, Rachel Watson longs or a di erent li e. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. Or so it appears... www.theatreroyal.org.uk

19 February

ENDS Performed by Ahir Shah, Ends is the 2023 Sky Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show, spanning six decades, three generations, and two continents, synthesising past and present in search of hope for the future. www.rondotheatre.co.uk

MUSIC 8 February TOP: Mahan Esfahani, probably today’s greatest advocate of the harpsichord,

is performing at part of the Bath Bachfest; MIDDLE: John Nixon’s Promenade on Norfolk Terrace (1810), can be seen at Victoria Art Gallery’s Mirror on Mirth on until 13 April; BOTTOM: Cephid bring their progressive electronica sounds to The Rondo on 8 February; RIGHT: The hand-crafted woven and quilted works by Texas artist Diedrick Brackens are on display at The Holburne until 26 May

CEPHID Cephid, the musical project of Moray Macdonald, performs their first e er li e solo s o s o casing the critically-acclaimed debut album Sparks in the Darkness at the

19 – 22 February

20 February

THE CARRIVICK SISTERS One of the UK’s top young bluegrass and folk acts, twins Laura and Charlotte, perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen co ers on guitar andolin fiddle dobro, and clawhammer banjo. www.chapelarts.org

COMEDY

Every Friday and Saturday KROWD KEEPERS The Ale House on York Street has a secret room where some of the

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

WHAT’S ON

1 February

COLIN HOULT e dinburg o edy A ard no inated co ic inters erses is stand u it sna s ots o is re ressed but bon ers arents at t e ondo. www.rondotheatre.co.uk

8 February

VIGGO VENN y inning Britain’s Got Talent in une or egian clo n iggo enn as started on is drea o being a ritis co edian by isiting o edia. www.komediabath.co.uk

CHILDREN 13 – 16 February

THE LITTLE PRINCE bar on a i sical ourney at e gg it t e ittle rince as e anders t e uni erse in searc o t e true eaning o riends i . www.theatreroyal.org.uk

20 – 21 February

ANGELICA SPROCKET’S POCKETS Angelica roc et brings er ne er ending oc ets o agic isc ie and ay e to t e ission eatre along it u etry ro s and songs. www.missiontheatre.co.uk

OTHER

Until 30 March

GUIDED WALKS AT DYRHAM PARK al s led by e ert olunteers t roug t e ar land garden illage and on t e interesting ater ays o t e out loucesters ire site. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Lydia McCotter also works at the Theatre Royal Bath where she’ll be treading the boards in February

30 January – 16 February

REBALANCE BATH A t ree ee sc edule o ellness osted by at it a stellar line u o ind ulness ractitioners fitness instructors oti ational s ea ers and ore it a range o taster sessions. ents include illie ac intos tal ing about er sobriety it r llie annon at t e A e Hotel on ebruary and Cancer Truths (and Myths) it r i iordan at oston ea arty on ebruary. engen House is osting a ole series o tal s including a e it Ha en it Hy not era ist ara i son eb ision to ictory it business coac ate ree an eb aising esilient eens it coac and aut or icola ac onald eb and ec ni ues to oosen e elo your ra ings it reen o or s o eb . ere s also a dis lay o orld ide ellness acti ities at t e at edical useu . www.welcometobath.co.uk

CULTURE CLUB with Lydia McCotter

PHOTO BY STEWART MCPHERSON

orld s finest agicians er or osted by resident con urer illy idd o ro ises no rabbits or to ats. www.krowdkeepers.com

Laurey Williams stars in Oklahoma! when Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society bring the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to the Theatre Royal’s stage from 4 – 8 February.

By day, Lydia is also the operations manager at the Theatre Royal Bath, a role she has worked in since 2015.

The last great film I saw I recently caught All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) on Netflix – raw, gut-wrenching, beautiful storytelling about the futility of war, which is frighteningly current.

My favourite binge watch Currently it’s got to be Virgin River on Netflix. It’s just one huge warm hug of a TV show!

The current exhibition at Bo Lee and Workman features the work of Devon artist Alexis Soul-Gray

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

Best TV show ever…

Ozark. It’s everything you want in a TV show – gripping, tense,

superbly-acted, memorable characters and classic one-liners. I now want to watch it all again!

The book that changed my life Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle. I studied this for my GCSEs and it has always stayed with me as the book which first ignited my excitement in the English language, leading me to study English Literature at university.

Last live music gig I went to Rock The Tots at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham! Thanks to a certain little baby Rex who entered our lives 11 months ago, these are the kinds of gigs I now attend.

My desert island disc Do You Love Me by The Contours.

For more: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

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FIRST CLASS HOSPITALITY Celebrate in style: Matchday hospitality at The Blue, Black & White Club

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ew experiences capture the heart of Bath quite like a matchday at The Rec. On game day, the city comes alive, painted in a sea of blue, black, and white as the energy of Bath Rugby pulses through the vibrant World Heritage Site.

This season, the belief amongst the players and supporters is the highest it’s been in recent years. After a stellar run to the final in the 2023/24 campaign, the team continues their meticulous, match-by-match approach, maintaining their focus on each opportunity as it comes. With each fixture carrying added significance, every match becomes an opportunity to witness something truly special — an experience that is best enjoyed in style.

For those looking to elevate their matchday, The Blue, Black & White Club offers the ultimate way to celebrate. Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, premium experiences at Bath Rugby provide the perfect setting for an exceptional day in the heart of the city.

Set against the backdrop of Bath’s iconic surroundings, hospitality packages include a sumptuous three-course meal, beverages, and exclusive insights from Bath Rugby players and legends and covered match tickets. It’s the perfect setting to make memories with family, impress clients, or toast to life’s special moments.

Whatever the occasion, The Blue, Black & White Club transforms a day at The Rec into a cherished experience. With a series of crucial matchups on the horizon, including fierce rivalries and pivotal encounters, we’ve curated a selection of must-see fixtures. Secure your place and make your matchday one to remember.

BATH RUGBY V NEWCASTLE – SATURDAY 26 APRIL As the northern side makes their way to Bath, every point is crucial at the business end of the season. This match promises to be a pivotal moment in the Blue, Black and White’s pursuit of success, with the added significance of Foundation Day, where the club will highlight and support the incredible work of the Bath Rugby Foundation.

BATH RUGBY V LEICESTER TIGERS – SATURDAY 17 MAY The final home fixture of the season, and one not to be missed. The historic rivalry between Bath and Leicester adds an extra layer of excitement to this already highly anticipated match, making it the perfect occasion to end the season in style. n The Bird Hotel

BATH RUGBY V GLOUCESTER RUGBY – SUNDAY 23 MARCH A local derby with a rich history, this is more than just a match; it’s a fierce rivalry reignited.

With the excitement of the 2025 Six Nations fresh in everyone’s minds, expect intense rugby action and an electric atmosphere.

BATH RUGBY V HARLEQUINS – SATURDAY 29 MARCH Expect a spectacle! With some of the biggest names in world rugby set to go head-to-head, including Finn Russell and Marcus Smith, this is a match that promises exceptional skill, flair, and a fast-paced, show-stopping atmosphere.

How to book: contact our Hospitality Team (hospitality@bathrugby.com) who will help you with your enquiry, or scan the QR code. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 47

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

The editions of Emma from left to right,

by Thomas Nelson, Chiltern, and Vintage

J

Nic celebrates Austen by judging a book by its cover

“Emma is such a gn cen l drawn c ce ”

ane Austen and I both have big birthdays this year. She’s got exactly 200 years on me, but she’s somehow the one who’s still managing to look better every year – albeit through her books. New editions of her six great novels and her other works all the time, but in 2025 we’ll be treated to more than ever as book people in Bath and the world over gear up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth on 16 December.

Whichever edition you choose the writing will be the same pure brilliance. Wit and social observation perfected.

Aficionados need no con incing but i you’ve steered away since school days and you maybe have a resolution that relates to reading some classics burning a hole in your new year conscience, then trust in Jane. You’ll be in safe hands whether you throw yourself into the endless perfectly conceived mix-ups of e n e u ce, the Gothic satire of o nge e or the juggling act of love and financial reality in en e n en l .

For me all Austen roads lead to Emma Woodhouse and her relentlessly entertaining and infuriating meddling. Emma is such a agnificently dra n c aracter e en i s e s one of Austen’s less likeable heroines.

She’s spoiled and superior, wrongly conceited about her ability to advise others in matters of the heart and completely blasé about the problems her advice might cause her socially inferior and naïve ‘friend’ Harriet Smith. Throw in the fact that she’s completely incapable of assessing her own emotions, let alone those of the people around her, and you’ve got enough failings in this one character to power the entire novel. Or indeed – if the plot feels familiar – all 1 hours 37 minutes of luele .

So with Emma batting away Lizzy Bennett and Anne Elliot in my anniversary year

priority list, which edition do I choose? Were a student or er a s ere it y first read through – I’d reach for Penguin or OUP or Norton paperback classics to get all those ti elines and introductions to add a our to the text itself. But with an author published so idely and in so any di erent or ats it s surely fine or aest etics to lay a art as ell. a en t yet seen in t e es t e intage Collector’s Classic edition of Emma intage £18.99) which is due out this March, but I have a feeling it’s going to set a new benc ar o lo eliness. t s a i id oral pink, orange and white hardback with a silk ribbon, marbled endpapers and sprayed edges – ‘the works’ in other words. And it’s one of a series of ten collectible books being released by intage as t e first batc o su er deluxe editions – alongside e n e u ce and other landmarks such as u e ng e g , ne e and cul .

I’m also a big fan of the Jane Austen collections published by Thomas Nelson (£18.99) and by Chiltern Editions (£20), each of whom have published all six major Austen novels in their series. The former are largeformat hardbacks with intricate white lasercut outer-covers, whilst the latter are neat pocket-sized hardbacks with foiled covers and page edges. But then there are another 50 or so editions currently available in the UK if those design styles don’t appeal!

And once you’re done reading the Austen canon itself, you can move onto the biographies, the adaptations, the commentaries and the homages. This year promises to be richer than ever pickings on this front too with a graphic novel biography and a look at the writers who inspired Jane herself coming this spring. c o o le o u o

e

e gene l n ge o ng el g e o u co

o n

ee

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

Austen Power Celebrating 250 years of Jane Austen, as the author reaches her quarter millennium – and the city breaks out the bunting for our biggest ongoing party since Beau Nash

PHOTO BY CL AIRE THATCHER

By Paul Marland

The Grand Regency Parade returns on September 1

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

T

his is a pretty big year for Bath’s most famous resident – with apologies, of course, to Mary Shelley, Peter Gabriel, Horatio blooming Nelson and a hundred more. 2025 marks 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth in 1775 – a Sestercentennial anniversary, would you believe? – and 228 years since s e first roc ed u ere in on oliday she may actually have visited earlier too, though no one s uite sure and t en again in en t e a ily stayed on Queen Square.

But even before that, Bath features big in her background: her great uncle t e first u e o andos as a ongst any relati es o d come to Bath to take the waters, and Jane’s parents were married ere at t it in s in alcott . n t e a ily o ed to at permanently, staying on the Paragon while house-hunting, then living on Sydney Place for four years and later the somewhat waterlogged reen ar uildings ast no gone but a close t in to t e e tant reen ar uildings est until er at er s deat in brief periods lodging in cheaper rented accommodation on Gay Street and Trim Street followed, before the a ily le t t e city or good first or out a ton and then the rural quiet of Hampshire.

Naturally, the big 250 is a landmark the city couldn’t let pass by unacclaimed, so this year will see a near-endless parade of Jane Austen-themed events, activities, e ibitions tal s or s o s e eriences and packages line up, all keen to catch the eye. From dressing up with fellow ‘Janeites’ as one o er iconic c aracters to e loring the Bath locations used in all those big- and small-screen adaptations of her novels, it’s never been easier to imagine yourself into the Regency-era Bath she so vividly brought to life.

Over the following pages, we look at the novels, the adaptations, the upcoming events, and go behind-the-scenes with those co-joined movers-ands a ers o t e local aneite orld e ane Austen entre and t e ane Austen esti al. ut first t ere s a rat er big uestion e need to address…

THE BIG QUESTION What did Jane really think about Bath?

Some, it is true, will rather gleefully tell you she hated it, but did she really? Opinions vary – and nothing is entirely clear. Plus, of course, ane as surely as fic le as t e rest o us and er o inions ill doubtless a e c anged t en c anged again o er t e years. t s true t at s e doesn t a ear to a e ritten a great deal during er years ere t oug s e ay ell a e re ised e isting te ts but e can t be sure quite why that was – was she depressed, and so unable to write? r as t ere si ly so uc e citing stu going on s e adn t t e ti e Her sister assandra s uc discussed decision to destroy al ost all Jane’s letters from this period certainly doesn’t help.) or aul rossey o t e ane Austen entre on ay treet t e trut is likely rather more nuanced…

“Jane Austen’s relationship with Bath is hotly debated by historians,” he says, “and lazily labelled by some along the lines of ‘She didn’t e en li e at . isitors to t e entre certainly get to learn o circumstances changed during her time in the city – notably after her father died, when she moved to less attractive lodgings – but in her earlier mentions she is very favourable towards Bath. Yes, it’s true that in her later letters she does mention ‘happy feelings of escape’ on leaving, but that could be to do with her personal circumstances, her lodgings, noisy neig bours t e s ell along t e ra el al or anyt ing really at e no or sure is t at a ter s e le t at s e continued to rite ery a ourably about it en finis ing Persuasion – Anne Elliot aside! – and in Northanger Abbey.”

250 YEARS OF JANE

The Jane Austen Book Club Six novels (and some other stuff), all with their fans. But which is best? There’s only one way to find out… (Read them!)

Sense and Sensibility - 1811

Her first initially ublis ed anony ously “By a Lady” – and at one point to have been called ‘Elinor and Marianne S&S tells of the lives and loves of two sisters, one reserved and full of rational good sense, the other emotional and ro antic in t e e on ondon and usse o t e s. at is entioned a cou le o ti es it s ere t at li a illia s visiting her sick father with a school friend, first ran a little ild a ing t e inti ate ac uaintance o t e cad o n illoug by to her downfall.

Pride and Prejudice - 1813

Perhaps the great novel of English manners, P&P follows Elizabeth Bennet – wittiest and cleverest of a family of marriageable girls – as she learns the danger of hasty judgments and comes to see that true virtue is often hidden, and some things really are too good to be true. lus s e ins r it illia arcy aloof, handsome and absolutely loaded. Most ould call t is t e greatest o ane s boo s it s certainly the most popular. Though largely ta ing lace in Hert ords ire and erbys ire at gets a ention eorge ic a is said to occasionally spend time here.

Mansfield Park - 1814

The growing years of Fanny Price, a poor girl in her aunt’s big, posh house, MP is darker than most, or at least painted in deeper shades of grey: slavery, adultery and religion are more central, and – though always popular – it’s enjoyed periods of controversy, variously considered her most ponderous, her most profound, her most problematic work. Perhaps it’s just the most autobiographical, with its outwardly ‘weak’ heroine. Part of the action ta es lace in orts out one Ad iral at least, was most impressed by her depiction o a al li e and er a tain brot er s real li e s i e en a es a o entary a earance ile at di erent ti es Henry ra ord rs Rushworth and others all visit Bath.

CONTINUED OVERLEAF

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

250 YEARS OF JANE Emma - 1816

Perhaps the funniest novel, with “a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like.”

Emma Woodhouse, being “handsome, clever, and rich” is entertainingly arrogant and headstrong as she plays Surrey matchmaker with disastrous consequences; by this point in Jane’s career, the Prince Regent himself had become a fan, and the novel was dedicated to i . ell re ie ed ro t e o articularly for its strong characters and deft balance between sparkle and seriousness – though less so for its slight plot – Emma is considered by some her masterpiece. Bath is visited by one of our heroine’s rejected suitors (where he promptly meets a new potential wife), while her father rejects the idea of visiting, thinking it unlikely to do his health much good.

Northanger Abbey - 1817

Both coming-of-age story and satire of the then-popular gothic novel, Northanger Abbey was completed in 1803 but published much later; it’s often considered the most juvenile of her adult works. When naive young Catherine Morland visits the titular spooky county house she imagines all sorts of nefarious goings on, but before that an extended Bath sequence gi es a great ortrait o su erficial ig society: during the winter season, Catherine attends balls, shops voraciously – and begins reading Ann adcli e s Mysteries of Udolpho, which is what sends her imagination into such a ti y in t e first lace.

Persuasion - 1817

Published in the same volume as Northanger Abbey, but written much later – in fact, it was her last completed work, considered by many to be her most mature novel – Persuasion features a shockingly old heroine (Anne Elliot is 27, and so considered on the shelf !) enjoying an unexpected second chance at love. Once the action relocates from a family estate to Bath, the city almost becomes a character, with Camden Place/Crescent, the Assembly Rooms and the Pump Room to the fore; the post-Captain hero, Frederick Wentworth, is interesting too – a self-made ‘new gentleman’, who earned status and wealth through hard work and bravery, not inheritance, he could be one of ‘Lucky’ Jack Aubrey’s pals from the Patrick O’Brian novels.

And the rest…

Jane also left us many poems, prayers, letters, a short satirical work called Plan of a Novel (likely written in 1816) and assorted scraps and minor pieces. There’s Lady Susan, an early novella (probably written around 1794, but not published until 1871); a fragment of abandoned novel The Watsons, probably begun around 1803 (when she was in Bath); and anot er unfinis ed no el Sanditon (originally to be titled ‘The Brothers’), of which she managed twelve chapters in early 1817, before stopping, probably due to illness. Despite their short lengths, Austen found time to mention Bath in all three.

Of her juvenilia, written as a teenager between 1787 and 1793, the most important are probably The Beautifull Cassandra (with the naughtiest and most self-indulgent of heroines: at one point she enters a pastry shop, eats six ices, refuses to pay and knocks down the pastry cook on her way out!) and Love and Freindship (a parody of the romantic novels of t e ti e ull o betrayals ild coincidences ainting fits and in enti e spellings).

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Girls on Film

It is a truth universally acknowledged that every great Austen novel must be in want of an adaptation... Here are our Top Five Aust-aptations, as chosen

by The Little’s Ellie Hendricks WE’VE HAD LIZZIE BENNET fig ting o bies Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, 2016), Mr Darcy solving murders (Death Comes to Pemberley, 2013), Emma Woodhouse in an American high school (Clueless, 1995) and tourists going to Austen theme parks (Austenland, 2013). But of the straight versions of Austen’s work, which is best?

5

Emma (2020) Directed by Autumn de Wilde Visually stunning and endlessly entertaining, Autumn de Wilde’s Emma is a treat for any fan of beautiful costumes, Georgian architecture and the ‘friendsto-lovers’ trope. Anya Taylor Joy is incredible as the well-intentioned but often misguided Emma Woodhouse, scheming with the best intentions.

Modern scream queen Mia Goth (Pearl, Suspiria), meanwhile, is charming as the hopelessly optimistic Harriet Smith, a young woman of questionable parentage who Emma is determined to improve. There have been many depictions of Emma, but few show just how manipulative she can be. Taylor-Joy’s version exhibits barely hidden superiority over her peers – she’s the rebel of Austen heroines, and awfully good fun.

4

Sense and Sensibility (1995) Directed by Ang Lee Chock-full of British legends, Ang Lee’s take stars Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, struggling with a woeful lack of fortune and limited marriage prospects.

But then Elinor meets the charmingly awkward Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant), whilst Marianne becomes infatuated with the handsome but untrustworthy John Willoughby (Greg Wise), and misunderstandings and betrayals ensue. Sense and Sensibility really is the foundation upon which the following novels were built, and all their recurring themes of sisterhood, love and social status can be traced back to the Dashwood girls.

3

Emma (2009) Directed by Jim O’Hanlon Another Emma? You’d better believe it – but no, it’s not the Gwyneth Paltrow version. Instead I’ve picked the four-episode BBC TV miniseries, with Romola Garai in the title role. Thanks to the extra runtime, this is an Emma that fully immerses you in the society Jane Austen would have known, giving extra time to minor characters, smaller romances, and the day-to-day gossip in Emma’s life. Where Anya Taylor-Joy can be cold and cutting, Garai is notably warmer; indeed, this Emma’s faults often come down to ignorance and thoughtlessness rather than underlying snobbery. Subtle glances and low-key tone changes provide the richest of tapestries.

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Persuasion (2007) Directed by Adrian Shergold The last of Jane’s completed books, Persuasion is her most mature and personal novel. Published posthumously, it’s a story of re ection loss and longing something Austen would have been going through herself in her later years. Sally Hawkins stars as Anne Elliot: subdued, introverted and – as a woman in her late 20s – past marriageable age. When news of the return of her one-time love, Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones), reaches her, she’s orced to re ect on ast c oices director Adrian ergold er ectly capturing the mix of hope and melancholy. Plus, it’s awash with familiar sights, including Bath Street, the Assembly Rooms and, of course, The Royal Crescent.

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Pride and Prejudice (1995) Directed by Simon Langton You guessed it! My number one Austen adaptation is the one where Colin Firth jumps into a lake. There really is no beating this BBC masterpiece, with Jennifer Ehle fantastic as Elizabeth Bennet, witty and deter ined second daug ter o a ily o girls. le s i ie is confident caring, yet a little bit prideful; she plays opposite an even-more-prideful olin irt in a career defining role as t e su erior r arcy a er o suc terrible first i ressions. ac ed it a ost o incredible actors including a young Julia Sawalha, who perfectly captures the infuriating younger sister Lydia – it’s a version that’s enchanted generations of viewers, the ultimate comfort watch.

What’s On Jane Austen’s 250th

All the festivals, events, performances and exhibitions lined up for us across 2025…

YEAR-ROUND PLEASURES

THE JANE AUSTEN CENTRE Learn about, dress like and even eat like Jane Austen here; then ta e ea it r arcy at t eir Regency Tea Room.

40 Gay Street; janeausten.co.uk FREE WALKING TOURS Parade in Jane’s footsteps with Visit Bath’s free audio walking tour, which focusses on her life in Bath and describes the city as it would have been in its Georgian heyday. It takes about an hour and a half, but you can stop at any point. visitbath.co.uk JANE AUSTEN AND AUSTENTATIOUS BATH This day-long tour, curated by In and Beyond Bath, takes in Jane-connected locations in the Cotswolds, Lacock and Bath; the eight hour itinerary includes lunch and a cream tea. inandbeyondbath.com AUSTEN LOST & FOUND Bath’s Natural Theatre Company will be performing their immersive Austen Lost and Found theatre show throughout the year, using the city itself as a stage. naturaltheatre.co.uk

THE JANE AUSTEN BATH PHOTO TOUR Focussing on Jane’s various lodgings in Bath, plus places mentioned in Northanger Abbey and locations used in t e fil s. phototoursinbath.co.uk SYDNEY GARDENS JANE AUSTEN TRAIL Explore Jane’s relationship with the Georgian Pleasure Gardens, right across the road from her longest-serving local residence and mentioned in both Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. bathnes.gov.uk VISIT SALLY LUNN’S One of the oldest houses in Bath (c.1482), and the only place you can buy a fabled local delicacy (the Sally Lunn bun, of course!)

A French refugee, Sally rocked up here in 1680 and soon established a popular bakery: we’d be surprised if Jane didn’t indulge herself here on occasion. 4 North Parade Passage, sallylunns.co.uk AFTERNOON TEA Enjoy this most Austentonian of pleasures at assorted spots across the city, including the Georgian Pump Room, the social heart of Bath for more than two centuries CONTINUED OVERLEAF

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250 YEARS OF JANE three balls this year – two in the summer, and one in the winter, the most they’ve ever hosted. And it all starts with this nautical-themed Persuasion Ball. janeausten.co.uk

JUNE

Get your glad-rags on to celebrate all-things Jane

and a place Jane visited regularly. thepumproombath.co.uk

SPECIFIC EVENTS, MONTH-BY-MONTH APRIL

PRIDE & PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) Theatre Royal Bath, 14-18 April Direct from the West End, this is a unique, audacious, irreverent but a ectionate retelling o ane Austen’s most iconic love story. www.theatreroyal.org.uk JANE AUSTEN 250 SIX-DAY PROGRAMME The Gainsborough Hotel and ECT Travel, 7-12 April At the swanky Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, take in assorted talks (from ‘Beauty and Cosmetics in the Time of Jane Austen’ to ‘Gaming & Gambling and the Games Austen’s Characters Play’); a visit to the village of Lacock, star of the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice; a Regency dance workshop; an embroidery class; a celebratory dinner; and a Jane Austen themed afternoon tea. You can even enjoy the whole lot in full Regency costume – and if you can’t make the dates, it’s all repeated later in the year. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

MAY

AN AUDIENCE WITH LUCY WORSLEY ON JANE AUSTEN The Forum Bath, 27 May Acclaimed historian Lucy Worsley explores the life of one of literature s ost c eris ed figures discussing the world of the beloved author. bathforum.co.uk JANE AUSTEN 2025 BALLS Persuasion, 31 May The Jane Austen Festival is holding

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JANE AUSTEN 2025 BALLS Sanditon, 28 June The Jane Austen Festival’s second summer ball is seaside-themed, revolving around one of her best no n unfinis ed no els Sanditon. janeausten.co.uk GILL HORNBY Topping & Co, 23 June The top indie bookshop has a week (and a bit) of Jane Austen anniversary events planned, beginning with Gil Hornby talking about her sequel to Miss Austen and Godmersham Park, The Elopement. toppingbooks.co.uk JANE AUSTEN’S WARDROBE WITH HILARY DAVIDSON Topping & Co, 24 June The acclaimed dress historian re eals or t e first ti e t e wardrobe of one of the world’s most celebrated authors, and discovers a woman alert to fashion trends but thrifty and eager to repurpose clothing. toppingbooks.co.uk WHAT MATTERS IN JANE AUSTEN? WITH JOHN MULLAN Topping & Co, 25 June Inspired by an enthusiastic reader’s curiosity, What Matters in Jane Austen? uncovers the hidden truths about an e traordinary fictional world. toppingbooks.co.uk KATHRYN SUTHERLAND ON JANE AUSTEN IN 41 OBJECTS Topping & Co, 26 June This Senior Research fellow at ord as ritten a di erent ind of biography, in which objects with t eir o n istories o er s i ting entry points into Austen’s life. toppingbooks.co.uk AN AUSTEN WALK WITH ACKERMAN PRESS Topping & Co, 29 June Bath-based publishing duo Kirsten Elliott and Andrew Swift take you on a ramble through the streets of our beautiful city, revealing what it would have been like when Austen’s own feet pounded (or

should that be ‘pattered over’?) the pavements. toppingbooks.co.uk

special events throughout; see page 56 for more. janeausten.co.uk

JULY

THE GRAND REGENCY PROMENADE 13 September Is this the highlight of the Jane Austen festival? Perhaps! See page 56 for more. janeausten.co.uk

LIVING WITH JANE AUSTEN

BY JANET TODD Topping & Co, 4 July Part personal memoir, part expert interaction with all of Austen’s letters, manuscripts and published novels, Janet’s new book reveals what living with Jane Austen has meant to her – and might also mean to others. toppingbooks.co.uk THE MOST TIRESOME PLACE IN THE WORLD: JANE AUSTEN AND BATH BATH PRESERVATION TRUST The Gallery, No.1 Royal Crescent, 5 July-2 November Letters, contemporary responses and the only manuscript she wrote in Bath reveal the highs and lows of her time here, as this exhibition exposes how turbulence and loss cast a long shadow over Jane Austen and Bath. no1royalcrescent.org.uk

SEPTEMBER

JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL 12-21 September To celebrate this momentous year in Austen history, the Jane Austen Festival will be holding extra

ILLUSTRATING AUSTEN The Holburne Museum, September 2025 – January 2026 A great chance to see the artwork behind your favourite Austen characters. Illustrating Austen demonstrates how they came to life on the page and have evolved through the years. holburne.org

OCTOBER

JANE AUSTEN 250 SIX-DAY PROGRAMME The Gainsborough Hotel and ECT Travel, 13-18 October The guys do it all over again: see April for more. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

DECEMBER

JANE AUSTEN 2025 BALLS Pump Room Restaurant, 13 December The last of the Jane Austen Festival’s three balls is this special Yuletide Birthday extravaganza. janeausten.co.uk

STUCK FOR SOMEWHERE TO STAY? So was Jane, but not for long… Here are a few modern Austenheavy home-fromhome experiences…

GEORGIAN GETAWAY IN BATH The Francis Hotel An enticing twonighter, taking in Georgian townhouse museum No.1 Royal Crescent and The Jane Austen Centre, not to mention a Bridgerton cocktail back at the hotel, and traditional afternoon tea. francishotel.com PARTY WITH DARCY Mr Darcy’s Abode, Bath Luxury Rentals This chic boutique self-catering property is perfect for a group

stay in Bath, boasting seven bedrooms, four luxury bathrooms, a spacious kitchen and cosy snug. bathluxuryrentals. co.uk LITERARY HIDEAWAY ROOMS Hotel Indigo Bath The boutique city centre hotel features Literary Hideaway Rooms with walls of novels from Bath’s most famous authors; naturally, our Jane is represented, her room featuring a writer’s desk, perfect for reading a good book – or writing one. bath.hotelindigo.com JANE AUSTEN OVERNIGHT PACKAGE

Royal Crescent Hotel, 1 May - 30 September Their weekday Jane Austen Special pairs luxurious accommodation, a sumptuous breakfast and unlimited use of The Spa & Bath House with a captivating two-hour private walking tour of the streets where Austen lived, led by an expert Blue Badge-qualified guide from Fred Mawer Tours. royalcrescent.co.uk

For more on everything, and the latest news as the year goes on, go to visitbath.co.uk

Lost in Austen

Part of the reason we know so much about Jane Austen’s time in Bath is the sterling work of The Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street, and its associated annual Festival, bigger and better each year. To find out more, we caught up with Georgia Delve, the Festival’s director, but first, Paul Crossey, Managing Director of the Centre itself…

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aunched back in 1999 by David Baldock, an ex-head teacher who realised – to his great surprise – that the city had nothing permanent to celebrate ‘Bath’s most famous resident’, the Jane Austen Centre started small, but has grown relentlessly over the years. Then, as now, Austen adaptations – and Regency dramas in general – were big news, but even David admits he never thought it would last this long. riginally ust a single oor t e ane Austen entre no occu ies a full Georgian town house. “It didn’t take long to built visitor numbers up from 15,000 to around 50,000 a year,” says current boss Paul Crossey, “but 2024 was our busiest year yet, with over 200,000 through the door.

It’s their passion and love for Austen that allows us to continue sharing her legacy.”

Imagine we’ve never been, Paul: what would we encounter as we walk through the door?

Every guest is greeted by one of our actors, who guides them through an introductory tal e laining ane s li e a ily tree literary in uence and time in Bath. (During our peak summer months we can have up to 50 costu e clad sta .

After this, the group is taken through the Exhibition, with actors and ushers on hand to give them a taste of the Regency era. Visitors can try on Regency costumes, smell period perfumes, taste Regency biscuits, try their hand at writing with a quill pen, and even play some of the games Jane enjoyed – as well as have their photo taken with our Jane Austen waxwork!

Yes, tell us a bit more about that…

She was made by a renowned ex-Madame Tussauds Senior Sculpture, Mark Richards, based on forensic artist Melissa Dring’s portrait of Jane. Unveiled in 2014, it’s one of the most photographed pieces in the Centre.

Do you get actors and writers coming in to do research, maybe?

ccasionally yes and e e lenty o sta o are e erts in all t ings Austen. In fact, our very own Mrs Bennet (formally our Festival Director, ac ie Herring is in t e iddle o riting t o no els about ane Austen

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and her time in Bath, and so if we have any enquiries we can direct them to her.

In 2021 we were unexpectedly visited by Dame Emma Thompson, who wrote the screenplay for – and starred as Elinor Dashwood in – Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility. She very kindly donated some behindthe-scenes photographs from the production and a signed copy of the screen lay t en too otogra s it all our sta and e en rote us a letter, all of which are framed and available for guests to see. Then even ca e bac t e ne t orning it indi idual ca es or t e sta What else might we see…?

n t e an o ngland gi ted us one o t e first ban notes eaturing ane Austen o as t e first o an on a ritis ban note o asn t t e ueen. e also got t e only first edition note it t e year of her birth, 1775, considered so valuable that two special couriers were sent directly from the Bank of England to deliver it. (They stayed for afternoon tea.)

Finally, what’s the secret of Jane Austen’s enduring appeal?

Partly it’s that she gives us insights into a fascinating period of history, and that regular adaptations keep her relevant. You get the grand balls, the symmetrical architecture, the extravagance, the romance, the prudishness, the wars overseas, the contrast of riches and poverty, house servants, public executions, fascinating personal hygiene (or lack of it), the church, science, the suppression of women, and on and on re e ber en a id first inter ie ed e in t e su er o 2015, he asked if I was a fan. My answer was: “I studied Northanger Abbey for English A-level, and got an A, but I’m not sure how much Austen a eals to teenage boys. ould e e ently argue t at act no n act it s ard not to be an Austen an and find ost eo le o t in t ey aren t ust don t realise o uc er or as in uenced later boo s and fil ost recently Bridgerton.

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250 YEARS OF JANE

he Jane Austen Centre’s greatest success, however, has perhaps been the ongoing Jane Austen Festival, run every September since 2001. From just a handful of people – almost all locals, and none in costume – meeting up for a few events one weekend, to 400 or so for the biggest pre-Covid festival, it’s certainly grown in size over the years – and it’s got more ambitious, too. This year’s is going to be the biggest ever, with seasonal balls throughout the year, and the Grand Regency Promenade due to attract over 2,000 participants – a record number.

“In 2023, we set a world record for the greatest number of people gathered together in Regency costume,” says Georgia Delve, who’s been in charge since 2022. “When I took over, the Promenade attracted around 600 in period costume, which grew to around 900 in 2023 and an amazing 1,270 in 2024. That said, we sold around 3,500 tickets over ten days of events last year, so if promenading in costume isn’t for you, you ll still be sure to find an Austen e ent t at you lo e.

Wow! So, Georgia, how have you grown so fast?

The website and social media is now updated year round, and we’ve been delighted to welcome a whole series of new events on board. Bath is a beautiful back-drop for everything we do, and for many people, coming to join in the fun is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether you’re a solo traveller, or you’ve rounded up all your Austen-loving family and friends to come with you, there will be a warm welcome – and if you are considering attending alone, remember, you’ll be meeting a lot of people with whom you have a shared interest, and making riends ill be easy Tell us how you first got involved…

I’ve always been a fan, and remember my mum sitting me down to watch the BBC’s 1995 Pride & Prejudice series, so I suppose I can mostly bla e er. first ca e along to t e ane Austen esti al aged it my mum, and loved the community feel – and, of course, fell in love with t e city o at . e ne t year e ailed t e esti al director o ering y services as a volunteer – as part of my Duke of Edinburgh award – and ended up volunteering the full 10 days, staying with a family friend to be close enough to get to Bath every day. I was actually the only festival volunteer that year, but we’re now blessed with a skilled and friendly team of more than 20 volunteer stewards. I came on board as Festival irector in it s t e ind o institution t at really benefits ro having someone in charge who’s been part of it and seen it grow.

Tell us a bit about this year’s Festival…

We’ve some longstanding experts who join us every year, such as Professor John Mullan, who brings a fresh perspective with each resentation as ell as a dedicated ollo ing o ard core ans and events like the Regency Balls are easy to run. We are obviously very blessed to have so many iconic historic buildings capable of hosting these sorts of event, and working with their building hire teams is normally smooth and joyous.

Working with local businesses is also great fun: the Jane Austen Festival is a chance for everyone to get creative, bringing Regency fans into their worlds. The big balancing act is to run our events in a way that brings people to Bath and helps local business, but doesn’t impact on people trying to live their lives around the city.

It can’t always go perfectly, surely? (After all, it rarely does in Jane’s books…)

One memorable hiccup was in 2022, with the Queen sadly passing away on the Thursday, a day before the Festival was to begin. Naturally, we had a contingency plan in place for the Promenade, allowing us to run it respectfully during the week of mourning – but I’d only been in the job t ree ont s and s ent a ery bi arre ours fielding en uiries about Proof that it doesn’t often rain on the Promenade’s parade!

CONTINUED OVERLEAF

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SPONSORED CONTENT

JOYFUL SOUNDS Local children’s charity VOICES FOR LIFE are spreading musical magic with Stardust concert!

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n 29 January 2025, Bath Abbey will be filled with the joyful voices of 200 local primary school children, as part of Bath charity Voices for Life’s latest concert, Stardust.

Combining wellbeing workshops with quality music education, the Stardust project helps children deal with their emotions positively and build healthy relationships. In fact, it has been so successful that this is already the 7th time it has run!

The tailored musical work, written by composer Jools Scott and librettist Sue Curtis, launches children on an imaginative voyage of interstellar exploration, as they overcome the challenges of different ‘feeling planets’ en route to their happy planet Zarg.

However, the stars of Zarg’s night sky won’t be the only ones lighting up the children’s journey.

One young musical star, Voices for Life’s Young Ambassador, will also be adding a dash of sparkle

to the concert. Further details to be revealed on the night…

The concert will be accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble, directed by regular guest conductor for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pete Harrison, and narrated by the dulcet tones of The Archer’s John Telfer.

Having helped 6,658 children discover the thrill of singing together in 2024 alone, the impact of Voices for Life’s projects is significant. Parents and teachers have previously reported that 82 per cent of children experienced a boost in confidence, while 97 per cent had gained better teamworking and relationship-building skills. At a time when a shocking 1 in 6 children aged 5-16 have a likely mental health condition, this work couldn’t be more necessary.

What’s more, as many primary schools find themselves unable to deliver adequate music education due to funding cuts, projects like Stardust fill a major gap in school music provision.

With the help of the charity, children from all backgrounds can learn the joy of singing together in a way they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. n

For ‘Stardust’ tickets, visit the Bath Box Office website: https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/whats-on/ stardust-a-musical-journey-2025/about.

For information about Voices for Life, see our website: www.voicesforlife.org.uk

JANE AUSTEN SPECIAL

ABOVE: Learn to dance the Jane Austen way; BELOW: A white dress, a floor-dragging hem and croquet: thank goodness the servants do all the washing!

whether the festival would still go ahead. Like Austen, Queen Elizabeth as an iconic figure in o en s istory and balancing sadness and s oc alongside t e need to carry on or our isitors any o o regarded isiting as a long o ed or ost o id buc et list tri as uite a challenge.

What’s it like for you during the Festival itself?

usually eel a i ture o cal ness in t at it s all going to lan and can ust ste bac and let t ings a en i ed it an iety aiting or so et ing to go rong. A issed train or a er or er or so et ing a ing been orgotten on t e lanning list ig t ean e suddenly a e to firefig t. e constant strea o e ents o ten o erla ing or one ollo ing rig t a ter anot er eans t ere s rarely ti e to rest and ta e stoc at least not until t e ole ten days are o er. also lo e greeting any o t e sa e artici ants eac year t ere are lots o great eo le in t e ane Austen orld and lo e t at t ey re no getting to en oy y ision o t e esti al and try t e ne t ings e co e u it .

Weather must be an issue, surely?

uring y first year as director treated t e olunteers to a ga e o cro uet on t e last day but t e eat er as a alling and y tea ere all in egency costu e soa ed to t e s in. er y t ree esti als it see s to a e beco e uite t e tradition or t e last unday to a e torrential rain. e e ta en to saying t at t e at s ies are crying because e re lea ing Finally, do you take part in any of the events yourself?

at all t e bigger ones. lo e egency dancing so al ays try to get onto t e oor or one or t o dances at eac ball. t er ise try to circulate and chat with visitors, gathering feedback which I can take into ne t year s lanning. lo e al ing around t e edge o t e Asse bly oo s ballroo atc ing t e dancers and at t e sa e ti e listening to t ose atc ing c atter about at t ey re seeing. t s at a bustling Asse bly oo s ust a e elt li e bac in at s eorgian eyday For more; janeausten.co.uk

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JODYCORY.CO.UK | 01225 460072 | JODY@JODYCORY.CO.UK 9 ABBEY CHURCHYARD, BATH, BA1 1LY

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

LITERARY FIRST ile ane Austen s celebrated no els a e long ca tured t e ublic s a ections e are ac uainted it er lesser no n yet e ually delig t ul u enilia The History of England; By a Partial, Prejudiced and Ignorant Historian. enned in at t e age o t is i sical or resents a oc istory ro t e reign o Henry to t at o arles by a istorian bot artial re udiced and la entably unin or ed. n t is c ar ingly satirical account iss Austen deli ers a lay ul criti ue o t e onderous and sel i ortant istories o er ti e it t e illustrations on eac age dra n by er elder sister assandra. A true testa ent to Austen s yout ul it The History of England stands as an early arbinger o er s ar en or ic s e ould later beco e orld reno ned.

The History of England; By a Partial, Prejudiced and Ignorant Historian by Jane Austen, £5, from The Jane Austen Centre, 40 Gay Street, Bath; www.janeausten.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 61

REGENCY ILLUSTRATED HAND FAN, £18 isco er t e language o t e an t e uttering silent essages that conveyed so much across the Assemble Rooms divide – it t is eticulously cra ted ale in abric and ooden an.

A LITTLE AUSTENTATIOUS

Celebrate the legend’s birthday with these accessories, all available from the Jane Austen Centre giftshop

EMMA FLORAL BOOK VASE, £28 A versatile vase bringing beauty and functionality to any table space, desk or indo sill. ill it res bloo s dried o ers a e u brus es or your o n riting i le ents.

NORTHANGER ABBEY PENDANT, WAS £80, NOW £40 This silver and enamel book charm can be worn as a charm to a bracelet or on a c ain as a nec lace. Northanger Abbey, published in 1817, is the novel in which Bath appears the most as a setting and centres around Catherine orland s isit to t e city.

JANE AUSTEN ZIP TOP POUCH, £17 Made from 100 per cent cotton, this blue-green pouch with a vibrant orange zip features witty, well-known quotes from all six Jane Austen novels and is not only ractical but a es a state ent.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BOARD BOOK BY LIT FOR LITTLE HANDS, £11 ey re ne er too young to be introduced to Jane Austen with this board book full of hands-on features including pull-out sections a s and interacti e eels.

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

JANE AUSTEN CENTRE TOTE BAG, £15 Featuring an exclusively illustrated building facade of the Jane Austen Centre, this sturdy tote bag with inside pockets is perfect for everyday use including promenades with friends, carrying books, and storing one’s embroidery.

JANE AUSTEN ICONS TRAVEL CUP, £30 The perfect combination of style and practicality with the soft blue sturdy cup featuring designs such as quills, fans and the famous silhouette of the author herself.

TIMESCAPE JANE AUSTEN'S PLIGHT, £12 The reputation of Jane Austen has been tarnished and her works are being threatened with erasure from history. Travel back in time to Regency-era Bath and use courage and powers of persuasion to solve the puzzles and the crime, and ensure Jane’s literature lives on.

MR DARCY RUBBER DUCK, £14 From his characteristic dark hair to the fateful letter to Elizabeth Bennet safely tucked under his wing, Fitzwilliam Darcy Esquire duck is even better when dunked in water…

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY BONE CHINA TEACUP AND SAUCER, £32 n egency ngland e eryt ing sto s or tea ser ed in fine bone china. This dainty cup, which is one of six collectible designs is inscribed it t isn t at e say or t in t at defines us but at e do. www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 63

FASHION

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

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Embracing style and sensibility this winter

By Marianne Cantelo

he ageless style of Jane Austen’s novels lies in needlelike witty dialogue, characters sewn with pathos, their believable problems skilfully draped into shape, drama embroidered with colourful comedy for contrast, and of course, relatable fashion conundrums that re ain odern and res t o undred and fi ty years on.

Austen re ected bac t e real orld and real people in her writing and despite the war against France, the English Regency ‘ton’ re ained greatly in uenced by aris ere clothes were intrinsically romantic postrevolution. Diaphanous gowns referenced classical mythology and a fascination with natural beauty ale is y c i ons and the airiest thinnest muslin contrasted with masculine Spencer jackets and pelisses with military detailing that added heroic appeal into the everyday. While gentlewomen were

living relatively subdued lives, diverted only by ‘coming out,’ the occasional ball, weddings, highly controlled social events and regular church going, their clothes were an expression of their rich inner lives, hopes and individuality.

Along with all things Austen, the world is waking up to the exquisite workmanship and undeniable aesthetic appeal of embroidery, so stitch yourself a charming prospect with desirable scarves and s a ls a boyantly decorated, to add contrast to otherwise simple attire. Look for vintage items in places like Find Ubiety on London oad at a treasure tro e o finds t at a e stood the test of time and value them up as present and future heirloom pieces, products of hardwork and dexterous accomplishment that

“A full length military coat is the clothing equivalent of a hero taking you up in his arms”

2 3 1

SHOPPING LIST

1. Manera ankle boot in peach by Chie Mihara, was £395 now £197.50, from Grace & Mabel, 3 George Street, Bath; www.graceandmabel.co.uk; www.graceandmabel.co.uk 2. Iris coat in olive wax cotton, £699, from Cabbages & Roses, 3 West End, Bruton; www.cabbagesandroses.com 3. Emma – three-point lined leather gloves, £55.20, from Dents Factory Shop, Furnax Lane, Warminster; www.dentsgloves.com

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

most of us are without.

Following overindulgence at Christmas, embracing higher waistlines and the forgiving classic empire-line or luxurious draping, instead of punishing ourselves with diets is refreshingly accepting and an e ression o finer sense and sensibilities about our self image. Bring your dress into this century with punkish plaid, or choose paisley or jacquards in unexpected shades for a feel that is bohemian rather than naïve, and choose dancing instead of spinning, to keep your heart rate up and healthy. As the great Austen herself said, “Woman is fine or er o n satis action alone. o an ill admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it.”

As we stroll towards spring looking for positivity and new perspectives we can take inspiration from Austen’s women, choosing a lighter palette for our clothes and simpler elegance. Whether ivory or champagne whites, dove or mouse grey, sugared almond pastels or subtle nudes, lighter colours imbue our clot es it t e energy o ot er ature in her growing beauty and innocence. If you fear the inevitable ‘mud’ that accompanies spring sunshine and showers, suppress your potential agitation by channeling Elizabeth Bennet and earing sturdy al ing boots and a air o fine eyes’, or pastel tone sunglasses if you like.

Sharpening an otherwise too balloon-like and gau y sil ouette it a cro ed fitted ac et adds the correct amount of restraint to an ensemble and is a preventative measure against oating o y e obb or indeed at ic Hill, on a windy day. Like the Georgians you can reference the military in wool or velvet, with buttons, frogging or epaulettes, or if you prefer something more subtle, a neatly minimal version in moleskin or leather recommends itself, letting the tailoring speak volumes.

If you feel that you are in need of more protection against the misfortunes of the world, a full length military coat is the clothing equivalent of a hero taking you up in his arms and carrying you home, without having your eart bro en. orn it a confident ste and a pair of Doc Martins, the modern pelisse repels fatiguing attentions from undesirable suitors, while exciting admiration from the congenial.

Photograph: Egle Vasi; www.eglevasi.com Hair and make up: Louise Mead Model: Alana Thomas Styling: Marianne Cantelo and Eleanor Tasker Clothes: Selected from Dorothy House charity shops which has 25 high street shops across the region and can also be perused online at www.dorothyhouse.shop

Discover Root Spice, Bath’s hidden gem, where Head Chef Soyful’s progressive menu blends culinary expertise with a fresh take on Indian cuisine, including exceptional vegan and vegetarian options.

Escape the winter chill and step into our warm, beautifully decorated restaurant, where a cosy, luxurious atmosphere awaits to elevate your dining experience.

15 Argyle Street, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4BQ 01225 698127 | contact@rootspice.co.uk

www.rootspice.co.uk Find us on f 

IN SEASON WITH VERITY Why a sprout is for life, and not just for Christmas

PICTURE BY VERIT Y GENCO

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

THE BRUSSEL SPROUT is possibly the only vegetable that holds a special, almost revered, place in the traditional British festive meal, but not really anywhere else. Yet their season lasts from December to March, and not only are they tasty, but they are packed with nutrients, making these little green treasures a worthwhile addition to your winter diet.

Much of the negative perception surrounding Brussels sprouts seems to stem from childhood memories of soggy servings.

This could be traced back to the outdated method of scoring a cross on the base of the sprouts, which is actually only necessary for the larger ones. To achieve the best texture and

Sprouts are packed with nutrients

a our s routs s ould be coo ed brie y. is way they will develop a sweetness and retain their impressive nutritional value.

The reputation of Brussels through farmers’ markets and quality greengrocers has improved and you can pick up an attractive long stalk of Brussels nowadays, not only making shopping for them feel like an event, but the stalks keep s routs res er longer and also o ers t o additional edible treats: the tender leaves at the top of the plant, as well as the sprout tops. ese are a our ul t ey a e an e cellent side dish when steamed and paired with a touch of salt and butter.

You can easily keep the cooking of Brussel

sprouts straightforward but consider enhancing these delightful vegetables with a splash of balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice. or a gour et air en oy roasting t e in oil until the leaves become crispy, then tossing the warm sprouts with feta or Parmesan cheese, res erbs red e er a es or nuts. t s about ti e e e brace russels s routs in our kitchens beyond just the holiday season; they are versatile, tasty, incredibly nutritious, and can keep us going before the seasonal springtime crops roll round.

For more Brussel sprout inspiration, head to Verity’s Instagram page @ForTheFlavour

WHAT’S THE BEEF?

The Beefy Boys are heading to Milsom Street

Award-winning burger brand The Beefy Boys has announced plans to open a new restaurant in Bath this year taking up the prominent 24 Milsom Street corner spot, previously home to the Milsom Hotel and Bar. The Beefy Boys, which was founded in 2011 by four childhood friends, is known for its American-style barbecue dishes and smashed patties. The new Bath location will feature its signature o erings including t e a ard inning ee y oy Burger, made with grass-fed Herefordshire beef and topped with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, red onion, gherkin, Swiss cheese, and a signature sauce. Other highlights include the Oklahoma Onion Boy with caramelised onions cooked into the patty, and the Peanut Butter and Jelly Boy, which co bines s eet and sa oury a ours.

For more: www.thebeefyboys.com

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

BRIAR AT NUMBER ONE BRUTON

The farm-to-table rustic delight is where fine dining meets nostalgia and poetry

By Lydia Tewkesbury

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RESTAURANT

ithin the varied landscape of Somerset, Bruton is its whole own thing. A tiny town with a single high street that isn t uc to rite o e about at first glance, but look a little closer and you’ll see an impressive array of creative and luxurious shops, nationally acclaimed restaurants, art galleries and more than a couple of famous residents. In the last decade or so, Bruton has become a miniature cultural epicentre, so when the opportunity arose for a night away at Number One Bruton – a 12-bedroom boutique hotel comprised of a carefully converted Georgian townhouse, medieval forge and row of cottages – I packed my overnight bag and headed the 30 miles from Bath.

After four years of careful renovation of the once derelict property, Aled and Claudia Lees opened the doors to Number One in 2020 and proclaimed it a love letter to Somerset. The personal touches are evident everywhere, from the mugs at breakfast, hand-crafted by Somerset-based potter, Richard Pomeroy (and for sale in the living room), to the delicious complementary shortbread, with a ‘yesteryear’-style label letting you know it’s homemade by aren loco e o consistently ins first ri e or er ba ing at t e annual village show. Now if that just isn’t the sweetest way to highlight Number One’s locally lovingly curated ethos.

“The datestamped menus display that night’s moon phase”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 69

RESTAURANT

ig lig ts t e s o ed celeriac tart it s allots ld inc ester and our years in and u ber ne finds itsel bac in t e eadlines green to ato c utney uses eg ro u t e road gro n by a riend o it t e o ening o its brand ne restaurant riar. e site or erly a s e described as or ing t e land it er baby stra ed to er occu ied by acclai ed local a ourite si as been ta en on by t e c est ile uc o t e rest is gro n by a i sel in u ber ne s young and gi ted c e a o as or erly o lebe House in e on itc en garden. t all eels nouris ing oleso e and cosy and is ade and t e Great British Menu. riar na ed a ter t e ild bra bles and all t e better or being able to stroll bac u t e stairs contentedly ea y s rubs s illing ro edgero s is a y er local a air. Al ost daily it o erset a le ca e and ste straig t into y ast cla ooted c anging s all lates a ear on date sta ed enus ic dis lay bat tub co lete it beauti ul rose and basil t at nig t s oon ase a ing crescent and clay ace as and bat soa ic u ber eat er orecast ist ile t e drin s list o ens DINING DETAILS ne so generously ro ides to lu uriate in t e it one o t e oet ea us Heany s odes to t e Briar at Number One Bruton, o erset lo eliness o it all. countryside. e ibe is nature and t e stri ed 1 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AB; u ber ne o ers so any treats cider in bac editerranean eets o erset ar ouse tel: 01749 813030; www.numberonebruton.com your roo beauti ul bat roducts as a decor i ies usic dri ting ro t e s ea ers and Established Number One opened in 2020, Briar little sce tical o t e natural s a oo but you definitely and t ro n ases and tealig t olders opened in September 2024 no at t did a great ob and er a s best adorning t e c un y ooden tables gi e t e s ot Opening hours Hotel is open 7 days a week; o all y stay included day isit to nearby e a s ecific rustic aut entic cool t at a es lu ury Briar opens for lunch and dinner Weds – Sat, 12-3pm and 6-9pm e t usually strictly e bers only to e lore t e eel co ortingly o e ade as i you could buy Owned by Claudia Waddams and Aled Rees a ously glorious gardens and restaurant t ere. ust t is all do n at t e ea ar et or a fi er. re e ber to boo yoursel in at rece tion. a s culinary dedication to t e area s ines Chef Sam Lomas o e u t e nig t a ter y stay a o an t roug e ery one o is creations ro dus to Recommendations The menu changes all the re i ed. ad a long su tuous as in y da n. e beauti ul ca ey orridge sourdoug time, but the Westcombe Cheddar gougeres with locally picked wild garlic capers are a staple gigantic so t in s o er ade sure to sit on e ery in aled it generous el ings o cultured single seat in y ast roo including t e ornately butter uses our ro andrace our ill t e Covers 24 cute i so e at ractically ine licable oral elt in t e out c eddar gougeres t e eating Prices Small plates cost £7-£24 and desserts bat roo ar c air and re elled in t e continental o ic onestly elt li e a religious e erience £9-£11 brea ast. y a ourite detail o t is deliciously dining alone ound ysel loo ing des erately Vegetarian and vegan There are options but u li ting early orning ic start as t e uice to ot er tables or confir ation as ing can you also if the menu doesn’t have a lot that day, Sam will cook something up on request si ly labelled laud s dad s a le uice . an s belie e t ese it y eyes are ade it tangy laud s dad. s ar estco be c eddar and anot er o y Atmosphere Reassuringly rustically chic

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

LIVING WELL WITH DEMENTIA

A guide to thriving with support

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dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but living well with dementia is possible with the right support and strategies. At Arbor, we are dedicated to empowering individuals and their families to navigate the challenges of dementia with confidence and dignity.

We prioritise personalised, compassionate care. Our multidisciplinary team of experienced professionals collaborates closely with clients to develop tailored interventions that address their unique needs, preferences, and goals. These interventions foster independence and enhance quality of life.

Based in Bath and Bristol, we bring practical knowledge of local systems and maintain strong relationships with other care providers, ensuring effective support.

Here are some of our top tips for living well with dementia:

improves overall health and brain function. Focus on activities you enjoy and celebrate what you can do rather than dwelling on limitations.

1. Stay physically active Regular exercise, such as walking or yoga,

5. Use assistive technologies Medication reminders, GPS trackers, and voice-

2. Keep mentally stimulated Engage in puzzles, reading, or learning new skills to challenge your brain. Social activities like joining a choir can also be enjoyable and uplifting.

3. Build a routine A consistent daily schedule reduces confusion and offers a sense of security. Use reminders such as calendars and alarms and simplify living spaces to minimise clutter and distractions.

4. Involve family, friends and professionals Staying connected with family and friends is essential to combat isolation. Involve them with care decisions and consider arranging a lasting power of attorney. Seek professional support where needed.

activated devices are helpful to enhance safety and independence.

6. Prioritise safety Ensure your home is safe by installing grab bars, using non-slip mats, and maintaining good lighting.

Share emergency contacts with trusted individuals for added peace of mind.

Living well with dementia is about finding balance, embracing available resources, and focusing on a fulfilling life. Every person’s journey is unique, so adapting these tips to individual needs is essential. n

At Arbor, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For more information, please visit us at www.arbor-neuro.com; tel: 01172872088; email: info@arbor-neuro.com

BEAUTY LEFT: Dr Lucy Middlefell has moved

PHOTO BY BET T Y BHANDARI PHOTOGR APHY

her practice into larger premises; INSET: Obagi products which are used for the facial, provide medical grade skin care; BELOW: Phase 1 is the Artemis advanced bipolar radio frequency treatment

THE REGENERATION GAME

Sarah Moolla experiences a ‘good to glow’ bespoke facial at the Townhouse Clinic

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t’s not the best of descriptions, is it A c e ical eel. t s definitely gi ing o acid attac in t e eyes vibes. If the chemicals don’t get you, then the post nuclear war peeling will. But turns out none of this true. Under the guidance of Dr Lucy Middlefell – who has not long moved her small medical skin rejuvenation and aesthetics clinic from idco be to a tall t ree oor to n ouse on Old King Street in the city centre – I went or it. y ery first eel e er and y first facial in a very long time.

What persuaded me was this is Dr Lucy’s own signature creation and what this woman doesn’t know about beauty treatments, products and tips, isn’t worth knowing. It is a signature regenerative treatment which is non-invasive and co bines t e li ting e ect o t e Arte is energy based device, with a light medical peel, lus t e regenerati e benefits o lig t therapy, and as with everything Dr Lucy does, t is isn t a one si e fits all.

After analysing my tired, grey, slightly congested skin, she starts on Phase 1 – the Artemis advanced bipolar radio frequency treatment. The energy produced by the

radio frequency penetrates deep into the skin to boost collagen production, increase circulation, and is designed to help decrease t e a earance o rin les fine lines and pores. There’s no needles, no pain, just what looks like a large plug gently moved in small circles around my face.

Then onto Phase 2 which is the application of Obagi Blue Peel Radiance face mask. is is a uic and co ortable su erficial chemical peel that exfoliates the skin and unclogs pores.

It’s an immediate complexion booster and is known to be really beneficial or acne su erers.

I have to admit Phase 3 took me by surprise – it’s 20 minutes of medical grade LED light therapy. This involves a face covering device and being ‘blasted’ with light. There are o tions or di erent le els and a e to ad it the highest level, which would have been the ost e ecti e elt a little o er el ing it s like being in the middle of a blinding desert.

We did switch to a lower setting which, for my first ti e elt uc less intense. en finally ase ic is a bes o e facial using Obagi’s award-winning, specially formulated and dermatologist approved skincare, a medical grade brand

“I’m ready to start incorporating this appealing peel as part of my beauty routine”

Dr Lucy totally swears by. She’s selected a range of products for my skin that target hyperpigmentation, ageing, and sun damage.

One of the things I’d been concerned about was going out that night, and I didn’t want ‘a tomato in boiling water’ face but Dr Lucy has assured me the opposite is the case. And she’s not kidding. I am positively glowing. You know that incandescent sun-kissed look you get a few days into your summer holiday?

Well, I had that – it was a glow from within.

There is literally no downtime, my skin feels decongested, clear, and cleansed, and it was compliments all the way.

A few months on and I’m ready to go again and start incorporating this treatment as part of my routine. Dy Lucy suggests four times a year, carried out by herself or Tally, her resident expert skin therapist, would be enoug to really retain t e benefits but e en i you did this just once before a big event, the radiance it lends your skin would be worth it.

This really is an appealing peel! n For more: The Townhouse Clinic, 5 Old King Street, Bath; www.townhouseclinic.com Dr Lucy’s signature regenerative treatment which is non-invasive and combines the lifting effect of the Artemis energy based device with a light medical peel, plus the regenerative benefits of LED light therapy and a customised Obagi facial costs £200.

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

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ABOVE: The landscaped grounds of Wadswick

Green; LEFT: Wadswick has allotments on site

he face of retirement living is changing; our current elderly population expects a high standard of life, whether it’s in their own home, in a carefully created community, or a residence o ering ull time care. Here we explore just a few of those options.

TOMORROW’S PEOPLE Exploring care options for retirement and beyond

By Elsie Chadwick 74 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Abney & Baker Homecare and Support, 20 Moorland Road, Bath; www.abneyandbaker.com Abney & Baker is a local home care and su ort co any dedicated to o ering care and support to individuals within the local community in the comfort of their own homes.

The team’s services cover the areas of West Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset, where they currently support around 120 clients with a dedicated team of 50 carers.

The range of services range from companionship visits, personal care and relief visits to daily support around the home. ar eting anager ara aulfield are says, “At Abney & Baker, we believe that providing the highest quality of home care begins with looking after those who deliver it: our carers.

“Our focus on this principle has resulted in us being named the UK’s Best Workplace in Healthcare as well as the UK’s Best Workplace for Women by Great Place to Work – a testament to the culture we’ve built and the values we live by. We pride ourselves on setting ourselves apart in the care industry by truly

RETIREMENT

ABOVE: Luxe dining at Meryton Place; RIGHT: Quality home care at Abney & Baker

caring for our carers as much as we care for our clients.

“We are dedicated to providing highquality, compassionate home care that ensures our clients and their families have peace of mind, knowing they can live happily, safely, and independently in their own homes. With our great care guarantee o ering reassurance the transparency of our family portal, and our commitment to caring for your carers, we prioritise the well-being of our clients, ensuring they are always in the safest hands.”

getting their hands dirty in our beautifully landscaped gardens or enjoying the therapeutic visits from friendly PAT dogs.

We have regular visits from local schools and nurseries creating wonderful intergenerational connections, and regular outings to local attractions o ering res e eriences ilst musical entertainment and lively craft sessions bring joy and creativity. For those who enjoy a challenge, our Scrabble club is always a hit, and residents take great pride in tending to our ouris ing egetable garden.

Meryton Place, 213 Bath Road, Keynsham; www.hamberleycarehomes.co.uk Meryton Place is a 78-bed luxury care home located in eyns a o ering residential dementia and nursing care, with a range of onsite amenities including a café, deluxe cinema, private dining suite, and wellbeing salon. The home combines elegant interiors, landscaped gardens, and thoughtful architecture, creating an atmosphere akin to a high-end hotel. The luxury care home is part of the multi award-winning Hamberley Care Homes, a care group with 22 care homes across the UK. Home manager Natalie James explains ore it in our o es you ll find ‘homemakers’ who are so much more than a carer – they are companions who make each day meaningful and special for residents.

Unlike traditional care homes where roles are di ided e o er a uni ue inno ati e odel of care where our homemakers provide personal assistance and housekeeping, fostering a nurturing community, enhancing residents’ wellbeing. This approach creates a ulfilling su orti e en iron ent ere residents thrive. eryton lace also o ers an array o activities both inside the home and out in the vibrant local community. Residents love

“A thriving community of socially connected independent people” “Our resident chef creates a selection of delicious, home-cooked meals tailored to each resident’s dietary needs. Residents can enjoy a restaurant-style dining experience with new friends or invite family for a special meal in our private dining suite.”

Wadswick Green, Corsham; www.rangefordvillages.co.uk Wadswick Green in Corsham is a luxury retirement village by award-winning later living developer Rangeford Villages.

The development comprises 202 one-, two-, and three-bedroom state of the art, energy e cient a art ents. esigned to el ro ote independent living and living life to the full, owners can enjoy the comfort and convenience of living in a contemporary village with acilities ic ri al t at o a fi e star otel including 24/7 support services. To help ease the transition into their new homes, there are

also optional tailored wellbeing plans and wellbeing supervisors available.

“Set in the Wiltshire countryside over 25 acres of beautifully landscaped, spacious grounds with mature trees and wildlife ponds,” says village manager Keith Turnbull, “the village is designed with over 60’s enjoyment and wellbeing in mind. Outdoor spaces include a village green – with a central communal lawn framed by simple paths allowing space for walking, meeting, socialising, and activities, courtyards around the apartments, and allotments – to encourage green fingered residents to a e t eir contribution to the village’s gardens.

“Wadswick Green is a thriving community of socially connected independent people who together, create a vibrant village atmosphere. With an abundance of amenities and acti ities on o er or an enric ed li e owners at the village can be as relaxed or as active as they please. e reen ouse o ee o and Restaurant is open to the public and attracts visitors thanks to its charming décor and seasonal menu with locally sourced and sustainable produce. For wine lovers, the restaurant is well stocked with tried-and-true favourites, from a wide range of reds and whites to locally distilled gins and brewed beer.

“At the heart of Wadswick Green is The Pavilion, the hub of social activity and where the villages’ communal amenities can be found. These include The Greenhouse, a spa with an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, the on-site hair salon and ully e ui ed gy . riendly illage sta and management are close at hand including a concierge, housekeeping and the domiciliary care team.

“Multi-purpose rooms and areas are available for the many social activities, hobby groups, celebrations and gatherings that take place at the village.” n

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

Discover connections and comfort at MERYTON PLACE, your warm and welcoming care home in Keynsham

A

t Meryton Place, life is so much more than just care – it’s about building meaningful relationships and finding joy in shared moments. Every day offers an opportunity to create new memories, foster lasting friendships, and embrace the warmth of a supportive community.

This luxury care home places residents at the heart of everything they do. They nurture connections and treat every individual as a cherished member of the family, ensuring a true sense of belonging.

“MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND A VIBRANT COMMUNITY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LIVING A FULFILLING LIFE”

The team at Meryton Place know that meaningful relationships and a vibrant community are essential for living a fulfilling life. That’s why they focus on creating an environment where you can thrive – whether by exploring hobbies, trying something new, or simply enjoying the company of friends who share your interests.

For those moments when you seek some quiet time, the home also provides tranquil spaces for quiet reflection. Relax in the beautiful gardens, enjoy a good book in a cosy corner, or unwind in peace, knowing that a friendly face is always nearby when you’re ready for company.

Meryton’s award-winning Homemakers go beyond traditional care. They are companions who take the time to understand your unique needs, offering support, kindness, and connection – from a simple smile to a heartfelt chat or helping hand.

At Meryton Place, you’re never alone. You’re surrounded by people who care and who celebrate life with you. Experience the warmth,

companionship, and vibrant community for yourself. n

Contact our friendly team to book your tour today on 0117 171 2334 or email enquiries@ hamberleycarehomes.co.uk. Alternatively, you can find out more about our other luxury care home in Bristol, Lovell Place – search ‘Lovell Place’ to learn more.

Meryton Place, 213 Bath Road, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TN; www.hamberleycarehomes.co.uk

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

MENTAL CAPACITY Local legal expert HELEN STARKIE explains the meaning of a common, yet complex term…

I

t’s a term bandied about in conversation but what does it actually mean? “Jim’s very vague; I think he’s lost his mental capacity.” We’ve all heard comments like this, but a total lack of capacity to do, or decide anything, is actually quite rare.

The Mental Capacity Act provides that “a person lacks capacity in relation to a particular matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain”.

The question of capacity is, therefore, both time and issue specific, so, for example, Jim might be unable to manage his own finances as well as once he did, but be perfectly capable of making decisions about where he wants to live, what he’d like to wear, what he would like to eat etc. Or he may have times when he finds decision-making easier than at other times.

This is often the case where someone like Jim is on medication.

The Act specifies that an individual must be treated as having capacity until proven otherwise and we may not draw conclusions simply from his age or appearance or because he behaves in a particular way. We need proof.

From a legal perspective, where there is some doubt about a person’s capacity, lawyers need to be sure that a person has the ability to make a decision which will affect them or other people before they go ahead with it. We use specific tests for specific exercises.

The test applied for a person’s capacity to make a will includes a number of elements and, as with other tests, we have to be satisfied on them all. We need to be certain that the person understands (a) what a will is and what its effect will be (b) what, in broad terms, is the extent of the property he is leaving and (c) who he might be expected to benefit in the will. (This does not mean that Jim must leave something to everyone who might be hoping for a share of his estate! But it does mean that he has to have reasons for deciding who he does want to benefit and to what extent.)

Capacity to make a lasting power of attorney is similarly multi-faceted and involves an understanding (a) of the authority being granted by the donor of the power to his attorney (b) that the attorney will be able to do anything with the donor’s property which the donor could himself have done (provided that that

“THE TEST APPLIED FOR A PERSON’S CAPACITY TO MAKE A WILL INCLUDES A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS AND, AS WITH OTHER TESTS, WE HAVE TO BE SATISFIED ON THEM ALL” is done in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act) (c) that the authority being given will continue if the donor becomes mentally incapable and (d) that whilst the power of attorney can be revoked by the donor at any time whilst he has capacity to make a revocation, if the donor becomes incapable of revoking the power, it will only be able to be revoked with the consent of the court of protection.

When a client wants to make a gift of property we must be sure that he understands (a) that it’s his property and he is entitled to dispose of it (b) who the recipient is (c) its effect on other

potential or actual beneficiaries (d) that the asset is being gifted not loaned and he cannot claim it back (e) whether or not he is to receive anything in return (f) whether the gift is immediate or to happen later – for example when he dies (g) the proportionality of the gift to his assets and the circumstances of himself, his dependants and the recipient and his family (h) whether he has already made substantial gifts to the intended recipient (i) whether the gift is a ‘one-off’ or intended to be part of a larger transaction or series of transactions and (j) the underlying reason for the gift.

We have a responsibility to ensure that we give a client like Jim every opportunity to ‘have capacity’ – asking open questions in a relaxed environment and at a time when he is most likely to be able to decide things for himself. n

Helen Starkie Solicitor 38 Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2NT. tel: 01225 442353; www.helenstarkie.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 79

Registered Installer

Contact us for a Free Quotation

01373 826935

SPONSORED CONTENT

SCAMS WARNING AS TAX RETURN DEADLINE LOOMS Jacqui Bowden from Bath-based chartered accountants and tax advisers PEARSON MAY advises what to look out for as the self-assessment deadline draws closer

H

M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has urged taxpayers to be alert to scams as the self-assessment season picks up. As many people are filing their tax returns around this time of year, fraudsters can try to take advantage of this by attempting to contact taxpayers asking them to disclose personal information about their tax affairs or bank details etc.

Over the past year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were reported, a 16.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Don’t be one of the statistics! Read on for some tips to help you recognise genuine HMRC correspondence and when to steer clear.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR? Fraudsters often pose as HMRC, using fake tax refund offers or demanding unpaid tax to steal personal and financial details.

Alarmingly, around half of all reports involved fraudulent rebate claims. The emails or text messages etc. often ask taxpayers to then click on a link in the message or to provide their bank details so that the repayment can be made. HMRC has stressed that it never contacts taxpayers via text, email, messages in an app (e.g. WhatsApp) or phone to offer refunds or request personal or payment details. It will also never leave threatening voicemails about legal action or arrest.

Generally speaking, HMRC will always contact you by letter sent in the post with any urgent matters that require your attention, so the chances are that if you receive a phone call or email/text message claiming to be from HMRC and asking for personal information, it is likely to be a scam.

Furthermore, tax refunds can only be claimed securely through an official online account or the free HMRC app, or of course via your accountant/tax adviser, as we are authorised agents for our clients, meaning we can contact HMRC on the taxpayer’s behalf.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF? Always take a moment to stop and think. Don’t be rushed and listen to your instincts. By staying

vigilant and always taking a moment to check whenever you are contacted by someone purporting to be from HMRC can help to protect you from fraud.

Suspicious messages or unexpected contacts should be ignored – do not reply, share information, download attachments, or click on links, as these can lead to data theft or malware attacks.

If you don’t already, start making use of ‘twofactor authentication’ (2FA) to login to your important online accounts, such as your HMRC personal tax account, emails, banking etc.

When you turn on 2FA (sometimes also referred to as multi-factor authentication – MFA, or 2-step verification – 2SV), you will be asked to provide a ‘second step’, which is something that you (and only you) can access.

This could be a code that’s sent to you by text message, or created by an app.

You don’t necessarily need a mobile to turn on 2FA. Some providers will let you use a landline number, or a separate device, such as a card reader or USB stick. You may also be able to use your fingerprint, facial recognition, or memorable information.

The government recommend the extra protection of 2FA for your email and social media accounts, as well as any accounts that contain lots of personal or sensitive information. Often, services which contain financial information, such as online banking and your HMRC personal tax account have 2FA enabled by default but do double check if you are unsure.

• If you receive a suspicious letter, contact the HMRC team that the letter states it’s from, for example the self-assessment team.

You can also contact HMRC on their general enquiries telephone number 0300 200 3300 and there is further information available online at www.gov.uk/money/phishing-scams HMRC include on their website further examples of recent scams and bogus contact claiming to be from HMRC and how to identify potential phishing emails etc. Unfortunately, fraudsters are always thinking of new methods by which to trick people in to disclosing personal and sensitive information which could result in a financial loss to the individual. If you are uncertain of the validity of any contact you receive claiming to be from HMRC, you should check with your accountant/tax agent or HMRC by contacting them directly (using the contact details above). Do not reply to any emails or call any numbers that are provided in the suspicious communication.

If you have been the victim of a scam such as those mentioned above and have suffered a financial loss then HMRC suggest that you report it to Action Fraud via their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. n The above is for general guidance only and no action should be taken without obtaining specific advice.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS COMMUNICATION? If you receive a suspicious communication purporting to be from HMRC, their advice is to report scams in the following way: • Forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk • Report fraudulent calls via the HMRC website at www.gov.uk • Forward scam texts to 60599 • Take a screenshot of any suspicious messages in apps (such as WhatsApp) and email to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

Jacqui Bowden ACA Pearson May Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers Bath, Chippenham and Trowbridge 37 Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DA 01225 460491; mail@pearsonmay.co.uk www.pearsonmay.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81

Larkhall/Camden - Sale Agreed

Portland Place - £375,000

This handsome four-bedroom home received 15 viewing requests and sold within 24 hours of launch in the first week of 2025, highlighting that buyers are ready to move as soon as the right property becomes available.

If you are selling, please contact me for market advice and what sale price could be achieved for your home given this New Year surge in demand.

An exceptional, beautifully proportioned one bedroom flat with stylish interior design, lots of natural light, high ceilings and remarkable distant views. Listed Grade II* and set away from traffic yet close to the city centre.

Stunning 23' x 15' open plan living room/kitchen, remarkably spacious double bedroom with ensuite shower room, share of Freehold.

01225 941181 | email simon.lord@exp.uk.com | simonlord.exp.uk.com

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

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios will be helping design the former Bath Press site on the Lower Bristol Road which is now owned by developers City & Country

Redevelopment project

PRESSING MATTERS Local architects appointed to redesign the Bath Press site Heritage developer City & Country has named Bath-based Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios tudios as t e arc itecture fir t at ill be leading t e rede elo ent o t e estern end o istoric at ress site based on t e o er ristol oad along it t e landsca e arc itects rant Associates o are also based in at .

The Bath Press site formerly housed the it an ress rinting or s be ore beco ing vacant in 2007 and undergoing demolition ten

years later to allo or rede elo ent. e . acre site as ac uired by a ily o ned ity ountry in arc it an existing consent, and the plan is for a significantly en anced arc itectural solution t at ill ro ide ore o es in t is location.

Keith Bradley, founding partner at FCBStudios says, “FCBStudios is delighted to be or ing it ity ountry again to bring experienced development, sensitivity and design

a bition to its first at ro ect. e are loo ing or ard to creating so e uc needed ig uality ousing in t e city to ollo t e successes o our ondon anc ester and a bridge residential or . is includes t e A tirling ri e Accordia ro ect ic e or ed on it rant Associates andsca e Arc itects o oin us on t e at ress collaboration.

For more: www.fcbstudios.com

PROPERTY

APARTMENT LIVING

R

An elegant ruton t o bedroo ed at set within Grade II-listed Redlynch House

By John Mather

edlynch House, which houses the elegant two-bedroom apartment, is a majestic country residence with ancient origins set in the esteemed Redlynch Estate. Originally designed in the 18th century, the formal gardens now feature early 20th-century elements envisioned by the renowned Edwin Lutyens, the English architect acclaimed for his creative adaptation of traditional architectural styles. e estate as agnificent oodland onder ul pleasure grounds, and enchanting walled gardens, all enveloped by breathtaking parkland. Enclosed in the early 17th century and skilfully landscaped in the mid18th century, the parkland is a rural idyll where cows and lambs wander across rolling green pastures.

Redlynch House is not visible from the road, but set down in a quiet, private position, marked by 19thcentury stone quadrant walls surmounted with elegant metal railings. Flanking a pair of cylindrical stone piers crowned with domed caps, these walls lead to a set of exquisite wrought-iron gates. The driveway gracefully winds its way to a carriage turning circle, unveiling

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

“The apartment includes two private sections of garden plot in the 17th-century walled garden”

the entrance to Redlynch House itself. An imposing front door opens to the grand oak-panelled hall shared by all the apartments and the private entrance to Glastonbury Apartment.

The wide entrance hall has a considered provision of cloakroom storage, opening onto an arterial hallway which in turn leads to each of the well-proportioned reception rooms and bedrooms. To the right is a space currently used as a study, with an adjoining library.

A door from the study opens to the drawing room, a spectacular space that, like much of the apartment, is grounded by ti ber oorboards. e alls are painted in an understated cream colour, which allows the verdant views framed by double-aspect windows (including those set within two wide bays) centre stage.

A stately cast iron fire lace acts as a ocal oint t e oulded firebo o ic bears t e arl o ic ester s coat of arms.

Next door to the sitting room is a second reception space of comparatively intimate yet similarly generous proportions. Light from a second set of bay indo s scatters lig t across t e oors ile original panelled walls and an additional log-burning fire lend a cocooning cosy eel. ere is a sa e built

into a cupboard here that once belonged to argaret Ho ard ountess o u ol . e itc en lies directly a ead o t e entrance hall, with generous handmade ooden cabinetry and or to s t at ollo t e s a e o t e roo . A liances a e been sea lessly integrated and include t o o ens t o gas obs t o dis as ers and an induction electric ob all ro e . ere is also a uoo er ta or instant ot ater and a built in ine cooler. e roo ere is itc ed lending a sense o olu e to t e s ace and is unctuated it s ylig ts. ere is an in or al brea ast bar ere as ell as a larder cu board tuc ed ust outside o t e roo . nder oor eating ar s t e tiled oor ro belo . ot bedroo s lie on t e sout erly art o t e lan recei ing a day long brig tness t at a lifies t eir refined sc e es. e ain bedroo is an i aculate space with soaring ceilings, a smart en suite with a bat and built in cu boards. e second bedroo also as fitted cu board s ace and is ser ed by a neat s o er roo . e a art ent includes t o ri ate sections o

HOUSE NUMBERS Garages

2

Bedrooms

2

Communal gardens 25 acres Tennis court

1

Swimming pool

1

For more: Inigo; www.inigo.com

garden lot in t e t century alled garden, as well as a section in a beautiful original glass and etal cold ra e. ot o t e garden lots a e o ers including roses. A set o stairs in t e a anese garden lead to an elaborate wrought-iron gate nestled it in a rusticated stone arc . is agnificent gate ay attributed to t e creati e genius o utyens or ed an integral art o is co re ensi e ision or re odelling t e ouse and gardens in . edlync House is en elo ed by idyllic acres o ell e t estate land it nu erous beauti ul al s on t e doorste . e estate as a tennis court it breat ta ing ie s across rolling fields and a eated s i ing ool bordered by istoric roses er ect or atc ing t e sunset. ere are lenty o roducti e ruit trees or residents to el t e sel es to.

Additionally a listed ga es ouse anicured gardens alled gardens and enc anting oodlands filled it bluebells, snowdrops and wild garlic complete the ca ti ating surroundings. is a art ent as t o ri ate garages as ell as access to t e s ared se arate car ar in t e grounds.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 85

SPONSORED CONTENT

MEET THE

PROPERTY EXPERT

From mortgage advice to conveyancing, and from selling to buying, we talk to those in the know JAMES BUTTER

DAVID MACKENZIE

ASPIRE TO MOVE 01225 444 333; www.aspiretomove.co.uk

CARTER JONAS 01225 757250; www.carterjonas.co.uk

What area do you specialise in?

Having been in property for 11 years my specialism is property management to ensure our properties are kept in great working order.

How can your services add value to a property?

Looking after your rental property as if it was our own.

We pride ourselves on saving customers money and I have been known to avoid many expensive call out charges for our clients using my extensive knowledge.

Why should we put our house on the market right now?

After a slow end to the market last year further to the general election and the autumn budget, we are seeing a very positive start to buyers starting to re-engage their search and there is pent up demand, added to the fact you will be beating your competition to the market James Butter

What kind of property buyers are you currently seeing coming into Bath?

The buyers we are seeing are the usual yearly migratory group of family buyers wanting to move to Bath for schools, quality of life in a picturesque setting in a safe and relaxed environment. These buyers tend to come from London or are expats returning from abroad, specifically Hong Kong and Singapore.

Tell us something about yourselves and why people should contact you We are a trusted, honest agent – check our 5 star Google ratings. Always giving candid advice, so give us a call or pop into our beautiful office!

What do you love most about working in property?

It is never a chore getting up in the morning, each day is different, but what makes the job so satisfying is the people and diversity of my role – I love what I do.

SAM DANIELS

David Mackenzie

What do you love most about working in property?

It’s the best job in the world, seeing a wide range of properties across all price brackets and meeting people, helping them sell or find their dream home.

KNIGHT FRANK 01225 325999; www.knightfrank.com

JENNA TRAVERS

Your key bit of advice for buyers or sellers?

My key bit of advice is simple: don’t get bamboozled by silly prices. Be realistic about the market, and take advice from experts in their field. Use agents with a good reputation and a strong research team to ensure accurate and realistic prices. Having the right team behind you can make all the difference.

What about deposits, what’s needed right at the beginning to help move forward?

The deposit is a key part of the buying process, and one that’s often overlooked. It’s not just about a simple 10 per cent deposit. Buyers need to budget for solicitor costs allow £2,000, mortgage fees allow £100–£300, surveys allow approximately (£400– £1,500), stamp duty (0–12 per cent), and removal costs (£500–£2,000). These averages are a guide, but the key is to do your maths properly and account for all the extras What do you love most about your job?

I love meeting new people and being out and about in this fantastic city. I’ve always had a passion for property, history, and architecture, and this role lets me combine all of those loves.; and seeing someone’s journey to completion is truly rewarding.

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

JENNA TRAVERS PROPERTY SEARCH AGENT 07879 898621; www.jennatravers.com What area of property do you specialise in?

I cover Bath and West Wiltshire. I cover a relatively small area which means I have my finger on the pulse on everything that is going on and can react swiftly to any opportunity.

Tell us something about Jenna Travers the agent, and why people should contact you?

I work with my clients to build a complete picture of what they want and then work tirelessly to find it. I am completely independent and have a great record of finding beautiful homes in the area. I live on the edge of Bath so can advise on price, location, schools, amenities, travel, communities and everything in between because it is where I live too.

Sam Daniels

Jenna Travers

Why should we consider putting our property up for sale now?

By putting your house on the market now you are seizing the New Year rush of proactive buyers coming to the market with renewed positivity and confidence. Getting your house under offer or sold will then put you in the best possible position for your onward move.

SPONSORED CONTENT DAMIAN BUSH

ROSIE MARLOW

GREENSMART PROPERTY SERVICES 01225 982222; www.greensmartservices.co.uk

ROSIE MARLOW PERSONAL ESTATE AGENT 01225 941008; www.rosiemarlow.exp.uk.com

What area do you specialise in?

We specialise in residential heating, plumbing and Gas work. This includes boiler installations, repair and servicing, bathroom installations, underfloor heating systems, Gas safety inspections, boiler servicing and much more!

Why should we get heating and plumbing checked before moving into a new house?

Heating and plumbing systems are critical for a safe and comfortable home. Issues like leaks, aging boilers, inefficient radiators, or outdated plumbing can lead to costly repairs or replacements. A professional inspection ensures everything is up to standard, safe, and functioning efficiently before you commit to a property

What are the key values of your business?

Rosie Marlow Personal Estate Agent takes the pain out of buying and selling houses. From being available to answer queries seven days a week or dealing promptly with unexpected issues to personally delivering house keys on completion, the team provides so much more than just a property listing.

When selling properties, we ensure we know every intricate detail about the property meaning we create quality and comprehensive listings which are published on all property sales sites; we proactively contact potential buyers and answer questions that buyers may have. Similarly, getting to know exactly what buyers are searching for means finding the perfect home; reaching out to potential sellers, if needed.

Damian Bush

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Always prioritise regular maintenance. Annual boiler servicing and periodic checks of your plumbing systems can save you from unexpected breakdowns, water damage, or high energy bills.

What should we prioritise when moving house?

As soon as you place your property on the market pick which solicitors you will be using for the conveyancing and get all of your property sellers information forms and fixtures and fittings forms filled in. This can speed up your conveyancing process by a couple of weeks, because as soon as a buyer is found and a memorandum of sale is issued contract papers can be sent out the same day.

How can Greensmart services add value to a property?

Upgraded heating systems, energy-efficient boilers, and modern plumbing installations can significantly enhance a property’s market value. Buyers are often willing to pay more for a home with reliable, eco-friendly systems and lower operating costs.

Rosie Marlow

SHARON CLESHAM

What advantages are there to selling now?

There is an increase in stamp duty coming on the 1st of April and you still potentially have time to sell before this comes into effect.

MOVELI 01225 430930 / 07980 832350; www.moveli.co.uk What are the key values of your business?

Many people don’t understand how estate agencies operate. Most agents work within the outdated high street model, where a team of varying experience handles your property, often leaving sales to less experienced members. The most skilled agent typically focuses on winning your business instead. At Moveli, we redefine this approach. As your personal broker, I manage the entire process – from marketing to viewings and negotiations. I ensure seamless sales progression and serve as your sole point of contact. My incentive is aligned with your success, as I retain up to 90% of the fee, leading to the best possible outcome for you.

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

Moveli is an award winning network of highly experienced agents (17+ years on average). We have a very strong presence in London the South East and the South West with over 45 brokers and a large curated database of wealthy buyers. We’re one of the fastest growing upper-market agencies in the UK, with hundreds of sellers now choosing us to sell through.

We understand property marketing like few other agencies and utilise every channel available to us; socials, search agents, international networks as well as all the property portals. Whether you’re looking to sell on market, off-market or soft market, we have done it all. I’d love to work with you.

GRANT ATKINSON ROOST BATH www.roostbath.co.uk

What areas does Roost Bath specialise in?

Managing short-term rentals. We list properties on top platforms like Airbnb and booking.com. Our focus is on providing a completely stress-free experience for clients by managing all aspects of the process from start to finish.

Sharon Clesham

What are the key values of your business?

To unlock the true potential of each property, providing seamless management services for clients, and exceptional experiences for guests.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

My background is in hotels, having spent the last decade managing boutique hotels in Bath. At Roost, my goal is to offer unique stays that are as exceptional, if not more, than those in a hotel. I have a deep understanding of Bath’s tourism market and a strong grasp of modern travellers’ expectations

Grant Atkinson

What do you love most about working in property?

I’m passionate about interior design and have a genuine appreciation for Bath’s Georgian architecture. It’s really fulfilling to showcase exceptional properties, and transform them into a home away from home for guests to value their beauty and character.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 87

SPONSORED CONTENT PRISCILLA MACLEOD

ASSOCIATE, PRIVATE CLIENT PROPERTY STONE KING 01225 337599; www.stoneking.co.uk

ELMIRA SAFINA-KIRWAN

What area do you specialise in?

I specialise in private client property which includes dealing with listed buildings, complex leasehold matters, enfranchisement, as well as purchases and sales of property, deeds of easement, lease extensions and variations to leases.

What do you specialise in at Goughs?

Sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties, with a particular focus on listed buildings, auctions and complex transactions. I have extensive experience managing bridging finance, purchases involving cryptocurrency, new leases, deeds of variation and acting for limited companies.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy the variety of my work and that the law does not stand still. It is great to work in a field filled with (good) challenges and the opportunity (and need) to continually develop. However, at the heart of my work, is the privilege of assisting people with an important part of their life.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, GOUGHS 01249 450063; www.goughs.co.uk

What is the biggest misconception surrounding being a lawyer?

There is an assumption that residential property law is straightforward and repetitive and simply involves processing routine transactions. In reality, it involves navigating complex legal issues, such as title defects, restrictive covenants or intricate lease agreements.

Add to this the pressures of tight deadlines, unexpected delays and the need to manage high client expectations and it becomes clear that the role requires a combination of legal expertise, problemsolving skills and meticulous attention to detail. For those handling unique situations, like listed buildings or purchases with cryptocurrency, the work is anything but routine.

Priscilla Macleod

What would you say are the particular challenges of moving house in Bath?

One of the main challenges for prospective homeowners in Bath is the city’s historic character, with many properties being listed for their architectural significance. It is widely understood that listed buildings face stricter regulations regarding alterations, and that listed building consent may be needed even when planning permission is not.

However, what is often overlooked is that some unlisted properties are also subject to similar restrictions on unauthorised works.

ALISON TREBLE

MOGERS DREWETT 01225 750000; www.mogersdrewett.com In what ways has the autumn budget effected the market?

The budget is most disruptive before it happens!

There is always a lot of speculation as to what may/ may not change and we have to be ready to advise on the implications almost before the chancellor closes the red box. Stamp duty remains a moveable feast and there will be changes again to the thresholds and for first time buyers in March this year.

That said, over autumn and into 2025 the activity levels remain strong and with the right property pricing and sensible mortgage rates the Budget shouldn’t be too prohibitive to growth and good market conditions.

Elmira Safina-Kirwan

ROSS SIVITER

BATTENS SOLICITORS 01935 846092; www.battens.co.uk What do you anticipate for the Bath property market for the next 12 months?

Following the autumn budget, the current threshold for stamp duty land tax is not being extended and so I anticipate lots of purchasers keen to complete on property sales prior to the end of the financial year on 1st April 2025.

Spring shall be exceptionally busy for conveyancers!

Alison Treble

How long does the average transaction take?

Nationally, I understand the average is around 12 weeks between an offer being accepted and completion taking place. Nothing in Bath is ‘average’ and no two transactions are the same! We can often help get clients moved within a shorter period but the real key is getting to exchange of contracts as quickly as we can, ensuring that both parties have made a legally binding commitment.

What new plans do you have for next year?

Not a ‘new’ plan but to keep doing what we do.

To continue to create sustainable growth in our business. We are continually looking at ways to offer our clients the best possible experience and this will always be the most fundamental part of our plans.

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

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

Embrace the commitment and adaptability the profession demands. Law requires a genuine passion for problem-solving, an eye for detail and the ability to think critically under pressure. It’s important to research the different areas of law to find one that aligns with your interests and strengths.

What key mistakes should buyers/sellers avoid?

Often buyers and sellers will try and agree a date for completing the transaction too early in the process or without discussing first with their conveyancer. The conveyancing process can be complex. Buyers and sellers should appoint an experienced conveyancer at the earliest opportunity and discuss proposed timescales with them to manage expectations from the outset.

Ross Siviter

What makes Battens different from others in similar fields?

Conveyancers are often tarnished as being too slow or making the house buying process more cumbersome. At Battens, our ethos is to, put simply, communicate. I pride myself on being available to speak on the telephone to clients, estate agents and other professionals as often as possible to make the process run as smoothly as it can.

SPONSORED CONTENT CRAIG FULLER

EWAN TAVENDALE

CRAIG FULLER PROPERTY 07767 211707; www.craigfullerproperty.co.uk

TEA ARCHITECTS 07890 904378; tea.architects

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Time; the ability to work around time scales for all parties is vitally important and very often overlooked.

Timing can often be the difference between having an offer accepted for not. Ensuring you give yourself enough time to understand what you really want and where.

What kind of property buyers are you currently seeing coming into Bath?

Since last year there has been a steady increase in overseas buyers looking to move to Bath as a principal residence, in particular from the USA.

What’s your favourite Bath property that you have worked on?

We have completed a contemporary renovation of a unique property in Widcombe. Spanning four half-floor levels, we transformed unused voids into functional spaces, increasing floor area. An attic was converted into a luxurious en-suite and dressing room, while a new extension created a spacious open-plan living area, seamlessly connecting to the gardens.

What advice would you give about how to transform a home?

Everyone has unique needs, don’t let trendy fixtures dictate your decisions from the start. Instead, focus on what benefits your situation and distil your ideas into a clear brief. While you may initially think an extension is the solution, sometimes a smarter reorganisation of your existing space can be just as effective.

Craig Fuller

What makes Bath such a special place to live?

Bath has such much that appeals to so many – great schools, culture, architecture, and excellent places to eat; for me, the ease of access to some of the most beautiful valleys and countryside, in a matter of minutes, is wonderful.

MARK HILLIER

SMITH MALONEY HILLIER 01172 140575; www.smithmaloneyhillier.co.uk Tell us about Smith Maloney Hillier, and why people should contact you?

Ashley, Natasha and I decided to combine our practices, last year, to form Smith Maloney Hillier.

Having run architectural firms for the last 15 years, we were keen to develop a new type of design studio that addressed our growing concerns with the building industry. Our stream-lined approach allows us to consider all aspects of the project early in the process which delivers a more holistic solution and also avoids unnecessary changes later in the project.

What makes you different from others in your profession?

We are a multi-disciplinary company with extensive experience in architecture, planning, interiors, landscape design, environmental design, and structural design. Our partners come together at the beginning of each project to establish how their ideas may influence the design process. This approach allows us to progress with a much clearer understanding of the constraints and possibilities of each project.

Ewan Tavendale

Tell us something about Tea Architects and why people should contact you?

We are approachable and great listeners, taking the time to understand your needs and priorities to ensure we get things right. Our design approach blends creativity, efficiency, and sustainability to maximise the comfort of the spaces we create.

By unlocking site potential for developers and transforming homes into functional, valuable spaces, we help every project achieve its full potential.

RHODRI JONES

ELEMENTS STUDIO 01225 851880; www.theelementsstudio.com What do you love most about working in property?

Variety. Bath may have a wealth of historic Georgian homes and buildings at its heart, but even within these the variety of layouts, style, client needs are ever changing and unique.

This constantly challenges us to be creative, adaptable, and innovative in our design and product delivery.

What key mistakes should buyers/sellers avoid?

I have always maintained that you need to know a building to know how to change it, especially a home. Too often there is an urgency to buy and immediately strip back and change everything, from layouts, to style and fit out.

I always advise a caution in being too hasty. Spend a good amount of time acquainting yourself within the spaces, learn what works for you and what doesn’t, where the light comes in, where you like to spend time.

Mark Hillier

What advice would you give about how to transform a home?

Each project is individual to the client, the site and the budget. It is therefore paramount that each consideration is clearly defined before commencing the project. Consider how the house will be used?

What do you like and dislike about the existing situation? How much are you willing to spend on the project? – the clearer your requirements are defined, the better the outcome will be.

Rhodri Jones

How can your services add value to a property?

We deal in architectural design and the supply of architectural joinery pieces and fitouts, so our line of work is tailored toward enhancing practicality, enjoyment and spatial value. Using careful design to maximise the efficiency in a beautiful and creative way is tangible, and when you walk into a house that is well considered, or fitted with the type of products we provide, there is an instant feeling of quality and integrity, without needing to be brash or in your face. This elevates these properties and in turn their value.

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SPONSORED CONTENT MELISSA ANDERSON

JAMIE WILLIAMS

CAMELLA 01225 255321; www.camella.co.uk

DIRECTOR, BATH OFFICE CO. 01225 632777; www.officeco.work

What are your core values?

Our values guide every aspect of our service: • Kindness: Your home is our home; we will care for you and your property • Integrity: We do the right thing. We never settle for less than you deserve.

• Noticeable: We want your property and our service to stand out.

What early advice would you give to buyers?

Get your finances in order before you start viewing properties, and ensure you have a clear understanding of your affordability. If a mortgage is required obtain a decision in principle (DIP) from a lender.

If you love it, act fast. In a competitive market, homes that are priced well and presented beautifully often attract significant interest, delaying may mean missing out.

Once your offer is accepted, instruct a reputable solicitor or conveyancer. Whilst it is tempting to go for the cheapest option, low fees often come with a lack of communication or expertise, which can delay the process or even jeopardise your purchase.

What area do you specialise in?

We’re Bath’s most local and established flexible office space provider.

What does Bath Office Co. have in store for 2025?

2025 is all about consolidation - working with our customers and partners to make each location the best it can be.

Melissa Anderson

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Fine tune your office space requirements, and consider length of contract. Businesses are still working out the role of the office with an often hybrid workforce, so paying an inflated monthly fee for services that aren’t used, for too long, is a poor use of cash, especially in a difficult economic climate. We offer flexible terms, upfront pricing and customisable service, at great value.

What do you love most about working in property?

As a decision maker, I love being present on the ground, chatting to our customers, understanding their problems, and making swift fixes.

What about your advice to sellers?

First impressions count, so make sure you market to its full potential: At Camella we offer professional photography, video, virtual tours, and drone footage. More engagement means increased viewings and a better chance of achieving the highest price.

Jamie Williams

What makes you different from others in your profession?

We get around, and know (nearly) everyone!

So if you need help or an intro, just ask!

PETE HELME

ANNA MOORE

What area do you specialise in?

As an interior, lifestyle and editorial photographer, I love capturing the beauty and personality of spaces. I focus on interiors, architecture, and styled environments, creating images that highlight the design, atmosphere, and unique character of each project. Whether it’s for real estate, interior designers, architects, magazines, or brand storytelling, my goal is to create eye-catching photos that tell a story and leave a lasting impression.

What new plans do you have for the upcoming year?

Having opened our second office last year in Midsomer Norton we have seen a great reaction from the local community. We are planning to continue to grow sales and introduce lettings. In Bath we want to continue with the success lettings, sales and property management have seen and to embrace new technologies to assist our customers further. We are also making our debut at Bath Boules this year so come and cheer us on and say hi!

PETE HELME PHOTOGRAPHY 07789 211424; www.petehelme.co.uk

What key bit of advice would you give to a client?

Preparation makes all the difference. Before the shoot, take some time to tidy up, declutter, and style the space to highlight its best features. Even small touches can make the design and ambiance truly stand out in photos. The goal of the interior photographer is to highlight the design, structure, and ambiance of a space. A clutter free environment allows the design details to shine.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Meeting new people and exploring new places. I love working with clients to make their spaces shine through photography, and traveling to different locations always brings a fresh, fun perspective. Every project feels like a new adventure, and the variety keeps things exciting and never boring.

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

BATH STONE PROPERTY 01225 422224; www.bathstoneproperty.com

What changes would you make to the property sector?

With regards to sales, we would look to change areas that save clients money and disappointment. Some thoughts we have are for the sellers to provide a survey at time of viewing, so everyone is aware of what they are committing to buy. We would also look to follow other countries where once you have committed to buy you cannot withdraw, which has happened sometimes months into the process.

Pete Helme

Anna Moore

What should we do if the survey throws up any unforeseen problems?

Once you have found the right house and you unfortunately get an issue on a survey, don’t panic. Seek recommendations from your agent for a local and trusted builder to get some advice, they will offer practical solutions and give you a guide on expected costs. You will then be able to discuss with your agent on how best to move forward with the purchase of the property.

SPONSORED CONTENT ABBIE LONG AND FRANCESCA WATSON

SIMON LORD AssocRICS SIMON LORD PROPERTY GROUP 01225 941181 / 07394 040896 www.simonlord.exp.uk.com

OTTERS HOME SEARCH hello@ottershomesearch.com www.ottershomesearch.com

Why should buyers use a property search agent?

Navigating the property market can be overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. At Otters Home Search, we guide you through the entire journey, from search to purchase, saving you time, stress, and unnecessary expense. With our in-depth understanding of the Bath area and local market trends, we provide expert advice on pricing and negotiation tailored to your needs.

As established professionals immersed in the Bath lifestyle, we deliver unique insights to ensure your property fits your goals, whether it’s to live, work, or play. Working with us positions you as a serious buyer, with vetted offers and a competitive edge to secure your dream home.

What’s a key bit of advice would you share with a client from the off?

If you are considering selling, get advice early on. You don’t need to have your house looking dressed ready for a film crew before a valuation. Agents are there to help you plan and prepare, not make judgements about clutter.

Francesca Watson (left) and Abbie Long (right)

What are Otters’ home search’s top tips?

Be ready to move: Be under offer, have sold first or rent to position yourself as a strong buyer.

Understand your priorities: Will this home fit your lifestyle?

Understand the market price: Knowledge of the market and sellers is your secret weapon.

Stay mortgage-smart: Reassess your budget and explore options.

What advice would you give right now to someone searching for a home?

1. Don’t get too hung up about how long a property has been on the market. Look at it in the context of its appeal when set against what else is currently available. If it looks interesting, my advice is not to assume that there is a problem just because it’s been advertised for a while. Take a look – it might be a perfect fit.

2. Get the best advice available. a) talk to an experienced independent mortgage advisor and b) there is a reason why an expert solicitor’s quote might look expensive. It’s about value and giving you confidence. I have never forgotten the response years ago from a celebrated oil field fire fighter when his costs were challenged – he said: “If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait ‘til you hire an amateur!”

Simon Lord

ALISTAIR HEATHER

CHADWICK (CHAD) EVANS

SAVILLS BATH 01225 474 505 www.savills.co.uk

What do you anticipate for the Bath property market for the next 12 months?

Bath is an enduringly popular place to live, and so, despite the upheaval of 2024, its property market remained incredibly resilient, and last year was one of the best on record for Savills Bath. With a clearer path ahead, I expect 2025 to mark the return of a ‘normal’ pattern of activity, where demand and supply are well-matched, underpinning positive house price growth.

CHADWICKS INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN 07927 815558; www.chadwicksdesign.co.uk What are your residential clients pain points and the desired outcomes you can facilitate?

Pain points for our residential clients are, for example being overwhelmed by design decisions, having a lack of time, space inefficiency and outdated aesthetics. There’s also confusion about quality and cost. The desired outcomes are functional sustainable elegance, a space that is both beautiful and practical for family life. To help make the process stress-free use a designer who handles all the details, planning to completion. This enhances and increases property value, and gives a unique design, not a generic, off-the-shelf solution. People want a timely delivery, without disruption and to achieve high-end, within budget while also considering sustainable, energy-efficient design principles.

Alistair Heather

What is your favourite part of the job?

Moving can be one of the most stressful processes that we go through in our lives. I derive a great deal of satisfaction from helping people make their move, from beginning to end, as smooth as possible.

What are the key mistakes that buyers and sellers should try and avoid?

Being prepared is the single most important piece of advice I could give. Buyers should ensure their finances are secured and are ready to make an offer. Sellers should instruct a solicitor and provide all necessary paperwork before going to market.

Lack of preparation is one of the main reasons why transactions fall through.

Chad Evans

What about commercial clients pain points and the desired outcomes you can facilitate?

Pain points for our commercial clients are, for example brand misalignment, unproductive or uncomfortable space, poor customer and employee experience. Also non compliance with regulations with a need for flexibility and future proofing. Desired outcomes are a cost-effective enhanced brand presence, and a space that reflects the brand’s identity, mission and values, impressing clients and customers, leading to more business. Also increased employee satisfaction, with a well-designed, functional, optimised and flexible workspace promoting collaboration, creativity, efficiency, and productivity, as well as improving morale and reducing turnover.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 91

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A bespoke, tailor-made, client-focused interior design consultancy service based in Bath. Specialising in residential interior design and providing a truly personal service adapted to each client’s needs, Jennifer’s unique style blends seamlessly between period and contemporary homes. The aim is simple – to create spaces that bring joy, re ecting er clients li estyles and ersonalities.

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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

at s leading fire lace ood burner gas fire c i ney and ue s ecialist. ro classic to conte orary conce t to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesneys, arbas ellfire estfire to a a co and Hunter. et in touch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton o e no en e l ce co u Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

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presents an extensive array of top-notch interior and exterior roducts. erings include natural stone and ti ber ooring Everhot Range Cookers, as well as porcelain and decorative tiles. Providing exceptional installation and restoration services, Boniti pride themselves on delivering a friendly and personalised experience, with customer satisfaction at the heart of it all. Dunsdown Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA; Tel: 01225 892 200; www.boniti.com

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Clair Strong Interior Design is a boutique, creative company based in Bath, providing a wide range of services or bot residential and co ercial clients. Her ort olio of projects includes the design, project coordination and sourcing for some of Bath’s most beautiful residences, as ell as otels s orts clubs o ces and ot er co ercial venues. Contact Clair on 07855 797311 or 01225 426905; www.clairstrong.co.uk

business specialising in painting and decorating, plastering, tiling, sash window restoration and other property restoration. Nexus have built a reputation for the highest standards of workmanship with experience across a range of projects from listed buildings through to new builds, with a complete commitment to customer service and health and safety Tel: 01225 300414; www.nexusofbath.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 97

BATH LIVES

“We welcomed over 200,000 visitors last year”

waist cost, mid crown hat, and riding boots. In the winter I wear a Garrick great coat.

Are the whiskers real?

My whiskers are real, indeed there is nothing fake about me.

Is your doorman persona based on any particular Jane Austen character?

I am Mr Bennet (one T please) from the book Pride and Prejudice.

Do you switch into your civvies at the end of the day?

MARTIN SALTER

The Jane Austen Centre’s Senior Meeter Greeter on his real whiskers and enjoying celebrity status Martin Salter’s most excellent job is welcoming visitors from all over the world to the Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street – a role he has carried out for almost twenty years. A familiar sight around Bath, he has almost become as famous as the writer herself. Here we learn a little bit more about the legendary ‘doorman’.

So who are you really Martin?

I was born in Royal United Hospital Bath in 1963, I grew up in Corston, and I’m a working class chap.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

When I was a child I wanted to be an adventuring archaeologist like Indiana Jones.

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

What work did you do after leaving school?

I started my first job at 17 with Hepworth’s Tailors before moving to the beer wholesalers Robert Cleary. I then went on to Millburns, now known as Searcys, and worked in catering at the Pump Rooms.

How did the job at the Jane Austen Centre come about, and when?

Over eighteen years ago I went for a job interview on my day off from the Pump Rooms, with the founding director of the Jane Austen Centre.

Talk us through the clothes you wear – do you have a summer and winter outfit?

In the summer I wear a tailcoat,

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include Regency dancing with the Jane Austen Dance Society based in Bathwick, model making, painting, and making Regency costumes.

Any secret talents?

I do have a few but better not say!

What is your most prized possession?

My most prized possession is my great grandfather’s clock.

No, I do not change before I go home. It’s easier not to, and it also gives the general public an opportunity to ask me about Jane Austen and Bath.

Biggest achievement?

How many times a day do you have your picture taken?

What are your ambitions for the future?

I couldn’t possibly count them all. We welcomed over 200,000 visitors last year and I would hope all of them would have had a warm welcome from me or my colleagues.

You’re a bit of celebrity in Bath with residents – does this have any downsides?

The celebrity status is fine with me. Every place has to have a mascot and I am glad that I am doing my bit for the community where I live, and that I can also relate to some of the people that I talk to.

What are some of the tougher moments in the role?

The worst moments are the cold winter weather, but I get to wear authentic winter Regency layers and overcoats to keep me warm, all of which I make myself.

My biggest achievement so far is doing a freefall parachute jump for charity. Fourteen thousand feet. Straight down.

I hope to carry on as I am going and help to make the city where I grew up even more popular.

Whereabouts in Bath do you live, and what do you especially love about it?

I live in the King’s Road area, which is nice and central, and great to have most places within walking distance.

Where was the last meal you ate out in Bath?

The Square Grill restaurant by the Abbey.

What’s your ‘secret’ Bath?

My secret Bath stays with me I’m afraid.

For more: www.janeausten.co.uk

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