ReBalance Bath's Festival of Wellbeing starts next week!

ReBalance Bath's Festival of Wellbeing is arriving in the city next Thursday, running from 30 January – 16 February, and bringing with it a roster of diverse events to stimulate mind, body and spirit. 

Chase away the cold dark days of winter and treat yourself in Bath at the three-week celebration of feel-good activities, mindfulness and motivation, exclusive hotel and spa packages, taster sessions and family fun...

There's loads to get stuck into, so visit welcometobath.co.uk to view the full line-up and book tickets today!

Our February issue is out next week!

Sun's out! Well, maybe not quite yet, but our February cover star Luke Jerram is certainly bringing the heat with his new installation Helios.

The huge seven-metre-wide model of the sun can be seen in Bath Assembly Rooms from 30 January to 23 February. In this issue, we've provided a run-down of everything you need to know about the breathtaking installation ahead of your visit.

We also chat to horologist Steve Fletcher, star of The Repair Shop, about how the TV show has been captivating audiences and warming hearts since its first series in 2017. Steve and other members of The Repair Shop team will appear at the Forum on 25 February.

Elsewhere, we speak to Sarah Williment, Director at Bath Bridge and Programme Director for The Bath Future Talent Programme, about the work being done by Digital Divide Collective initiative to tackle digital poverty in the region.

And for all the art lovers among us, we've got not one, not two, but three features on exhibitions taking place in the city this month! Firstly there is Iconic: Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol at the Holburne; secondly one of the finest collections of Renaissance maps in the world at The American Museum & Gardens; and finally Mirror of Mirth at Victoria Art Gallery welcomes the scandalous world of Georgian Bath with satirical works by Thomas Rowlandson and John Nixon. There's even more artful activity with local photographer Paul J Gooch who gives us a preview of his innovative shots of the city of Bath. 

There's so much more to get stuck into this month, so keep an eye out around the city for the new issue!

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. 

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. 

Recipe by Melissa Blease

Chinese Chicken Curry

Wednesday 29 January is Chinese New Year! Ditch the delivery service and celebrate in style with this treatsome Chinese takeaway classic.

Using cold roast chicken makes a big difference to the overall texture of this curry; you can either put leftovers to good use, or roast a small chicken the day before/morning of your fakeaway feast. To make a vegetarian version, use vegetable stock in the curry sauce and swap the chicken for pan-fried tofu or Quorn chunks.

Gong hei fat choy!

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the Curry Sauce:
2 onions, peeled and sliced
4-5 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2-3 carrots, sliced
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp medium curry powder
500ml chicken stock
1 tbsp clear honey
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 star anise
2 bay leaves
1 heaped tsp garam masala

To complete the curry:
Around 500g cold roast chicken, skin removed, chopped into bite-sized chunks
1 onion, peeled and diced
1 generous handful chestnut mushrooms, sliced
150g frozen peas

Steamed or egg-fried rice, to serve.

Method
Heat a little vegetable oil in a large frying pan and sauté the onions and sliced carrots for around 8 minutes until soft but not brown, adding the garlic for the last 1-2 minutes.

Add the flour and curry powder to the pan and continue to cook, stirring continuously, for 1-2 minutes before slowly adding the stock followed by the honey, soy sauce, star anise and bay leaves. Stir well, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer (stirring occasionally) for 10-15 minutes, adding the garam masala for the last couple of minutes. Take the sauce off the heat, strain through a sieve and set the sauce to one side.

Fry the onion and mushrooms in a little vegetable oil and, when the vegetables are soft, add the frozen peas, cooked chopped chicken and strained curry sauce to the pan. Season well, stir to combine and gently simmer until completely heated through.

Serve in warm bowls on top of mounds of steamed or egg-fried rice.

Treat yourself to fine wines in the Great Wine Co Sale

As we work our way through January, we all deserve a little pick-me-up to keep ourselves going. And with Great Wine Co's January sale still on, why not take the opportunity to stock up on some fine wines at huge discounts? 

From Germany to the US, Spain to Chile, here are our picks of fine wines to stave off the last of the January blues.

Le Credo, Côtes du Roussillon Villages - Domaine Cazes, £37 (save £29.50)

With an impenetrable, black appearance and seriously concentrated aroma, this wine offers a marvellous mix of damson jam, black liquorice, medjoul date, air-dried saucisson, wet clay and black olive.

Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars,  £200 (save £160)

This Cabarnet Sauvignon displays wonderfully vibrant and honest morello cherry aromas, along with toasted spices, a waft of woodsmoke and pencil lead. 

Pago Garduña Syrah - Abadia Retuerta, £61 (save £49)

This Syrah has an intense dark purple hue and a peppery nose with hints of warm beetroot, freshly turned earth and forest fruits. The full bodied palate has aromatic notes of violet and smoke that accompany the concentrated fruit flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant and plum.

Finca Los Hoyales - Cruz de Alba, £44 (save £31)

Red and elegant layers, it has a subtle and complex nose with elegant notes of black fruit, spices, and light balsamic memories, integrated with a delicate and harmonious wood. On the palate it has a long lingering finish of black fruit, roasted and velvety tannins.

Altaïr Cabernet Sauvignon - Viña San Pedro, £44 (save £22.50)

Deep ruby red with a nose of intense aromas of fresh red fruit like cherries, intermingled with a subtle note of oak that is perfectly integrated in the wine.

Discover these and more fine wines at greatwine.co.uk

Challenge yourself to Rosa's Thai's Three Chilli Dare!

Rosa's Thai is triple daring its guests to combat the winter blues by ordering one of its hottest 'three chilli' dishes - and get a Thai iced drink on the house, to cool things down.

From fiery green curry - a bestseller on the Rosa's menu since 2008 - to punchy papaya salad, Rosas' 'Thai spicy' dishes are warm, comforting and full of flavour and spice - the perfect antidote to Christmas over-indulgence.

Until 16 February, at any Rosa's Thai restaurant, guests who order a green curry, drunken noodles, pad kra pao or papaya salad will receive a complimentary homemade Thai iced drink. A refreshing accompaniment to a spicy dish, guests can choose from Nam Manao (homemade Thai lemonade), Thai iced tea, and lemongrass and pandan iced tea.

rosasthai.com | Rosa's Thai, 4 Cheap St, Bath BA1 1NE

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite 43mm in Steel - £16,100

Since Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969, the OMEGA Speedmaster has a long term association with astronauts and space exploration.

Now, Omega takes this legacy to a new height with the Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite. Presented in two extraordinary 43 mm stainless steel versions that follow the phases of the moon, as viewed from both hemispheres and a dial that Omega has sourced from slices of the Gibeon meteorite that fell in Namibia in prehistoric times. The iron meteorite dial reveals distinctive ribbon-like flecks and is unique and unrepeatable, ensuring each timepiece carries its own piece of space history.

These two groundbreaking Speedmaster timepieces introduce the Omega Calibre 9914 movement for the first time. This manual-winding movement, including its special finish, is visible through the flat sapphire crystal on the caseback. It is anti-magnetic to 15,000 gauss and guarantees OMEGA's finest standard of precision and chronometric performance, as determined by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

As well as beautifully measuring every moment on Earth, this collection follows the phases of the moon, which makes perfect sense given that the Speedmaster was the first watch ever to be worn on the lunar surface. 

For more information on this exciting new timepiece and to register your interest, visit the Omega specialist team at Mallory or browse online at mallory-jewellers.com.

Barbour Tartan at Wadswick

Face the elements in style this Burns Night weekend with classic Tartan from Barbour at Wadswick.

Pictured here (left) is the Barbour Tartan Showerproof Poncho Classic Tartan, £39.95. This lightweight poncho is crafted to provide coverage and protection from the rain while ensuring effortless portability—it folds down easily into a compact size, making it perfect for on-the-go use.

Pictured right is the Barbour Tartan Umbrella With UV Protection Classic Tartan, £37.95, keeping you prepared for unpredictable weather as both a functional accessory and a stylish statement.

Shop these Barbour Tartan pieces and more at wadswick.co.uk, or visit the store at
1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AX

N°1 de Chanel Red Camellia Expert Revitalising Serum Duo | £181

Enriched with red camellia extract and an oligopeptide, this revitalising duo consists of the 15ml eye serum and 30ml serum that both work to preserve the youthful appearance of the face and eye area. The serums come nestled inside an elegant red travel pouch.

Shop today at chanel.com

Amira Tinted Speckled Glass Vase from Oliver Bonas, £35

A beautiful clear tinted glass vase with a large rounded bowl and shallow neck. Blown with orange, black and green spots to create a multicoloured, textural effect, each vase is individually decorated, so each piece will have its own unique speckle finish.

To shop, visit oliverbonas.com or head to their Bath store at 
Unit 5A St Lawrence St, Bath BA1 1AN

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Notebook is published by film streaming company MUBI. The sixth issue has a cover is illustrated by a six year-old child, underscoring the fact that this outing is focused on different expressions of youth in cinema – ‘a time of surprise, invention, rebellion, and hope for the future’. Features include six coming of age scenes, an examination of product placement as youth-targeted propaganda, teen fixations with bloody or extreme imagery, the new de-ageing trends emerging from Hollywood and a brave plunge into the madcap ‘microcinematic’ world of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram video feeds to provide a TV schedule-like critical guide to one day’s intense viewing. There’s suddenly a handful of very high quality and innovative new film journals on the market, and Notebook is one of them. | £22

magalleria.co.uk

Mirror of Mirth: Satire in Georgian Bath opens today!

Step into the scandalous world of Georgian Bath with Mirror of Mirth, a brand-new exhibition at Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery. See more than 200 of the gallery’s finest satirical artworks, including the humorous works of Thomas Rowlandson, John Nixon, and other artists of the era. 

Mirror of Mirth runs from 24 January to 21 April. Find out more here: victoriagal.org.uk

Thomas Fortin

Everyone is looking to add personalised touches to their wedding to make their special day unique and Bath-based menswear company Thomas Fortin offers couples the chance to create their own printed bespoke wedding accessories. Perfect as groomsman gifts, these unique-to-you pieces will add something special to your wedding day! We can even print women’s silk scarves and twillies. Use the online store as a starting point for designs or create your own printed pattern from scratch. Thomas Fortin is a British company that pride themselves on quality products made and produced in England.

thomasfortin.com; info@thomasfortin.com

The Bath Hat Company

The Bath Hat Company has been a reputable provider of exceptional hats for the past three decades and has an extensive collection that will cater for every occasion. The bespoke hats are crafted with meticulous care and attention to detail by a team of skilled artisans and are designed to make you stand out from the crowd. For women, their range of white and off-white pieces are the perfect bridal accessory, with options available for guests and bridal parties. For men, there is a diverse range of styles, ideal for any celebration. The shop also provides professional hat-stretching services to guarantee a perfect and comfortable fit.

9 – 11 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BN
Tel: 01225 339009; Web: thebathhatcompany.com

Visit thebathmagazine.co.uk to browse our full 2025 Weddings Guide

Guido Sant'Anna & Bath Philharmonia
Friday 14 February, 7.30pm

A concert for Valentine's Day, full of brooding musical romanticism, fabled love, passion and heartbreak featuring internationally acclaimed Brazilian violinist Guido Sant'Anna (winner of the Fritz Kreisler International Competition) performing Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto.

Programme

Manuel de Falla Ritual Fire Dance

Ayanna Witter-Johnson Blush

Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta

Astor Piazzolla (arr. Gianluigi Zanpieri) Libertango

Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto

14 February, 19:30 | The Forum, 1A Forum Buildings, Bath BA1 1UG
Tickets form £28.50/Under 18s and students £6
Book now at bathboxoffice.org.uk

Get ready for Bath Dragons – a new business competition
with a £20k prize launching this February!

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Bath Dragons is a new business competition with a prize worth £20k from Bath’s top business experts.

Bath Dragons is a new business support initiative with a twist, set up and funded by a top team of experts from some of the area’s highest profile business services companies: accountants and tax advisers Richardson Swift, lawyers Mogers Drewett, business finance experts South West Business Finance (SWBF) and The Business Exchange Magazine (TBE).

Aimed at businesses that are ready to grow, Bath Dragons offers companies a shot at winning an unrivalled package of business support, including 12 months of access to legal, financial, accountancy, and tax advisory services as well as a publicity package and PR advice. 

But to be chosen they will have to go through a gruelling process of interviews and have their development plans picked over by some of Bath’s toughest business experts, the ‘Dragons'... 

More information coming soon!

richardsonswift.co.uk | mogersdrewett.com | swbf.co.uk | tbebathandsomerset.co.uk

Near Frome, BA11

Offered for sale by Cobb Farr Estate Agents

This beautifully presented barn located in West Woodlands, a hamlet on the outskirts of Frome, is perfect for open plan family living. 

Wysteria Barn is one of three properties within this development and it is a 4 bedroom converted barn with an amazing open plan kitchen/dining and sitting area with delightful views to the rear over open countryside. The kitchen has a beautiful bespoke kitchen with integrated appliances. 

There are 4 superbly appointed double bedrooms, the master bedroom having an en-suite shower room and bedroom 2 has the benefit of a Jack & Jill bathroom. The barn also has a separate utility room, together with a cloakroom. The rear garden is accessed from the kitchen/dining area by fully glazed bifold doors which create the beautiful feeling of inside out living. The property has the benefit of underfloor heating throughout with engineered oak flooring and with carpet in the bedrooms. Parking is to the side of the property.

The property is accessed to the front with a courtyard style front garden area with a single parking space with additional parking for several vehicles to the side of the property. To the rear there is a large level garden and a large patio area, there is a gate at the end of the garden which can be used to access the fields behind. Land (up to 12 aces) is also available to purchase by separate negotiation. 

West Woodlands is a delightful hamlet situated on the outskirts of Frome and close to Longleat and Stourhead Estates. Babbington House is approximately 10 miles away and the awarding winning, Beckington Farm Shop is just a short drive.

The market town of Frome itself is within approximately 2 miles providing a whole range of amenities and shopping facilities to include individual shops, supermarkets, swimming pool, theatre and cinema. The surrounding countryside is delightful with some attractive walks including Longleat and Stourhead.

£775,000

To see more images and read through the details click here to see more on the Cobb Farr website.