A specially curated guide to the next 48 hours (or more) in Bath
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NEW RESTAURANT | NATURALLY FAST FOOD
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LEON opens in Bath
Naturally Fast Food brand LEON has opened its first restaurant in the South West, right here in Bath.
Situated in a busy prime city centre location on Stall Street, the restaurant will be weighted towards grab-and-go.
Guests will find all the usual LEON favourites on the menu such as Rice Boxes filled with Italian brown rice, fresh herbs and a protein of your choice, Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets made with 100% chicken thigh and coated in a crispy gluten-free crumb, Grilled Khobez Wraps, and iconic baked “criss-cut” waffle fries. Start the day with a toasted sourdough muffin, freshly poached egg pots and fairtrade, organic coffee which for every 7 cups sold saves 1m2 of the Peruvian rainforest. Big on taste and value, guests can also find an array of breakfast and lunchtime meal deals including the new £3.99 Rice Pot & Drink offer.
Leon Bath, 40 Stall Street | leon.co
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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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WEEKEND RECIPE | MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOURS
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Recipe by Melissa Blease
Greek Easter Lamb
If you don't fancy faffing over a hot stove preparing all the components for a classic roast dinner on Easter Sunday, this dish – bursting with typically Mediterranean flavours, with the added bonus of the potatoes roasting themselves underneath the meat – offers a laid-back route to a supremely satisfying sharing feast.
As for the suggestion of serving a salad with a roast – don't knock it 'til you've tried it! Greek Salad works particularly well here, as feta cheese is roast lamb's best flavour-friend. But even a bowl of well-seasoned soft lettuce leaves and chunks of ripe tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and red wine vinegar will work its Mediterranean-themed magic.
This recipe serves eight but if you're not feeding a crowd, the roast lamb leftovers are simply divine the next day, served at room temperature in hot pitta bread with plenty of tzatziki on the side.
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Ingredients
1 large leg of lamb (around 3kg in weight) 6 plump garlic cloves, peeled 1 heaped tsp dried oregano 1 heaped tsp dried mint The zest and juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp olive oil 1.5kg new potatoes 2 heaped tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped 1 tsp plain flour 400g can chopped tomatoes 1 large handful pitted Kalamata olives
To serve: Greek Salad (cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, black olives, fresh mint, olive oil, lemon juice)
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Method
1. Preheat the oven to 240°C/gas mark 9. Pound the garlic together with the dried oregano, the dried mint, the lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a pestle and mortar (or use a sturdy bowl and the end of a rolling pin), then add the lemon juice and olive oil and stir well to combine. Stab the lamb all over with a sharp knife then push as much of the herby oil as you can into the slits, rubbing any remaining oil over the meat.
2. Tip the potatoes into a large roasting tin, season well and toss the with the olive oil. Nestle the lamb amongst the potatoes and roast in the hot oven for 20 minutes before tossing the potatoes around a bit and reducing the temperature to 180°C/gas mark 4.
3. Continue to roast, tossing/basting occasionally, for another 75-80 minutes for a medium-rare result (add another 15 minutes if you prefer your lamb medium). When the lamb is cooked to your liking, remove it from the tin, place it on a board, cover with foil and a clean tea towel and allow it to rest for at least 20 minutes.
4. While the lamb is resting, turn the oven down to a low heat and tumble the roast potatoes with 1 tbsp of the fresh mint. Transfer to an ovenproof serving dish, cover lightly with foil and put back in the oven to keep warm until serving time. Meanwhile, place the roasting tin on the hob over a medium heat. Add 1 tsp plain flour and stir to create a roux with the pan juices, then add the canned tomatoes, olives, the last of the fresh mint and a splash of boiling water to the tin. Simmer, stirring continuously, for a few minutes until the sauce has slightly thickened and transfer to a jug.
4. Serve the rested lamb in thick slices accompanied by the potatoes, the sauce and a big Greek salad to share.
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WEEKEND WINE | SLAM IN THE LAMB
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Easter special
A decent Cabernet Sauvignon paired with roast lamb for Easter is an absolute classic – but what if you fancy something a little different? Of course fulsome reds are a traditional choice but Rosés, or even a big white, can work surprisingly well with your spring feast. Here are some beauts to accompany your Lamb dinner.
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THE TRADITIONAL SHOULDER OF LAMB ROAST
Haut-Médoc | Château de Villegeorge This a classic Left Bank claret, with lovely, intense black berry fruit, tinged with nuances of green leaves and tobacco, and just a hint of Médoc gravelliness. Perfect with a slow cooked, moist and rich lamb | £24.40
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OR IF YOU LIKE A LEG
Crozes-Hermitage | Laurent Combier Almost opaque with a purple hue, this is a classic syrah from the Northern Rhone. Rich and spicy on the nose and palate with an underlying savoury quality as well as ripe approachable tannins. The finish is long, smooth and velvety, perfect for a big, rich, blow-out meal followed by an afternoon kip. Happy Easter | £20.83
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A PINKIER TOUCH
Valpolicella | Bertani Youthful with an attractive violet red colour. Intense notes of blackcurrant, plum, raspberry, black cherry and spice. Fresh and pure with beautiful balance through to the finish and the soft tannins will not overpower the delicate young lamb that is served pink to medium | £15.50
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DON’T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU TRY IT
Champagne Brut Rosé | Gobillard As an alternative to a big red, the soft light mousse of this delicious Rosé will perfectly complement everything on the plate. Especially good with a shoulder of lamb or even a leg where the juices are more wholesome and the pink fizz adds surprising freshness | £42
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AND WHAT ABOUT WHITE?
The FMC, Chenin Blanc | Ken Forrester Wines The higher acidity and the big weight of a good oak-aged white is perfect balance for a rack of lamb, chops, or a lamb dish where a sauce or spice have been added. See Melissa’s recipe above. So enter… Ken Forrester, the 'King of Chenin', his flagship FMC is rich, seductive and utterly sophisticated. Wow… We did not expect that! | £35
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FOOD | GOOD FOR PLANET, PEOPLE AND PLATE
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Edible cups, bowls and plates from Refillable
Refillable has created an amazing sustainable solution to take-away cups, bowls and plates.
These edible take away containers are a great substitute to the standard recyclable paper cups. You can put any food item that you’d usually place in your take-away crockery – the difference is, you can eat it at the end! Made of bran wheat, vegan and fully biodegradable, you'll feel great to be part of reducing waste from recyclable containers.
The cups will hold a hot or cold drink for up to 40 min and the plates and bowls up to 1 hour. The Edibles, as Refillable calls them, are a great addition to any kids' or adult party.
Visit Refillable Shop on London Road, or visit the website to give this edible crockery a try: refillable.shop | @refillable.shop (Instagram, Twitter)
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Easter Mini Hamper from Chatley Farm Brownies
Treat yourself or someone special with an Easter Chocolate Brownie Hamper from Chatley Farm!
Choose TWO flavours to include and write your own personal note. Presented in a pale pink Easter box with tissue | £20
Available at chatleyfarmbrownies.co.uk
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Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?
Click through to browse our full Delicious Guide!
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Phuket Sandals from Grace & Mabel
Flat sandal with synthetic and textile pieces, with hook-and-loop strap fastening on the side and front | £99
graceandmabel.co.uk | Grace & Mabel, 3 George St, Bath
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Rainproof accessories from The Original Duckhead
Whether you embrace the rain or can’t bear it ruining your outfit, hair and general look and feel, an umbrella is the must-have accessory this spring – and The Original Duckhead has got you covered with uplifting, eco-friendly and innovative designs you’ll be excited to carry (above left, £36). Equally practical are The Original Duckhead's reusable bags, handmade from the surplus materials from the umbrella canopies. High-strength, ultra lightweight and folds into a small pouch (above right, £14).
Available at originalduckhead.com
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The Alternative Easter Egg from L'Occitane en Provence
This Easter, L’OCCITANE reinterprets the Easter Egg – unveiling beautifully designed metal eggs boasting a selection of must-have minis within.
Above: Cherry Blossom Easter Egg, containing Cherry Blossom Shower Gel 75ml, Cherry Blossom Body Lotion 35ml and Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 10ml | £17.50 | uk.loccitane.com
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OBJECT OF DESIRE | A VERY GOOD EGG
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Fabergé Emotion Pendant
The Fabergé dynasty really began in 1882 when Peter Carl Fabergé took over his father’s somewhat ordinary jewellery business. Together with his brother Agathon, he quickly transformed it into an international phenomenon.
The success of the two brothers was changing the nature of the business. Out went the then-fashionable style where diamonds prevailed; in came the design-led artist-jeweller with a penchant for colour through both stones and reviving the lost art of enamelling.
They added objets deluxe to their repertoire, including objets de fantaisie such as the Imperial Easter Eggs, now regarded as pinnacles of the goldsmiths’ art.
Today these are treasured in some of the world’s leading museums and private collections. The craftsmanship of all their creations was of the very finest standard. This formula of design and craftsmanship made Fabergé irresistible and the ultimate objects to own, as well as the gift of choice.
Fabergé egg pendants are not only wearable and highly collectable but are keepsake investments to be treasured for years to come.
Shown here is the Emotion yellow gold multicoloured gemstone egg pendant featuring multi-coloured sapphires, white diamonds, emeralds, rubies and tsavorites, set in 18ct yellow gold. It measures 18mm with a 50cm chain | £12,960
There’s a full range of fabulous Fabergé jewellery to be discovered at Mallory Jewellers: click here to see more.
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MAGAZINE KIOSK | WHY WE LOVE PRINT
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Curated by Daniel McCabe
The Gentlewoman is always a sure bet for an enlightening read and the latest issue (#27) looks particularly attractive. We meet French facialist Sophie Carbonari, artist Caroline Coon and chef/restaurant creative director Erchen Chang among others, while the in-depth profiles include Grammy winning hitmakers Nova Wav, photographer and activist Nan Goldin, computer scientist Anne-Marie Imafidon and the magazine’s cover star, actor, screenwriter, and director Greta Gerwig. The fashion is focused on ‘darker’ stylings (i.e. black), modern utility and a new era for the bra, ‘fit over fashion’ | £10
store.magalleria.co.uk
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FAMILY FUN | EASTER EGGCITEMENT
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An Eggcellent Easter Adventure, American Museum & Gardens, 1–16 April
Get your wellies on for a cracking good time!
Visit The American Museum & Gardens during the school holidays for an outdoor trail to hunt through the gardens and enjoy free creative activities at the crafting station. Complete your family fun day out at the Garden Café, where you’ll find all kinds of seasonal treats. Bring your furry friends too – dogs on leads are very welcome | americanmuseum.org
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Easter at the Abbey, 5–16 April
As we approach Easter, experience one of the most moving Christian works ever written, by one of the greatest composers who ever lived: St. John Passion by J.S. Bach. Featuring Ruairi Bowen as Evangelist, the Abbey Girls and Lay Clerks will perform alongside baroque specialists Rejouissance. This event will take place at the Bath Abbey Churchyard on 5 April at 7.30pm. Tickets from £10 (16s and under half price) from Bath Box Office | | bathboxoffice.org.uk
You can also celebrate the holidays with the Abbey’s Family Easter Trail (until 16 April). Pick up a free trail sheet at the Welcome Desk, track down the answers, decode the mystery message and celebrate with a free mini egg! | bathabbey.org
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EASTER HOLIDAYS | OUT OF THIS WORLD FUN
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Make a planet suncatcher, April 1–16, Herschel Museum of Astrology
As spring emerges, ensure you make the most of the sunshine with a fabulous planet suncatcher to hang in your window and fill your room with colour!
Free for children (accompanied by a paying adult) throughout the Easter Holidays, 10am–5pm, 1–16 April (excluding 3 and 10 April)
Find out more at herschelmuseum.org.uk
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CitySound Voices: anniversary concert, St Stephen's Church, Lansdown, 22 April
CitySound Voices are ten years old! To celebrate, the choir is holding an Anniversary Concert.
CitySound Voices is a small, dynamic, mixed-voice choir that entertains its audiences with a wide variety of traditional and modern music, sacred and secular, classical, folk and pop. For this celebratory concert, the choir will be singing music by Verdi, Faure, Lauridsen, Billy Joel and Queen as well as a medley from Les Miserables. The group sings mainly in and around Bath, but have also sung at Wells Cathedral, the Aldeburgh Maltings, and the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.
CitySound Voices have recently appointed a talented and enthusiastic Musical Director, William Stevens, so the future looks bright. Performing with them will be two King Edward’s School Choirs, KES Senior Singers and KES 24 Chamber Choir. This promises to be a wonderful evening and the choir would be delighted to see you there.
Supporting the charity The Music Man Project, Keynsham.
Tickets (£16 general admission, free for under 16s) from citysound.org.uk
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Study Smart with the Revision Experts at Bath Academy
The Easter Revision Courses at Bath Academy are designed to improve student confidence and encourage them to achieve their potential in their academic exams.
With a large range of subjects, and both morning and afternoon sessions available (as well as bespoke courses) over the three weeks of Easter Holidays, the college provides one of the most flexible revision programmes in Bath to suit every student’s needs.
EASTER REVISION COURSES 2023
Monday 27 – Friday 31 March Monday 3 – Thursday 6 April* Tuesday 11 – Friday 14 April*
Book your Easter Revision Course here, or if you have any questions, email revision@bathacademy.co.uk for more information. *(4/5 course due to Bank Holiday)
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Bath Optician Frame Stylist wins international jewellery awards
Susannah Way, a receptionist and frame stylist at independent Bath opticians Ellis and Killpartrick has achieved national and international recognition for her jewellery. Her piece Freedom 90 promoting diversity and equality, was on show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, whilst another of Susannah’s designs was recently on display at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Susannah's design for a trinket box entitled Freedom 90 is based on George Michael’s life and music. The trinket box references several lines in the song and video and his past in Wham! The six tapered rods breaking through the picture in a frame reference the exploding guitar the video, representing the six guitar strings which then change into a rainbow to signify George coming out as gay. The inside is full of references to Wham! from which he wanted to escape to become a “serious” artist. The textures represent adoring fans and the outfits he wore in the “Wake me up before you go go” video.
Susannah applied for the exhibition Verdant Bodies at the Armory Art Center and was delighted that two of her pieces of jewellery were selected to be shown. The intention of Verdant Bodies was to highlight topics such as ecology, evolution, species relationships and cultural implications. The Mycelium necklace and earrings that were selected are based on the relationship between trees and mushrooms, highlighting mycelium as a precious natural resource. They are made in sterling silver with gold plate and eco friendly papier-màche | ellisandkillpatrick.com | swayjewellery.com
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LOOKING BACK | THE URCHIN AND THE GENT
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Words by Andrew Swift
In this week’s archive view we see the Upper Bristol Road around 1918, with the bottom of Marlborough Buildings just visible on the left. On the right is Albion Place, which at the time boasted a pub called the Norfolk Tavern, with an advert for Bass in its window. A little further along (to the right of the man with the bowler hat), the last building in Albion Place was the Western Dispensary, a charitable institution which provided free medical care for people who couldn’t afford doctors. Both fell victim to bombing in 1942. The site was later occupied by the Hinton Garage but a retirement complex is now being built on the site. The buildings immediately beyond Albion Place have survived, as have the villas on the other side of the road at Crescent Gardens. Even more interesting than this glimpse of long-lost buildings, though, is the traffic, which, apart from the distant tram, is all either horse or hand drawn. And then there are those two enigmatic figures which steal the show – the urchin and the gent – transforming the photograph from a record of passing time to something approaching a work of art … With echoes of Magritte, perhaps?
akemanpress.com
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INTERIORS GUIDE | A TRANQUIL SPACE
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The Urban Garden
The Urban Garden is "the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart". Located in Royal Victoria Park just below the Royal Crescent, it sells locally sourced plants and houseplants (50% grown by the team), a range of beautiful garden-ware and gifts. Plants can be packaged in recyclable posipots and you can purchase peat free compost sold in re-fillable bags. On site there is a café kiosk where customers can enjoy a coffee whilst enjoying the tranquil space. The Urban Garden also offers a range of botanical courses throughout the year in the back of its beautiful glasshouse. Loved by Bath residents as a calm oasis, its reputation is growing and last year it was featured in the Telegraph as one of their top 10 garden centres to visit. As a social enterprise, a purchase made there helps support people to improve their lives in a number of ways. Open Thursdays-Sundays.
Marlborough Buildings, Bath BA1 2LZ Tel: 07791 537930 Web: theurbangarden.org.uk
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Sion Hill Place, Bath BA1
Offered for sale by Cobb Farr estate agents
Sion Hill Place is an elegant terrace of nine Grade I listed Georgian townhouses located in a highly sought-after position on Bath’s northern slopes. This handsome terrace is tucked away in a quiet secluded residential area with a beautiful leafy aspect to the front, plenty of on street parking and wonderful elevated views of the city.
The property is an absolute hidden gem of pure Georgian elegance. Beautifully designed by “John Pinch the Elder” in 1818 this property holds all the immeasurable features associated with its Grade 1 listing and being part of a World Heritage city. It is documented that No.1 Sion Hill Place is considerably larger than the rest of the terrace.
Currently undergoing an extensive restoration and refurbishment programme this most desirable of addresses will soon be coming to market as 2 duplex apartments, 2 apartments and 1 penthouse suite.
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Apartment 4, Sion Hill Place is a stunning second floor 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. The apartment benefits from stunning views to both the front and rear. Sion Hill place has been totally refurbished to an exceptional standard.
A rare opportunity to truly make an apartment your own and be a part of the history of this beautiful building. For a limited time the development has an opportunity for a buyer to choose and specify their own kitchen colours, worktop finishes, appliance specification and floor finishes | £1,750,000
For more details, images and specifications click here to see this fabulous property on the Cobb Farr website: cobbfarr.com
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