A specially curated guide to the next 48 hours (or more) in Bath
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WEEKEND RECIPE | SOPHISTICATED SPIN ON SUPPER
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Recipe by Melissa Blease
Fennel and Sausage Ragù
If you're looking to put a sophisticated spin on a simple sausage supper, this is the recipe for you.
For a meat-free alternative, simply replace the porky bangers with a vegetarian variety, leaving them whole for the best result (or, consider vegetarian meatballs?). Meanwhile, if you're not too keen on double cream, crème fraîche will add a similarly silky texture to the sauce, but the end result won't be quite as luxurious. On the pasta front, I recommend pappardelle here as the broad, flat ribbons carry the thick sauce really well and seem to really suit the overall rustic 'attitude' of this dish, but any high quality dried pasta will work.
This recipe serves 2-3 people depending on appetite, but any leftover ragù is particularly good reheated thoroughly the next day and slathered onto thick, warm focaccia.
Ingredients (serves 2-3)
6 meaty, free range pork sausages 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 sticks celery, chopped 1 bulb fennel, peeled and finely-sliced 1 tsp fennel seeds, roughly ground in a pestle and mortar 1 sprig of fresh rosemary leaves, finely-chopped ½ tsp dried chilli flakes 1 large garlic clove, peeled and crushed 150ml dry white wine 150ml double cream 150ml chicken or vegetable stock 4-5 nests dried pappardelle (or around 130g dried pasta of your choice)
To serve: plenty of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
Method
Peel the skins from the sausages and break the meat up into chunks (don't be too neat about it; we're not attempting to create meatballs). Heat a little olive oil up in large, lidded pan over a medium heat and brown the meat for around 8-10 minutes until the fat has rendered out and the meat has caramelised. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set to one side.
Tip the onion, fresh fennel, celery, fennel seeds, rosemary, chilli and garlic into the pan and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the wine and cook until reduced in volume by half, then add the sausage chunks back to the pan along with the cream and the stock. Season with salt and pepper, stir gently to combine all the ingredients and allow to simmer gently (partially covered) for around 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pappardelle (or your pasta of choice) according to the instructions on the packet. Drain (reserving a splash of cooking water) and add the pasta and reserved cooking water to the ragù, tossing it around with tongs to coat the pasta in the sauce. Serve in warm bowls topped with plenty of black pepper, the freshly-grated Parmesan – and a carafe of Chianti Classico. Saluti!
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OUR APRIL ISSUE | OUT NOW |
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You'll love our fabulous April magazine which features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. We really hope you'll enjoy the read!
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.
Click here to enjoy our current issue!
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And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website.
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Want to share this newsletter with a friend? Forward it on!
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WEEKEND WINE | TASTING SESSIONS
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Bogle Wines from California
If you missed the excellent wine tasting session on Wednesday evening with winemaker Jody Bogle and hosted by The Great Wine Company then you really did miss something very special.
Jody beautifully narrated the story behind the history of the family vineyards in Clarksburg, the artisan techniques employed, sustainability and just making excellent, award winning wines, while guests enjoyed glasses of 7 delicious wines to try.
These tasting sessions are informative, great fun and a lip-smackingly good way to discover fine wines from independent growers. Watch this space or follow The Great Wine Co for future events.
Here are just four wines from the evening but click the link below see the cellar of Bogle wines at The Great Wine Co.
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Phantom Chardonnay £19.55
This is a wonderful Californian Chardonnay, with generous pineapple, peach, juicy ripe pear and papaya notes, followed by buttered toast, vanilla pod and fragrant wood. A perfect pairing for comfort food, or as a stand-alone treat. It's supremely easy to love!
Juggernaut Russian River Pinot Noir £26.50
A Pinot with irresistibly easygoing Californian style, yet with defined aromas and flavours of red cherries with hints of fragrant wood, cherry leaf and toasted coconut. Super-soft and succulent in texture, gentle acidity and soft tannin, it is effortlessly enjoyable. Juggernaut is the name of Bogle's selections from particularly special vineyard sites, offering a clear step up in concentration from their regular reds, while maintaining their hallmark easygoing style.
Viognier £15.50
Displaying appetisingly luscious ripe stone fruit aromas, with fresh apricot and juicy pear on the palate. To achieve Viognier's fabulously expressive fruit character, most of the final wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks. However to introduce some spicy complexity and develop richness a portion was fermented and matured on the lees in American oak barrels.
50th Anniversary Petite Sirah £52.88
A truly remarkable wine and a fitting tribute to the Bogle family's extraordinary success over half a century. This is super-concentrated - full of dense, concentrated, jammy black cherry fruit and peppery spice, and an almost indescribable thick, velvety texture. An astounding wine, it has to be tried.
Click here to Explore Bogle Wines: greatwine.co.uk
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FROM THE DELICIOUS GUIDE | CLAYTON'S KITCHEN
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Always a great dining experience
Clayton’s Kitchen is a firm favourite with locals and a must for visitors to Bath seeking a wonderful culinary experience. This charming, relaxed and stylish restaurant is led by chef-patron Robert Clayton, who has achieved two Michelin Stars while running restaurants in Bath. Inspired by Mediterranean and modern French cuisine, Robert creates uncomplicated but sublime dishes; prepared, cooked and perfectly presented using the freshest, highest quality ingredients. To reflect this, the beautifully compiled menu changes seasonally and is accompanied by an excellent wine list. Enjoy a fantastic lunch or dinner – you’ll want to return.
Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and evening dining - see website for reservations and opening times.
15a George Street, Bath BA1 2EN Tel: 01225 724386 Web: claytonskitchen.com
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Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?
Click through to browse our full Delicious Guide!
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RETAILER NEWS | A LITTLE MIELE TIME
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Coopers Home Appliances unveil their new Miele showroom
As well as being fun and creative, the window displays at Bath’s best independent electrical appliance store, Coopers, are always a real treat, featuring alluring brands, new launches and simply the best products. Venture inside and it just gets better as there’s now a new Miele department showcasing a full range of Miele’s excellent appliances, so if you are in the market for a new washing machine, dishwasher, fridge/freezer or smaller kit - check out the remarkable Miele Boost CX1 Cat/Dog bagless vacuum cleaner shown here at £349. Then take a tour of the new department as well as all the other fabulous brand areas and machines on display.
Click here to visit the website or better still take the tour at Coopers Home Appliances, 13/15 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BN
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FASHION | LULULEMON JOGGERS
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OBJECTS OF DESIRE | DESIGNER SUNNIES
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In the mood for summer
With the sunnier days of summer on the horizon, nothing says statement style more than putting on a really great pair of shades. in fact whatever the weather, you’ll feel cool, glamorous, and be very much in your own Hollywood moment. Shown here are four great styles from Mallory:
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Chopard Collection Havana acetate sunglasses £439 |
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Montblanc Black acetate sunglasses £320 |
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Chopard Mille Miglia sunglasses £351 |
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Montblanc hyper-light rectangular Ruthenium metal frame sunglasses £270 |
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BEAUTY | SAY HELLO TO REFILLABLE LIPSTICK
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Pep Talk Lipstick (Lipstick Refill – From £11 / Reusable case - £5 ) |
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This lipstick is a finishing touch, a dash of moisturisation added in no-time, and a quick hint of colour applied on the way to brunch. All in one compact, travel-friendly, refillable case.
The best of both worlds, this lipstick is a blend of matte and satin with a velvet finish, so you get the colour pay-off and coverage of a heavy-duty lipstick, without that tacky feeling. Not too shiny, but not too matte either.
Now available in 20 gorgeous shades to match all skin tones and enriched with Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana, Peptalk offers consistent nourishing moisturisation as you go about your day. It also stays lightweight, smooth, comfortable and moisturising - just the way we like it. So, add some colour and long-lasting moisturisation to your smile, and don't worry about it going anywhere.
Click here to see more thebodyshop.com
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MAGAZINE KIOSK | THE CULTURE OF TEA
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Curated by Daniel McCabe
After water, tea is the world’s most popular drink. Tea magazines (or at least Independent tea magazines), however, are a relative rarity – we have one, but it’s an excellent one and it comes from Portugal, of all places. Eighty Degrees is published biannually but we’ve waited more than a year for the ninth issue so it’s pretty packed, taking in yellow tea, edible tea, walking meditation, fermentation versus oxidation, Czech potters, historic Chinese teahouses, senchadō, wulong and much more. | £14
store.magalleria.co.uk
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SPRING EXHIBITION | BATHAMPTON VILLAGE HALL
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Bathampton Art Group Spring Exhibition
This famous local art exhibition takes place again this year and is a must for your diary with many artists displaying a wide range of work. Subjects range from still life to landscapes and seascapes, and portraits – including pets!
Well known Bradford based artist Steve Hall will be on hand to judge the winners in each category.
The exhibition opens at 10am and closes at 4pm with refreshments available all day.
Saturday 15 April, 10 am to 5 pm Bathampton Village Hall, Holcombe lane, Bath BA2 6UL Click here for more information
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Gallagher Premiership - 14 April 2023, Kick Off 19:45
Visit bathrugby.com for details
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EVENT | PERFORMANCE OF SOLOMON
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Bath Recitals Present: Handel's Solomon
As we approach the crowning of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey, Bath Recitals is delighted to commemorate the Coronation with a performance in Bath Abbey of Handel’s oratorio Solomon. This is likely to be the first professional performance since the eighteenth century; it was only performed four times in Handel’s lifetime.
The performance of Solomon marks the beginning of the 2023 season. It is followed on the 26th August by a Georgian Gala of music by some of the great composers of the era with Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate, Handel’s aria Eternal Source of Light Divine sung by Eleonore Sian Cockerham of Voces8 and Purcell’s Birthday Ode to Queen Mary Come Ye Sons of Art Away.
Handel’s Solomon will be performed in Bath Abbey on Saturday 22nd April at 7:30pm, Tickets are £15-£35 Visit bathboxoffice.org.uk for tickets
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Jennifer Pike & Bath Philharmonia
In an orchestral concert that focusses on the power of the human spirit to struggle over adversity, the composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Jean Sibelius loom large, but important figures continue to emerge including Isobel Waller Bridge and Joseph Bologne, Chavalier de St George. Joseph Bologne, known at the time as the “Black Mozart”, was a creole virtuoso violinist and composer from the 18th century. His music is highly sophisticated, accomplished and dripping with classical wit. Isobel Waller Bridge is mainly known for her work in TV and film, but her Suite for Strings is powerful and muscular, whilst Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony literally changed European music forever. Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is deeply romantic and brooding with inner conflict combined with a love of Finnish forests and lakes. We are joined on this intense musical journey by Jennifer Pike one of the country’s finest violinists.
Full programme:
- Isobel Waller-Bridge, Arise
- Joseph Bologne, Overture to L’Amant Anonyme’
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No.3 (Eroica), 1st Movement
Interval:
Jean Sibelius, Violin Concerto [arr. Nicholas Ward]
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Tickets from £25, available at the Bath Box Office website below | Learn more about the Bath Philharmonia at bathphil.co.uk
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INTERIORS GUIDE | JOEL BUGG
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Joel Bugg Furniture & Spaces
Joel Bugg Furniture & Spaces designs and creates elegant, bespoke fitted furniture and interiors, which are architecturally thought through to seamlessly fit and suit your property. Joel and his team offer a fully managed service from initial space planning and concept designs, using teams of skilled cabinet makers in their manufacture through to final installation. They will also recommend, source and provide lighting, flooring and other finishing touches as required. Their expertise spans all interiors from kitchens and bathrooms to libraries and boot rooms, and as well as working directly with clients they work collaboratively with architects and interior designers to deliver a truly tailored solution.
Tel: 01225 583520 / 07779 236242; Web: joelbugg.co.uk
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SERVICES | BATH PAINTERS AND DECORATORS
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Bath Painters and Decorators are here to take care of your project!
Whether in Bath or the surrounding areas, Bath Painters and Decorators is dedicated to delivering a professional service achieved through excellent customer service and top quality results.
They welcome all projects, residential or commercial, contemporary or traditional; no job is too big or too small. They have completed work on a range of contemporary flats and houses and traditional Georgian and Victorian residences, including Pitt House, the former residence of Prime Minister William Pitt.
Whether a front door, windows, bespoke furniture, kitchen cabinets or a complete refurbishment, they can provide the service you need!
Painting and Decorating – Wallpapering – Carpentry – Plastering – Flooring – Plumbing
Tel: 01225 690039 | email: info@bathpaintersanddecorators.co.uk
Click here to visit the website bathpainters.co.uk
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PROPERTY IN FOCUS | A TOP PROPERTY
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Top floor maisonette, Lansdown Crescent, Bath, BA1
Offered for sale by The Apartment Company.
This unique three-bedroom maisonette apartment, situated in the prestigious Lansdown Crescent, offers well over 1700 sq. ft. accommodation which is spread across the top two floors of this beautiful Grade I listed Georgian townhouse.
The property is beautifully presented throughout and enjoys the most stunning panoramic views across Bath and beyond.
In brief, the accommodation is as follows: the inner hallway leads through to a spacious sitting/dining room that overlooks the rear of the house, and in turn leads to a good sized galley style kitchen with plenty of workspace, storage and a range of appliances.
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On this floor is the impressive master bedroom with a sash window to front elevation, and benefits from a beautifully fitted en-suite with stand alone bath and a walk in shower, and the his and hers wash basins are a lovely feature. From the ensuite there are steps leading to a delightful parapet balcony with the most spectacular views.
A good sized second bedroom and bathroom are also on this floor.
On the upper (top) floor is a third bedroom, a study with exposed beams and access to loft storage. There’s also a substantial utility room as well as a good sized eaves storage room. £790,000
Click here to see more images, the floorpan and all the details on The Apartment Company website
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