... and this month is set to be a biggie! 

On our cover is the straight-talking journalist and communicator Ros Atkins, who brings 'assertive impartiality' to his news stories, which are much needed in these bewildering political times. Another visitor to Bath for the Curious Minds festival this month is journalist and... even more relevant after the events of this week, presenter Gabriel Gatehouse who will talk about his book The Coming Storm, which explores how conspiracies in the US are breaking down the liberal world order.

We’ve also chatted to comedian Jenny Eclair, absorbing her high-spirited, absurd perspective of life, which we’ve dubbed ‘Planet Eclair' – the habits of squirrels, hotel beds, punk rock, and watching TV in your pyjamas all cropped up.

We interviewed chef Nathan Outlaw who has two Michelin Star restaurants in Port Isaac, Cornwall and is visiting Bath this month. You can also find out about the importance of metabolic health, and immerse yourself in ideas for the home interior.

Every month we deliver 15,000 copies door to door, but if you don't get a magazine 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. 

While you're waiting, 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 £35 for 12 issues, £20 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Dorothy House brings Zipline to Bath City Centre

Situated right in front of the iconic Royal Crescent, Dorothy House Hospice Care’s Zipline will offer supporters the chance to take on a hair-raising fundraising challenge to raise vital income for specialist end of life care across the city and beyond.

Taking place from the 28 February until 2 March, on the lower lawn of the Royal Crescent, this unique weekend of community fundraising is the first event of 
its kind for Bath.

The Bath City Zipline will offer the people of Bath and beyond an exhilarating event at the heart of the city, whilst raising awareness of the important role their local Hospice charity plays in supporting patients and families within their community.

Dorothy House’s mission is to ensure that everyone has access to outstanding palliative and end of life care, and this mission cannot be achieved without the support of the local community; event visitors will also get the opportunity to meet staff and volunteers who care for patients and their families and who support the work of the Hospice.

How to register

Registration for the Bath City Zipline is free and participants are asked to raise as much money as possible in support of Dorothy House Hospice Care. To register for this hair-raising fundraising challenge, head to the Dorothy House website now.

Sponsorship

Local businesses looking for a unique high profile advertising opportunity should get in touch with the event organiser to discuss exciting opportunities or download the sponsorship pack here.

28 February – 2 March; dorothyhouse.org.uk

Recipe by Melissa Blease

There may appear to be a lot of processes in this recipe, but each step is relatively fuss-free. And if you want to get ahead, go right ahead! Your sumptuous catch of the day will sit happily in the fridge for up to 24 hours before sliding into the oven.

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the filling:

4 large eggs
200g thick white fish fillets (eg. basa, cod or haddock)
200g thick salmon fillet
200g smoked haddock
400ml full fat milk
1 onion, peeled and sliced
2 bay leaves
75g butter
75g plain flour
140g spinach leaves
3 tbsp white wine or vermouth (optional)
1 tbsp capers (drained)
1 heaped tbsp fresh dill fronds, finely chopped
2 heaped tbsp fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

For the topping:

800kg potatoes (Maris Piper work well here), peeled and chopped
150ml crème fraîche
Butter, salt, pepper

Method

Put the potatoes and the eggs into a large pan of cold, salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 6 minutes. Lift the eggs out of the pan with a slotted spoon and continue cooking the potatoes for around 10-15 minutes until soft but not falling apart. Drain the potatoes and allow to steam for at least 5 minutes before returning to the pan and mashing with the crème fraîche, adding butter/seasoning to taste. Set to one side.

Place the fish fillets in a large, wide saucepan with the milk, onion slices and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer then cover and remove from the heat. Leave to stand and infuse for around 6 minutes then drain the fish in a colander over a large jug to reserve the infused milk. Put the fish onto a plate and, when cool enough to handle, peel the skin away and chop into evenly-sized chunks. Set both the poaching liquid and the fish to one side.

Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for a minute or so then gradually add the infused fish-poaching liquid. Stir over a medium heat for around 3 minutes or until the sauce is smooth and thick. Stir in the spinach and wine or vermouth (if using), cook for 2 more minutes, remove from the heat and add the herbs and capers. Season to taste and set to one side.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 5. Scatter the fish chunks across the base of a large, shallow oven dish and top with the peeled, chopped, hard boiled eggs. Slowly pour the sauce across the top and jiggle the dish a bit to make sure the fish and eggs are evenly covered. Spoon the mashed potato over the top, swirl with a fork to create ripples, place the dish on a baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for around 30-40 minutes or until the potato is golden and the filling is bubbling.

Allow the pie to ‘settle down’ for 5 minutes before serving with, perhaps, a big bowl of buttered peas.

What have the Romans ever done for us?

Well, they've given us some great wine, for starters.

The Italians have been drinking wine since ancient times, so it’s no surprise that they’ve perfected the art. From Puglia to Piemonte, Tuscany to Trentino, Italy's topography is perfect for grape-growing, and is in fact home to the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world. While you could spend a lifetime exploring what the country has to offer, here's a small selection of Italian bottles to tickle your tastebuds.

Papale Oro Primitivo di Manduria – Varvaglione
Deep, dark, tempting and seriously seductive, Papale Oro has aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. This is Puglian wine at its best, with great character and warmth, and ultra-plush, velvety texture. £35

Colline Novaresi DOC Vespolina Ronco al Maso – Rovellotti
A quintessential northern Italian red, the Vespolina has deep ruby-purple colour. Macerated rose, redcurrant, spicy and peppery notes, and some woody, earthy liquorice root character. £24

Gavi di Gavi DOCG – Fontanafredda
One of Italy's most fashionable whites, this wine from Piemonte is a bright straw-yellow with greenish highlights. It has a full, delicate, elegant bouquet which brings flowers and fresh fruit to mind - mostly lemons, lilies of the valley and green apples. £22

Lamaione – Frescobaldi
This Tuscan red's ruby colour with tinges of purple is intense and impenetrable. The bouquet offers a wonderful array of aromas, but fruit is the star of the show, with pervasive hints of blueberry balanced out by fresh balsamic and minty notes. £84

Soave Vintage – Bertani
From Veneto, this white has an intense aroma of elderflower, cherry blossom and gooseberry, with hints of sage and mint on the nose. It has a vibrant acidity on the palate with peach and apricot flavours. Long lasting and persistent aftertaste. £25

Discover all of these and more at greatwine.co.uk

Discovering Pala Sardina

The Azienda Agricola Pala (or Pala estate) was founded in Sardinia, Italy, in 1950 with the first harvest by Salvatore Pala. This tradition continues today under the guide of Lia Tolaini and her passion about the terroir and the traditions, and the wines of this extraordinary island called Sardinia.

La Terra's Wine Dinner will showcase wines from the Pala estate with a four-course meal and a matching wine flight to pair with each course. 

Arrival drink at 7.30pm, £89 per person. 
To book, email bookings@laterra.co.uk or telephone 01225 482070
La Terra, 2 John St, Bath BA1 2JL; laterra.co.uk

Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date Oystersteel and yellow gold

Rolesor watches combine the strength and reliability of Rolex's Oystersteel with the beauty and lustre of 18ct gold - this two-tone pairing on the bezel and bracelet are a prominent feature of the Oyster collection and characteristic Rolex styling.

Shown here is the 41mm Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date in Oystersteel and yellow gold with a royal blue dial with large luminescent hour markers. The new hard and virtually scratchproof Cerachrom blue ceramic unidirectional bezel and the dial’s luminescent Chromalight display are innovations that improved visibility in dark environments, an essential feature for divers.

With hour markers in simple shapes and broad hour and minute hands are easy to read and prevent any risk of confusion underwater. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and Cyclops lens over the date window complete the Rolex look.
The movement is the self-winding Manufacture Rolex Calibre 3235 and like all Oyster Perpetual Submariners is waterproof to 300m.

While a rugged and reliable diving instrument, this Rolex surpasses it's original purpose and for most, on the wrist, it is a beautiful precision timepiece, highly desired and a globally recognised icon. £14,950

To find out more visit Mallory - an official Rolex Retailer or click here to see the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date on the Mallory website.

Sounds of our City is a concert of music by composers with strong links to our city of Bath at the Roper Theatre, performed by CitySounds Voices in aid of Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Performers include:

Conductor: Matt Finch
Accompanist: Peter French
Narrator: Richard Wyatt
Bath Strings Academy
MGB
The Saxations

15 March, 7.30pm | Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School, Bath BA2 3LA
Tickets £15 from Bath Box Office: bathboxoffice.org.uk or from 01225 463362

Ashton Gate is getting ready to host England A and Ireland A this Sunday, in an exciting clash of some of Rugby's best talent. 

Three Bath Rugby players will be playing for the England side this weekend: Max Ojomoh (13), Alfie Barbeary (8), and Will Butt (12) will appear in the starting 15, joining Joe Carpenter, Tobias Elliott, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Charlie Atkinson, Jack van Poortvliet (who will captain the side), Phil Brantingham, Curtis Langdon, George Kloska, Hugh Tizard, Tom Lockett, Tom Pearson and Jack Kenningham.

3pm kick-off

The game will be streamed live for free on RugbyPass TV;
visit ashtongatestadium.co.uk to buy tickets

Join Cobb Farr at the Open Day Lunch of the magnificent Courtfield Gardens development in Trowbridge

Courtfield Gardens consists of 16 beautifully crafted homes ranging between 2 and 4 bedrooms, with prices from £235,000.

The Open Day Lunch takes place from 10am - 1pm; please call to register your interest and to book a convenient time for your visit  on 01225 866111

With its rich history, convenient transport links, vibrant community, and excellent education opportunities, Trowbridge is the perfect place to call home.

Steeped in charm and character, Trowbridge offers an array of activities and attractions for residents of all ages. Explore the picturesque town centre, with its traditional market, boutique shops, and delightful cafes.

For nature enthusiasts, Courtfield Gardens is just a stone’s throw away from beautiful green spaces, including the tranquil River Biss, perfect for leisurely walks and picnics.

Each plot differs in floor plan and design, but every property features a spacious living/ dining area, a well-appointed kitchen and modern, beautifully designed bedrooms and bathrooms.

Click here to view the brochure and find more information about individual properties.

cobbfarr.com