Hello, and happy new year to all of our readers!

While our usual newsletter format will be returning next week, we thought we’d send you all a quick thank you for your support and dedicated reading over the past year. As we look back on the year and all the wonderful things we’ve covered in this city we call home, one thing is clear: we couldn’t have done it without you, our readers.

Our January issue has been hitting the streets over this past week, so keep an eye out as the city slowly reawakens after the Christmas slumber. While January can often feel a bit blue, we’re keeping spirits high and have put together an issue that we’re really excited about.

On our cover is author and Bath Spa University lecturer Samantha Harvey whose novel Orbital won the 2024 Booker Prize – in Emma Clegg’s interview with Samantha on page 18 she describes her aspiration to create a ‘space pastoral’, using meditative descriptions of the beauty and fragility of the Earth from space. Looking ahead to 2025 we have a feature with 10 specialist commentaries from different sectors in the city – from food and retail to property and leadership – with advice ranging from leaning into what you’re best at and how businesses should never stand still, to the value of breathing deeply and the power of laughter. 

There’s also an overview of what’s in and what’s out in the food world (fig leaves are in, cocktails in jars are out) from Melissa Blease and an interview with genetics professor Tim Spector on page 40 who tells us about his research on genetics, disease and the power of the microbiome and his groundbreaking work on transforming everyday meals into gut-friendly, health-promoting experiences, ahead of his appearance at The Forum this month. Another thought-provoking interview sees local journalist and presenter Ali Vowles meeting Phil Taylor the Vice Chancellor at the University of Bath, asking him about his first six months in post and what the future holds for the university. We also have a big splash of wedding inspiration that is designed to cater for those newly engaged couples who want to research their options. 

So while the weather outside may still be frightful, there’s plenty to do in and around Bath to stave off the doom and gloom. In this newsletter, we’ve taken a little peek at what’s in store for the year ahead. Enjoy, and once again, a great big thank you for a memorable year from all of us here at The Bath Magazine!

On 28 January, epidemiologist, doctor, science writer and expert on the gut microbiome Tim Spector takes to the stage at The Forum, where he’ll discuss his latest book: Food For Life: Your Guide to the New Science of Eating Well with presenter Gaby Roslin, an event brought to us by Bath Festivals. Read our interview with Tim on page… of our January magazine, or on our website.

Also on the Bath stage is Judge John Deed actor Martin Shaw, as he stars as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons, on at Theatre Royal Bath from 16 - 25 January. Our old friend Johann Sebastian Bach is celebrated at Bath Abbey, with Abbey organist Huw Williams continuing to play the complete organ works of Bach on the magnificent Klais organ. There are 14 more performances, starting on 18 January, all in celebration of his 275th birthday. Quite a milestone, eh? 

The ReBalance Bath Wellbeing Festival returns to the city, coming at just the right time as we look to make a healthy start to the year, running from 30 January - 16 February, helping to chase away the cold, dark days of winter in our city so known for its spa culture.

The fun continues throughout the months: 2025 marks Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, and it’s no secret how much Bath loves our very own literary genius, with her writing detailing the beautiful city scenery and memorialising the Georgian lifestyle. Among the festivities will be the Theatre Royal production of Pride and Prejudice (sort of) from 24 - 19 April, an exhibition Illustrating Austen at the Holburne (just round the corner from where she used to live) from September 2025 to January 2026, three costumed balls, a Regency Costumed Promenade, an abundance of afternoon teas, and a talk by Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen at The Forum. We can see why Georgian women were always fainting – we're exhausted just thinking of all those society events!

As we move into the summer months, the star of the show will be *Robbie Williams* who is performing in a massive open air concert at The Royal Crescent on 13 and 14 June. Tickets will be hard to source now, but the open air concert might mean you can get close enough to hear the strains of Angels and She’s the One… 

And it doesn’t stop there – Chris McCausland performs his one man show Yonks! at The Forum on 31 May; Ralph Fiennes stars from 27 June-19 July in David Hare's new play, Grace Pervades, telling the extraordinary story of Henry Irving (Ralph Fiennes) and Ellen Terry (Miranda Raison), the greatest stars of the Victorian stage; and singer turned actor Lily Allen stars as the enigmatic and destructive Hedda Gabler in a production of Ibsen’s Hedda at the Ustinov from 25 July – 23 August.

This is just a fraction of what’s ahead, proving that 2025 is looking to be a fantastic year in Bath!