On February 15 1987, Graham Greene – one of the most highly-acclaimed English novelists of the 20^th century – attended a star-studded peace conference in Moscow (Glasnost, remember?). Greene took the opportunity to visit his old friend Kim Philby: the double agent who, in 1963, was revealed to be the ‘third man’ in the infamous ‘Cambridge Five’ spy ring (Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess being men one and two, with Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross coming in at four and five).

Melissa Blease reviews the Theatre Royal Bath's latest production.

Enjoy a three minute read here

Main photo: ASOI – Oliver Ford Davies (Graham Greene), Karen Ascoe (Rufa Philby), Stephen Boxer (Kim Philby) – Credit James Findlay

As always, our current issue has 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. 

You can also enjoy our July issue here!

There are sandwiches and... there are lobster rolls - and come matchday, they are a little bit special. So save the pizza for England v Italy!

Pre-cooked lobster is a divine meat to mix with a creamy, piquant mayonnaise-based sauce, heaped and spooned into toasted brioche rolls. There are so many variations and you can experiment as much as you like, but the golden rule is not to scrimp on the shrimp! Every mouthful should be mainly lobster – it’s decadent and you’ll so appreciate it.

On the cover of our July edition, we used a whole cooked lobster (£10.99) from Edgars in George Street. This lobster gives plenty of succulent meat for four overflowing rolls.

Here is an example of this recipe from lobsteranywhere.com:

Ingredients:

To make four rolls:
1 whole pre-cooked lobster, chilled and ready to eat
1 brioche loaf for slicing or 4 large brioche buns
1 lemon (for juice and zest) 
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped (optional)
3 heaped tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp finely minced parsley
1 tbsp finely chopped chives, plus 1 tbsp of coarsely chopped chives
1 tsp lemon juice
Half tsp lemon zest

Splash of seet chilli sauce or pinch of paprika (optional)
Half tsp freshly ground black pepper
Half tsp sea salt
Half a stick of celery, finely sliced
2in of cucumber, chopped into small cubes
3 tbsp butter
Rocket or a good leaf salad mix

Method
• The first stage is to crack open the lobster – a rolling pin is a good start. Separate the claws and tail by twisting and snapping them from the body. 

• Split the claws open and pull out the meat. With a sharp knife or scissors, cut along under the tail lengthwise, scoop out the the meat and coarsely chop. There is a digestive track/vein that should not be eaten – you’ll know it when you see it, so just cut it at the top and lift it out with a knife. 

• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sliced celery, cubed cucumber, garlic, ginger, parsley, finely chopped chives, lemon juice and lemon zest, pepper and a dash of sweet chilli sauce or paprika. Gently fold in the chopped lobster.

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter. Place thickly cut slices of brioche ( or split brioche buns) in the skillet and toast each side until golden brown and lightly charred, about a minute per side.

• Load a slice of warm brioche with a a few leaves of salad or rocket, then pile on the lobster mix, and garnish with chives. Top with another slice of brioche, and plate ready to serve.

• Serve with fries, the rest of the leaf salad, and a good fizz – anything from a tangy chilled cider all the way up to an ice-cold vintage Champagne.

• Eat, drink and… enjoy the game (responsibly).

Here's five French greats that are just a few from an edited selection by the Great Wine Co that celebrates the best of French wine.

Pigmentum Malbec, Cahors – Georges Vigouroux

Beneath a bouquet of summer flowers, a rich red Malbec emits flavours of raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry, held together by firm, defined tannins. £11.10

Côtes de Provence Cru Classé – Château Sainte Marguerite

A really stylish, fully organic Provence rosé with a bouquet of juicy strawberries and raspberries with just-picked freshness. This fresh fruit character is also evident on the palate, alongside delicate yet satisfyingly creamy texture. £16.60

Péssac-Léognan – Château Valoux

Pale lemon in colour with bundles of fruit and flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with citrus, green fruit, apricots and white flower characteristics with lovely creamy undertones. A complex wine with a long finish to go with or without food. Château Valoux is an old wine estate in Pessac-Léognan owned and run by Sophie Lurton of Chateau Bouscaut. Chateau Valoux has just 10 hectares of vines on one plot with mainly clay, gravel and limestone soils. The estate has always produced superb Semillon dominant wines, which are made in the cellars of Grand-Cru Chateau Bouscaut. £18.85

Pouilly-Fumé 'La Vigne de Beaussopet' – Domaine Laporte

'La Vigne de Beaussoppet' is a plush, full, enveloping wine - thanks to a proportion of barrel fermentation and lees contact. Hints of smoke tantalise on the nose, interwoven with classic notes of tomato leaf and mown grass. There's also an astonishing bouquet of white flowers and ripe stone fruits. And it all carries harmoniously onto the palate, held together with a lifting acidity. £25

Brouilly – Pierre-Marie Chermette

Wild cherry aroma. Dry with bright acidity, a beautiful naturalness to the fruit and some tannic grip to go with food. A serious and long-lived Beaujolais. £17.75

N°5 is the most iconic fragrance of the century. A radical creation that revolutionised the traditions of its era. A design piece turned icon that celebrates 100 years of fame in 2021.
To mark this very special year, CHANEL has created an exclusive collection inspired by everyday objects, a reminder that wearing N°5 transforms the ordinary. These 17 limited edition products make up the FACTORY 5 COLLECTION.

Housed in a flexible stand-up pouch that is reminiscent of the culinary world, this light, airy body lotion leaves skin comfortably moisturised for up to 8 hours. Limited edition.

£48; 200 ml; chanel.com

The CHANEL FACTORY 5 Collection will only be available from now and for a limited amount of time from chanel.com and from CHANEL FACTORY 5 pop-up at the Selfridges London Corner Shop From 5 – 31 July.

With a tradition firmly rooted in aviation, the complicated dial of the Breitling Navitimer may, on first impressions, seem rather intimidating even to the most competitive mind. But every calibration, sub-dialand number position performs a very specific function.

It is of course a slide rule for aviators, originally designed in 1952 to measure flight times, calculate speed and fuel requirements, but now has become one of the most iconic and recognisable watches on the prestige market.

Sitting confidently within a 43mm stainless steel case and protected by sapphire crystal glass, this Breitling Navitimer B01 watch boasts a striking black dial with three sub-dials, luminescent hands and hour markers for optimum visibility and a date display window between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock.

Always ready for action, the watch features a steel rotating bezel, which acts as a slide rule, and a black Alligator with contrast stitching and is held with a secure folding clasp.

Powered by a great automatic movement, the watch is water-resistant to 30 metres and offers a 70-hour power reserve.

The transparent case back reveals the automatic movement. A magnificent piece of precision instrumentation. £6,220.

Netflix kicks off its brand new trilogy today with the first adaptation of teen horror author RL Stine's set of supernatural books, making for a marvellously entertaining throwback slasher.

After a series of brutal slayings, a teen and her friends take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries. Welcome to Shadyside.

Starring Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., part 2 will be released on 9 July.

Watch it on Netflix today

Based on the bestselling book by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world.

The film blends Higashida’s revelatory descriptions of his autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe. Acutely observed moments in the lives of each of the characters are connected by passages from Naoki’s writing, in which a young Japanese boy journeys through an epic landscape, gradually discovering what his autism means to him, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distills these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.

• Director: Jerry Rothwell

Showing at various times throughout the week.

Luncheon is an art, photography, literary, food and fashion magazine that arranges its material like dinner servings – aperitifs, hors d'oeuvres, mains, desserts and so on. There's even a 'Catch of the day'. The hospitality sector has endured a rough time of late so eleventh issue of this gorgeous magazine dedicates a large portion to supporting chefs and restaurants as well as foodie features on artists, writers, photographers and chefs such as Judy Blame, Bobby Baker, Earlie Hudnall, Jr, Rahim Fortune, Rita Keegan, Tin Gao, Giles Deacon, Margot Henderson, Nabil Nahas, Vaquera, Katie Burnett, Paul Kooiker and Markus Lüpertz. It's one of the best issues yet, so tuck in. £18

Bath Festivals and Orchard Live have announced the Bath Festival Finale Weekend will go ahead on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August.

Ian Stockley, chief executive of Bath Festivals said: “With government restrictions on events being lifted on 19 July and things getting back to normal we cannot wait to get back to the Rec this summer. We’re really looking forward to being out in the wide green space of Bath Recreation Ground in the centre of a beautiful World Heritage City with family and friends and enjoying some live music.”

There will be live music from chart-toppers McFly, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, UB40 Feat Ali & Astro, Scouting For Girls, Billy Ocean, Gabrielle,Seth Lakeman and Billy Ocean amongst others. Bath can look forward to a hit laden weekend from artists boasting 14 UK Number 1s & 57 Top 10s between them! 

There will also be a tempting array of festival food and drink as well as the Kids Zone run by children’s entertainers Super Pirates. 

bathfestivals.org.uk

Ultimate holiday fun – something for every child. Whether your child likes to be active, is wild about the outdoors, is a budding creative or mad about sport, Ultimate Activity Camps at Prior Park College have something for every child aged 4-14 years.

Ultimate Activity Camps offer the opportunity for children to have fun, meet friends and learn new skills during the holidays. They run at some of the best independent schools, which offer first-class facilities including indoor heated swimming pools, large sports halls, designated art rooms, and lots of outside space for fresh air fun. Over 40 activities include swimming, combat archery, pedal karts, fencing and more.

Visit Ultimate Activity Camps’ website for specific dates, other locations, special offers and more information.

Prior Park College, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH
ultimateactivity.co.uk; help@ultimateactivity.co.uk; 0330 111 7077

Downpour Theatre Company is bringing its 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. Additional dates in Gloucester, Bristol and Cirencester.

downpourtheatrecompany.co.uk

This photograph shows what was once one of Bath’s busiest – and oldest – streets. Kingsmead Street, laid out in the 1730s, was home, in the 1930s, to three butchers, four confectioners, two printers, a Chinese laundry, two restaurants, the Kingsmead Motor Company, two pubs, two hairdressers, a coal merchant, a motorcycle shop, a school and much else. Linking Westgate Street and New King Street, it was the main route west out of the city centre, with trams to Weston running along it. In May 1942, however, most of Kingsmead Street was bombed into oblivion. What was left survived for a while before being cleared away to create the grim view seen here. The only clues to the location are the buildings in the background at the west end of Monmouth Street and St Paul’s church (later renamed Holy Trinity and closed in 2014). Instead of being rebuilt, Kingsmead Street was closed off. Flats and offices were built over the site of it, along with a car park. Only a few buildings at the east end still survive – home to a cafe, two carpet shops, a fish bar and Bath’s newest craft beer bar – Kingsmead Street Bottle.

Tales of life in Kingsmead Street in the 1930s can be found in Pauline Forrest’s Childhood Memories: Growing Up in Kingsmead and Weston, published by Akeman Press.

akemanpress.com

This delightful Grade II Listed three bedroom, semi-detached home is situated in fashionable Camden and benefits from stunning views. An attractive front terrace leads to the smart reception lobby and in turn to the entrance hall. The drawing room to the front is a handsome, well-proportioned room, with an impressive central window with decorative glazed window panes and fitted plantation shutters adding a contemporary twist. A period fireplace, corniced ceiling and picture rails are enhanced by a calm neutral colour palette.

There is an additional reception/dining room, whilst the kitchen also has room for a breakfast table. This L-shaped room comprises a well-designed fitted kitchen with sleek units under a granite work surface plus the dining area, which benefits from double doors on both sides, one to an internal decked courtyard and the other into a larger pretty courtyard to the side of the house.

The first floor houses three bedrooms and the family bathroom. The principal bedroom has the most spectacular views looking across the city to the hills beyond with Prior Park nestled in the centre. On the lower ground there is also a study, second bathroom and internal access into the garage.

Outside, due to the elevated ground floor there is the wonderful and rare addition of an integral garage on the lower floor, fitted with electric gates to offer easy access parking.

Central steps then lead up to the south facing front courtyard laid with pennant flag stones. A Bath stone wall divides this terrace to the rear courtyard linked by a wooden gate, framed with Clematis. When open, one can sit down and enjoy the far reaching view from the seated area enclosed by mellow stone walls with climbing plants and potted flowers creating a lovely outside space. Freehold. Guide price: £1,000,000

For more details and information contact Hamptons estate agents in Bath: hamptons.co.uk