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News, views, city updates and more... to keep you going
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MIDWEEK TREATS | FOR NATIONAL BAKING WEEK
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| Thoughtful Bakery |
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Outstanding, top-notch daily bread in multiple formats including highly acclaimed sourdough, the fabulous Family White and related enticing bakery treats from croissants to sausage rolls and more, available direct from the bakery's Barton Street HQ or online for delivery/collection. Fab little café attached, too.
thoughtful-bakery.myshopify.com
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| Bakers of Bath |
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Bath's original craft bakery, established in 1935 and still thriving at their Twerton HQ. From white farmhouse loaves and apple pie to whole spelt and dark sour rye it's all going in, on and out of the BoB ovens. Shop live and direct from the bakery shop or at Bath Farmers' Market (Green Park Station) every Saturday morning.
bakersofbath.com
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| Bertinet Bakery |
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Bread made to traditional, authentic recipes, sweet and savoury pastries and tarts, viennoiserie, incredible croissants and many more delectable variations on an upmarket, yeast-based theme, courtesy of legendary Bath baker Richard Bertinet and his expert team, served up in a super-pretty bread boutique.
bertinetbakery.com
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| Goodies Delicatessen |
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Award-winning Hobbs House bread, including wild white/ancient grain sourdough, 5-seed spelt and delectable Pain de Campagne, courtesy of Larkhall's award-winning delicatessen, where the vast range of supplementary deli delights created long Saturday morning queues long before Covid made such practices de rigueur. Home delivery service available.
goodiesdeli.co.uk
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MIDWEEK MEZE | CHICKPEAS AHOY
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| Recipe by Melissa Blease |
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| Classic Hummus |
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The simple combination of chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste, readily available), lemon juice, garlic, salt and oil that originated in the Lebanon many centuries ago and has since become a supermarket snack staple is – and should be - much more than merely a vehicle to dip your pitta/breadsticks in while you're wondering what else to eat.
We all know that hummus is to falafel what ketchup is to chips – but it's also to lamb what horseradish sauce is to beef; try it with your roast lamb this Sunday, and you'll never go back to mint sauce again.
You can mix it with roast vegetables in a pasta sauce, use it in place of mayonnaise with a salad, tumble it with rice in a chicken stir fry, plop it on top of a basic tomato or mushroom soup, dollop it onto a pizza or add it to caramelised onions on top of a burger or in a steak sandwich. And, once you've mastered the basic art of making this easy, speedy fridge staple, you can make your hummus your way: substitute the chickpeas with butter beans or black beans. Add roast beetroot, red peppers, sweet potato or squash to the mix – and throw in an avocado in for added silkiness. Spice it up with chilli; warm it up with smoked paprika; go extra-nutty with a topper of toasted pine nuts – seriously, the possibilities are endless. Use this recipe as your classic, no-fail starting point and let your imagination run riot... but please, don't ever introduce your hummus to a pile of salt and vinegar crisps.
Ingredients
400g can of chickpeas
approx. 80ml extra virgin olive oil
1–2 garlic cloves, to taste
juice of a lemon
3 tbsp tahini
salt, to taste
Method
- Drain the chickpeas, reserving approx. 2 tbsp of the liquid, and blitz in a food processor until smooth (the chickpea 'brine' adds to the silky texture).
- Add around 60ml of the olive oil and blitz again before adding the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt and around 30ml water and blending well. If the mixture looks too thick, add water and/or oil a drizzle at a time with the motor running until you have the desired consistency.
- And that's all there is to it!
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MIDWEEK WINES | SPANISH WARMTH
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Craving some Spanish warmth? Well we certainly have a treat for you. This year we welcomed the iconic Juan Gil wines to The Great Wine Co. The range is an exceptional example of modern wines that over-deliver for the money, you really can’t get better than that.
Cultivating excellence since 1916, the Juan Gil family strives for nothing less than perfection. The vineyards reach 850 metres above sea level in the Spanish regions of Jumilla and Rueda, and ancient terroirs of sand and limestone allow the wines to flourish and bloom.
In white, the fantastic Shaya Verdejo is especially exciting – “like a Sauvignon Blanc, but better”, Summer may have come and gone, but this white will certainly brighten up the darker evenings. Each of the three rich reds offers amazing expression and value, starting with the Yellow Label Monastrell, offering balance and wonderful bright red fruits, the Silver Label and Blue Label adding on extra layers of luxurious richness and sophistication. These wines will honestly become absolute favourites.
Explore the range at The Great Wine Co.
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CITY RETAIL | INDEPENDENT SHOP SHOUT-OUT
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Gold & Platinum Studio
Goldsmith and gemmologist Michael Parsons and his team run an independent studio specialising in hand-making one-off engagement rings and wedding rings, as well as offering a wide range of individual pieces.
Step inside and the precious metals and gems surrounding you sparkle from all angles. Michael and his team undertake all types of commissions on site as well as carrying out remodelling and repairs. Above the studio is the workshop where Michael and his two highly skilled goldsmiths work.
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"If there’s one thing that our current more limited travel options have brought, it’s a prevailing idea of celebrating ‘things’ over experiences"
Michael Parsons
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In addition Gold & Platinum Studio showcases a selection of independent designer jewellers – such as Linda MacDonald and Alexis Dove – and offers a superb choice to suit all budgets. Trading in Bath for over 40 years and with an enviable reputation for quality service, a visit is a must for jewellery lovers, anyone looking for a special gift or thinking of having a piece of jewellery adapted or specially made.
If there’s one thing that our current more limited travel options have brought, it’s a prevailing idea of celebrating ‘things’ over experiences, says Michael. Whether you’d like a diamond solitaire ring in textured gold, a Sri Lankan sapphire and diamond trilogy ring in platinum, an emerald and diamond bar set eternity ring, a trilliant cut pink sapphire necklace or a pair of claw set aquamarine studs in gold, a gift such as this will last forever.
goldandplatinumstudio.co.uk
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ON THE BOOKSHELF | ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINERS
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| Let’s Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood, by Jasper Rees |
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In stand-up and sketches, songs and sitcom, musicals and dramas, Victoria Wood became a much-loved entertainer. Those things that might have held her back – her lonely childhood, her crippling shyness and being a woman in a male-run industry – she turned to her advantage to make extraordinary comedy about ordinary people. Victoria had plenty of stories still to tell when she died in 2016, and one of those was her autobiography. "I will do it one day", she told author and journalist Jasper Rees. That never came to pass, so Jasper Rees, who interviewed her more than anyone else, here tells her extraordinary story. Granted access to Victoria's archive of material, and interviews with her family, friends and colleagues – including Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Dawn French and Imelda Staunton – what emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer who spoke to her audience like no one before or since.
£20, published by Trapese on 15 October
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| Here We Are, by Graham Swift |
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It is Brighton, 1959, and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile, Jack – Jack Robinson, as in 'before you can say' – is everyone's favourite compere, a born entertainer, holding the whole show together. As the summer progresses, the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures. Rich, comic, alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition.
“This novel has an archetypal quality, reminiscent of a folktale, that encourages the reader to think of the vanished stories their own family histories might reveal.” The Guardian
£14.99, published by Simon & Schuster
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FOOD REVIEW | GREEN PARK BRASSERIE
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Eat to the beat and go Green
Established in 1992 in the uniquely atmospheric surroundings of a former Victorian railway station, the multi-faceted Green Park Brasserie has skilfully managed to retain all its original charms while still cleverly moving with the times. Despite the fact that times are especially hard right now, an upbeat outlook still remains the secret of this much-loved restaurant, bar and live music venue's success.
The GPB kitchen is open from lunch to suppertime from Wednesday to Saturday every week (and 12 noon to 3pm on Sundays) and specialises in seasonal modern British classics wrought largely from locally sourced ingredients, including fabulous fresh fish dishes and beef from Bath's best farms, all at exceedingly accessible prices.
But if a beat is your idea of the perfect backdrop to a chilled out, end-of-week/weekend feast, Friday and Saturday evenings go with a swing here when live music courtesy of local circuit jazz, soul and funk superstars provide the entertainment. A superb cocktail list ups the sophisticated party vibe ante even before the myriad food-for-thought options are considered.
greenparkbrasserie.com
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CHARITY CYCLE | TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS
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Bath resident completes 2,650 round Britain cycle ride in memory of dad
A Bath resident has cycled around Britain to mark 50 years since his father’s death from cancer, to raise money for national cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Ian McKay returned to Bath on 11 October after completing a 2,650-mile cycle around the perimeter of Britain – the equivalent of cycling Land’s End to John o’Groats three times. Ian achieved this epic feat in 40 days, cycling solo with no support vehicle. The challenge formed part of his ultimate challenge of cycling over 5,000 miles in 2020 for the cancer charity, which he has now exceeded, having clocked up nearly 6,000 miles so far this year.
He was inspired to take to the saddle in memory of his father who died in 1970, and his mother and adopted father, who he lost to cancer more recently. Having planned to take on the challenge this April and May, Ian was forced to reschedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was able to begin his adventure on 3 September.
Ian’s route began and finished at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and included places of significance to his family including Sheffield, where he visited his father’s memorial, Nantwich in Cheshire, where his mother and adopted father lived for many years, and Lancaster University, where he completed his master’s degree and first met his wife.
Ian also stopped off at the most northerly, southerly, easterly and westerly points in Britain – Dunnet Head in Scotland, Lizard Point in Cornwall, Lowestoft Ness in Suffolk, and Ardnamurchan Point in Scotland. He also paid a visit to Macmillan’s Head Office in London.
So far, he has raised over £5,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
You can see a selection of photos from Ian’s remarkable cycle on his Instagram account, and you can support his challenge at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ianmckay.
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A/W20 TRENDS | THE WESTERN-STYLE BOOT
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While summer was all about mules and strappy sandals, autumn brings the chance to get cosy and wrap our feet up – and what better way to welcome the new season than investing in a new pair of autumn winter boots.
One trend sticking around for AW20 are Western-inspired boots, embraced by fashion house Dior and scattered across runways and our Insta feeds. Tap into this trend with DuoBoots’ Bexley (£170), available in the finest tan and black nubuck leather. Featuring intricate stud detailing, signature cowboy seaming and an elegant pointed toe, these boots are the perfect match for all your prairie dresses, knitted maxi skirts and chunky cardigans.
duoboots.com
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| Bath BID launches festive art competition |
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The Bath BID, in conjunction with Minuteman Press Bath, will fill the streets of Bath this festive season with a parade of two-metre-high giant ‘bunting’ flags made from the artwork and designs of local people, inspiring everyone to rediscover the magic of Bath at Christmas.
In a competition open to everyone who lives or works in Bath and North East Somerset, up to 24 designs created by the community will be reproduced as a rainbow of art hanging from lamppost pennants in the streets of the city.
Entrants will be separated into four categories, Under Ten, Under 21, Over 21 and Business, and all winners and runners-up, in addition to other selected entrants, will have their work displayed. The organisers will invite the public to get involved in voting for their champions on the Bath BID’s social media channels, and category winners and runners-up will receive gift vouchers from the Bath Gift Card.
The pennants will be displayed from 16 November until the end of December, with entries being accepted up to 9am on 2 November.
bathbid.co.uk
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OBJECT OF INTEREST | ADD COLOUR TO YOUR KITCHEN
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| Coopers' Ilve Majestic cooker |
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For over 50 years ILVE has been building beautiful cooking appliances. With a modern factory located near the magnificent Italian city of Venice, ILVE products are made from only the finest materials and are assembled by hand by master craftsmen. The Ilve Majestic cooker is available in sizes from 900mm to 1500mm and comes in nine standard finishes – Coopers is currently offering a complimentary upgrade to have a Majestic finished in any RAL colour.
Coopers Stores; coopers-stores.com
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LIFELINE GRANTS | SAVING THE ARTS
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Recovery funding for nine cultural venues in Bath
There was relief this week after it was announced that some of our much-loved arts organisations in and around Bath would receive support from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. Nine arts venues and organisations in the city will receive funding to help face the challenges of the pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future. They are part of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support.
The organisations in Bath are:
Bath Festivals – £100,000
Bath International Comedy Festival – £75,000
George Street (Bath) Ltd – £249,300
Holburne Museum – £326,408
Jane Austen Ltd – £189,903
Next Stage Theatre Company Ltd. – £51,499
Rondo Trust – £50,000
Komedia Bath – £210,000
Theatre Royal Bath – £955,192
Read more about the Cultural Recovery Fund here
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RICHARD WYATT DEBATES | THE FASHION MUSEUM
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| "...500 historic locations that The National Trust protects have also fallen victim to the virus..." |
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It was all going so well until Covid 19 appeared on the scene. The National Trust, who own Bath’s historic 18th-century Assembly Rooms, in 2019 gave B&NES notice to quit. The Council had enjoyed a long lease, during which time – in the basement of the Grade I listed building – they had established one of the finest collections of costumes in the world in the form of the Fashion Museum.
However, the Trust wanted to claim all the available space back to create what they were calling an immersive Georgian Experience, which would share the history of 18th-century Bath and reveal the stories of its social life. The Trust invoked a clause in the lease to take control from March 2023. In the meantime B&NES needed to search for another venue to house the Fashion Museum. There was even talk of building an industrial-style unit to keep the collection and house its Record Office.
That’s the background, but then along came a pandemic. B&NES has since lost £53 million worth of revenue from the collapse of its international tourist industry. Its 'investment holdings’ as a landlord in the retail world are not exactly paying dividends either. There’s no cash to purpose-build anything and no immediate alternative venue within their price bracket.
Meanwhile the Trust – which should have been celebrating its 125th anniversary this year – is instead tending its own financial wounds. It may be able to boast a record 5.95 million members, but those 500 historic locations that it protects have also fallen victim to the virus. The Trust is on course for an estimated income loss of £200 million, so will expensive schemes like their plans for the Assembly Rooms still go ahead?
On enquiry, I received the following reply from the Bristol Hub of National Trust South West:
“The National Trust has announced it is stopping or deferring £124m of projects and as a consequence 162 members of staff were told in August they were being made redundant or their contracts were ending early.
"At this stage it's too early to say how plans for the future of the Bath Assembly Rooms will be impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
"The National Trust and Bath and North East Somerset Council have maintained an open dialogue in relation to the Fashion Museum and future management of the Assembly Rooms throughout the coronavirus crisis and will continue to do so in the coming months.’'
Doesn’t tell us much does it? And from what l hear there hasn’t been much official dialogue between them. The Council is hoping – in its review of capital projects – that the Trust will delay its Bath venture and let them sit out their original tenure through to 2027.
This would give the council time to recover some of its financial resources and plan a long-term future for a world-class museum that l am told will not be abandoned, whatever happens.
bathnewseum.com
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ON THE BOX | INSPIRATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
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| A Most Beautiful Thing (2020) |
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Documentary filmmaker and Olympic rower Mary Mazzio chronicles the first African American public high-school rowing team from the West Side of Chicago. Narrated by rapper-turned-actor Common, the team is made up of young men, many of whom were in rival gangs, coming together to row in the same boat.
Released on Amazon Prime today, watch the film here
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OCTOBER ISSUE | OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD
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| Here's our current magazine... |
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As always, there's a lot of great reading by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. We hope you'll enjoy the read. Every month 15,000 copies are delivered door to door and until mid month copies can be picked up at many places around town and from our stands at the main supermarkets: Waitrose, Sainsbury's (Green Park Station), M&S Foods (Twerton)... And we have just added Tesco Weston village. Alternatively visit our website to read online. And, look out for our November issue on 27 October.
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IN THE GARDEN | HEAT & COOK ON A KADAI
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A Kadai is a traditional Indian cooking bowl that combines as a fire pit and BBQ. You can get an original Kadai that's up to 100 years old – each one is completely unique with a rich heritage from years of use as a cooking bowl for weddings and festivals across India.
Hand-picked in Rajasthan and available in sizes from 60cm – 170cm diameter, the Kadai can be raised to the perfect cooking height with a handmade iron stand or can be used as an impressive fire bowl to enjoy evenings under the stars throughout the year.
Whether you just want a magnificent centrepiece for the garden or to experiment with traditional Indian outdoor cooking, a Kadai is perfect for the job.
The Boniti showroom on the A46 has an impressive selection of Kadais and accessories.
boniti.com
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PROPERTY UPDATE | NEW TO THE MARKET
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£1,400,000
Offering in excess of 3,800 sq ft of accommodation between the main house and an annex, set at the top of the garden, this home offers plenty of flexible space for a large family, as well as the potential to operate as a B&B business or simply just some additional income from using the annex as holiday accommodation. Originally designed as a pair of semi-detached houses, the owner amended the plans to create a single detached house. The main residence offers two receptions rooms, an open plan kitchen and dining room opening onto the rear garden, seven bedrooms with three en-suites and two additional bathrooms. The annex offers a kitchen dining room with bi folding doors leading onto the terrace. A shower room with a walk in shower is also found on the ground floor, with a bedroom and living room on the first floor with French doors onto a balcony. This wonderful property is on sale with Andrews Estate Agents. Click here for more details.
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