The Bath Festival comes to The Holburne Museum

In May, The Bath Festival is putting on a series of events especially suited to the collections and themes found in The Holburne Museum. In this month's magazine, Georgette McCready took a look along Great Pulteney Street to find out more. 

To read Georgette's list of upcoming festival events, visit The Bath Magazine website: thebathmagazine.co.uk

Featured image © Evoke Pictures

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £30 for 12 issues, £15 for six issues or buy a copy for just £3.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website. 

Win a £25 John Lewis voucher

This week's 16 letter word is made up including the above letters in green – some of the letters are used more than once. We’ve placed 2 letters to give you a start. The letter A (in blue) is only used twice. 

Clue: your phone does this – and after a Friday night, so might your head...  

Make sure to follow us on twitter ( @TheBathMagazine ) to see the answer: posted on a Wednesday afternoon. Winners picked at random.

By the time you read this bulletin, it's likely that April Fools' is dead and gone – so you're thinking that we're the fools for carrying on, right? Wrong. You'd be the one who could be called truly foolish if you don't store this fabulous Fool masterclass in the file marked “I need a really smart dessert – and I need it now!” for handy reference whenever your foodie inspiration IQ needs refreshing.

You can use any seasonal fruit you fancy in this gloriously uplifting dessert (and you don't need to stick to just one variety; mix'n'match according to which fruits look right, right now). For Rhubarb Fool, roughly chop the rhubarb into short chunks. Peach or Plum Fool? Chop and stone the peaches or plums. Strawberries will need hulling and chopping (if large) and cherries will need to be de-stalked and pitted – but raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries, etc don't need any pre-prep at all.

The caster sugar used in the fruit poaching process can be replaced by light brown sugar for a richer depth of flavour, while honey, maple or golden syrup will each bring their own particular personality to the party. Meanwhile, the Greek yoghurt adds a fresh tang that cuts through the richness of the cream and helps the whole melange keep its structure (which is especially handy if you're planning on storing your Fool in the fridge before tucking in).

You can, if you so wish, turn your Fool into an Eton Mess by folding in crumbled meringue. You could add chunks of shortbread to the mix, or chocolate chunks, or mini marshmallows; heck, you could even add handfuls of granola and have it for breakfast. To my mind, however, nothing beats the simple, classic combination of softly poached, sweet fresh fruit suspended in waves of luxurious cream. Do it this weekend! You'd be very foolish not to....

Ingredients

450-500g seasonal fruit
5 tbsp caster sugar
300ml double cream (straight from the fridge)
100ml Greek yoghurt (straight from the fridge)

Method

1. Put the prepared fruit of your choice in a medium pan with 4 tablespoons of the sugar and a tiny splash of water. Put a lid on the pan, turn the heat up and bring to a bubble. Once bubbling, take the lid off, turn the heat down and allow the fruit to simmer in its own juices until tender and some of the juice has evaporated (don’t worry if the rhubarb looks a bit disintegrated or the berries burst; this is all part of the charm of the end result).

2. When the fruit has cooled down a bit, taste it to see how sweet it is; gooseberries, for example, may need a bit more sugar added.

3. Pour the cooked fruit into a sieve set above a bowl to catch the juices and leave both to cool completely.

4. In a large bowl, whip the cream with the remaining 1 tbsp sugar until it forms soft, inviting peaks, adding the yoghurt after the first couple of minutes.

5. Slowly add the cooled fruit to the whipped cream/yoghurt, stirring very gently to create a rippled effect with the juices and taking great care not to knock the air out of the cream.

6. Serve your Fool immediately, either in a pretty glass trifle or fruit bowl or 4 individual glasses, topped with a little bit of the reserved fruit juices. If you want to save your Fool until later on, cover and seal well with cling film and store in the fridge for up to 4 hours.

Jersey Royals

When is a new potato not just a new potato? When it’s a Jersey Royal. Small, smooth and loosely dressed in a fragile, papery skin, these creamy white angels of the tuber family have a sweetly nutty, subtly earthy flavour, a delicate aroma redolent of freshly mown grass, and are at their brightest best from now until July, with the peak of their season in mid-May. Roast them? Criminal! Fried? Don’t you dare! Simply boil or steam until tender and serve with a slick of melted butter, a cascade of salt and a sprinkling of fresh chives – potato paradise indeed.

Asparagus

British asparagus season doesn’t officially begin until the end of April, but due to an unusually mild winter, an advance party of the UK’s most celebrated, indigenous vivid green spear-icons have arrived early this year. Asparagus will bring uniquely flavoursome elegance to any dish whether you use it raw (slice thinly or shave into salads), roasted, steamed, grilled, stir-fried or barbecued. It’s feta’s best friend, tastes marvellous with mint, loves to be bathed in Hollandaise, and makes a glorious addition to risottos, tarts and pasta dishes. Spoiled for choice? You have from now until around the end of June to create asparagus alchemy.

Wild Garlic

One of Britain’s most overlooked treasures is growing freely (literally) in a hedgerow near you any day now. Wild garlic grows plentifully in and around areas of mature woodland, and is especially abundant around Bath. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the clusters of tiny white, star-shaped flowers for a variation on snowdrops, but close up, you’ll notice slender, spear-shaped, vivid green leaves and a pungent, garlicky aroma that belies the milder flavour of the plant itself. Use rinsed wild garlic leaves to add a subtle garlicky backdrop to salads, or chop finely and sprinkle over warm pizzas, hot soups, pasta sauces or an omelette. It makes a lovely pesto (processed with olive oil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese), loves lamb and has a natural affinity with spring onion mash, while the pretty, mildly-flavoured white flowers can be scattered over almost any savoury dish.

Morels

Many chefs consider the highly revered Morel to be the King of Mushrooms – and it’s easy to see why: earthy, nutty and uniquely fragrant with a honeycombed head and a thick, creamy coloured trunk, Morels look as special as they taste. But this lesser-spotted fungi has a very short season: six weeks if we’re lucky, from mid-April to late May. Morels come with another warning, too: they must never be eaten raw as they contain a seriously nasty toxin called hydrazine. But, once cleaned (use a vegetable brush and treat them to a brief salt water soak) and cooked, the hazard lights are off. To experience full-on Morel magic, simply sauté them in hot oil and butter, season well and serve hot, on toast: steamed, grilled, stir-fried or barbecued.

The Great Wine Co: enjoy up to 27% off Wines from Germany

Be quick – until 4 April The Great Wine Co are celebrating the delicious wines of Germany. And this weekend – in addition to great savings on their German range – they are offering all customers a FREE bottle of Knipser's elegant Blauer Spätburgunder 2017 (the German name for Pinot Noir) when you spend £150 or more!

Here are six try-outs to try… and try again.

Riesling Urstück Trocken – Paulinshof
Light gold colour with hints of green. Spicy aromas of orange peel and bergamot. Dry on the palate with an expressive seam of minerality, herbs, gooseberries and rhubarb leading to a long finish. £14.95

Johannishof Riesling Trocken – Knipser
Lemon and crushed stone aromas. Firm palate on the right side of steely, with lemon fruit, moderate alcohol and very refreshing finish. £13.30

Riesling Queen of Whites – Weingut Tesch
A beautifully pure, faultless wine, with notes of acacia honey and lime on the nose. On the palate a fine concentration of fruit, balanced by exciting zestiness and zingy acidity. The grapes come from vineyards in the Nahe region, ideal for growing expressive Riesling. £11.95

Dragonstone Riesling (Off-Dry), Rheingau – Weingut Leitz
This is a beautifully-balanced wine, with lovely freshness while not being too dry. It has a wonderful flavour of peaches, cream and clover honey. Highly recommended. £12.95

Kapellchen Riesling Trocken – Knipser
Another great Riesling Trocken from top winery Knipser - it has a bright greenish yellow and brilliant shimmer, the nose is fresh and elegant - citrus aromas are revealed first then developing into herbaceous hints. This is light, lemony with residual sugar, and with one of the best grape varieties in the world is a joy in the glass. £15.50

Riesling 'Eins Zwei Dry', Rheingau – Weingut Leitz
This excellent value Riesling is dry yet full-flavoured, spicy and ripe; and fruity. Its delicate yet lively acidity reflects the wine's origins. Afraid it will be too sweet? Fear not, this is a dry wine. Or too sharp? It's refreshingly tangy, but in no way sour. £12.95

Click here to make up your case of German wine...

Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?

Click through to browse our full Delicious Guide!

Easter Hampers from Chatley Farm Brownies

Chatley Farm Brownies based near Norton St Phillip have won four Gold Taste of The West Awards 2021. The award winning flavours are Rich Chocolate Brownie, Salted Caramel Brownies, Chocolate Orange Brownies and Amaretto Chocolate Brownies.

Handmade at Chatley Farm by creator and professional chef, Jo Pobjoy and her team, the win is the first for the brand, which has been established since 2002 and been online since September 2020. 

Chatley Farm are currently offering special Easter Chocolate Brownie Hampers to tempt brownie lovers. Choose from the Mini Hamper for £20 (two packets with eight brownies) or the Lux Hamper for £35 (four packets with 16 brownies). Simply pick your favourites and Chatley Farm will present them in a Pink (mini) or Yellow (lux) Easter box, with tissue and your own personal note. All brownies are made using the best Belgian chocolate and locally sourced ingredients to create delicious squares of heaven.

There’s a special 20% off offer for Easter hampers to Bath Magazine readers. Order online and use the code BATH20 at checkout. 

 chatleyfarmbrownies.co.uk

The Rolex Air-King 2022

Launched in 1958, the Air-King series pays homage to Rolex’s Oyster watches and a rich tradition of exploration and flying during the golden age of aviation in the 1930s. 

Although the Air-King may not be as well-known or as ubiquitous as some its stablemates, it has plenty of fans who prefer its understated look, classic Rolex sports styling and an un-ostentatious statement of Rolex ownership.

Since 2016, Air-King models have featured a distinctive black dial with a combination of large 3, 6 and 9 numerals marking the hours as well as a prominent minutes scale. For accurate and easy navigational time readings, there’s now a “0” before the “5” which looks more harmonious with the other minute markers. A prominent ‘Rolex green’ seconds hand matches the Rolex branding while the golden Crown logo adds a dash of modest bling but stands out beautifully.

The new model unveiled this month bears many aesthetic similarities to the model it replaces but now uses the superb 3230 automatic, anti-magnetic movement introduced in 2020 which has become the main choice for all the Rolex three-hand, no date models. With a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour, the sweep is delightfully smooth as well as highly accurate – achieving Superlative Chronometer standards. It also delivers a 70 hours power reserve.

The new model also makes the best of the brand’s proprietary Chromalight lume, giving even more low-light legibility than ever before. This is noticeable on the arabic numbers, markers and hand in-fills.

Water resistant to 100 metres, the 40mm crown guard case is made from Oystersteel as is the bracelet which is now in a fully brushed finish.

With the new movement, the advanced features and the graceful aesthetic upgrades, the Rolex watchmakers have really brought the Air-King series to the fore. It's a beautiful, new generation sports watch that will bring a thrill to any wearer's wrist.

White Stuff: Abstract Mountain Socks for Him and for Her

Soft socks with an abstract mountain design. Peak comfort for your feet. £6 per pair

You can also browse the White Stuff collection in their Bath store at 8-9 New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BE.

Exalted Eye Serum from Aēsop

Vitamin-rich hydration, nourishment and support for the delicate skin around the eyes. 

Suited to most skin types, including sensitive—and ideal for mature skin—Exalted Eye Serum is lightweight and rapidly absorbed with a soft, non-greasy finish. (15ml) £81 

Click here to buy Aēsop's Exalted Eye Serum.

Apple TV+ : CODA

As a CODA (child of deaf adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her home. When she discovers a passion for singing, Ruby must choose between family obligations and her dreams. Winner of 3 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor.

CODA is available to stream now from Apple TV + : tv.apple.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Published by a pair of Berlin-based Scandinavians, FUKT magazine is an annual showcase for contemporary drawing. Artists are asked to contribute work on a particular theme, most recently ‘Narrative Drawing’, ‘Written Drawing’ and ‘The System’. It's essential for anyone with an interest in drawing but you certainly don’t require any formal interest in the subject to find it entertaining, and it’s staggeringly popular. 'The Faces Issue’ is just in with 24 different covers, each one featuring a hand-drawn printed face. When unwrapped the loosely attached cover sheet can be removed to reveal a blank face on which you can draw your own or somebody else's face. How cool is that? £16

Cleveland Pools crowdfunding campaign to close next week

You can donate by clicking here; the campaign closes at midday Friday 8 April.

The Cleveland Pools fundraising team will also be on Milsom Street in Bath city centre tomorrow (Saturday 2 April) talking to locals, collecting donations and selling merchandise. 

Gallery Nine: Spring Exhibition, 12 April to 31 May

9b Margaret's Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP; 01225 319197

The exhibition can also be viewed on the Gallery Nine website: galleryninebath.com

Graham and Green: Festoon Lights Pole and Large Festoon Lights

Festoon Lights Pole, H275 x Ø7cm, £29.95

Large Festoon Lights, L9.5m (12.5m including cable), £70