HM The Queen confirms patronage of Westonbirt Arboretum

This month Her Majesty The Queen has announced her patronage of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum. The charity based at Westonbirt Arboretum works in partnership with Forestry England to protect and conserve the 600 acres and 15,000 trees for people to enjoy.

Upon receiving the letter of confirmation from Buckingham Palace, Emma Griffiths, CEO of The Friends, expressed her gratitude, stating: "We're absolutely thrilled to have Her Majesty's continued support as our patron. Her endorsement will undoubtedly amplify our efforts to raise awareness about our vital conservation work and secure future funding for the Arboretum."

The Friends have recently awarded the arboretum with funds to update and replace the fleet of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, thereby enhancing accessibility for all visitors. Funds have also been raised to establish a community woodland at the arboretum with 600 individuals from local schools and community groups already planting 3,300 trees over the winter months.

Find out more about Westonbirt Arboretum here.

READ OUR JUNE ISSUE NOW!

You'll love our marvellous June 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.

This month we spoke to the great stage and screen actor Sir Ian McKellen ahead of his appearance in Player Kings at the Bristol Hippodrome. He told us that everyone’s life is a Shakespearean play… We also spoke to clothier and businessman Patrick Grant (co-judge of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee) who is up in arms against the fashion industry, where seasonal fashions have been replaced by a constant issue of sub-par clothing. We are also treated to a preview of If Opera’s summer programme. Plus so much more!

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's [Green Park], M&S Foods in Twerton, Tesco in Weston Village, and at The Holburne Museum. 

Click here to enjoy the digital version of our current issue! 

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 – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Words by Melissa Blease

Sabich with Green Tahini

The Sabich – a warm pitta stuffed with grilled aubergine, boiled eggs, salad and herb-laden tahini – comes second only to falafel in the Middle Eastern street food charts . Try it once, and it's sure to top your own speedy garden lunch charts from the very first bite...

Ingredients (makes 4 Sabich)
For the salad:Around 4” cucumber, finely diced2 large, ripe tomatoes, finely diced4 spring onions, finely choppedThe juice of ½ lemon 
For the Green Tahini:80g tahiniThe juice of 1 lemon 2 large handfuls flat-leaf parsley, chopped2 large handfuls mint leaves, chopped
For the rest:3 tbsp olive oil1 large aubergine (around 350g), thinly sliced into long strips4 round pittas (or flatbreads), warmed4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
To serve: chilli sauce

Method
Put the cucumber, tomatoes, spring onions and lemon juice into a bowl, season with a little salt and toss together. Set to one side.
Put the tahini, lemon juice, parsley, mint and 6 tbsp water into a blender or food processor, season well and blend until smooth. Set to one side. 
Heat a griddle or non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Pour the oil into a shallow dish and add a good pinch of salt. Toss the aubergine in the oil and griddle or fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until really tender and nicely charred.
Open up the warm pittas (or flatbreads) and stuff with the sliced hard-boiled eggs, salad and aubergines. Drizzle with plenty of the green tahini and serve immediately, with chilli sauce on the side. 

Spanish red wines at The Great Wine Co.

Spain has the greatest area under vine of any wine producing country. Due to its arid climate and low rainfall, the land simply cannot support such a concentrated volume of trellised vines as you might find in a country like France. Spain's vineyards are therefore dotted with low-lying, ancient bush vines better adapted to compete for the scarce resources. The diversity of wine styles is immense. In the north west, Atlantic influences give a crisp acidity to the spicy Albariños of Rias Baixas. Moving eastwards along the Duero River high altitudes in the Ribera del Duero bring daytime heat for ripe red fruit and cool evenings for zesty acidity to the region's robust reds. The soils of Priorat just north of the eastern Mediterranean coast are blessed with a unique mineral which provides the region's Garnacha and Cariñena wines with a distinctive edge.

Garnacha, Bodega Maranoes | £28.50

The 100% Garnacha expresses itself fully, both in the nose and in the mouth, with flavours of blackthorn, a sensation of fleshy fruit retaining a slightly crispy texture. Then comes a full silkiness, with the granularity of these granite soils rich in quartz. That nugget of quartz is noticeable in the texture, length, fineness, elegance and the floral element of the wine.

El Tiempo Que Nos Une Monastrell, Bodega Cerron | £14.40

With a beautiful, bright colour and exciting, vibrant, crunchy, just-picked fruit character, this wine is a delight for both the eyes and the palate. Medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing, it is fresh, satisfying and well-balanced. It comes from vineyards around the village of Fuente-Álamo, whose 'three pillars' of warm days, cold nights and limestone soil make their distinctive mark on its excellent wines.

Finica Legardeta Garnacha, J. Chivite Family Estates | £16.65

This wine's appeal starts with its bright, vibrant cherry-juice appearance. Scents of ripe cherries and strawberries, seasoned with vanilla, pepper and dried herbs greet the nose, making a sip inevitable. On the palate, the lovely, soft, juicy texture forms the first impression, along with the lively fruit. It is rounded and mellow, without any heaviness - the balance is sensational. It might age, but it's so delicious now, why wait?

Matas Altas Monastrell, Bodega Cerron | £22

This has super-expressive, vibrant aromas, with notes of rosewater, just-ground black pepper, subtle woodiness and abundant, juicy fruitiness. Bright, sparky, frank and vibrant, it is both a refreshing drink and a medium-bodied, nuanced wine worth the honour of contemplation and appreciation. 'Matas' is slang for 'bush' in the region - in other words, old vines, planted on their own rootstocks (not grafted). Altas reflects the high elevation of the Fuente-Álamo area, whose calcareous soils, warm days and cold nights bring about wines with full ripeness and concentration, and at the same time, freshness, agility and finesse.

Visit greatwine.co.uk to explore more

Dos Dedos

If you’ve not ventured into Dos Dedos before, then you are really missing out. This is a lively Mexican cantina in the heart of Bath, with a focus on tequila, mezcal and creative cocktails. You’ll also find signature street food staples of Mexico City, with a small selection of tacos and nachos, which are great to share. It’s a cool city hangout, with a reclaimed vibe, the bartenders are supremely knowledgeable and there's a dogs-allowed policy and children are welcome ’til 6pm. There are no advance bookings due to the size of the venue, so simply rock up to get your margarita and taco fix. Enjoy!

Edgar Mews, Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ
Click here for more information.

The summer edition of Postcard

Produced by the team at The Bath Magazine - the Summer 24 edition of Postcard from Bath, our beautifully presented visitor guide to the city is officially out.

Postcard contains the very best things to do and see in the Bath, alongside editorial pieces on the city's fascinating history, architecture, culture, and so much more.

This luxury guide book is designed to elevate the visitor experience and can be found in over 1900 hotel rooms, B&Bs and other guest accommodation around the city.

If you are a hotel or B&B, and would like to have copies of Postcard Magazine in your rooms or available for your guests, contact us on info@postcardmagazine.co.uk

Click here for more information.

Enjoy the read!

IWC Pilot's Chronograph 41 Edition MAP

Conceived as navigation instruments for aviators, IWC Pilot’s Watches are the quintessential tool for modern-day explorers.The Pilot’s Chronograph 41 Edition ‘MAP’ is the first official team watch produced by IWC for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. The case is made of grade 5 titanium – the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal – and is also used in automotive engineering to manufacture components for high-performance engines. Housed in the 41mm Titanium case, the black dial features the typical instrument design of IWC’s pilot’s watches, enhanced with details of the Mercedes, AMG team’s signature PETRONAS green.

The luminescent green is added to the Arabic numerals, the baton markers and hands. IWC adopts its typical vertical arrangement of the subdials – a functional approach to design, offering enhanced legibility and is distinguishing feature of the company’s chronographs. Powering the chronograph is the self-winding IWC manufactured 69385 calibre movement which can be enjoyed through the sapphire caseback.

For more formal occasions the green rubber strap can easily be switched with an optional black rubber strap or other IWC bracelets using IWC's EasX-CHANGE system.

With a focus on performance and maximum durability IWC watches are created with a unique expertise in engineering and mechanical stopwatches. Model Number: IW388108.  Price £7,350

For more information on the Pilot’s Chronograph 41 Edition Map and other timepieces by IWC click here to visit the Mallory website

BLEU DE CHANEL

This Father's Day, show your love with BLEU DE CHANEL. A scent with an intensely woody signature, whose elegant trail features notes that are generous and powerful – just like him.

An ode to masculine freedom expressed in an aromatic-woody fragrance with a captivating trail. A timeless scent housed in a bottle of deep and mysterious blue.
BLEU DE CHANEL is presented in an eau de parfum with an exquisitely pronounced scent that reveals a determined spirit.

Chanel | £118
Click here to explore the Father's Day collection. 

Get festival ready

Stay stylish and comfortable this festival season with these beige suede, calf-length cowboy boots featuring pointed toes, Western-inspired stitching and angular stacked heels.

Mint Velvet | £179
Click here to explore more festival fashion.

Limoncello Coasters

This lovely set of four coasters with its beautiful Limoncello design are by Bath-based British designer Diana Wilson Arcana. Diana creates cards, prints, jewellery, tablecloths, tea towels and cushions with her colourful collage designs. These coasters are made from gloss finished melamine with cork bases.

Measures 100mm x 100mm x 3.2mm

Head to Homefront Interiors for more beautiful handcrafted pieces.

Diana Wilson Arcana | £22

Click here to shop, or visit the store at 10 Margaret's Buildings
Bath, BA1 2LP

The perfect hat for Ladies' Day

In search of a hat for a summer wedding, or any formal event this season? 

The Bath Hat Company in Bath has an amazing selection of hats, perfect for any event. Conveniently situated in the heart of Bath’s city centre, you can drop by and explore their collection firsthand.

The Bath Hat Company, 9-11 Walcot Street,  Bath BA1 5BN
01225 339009
thebathhatcompany.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

August is nominally a travel magazine, but one that carves out its own territory. Conceived by its publisher as a mash-up of legendary interiors mag Nest and National Geographic, it focuses on one destination a time, taking in art, architecture, photography, food and more. We haven’t seen a new issue for a while but it's just returned with an issue called ‘Utopia’ and features stories on Rudolf Steiner’s German Expressionist Goetheanum (on the cover), Javier Senosiain’s Casa Organica in Mexico City, the new Eames Institute in the Bay Area, Fritz Haller’s Buchli House for USM, Edward James’s surrealist garden Las Pozas in Mexico, Friedrick Froebel’s influential educational toys, a portfolio on the Paris-based designer Pierre Marie, an illustrated history of Utopia and the first experiential nightclub in New York. | £30

magalleria.co.uk

Bath Racecourse: Ladies' Day
This weekend!

A stand-out day in Bath’s social calendar. Join fellow racegoers for a show of style and beauty at Ladies Day 2024 at Bath Racecourse. The one day of the season when the fashion is as important as the racing, and stylish outfits and headwear will take centre stage. Live music by DJ, producer and presenter Marvin Humes.

Tickets start at £28. Children 17 and under go free to the races when accompanied by an adult.

Bath Racecourse, Lansdown, Bath BA1 9BU
Click here for last minute tickets!

Albaray Workshop

You are invited to come and meet artist Beth Kendall from Wilder & Wren at the new Albaray store on New Bond Street, Bath.

Sign up for a free interactive session, hosted in-store and let Beth guide you through using pressed wildflowers to produce unique keepsakes. You can also explore and shop the capsule collection (Albaray x Wilder & Wren) with exclusive discounts on the day.

Get creative and discover the wonderful world of floral artistry and printmaking. All equipment will be provided – just bring your creativity. Participants will leave with a selection of paper-based mementos to take home and enjoy, including notecards, postcards and gift tags.

To sign up for the free class just DM the Albaray team on instagram @ _albaray

Click here to explore the new Albaray x Wilder & Wren collab.

Treatment for Teddies at RUH Bath
Saturday 15 June

The Royal United Hospitals (RUH) in Bath is inviting children from local primary schools to bring in their poorly teddies for treatment this Saturday 15 June. Whether teddy needs plaster for a broken arm, prepping for surgery, or even a dental checkup, the Teddy Bear Hospital has got them covered.

In conjunction with the NHS Foundation Trust, this series of workshops aims to offer a glimpse into hospital life, creating positive memories associated with typical hospital activities. The various stations also place children inside an ambulance, with paramedic volunteers helping to explain and demonstrate various first aid. And throughout all of this, the children are joined by Roly, the teddy bear mascot to lend a hand!

Morning sesion: 100am - 12pm | Afternoon session: 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Royal United Hospital, Children's Outpatient Department, B11 RUH, Bath
Click here for more information. 

Garden Theatre Festival
10-21 July 2024

The Garden Theatre Festival – Bath’s only purpose-built open-air theatre festival – is back this July.

Taking place in the magical gardens of the Holburne Museum, expect two weeks of superb performances from nationally renowned companies, in a beautiful, open-air stage space, with something for all of the family to enjoy.

From Shakespeare, to Sherlock & Watson, to Peter Pan, the festival has a wide range of performances.

Adult: £18
Child (under 16): £13
Student: £16
Family (2 adults + 2 children): £47

Click here for more information.

BRLSI Discovery Weekend, 29 and 30 June

Schedule a visit in your diaries to BRLSI’s Discovery Weekend on 29 and 30 June, offering two days of family fun in celebration of the institute's 200 year anniversary. This family-friendly weekend celebration, held in Queen Square and at BRLSI, will be jam-packed with free science and crafting activities, live music and performances, exhibits, open air games, refreshments and free drop-in workshops.

Saturday 29 June, 10am-8pm
Sunday 30 June, 11am-4pm

BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath

More more information see: brlsi.org

Dorothy House Hospice Care Midnight Walk 2024
Saturday 15 June

Good luck to those participating in the Midnight Walk this year! There will be both their usual 5K walk as well as a brand new 10K route for those looking to push themselves! Starting point is the Bath Pavillion, with arrival time being 9pm. 10km: starts 10pm; 5km: starts 11pm.

Click here for more information

Modern ArtBuyer Pop-up Gallery, Limpley Stoke

Gallery and art consultancy Modern ArtBuyer, run by Jessica Lloyd-Smith, will be hosting its open house pop-up gallery in Limpley Stoke on 15-16 June.

As always, the Open House will feature a carefully curated collection of original paintings and affordable limited edition prints from artists from the Bath area and further afield, in a relaxed home setting.

Throughout the weekend, Jessica will be on hand to offer advice around the artwork selection, framing and hanging. Whether you're on the hunt for the perfect gift or after some inspiration for your own collection, pop in and enjoy a coffee or a glass of bubbles while browsing the show. 

10am-4.30pm | 1 Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke, Bath BA2 7FY
modernartbuyer.com

Ashley Road, Bathford, BA1

Offered for sale by Hamptons Bath

Bannerdown House is a wonderful, detached property situated along a country lane in the highly sought after village of Bathford, with its superb primary school, country pub, village store, and regular bus service to Bath city centre, just four miles away. Adjacent to open countryside, the house and gardens provide panoramic valley views.

The central entrance hall leads to a drawing room with a Bath stone fireplace and triple aspect views of the front garden and countryside. The spacious sitting room features a wood-burning stove, dining area, and double doors opening to the rear garden, again capturing those stunning views. The adjacent kitchen/breakfast room, designed with shaker-style units and a fitted central dining table, includes a picture window and practical utility room, with direct garden access.

Upstairs, the first floor offers two principal bedroom suites: one with a triple aspect and 'Jack and Jill' bathroom featuring a stylish free-standing bath and walk-in shower; the other with an en-suite bathroom and large picture window. Additionally, there is a third double bedroom and a nursery. The second floor accommodates a fourth bedroom with its own sitting/study area.

Bannerdown House is accessed via a no-through country lane, with a five-bar gate opening to a drive providing ample parking and leading to a substantial detached double garage, offering potential for additional self-contained accommodation, subject to consents. The front garden features a level lawn screened by a mature beech hedge, a covered pergola with a barbecue fireplace, and a patio extending to the side kitchen terrace with colorful raised beds. The rear garden, focused on the view, includes lawns, stone terraces, and a vegetable garden behind the garage, providing multiple seating areas to relax and enjoy the picturesque valley setting.  | Guide Price £1,350,000

For more information, images and details, click here to see the property on the Hamptons website.