Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair is delighted to welcome everyone back to its June fair. The fair is committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond right to the heart of Bath.

Following on from the successful and popular fairs last year, the next event is on 13 June, where visitors can browse the brilliant works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture and textiles, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website.

As always, there's a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. We hope you'll enjoy this month's magazine.

Every month we deliver 15,000 copies door to door, but if you don't get a copy at home then you can pick up a copy at many places around town and from our floor stands at: Waitrose, Sainsbury [Green Park], M&S Foods in Twerton, Tesco in Weston Village, and at The Holburne Museum. 

Alternatively, click here to read the digital version

When it comes to fine wine, our thoughts immediately turn to France as the traditional epicentre of 'terroir'. Eccentric, idiosyncratic and unswervingly confident in its ability to produce the very finest bottles despite fierce competition. Here, possibly with Father's day in mind... although do you really need an excuse... are some very, very good reds to impress. 

Vacqueyras 'Variation' - Domaine de Montvac
Rich yet elegant red from the southern Rhône, all currants and prunes in the mouth, gentled by candied fruit on the nose and a lasting hit of spice.£29.95.

Frank Phélan, Saint-Estèphe - Château Phélan Ségur
This is absolutely classic, old-school Saint Estèphe of excellent quality. Deep, purple-hued, with a nose of mulberries, blackcurrants and cedar, the wine is densely-textured and medium-bodied, with good balancing acidity and a seriously endowed, layered texture. The tannins are present, yet well-integrated and ripe. £33.

Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail - Domaine Brusset
Deep crimson in colour, with a rich, spicy, smoky aroma, showing hints of chocolate and blackberry and a rounded, powerful palate with mouthfilling fruit. £35.

Blason d'Issan, Margaux - Château d'Issan
This has lovely, fragrant raspberry fruit and leaf aromas, opening up to wonderful savoury complexity and impressive concentration. Delicious, succulent, quite powerful yet silky-textured, this is a beautiful Margaux to enjoy now and over the next five years or longer. The Blason d'Issan label was introduced by Château d'Issan from 1995 onwards to enable greater selection amongst the property's vines growing in the Margaux appellation area. Fruit from the younger vines is used to produce this wine, which respects the identity of its terroir, while offering a tasty round fruitiness, which can be enjoyed earlier than the 'grand vin'. It is aged in barrels for 14 to 16 months, one third of which are new. £42.50.

Margaux, 3ème Cru Classé - Château Desmirail
Chateau Desmirail is a third growth in the 1855 classification, which has an outstanding terroir bordering the Route des Chateaux. Jean Desmirail gave his name to the Chateau after marrying an heiress from the Rausan family in the late 17th century. The current owner and manager, Denis Lurton, took over from his father Lucien in 1992. A well balanced wine, with spicy notes, good length, not too powerful and charming. £55.00.

Pommard - Joseph Drouhin
A great Burgundy, worthy of its reputation. An intense, bright, red colour; a powerful nose, with notes of black cherry and spice, evolving towards aromas of young leather. On the palate, the tannins give a certain impression of firmness, somewhat softened by a nice, harmonious texture. Persistent flavors in the aftertaste. £59.50.

These are just a selection from The Great Wine Co's extensive range of French fine wines. click the button to explore the full collection.

Responsibly sourced Orkney hand-dived scallops are usually found in the kitchens of Michelin-star restaurants – now you can try them at home, along with a brand-new M&S Food collection of show-stopping seafood to serve this summer!

Salt & Pepper Squid

£4; 340g

The ultimate addition to your seafood spread! Perfect for a quick bite, snazzy starter or as part of a seafood feast, M&S's melt in the mouth calamari rings have a crispy seasoned batter, with a zing of lemon.

Bubbly Beer Batter Cod

£4.50; 360g

Flaky cod in our exclusive light and crispy Amarillo Ale batter, delicious served with chips and frozen peas!

In stores now – happy Friday!

The Bath Alchemist’s Plant Infused Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Tonics are a blend of eleven simple, natural ingredients: raw turmeric, raw ginger, habanero pepper, onion, garlic, 0range zest, black peppercorns, juniper berries, star anise and raw horseradish. 

Apple Cider Vinegar has long been recognised by physicians and nutritionists as the Holy Grail of natural supplements. Used by our ancestors as a natural anti-inflammatory and a great way to support gut health.

These are all infused for twelve weeks in organic Apple Cider Vinegar with ‘The Mother’ - a fermented live bacteria culture which is responsible for the cloudiness, strands or sediment you see in this high quality Apple Cider Vinegar. It contains a multitude of enzymes, amino acids, proteins, minerals and vitamins. This is a traditional herbal remedy, used for generations as a simple and effective aid for digestion. It is also full of ingredients that could help boost the immune system.

Enjoy as a daily tonic, diluted in warm water or a delicious addition to salad dressings, meals or even your favourite mocktail or cocktail!

Three tonics are available to buy individually - in 240ml or 480ml bottles - or try a triple tonic taster pack. Find out more at The Bath Alchemist website, or see the range by clicking the button.

The aroma of a real espresso, the taste of a creamy cappuccino or a delicious latte macchiato, just like the ones bought from the trendy coffee shops, can now be achieved by you… plus there’s that certain satisfaction to operating a great piece of machinery.

The SMEG Espresso coffee machine 50s style is a powerful, 15 bar, robust coffee machine using real coffee in the stainless steel filter holder… so no plastic pod waste. Feature packed to make the best cup of 'dirty brown' time and time again and what a great father’s day gift!

Find out more about SMEG small appliances at Coopers Stores in Bath and for a chance to win a milk frother by SMEG, click the link to follow @coopers_stores on Instagram

Just when we thought we had forgotten how to be playful, Mallory’s jewellery collection celebrates summer 2021 with a riot of multi-coloured precious gems set in handcrafted pieces that are vivacious, joyful and guaranteed to please for many years to come. Here are four beautiful rings that showcase summer fun.

Clockwise from top left:
18ct yellow gold rub-set, round-cut rainbow sapphire and round brilliant-cut diamond cluster ring with tapered shoulders £3.150

18ct rose gold pave bar-set, oval-cut rainbow sapphire and round brilliant-cut diamond full eternity ring. £3,485

18ct white gold channel-set, princess-cut rainbow sapphire full eternity ring. £1,885

18ct white gold channel-set baguette-cut rainbow sapphire half eternity ring. £3,395

With a range of matching earrings, bracelets and colourful necklaces, explore Mallory s own colourful creations as well as all the top brands and makers.

The Star Shawl (£174.00) from Balky Collection of Linen Jacquards: a homage to Balkan heritage, born out of research into ancestral lands and bronze age culture of the region.

Perosa Design is a Bath/Bristol brand that produces boutique made-on-demand timeless pieces in linen, for fearless and authentic women. Pre-orders open now.

Assane's quest for revenge against Hubert Pellegrini has torn his family to pieces. With his back to the wall, he now has to think of a new plan, even if it means putting himself in danger.

After what felt like the cliffhanger of the century, the wait is finally over. Starring Omar Sy as Assane Diop and released today, settle in for a weekend of Netflix binging.

Watch it here

We are loving the big screen even more because we’ve lived without it for way too long. Here are three of the films showing at the Little Theatre Cinema this week so you can indulge yourself with the cinema experience. Check the Little Theatre’s website for showing times.

Gunda (PG)

Cinema in its purest form, Gunda (see featured image above) chronicles the lives of a mother pig, a flock of chickens, and a herd of cows with masterful intimacy. Using beautiful black and white cinematography and the farm's ambient soundtrack, master director Victor Kossakowsky invites the audience to slow down and experience life as his subjects do. In doing so Gunda takes us into the mystery of animal consciousness, and the role humanity plays in it.

Director: Victor Kossakovsky.

In the Heights (PG)

In the Heights centers on characters living in Washington Heights, on the northern tip of Manhattan. Usnavi is a bodega owner who looks after the aging Cuban lady next door, pines for the gorgeous girl working in the neighbouring beauty salon and dreams of winning the lottery and escaping to the shores of his native Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Nina, a childhood friend of Usnavi's, has returned from her first year at college with surprising news for her parents. Ultimately, Usnavi and the residents of the close-knit neighbourhood get a dose of what it means to be home.

Director: Jon M. Chu and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephanie Beatriz, Jimmy Smits, Dascha Polanco and Susan Pourfar.

Minari (12A)

A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Director Lee Isaac Chung and starring Steven Yeun, Will Patton, Yuh-Jung Youn and Yeri Han.

New York’s super-hip Homme Girls is created around the concept of women dressing as men, the ‘HommeGirl'. As they put it, ‘There is a boy in every girl, a homme in every woman. Dressing like a man doesn’t disguise a woman’s femininity – it ignites it.’ Taking Katherine Hepburn as patron, the HommeGirl look is traceable to the trouser suits of Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s and the utilitatarian jacket and trouser combos of Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) in the 1980s but the publisher acknowledges that the inspiration arcs all the way back to, well, Joan of Arc and her suit of armour. Anyway what we have today is a very fresh women’s style magazine packed with ravishing studio and street photography, and a whole lot of attitude to go with it. Priced £10

Downpour Theatre Company brings their production of Queen Margaret to The Mission Theatre on 8 and 9 July at 7.30pm.

Inspired by Shakespeare's Henry VI triology, Jeanie O'Hare uses original text alongside new dialogue to retell the Wars of the Roses through the eyes of Margaret of Anjou. Hungry for power and angered by the weakness of their king, the nobles of Henry VI's court plot and scheme against each other. As Henry wavers and the factions split, Queen Margaret is determined to protect the crown.

£15 per adult, £10 per concession.

Bath is open and ready to welcome you back this summer. Head into the city in June, July and August for Summer Sundays, a programme of entertainment, events and activities for all the family. Discover pop-up entertainment around the city centre, free family-friendly workshops, and a plethora of festivals and events.

As you wander around the city centre, you'll spot a variety of pop-up performances, from Jane Austen dancers to samba bands. On some Summer Sundays, you will spot a  talented balloon artist out and about in the city centre, or perhaps you will come across free face painting. And you can get your creative juices flowing with free family-friendly arts and crafts workshops at 15 Cheap Street between 12pm and 4pm. You can find date-specific details on the Welcome to Bath website.

Don't miss Welcome Back to Bath Day on 27 June, where you will be able to meet the Bath BID Welcome Ambassadors and celebrate the return of entertainment and events to the city.

Please note, content is subject to change as we adapt to changing Covid-19 measures.

Forest of Imagination will present an outdoor experience on the grounds of the American Museum & Gardens from 27 June running throughout the summer. Join the American Museum & Gardens on the 27th for a special opening day with free access to the gardens for all visitors where there will be live demonstrations, interventions and talks from local artists and partners. 

Visitors will be able to explore various spaces of the gardens through special interactive installations. The installations will remain up all summer and will grow over time through audience participation. Go with your family and friends for a unique outdoor experience this summer and explore the grounds and the spectacular views over the Limpley Stoke Valley and River Avon.

Pre-booking for a free ticket is essential. You can also choose to upgrade your ticket to include a visit to the museum collection and the museum's special exhibition – Shooting Stars: Carinthia West, Britain and America in the 1970s.

Who hasn’t dreamt of running away to the circus? The big top, the acrobats, high-wire acts and colourful caravans conjure up a nomadic life away from the rat race. For the spectator, it’s a reminder of a traditional art form, providing everything from laughter to wide-eyed amazement. In our latest issue, Simon Horsford speaks to Lil Rice, one of the stars and now also producer of Giffords Circus, now back on the road for a new season after the pandemic-enforced break.

Enjoy an eight minute read on our website

Image: Nell and Red at Stonor Park © Mark Lord

As Bath waits to hear whether it is to receive a second UNESCO World Heritage inscription as one of the Great Spas of Europe, we look back to when the city’s Roman Baths were revealed for the first time in over a thousand years. The first inkling that something on this scale lay hidden beneath the city came in 1727 when workmen digging a sewer in Stall Street discovered a hypocaust, along with the iconic head of Minerva – which was at first thought to represent Apollo. Little could be done to follow up this discovery until the buildings above the site had been cleared away, and, although another corner of the baths was excavated in 1755, work only began in earnest in the late nineteenth century, under the direction of the city engineer, Major Davis. This photograph dates from the late 1880s, after the main work of excavation was complete, with passers by only protected from falling into the Great Bath by a low wooden fence. After the construction of the colonnade and terrace that still surround the Great Bath today, the complex opened to the public in 1897. The buildings seen here immediately above the east end of the site were demolished in 1923, enabling excavations to be extended, but the other buildings in the background still survive – as, of course, does the Great Bath, although it is many years since lilies bloomed on the surface of the hot water.

akemanpress.com

These premium beach umbrellas are made with a reclaimed timber laminated wood pole, UV- and water-resistant canopy with fibreglass ribs, marine grade hand polished aluminium hinge and handle and they come with their own carry case...but best of all they have a fringe. 

All are available from Always Sunday - Bath's emporium of so many beautiful things!

Two Bedroom, two bathroom apartment..

Belvedere House is an exclusive development of just eight exquisite new apartments in the much sought-after area of Lansdown, Bath. Set at the top of Lansdown Hill, the property enjoys far reaching views over Bath and offers all the comforts of modern, large open-plan living spaces opening on to landscaped gardens.

The penthouse apartment offers wonderful open plan living space with a beautifully fitted kitchen and space for dining, plus the wow-factor of your very own roof terrace to enjoy the breathtaking views with a morning coffee

The apartment has two double bedrooms along with a main bathroom and en-suite shower room to master bedroom to complete the package inside. The high-end kitchen is designed with plenty of storage.

Externally each apartment in the development has two parking spaces provided. There are also beautiful communal gardens to enjoy. Asking price £695,000

Click here to find out more on Andrews Estate agents website