Bath Life - Guides

The perfect start

Welcome to Bath Life’s first Education Guide.

Bath offers an impressive array of independent schools, but how do choose which one is right for your child? This guide should help you weigh up the options, with advice from parents, headteachers and top journalists. The articles in this guide are just a taster of what’s on offer on the Tom-Brown.com website – the ideal port of call for any parent searching for a school. The site offers a blend of topical features on a range of subjects such as choosing a nursery, paying school fees, settling in at boarding school, pastoral care, getting the grades and choosing a career.

With information to help you make the right decision at every stage, from nursery through to university, Tom-Brown.com is also the ideal forum to exchange ideas and opinions with other parents.

Gail Dixon

BATH LIFE WEDDING GUIDE 12 2009

Step by step

Bath is a fabulous place to get married – few other cities can offer such a diverse selection of historic churches, country houses and unique restaurants, all offering the ideal backdrop to your big day. It’s going to be one of the most memorable days of your life – so it only makes sense to hold it in your favourite city.

Understandably, for this reason, there’s a thriving wedding industry in Bath, fuelled by countless professionals and companies ready and willing to fulfil your every nuptial need.

The city is full of talented and creative folk, from dressmakers to jewellers, photographers and florists, who are as determined as you are to make your special day a success. Many of them you will find within the pages of this guide.

A successful wedding depends on good planning. If the thought of it makes your head spin, our countdown to your big day should help you get everything in perspective, while our sections on finding a photographer who will best capture the moment; the perfect venue for the reception; choosing your outfits and what flowers will work best with your dress will help keep you focused.

We’ve done the hard work for you – so you can just relax and enjoy your day.

Deri

BATH LIFE SHOPPING GUIDE 8 2009

Handbags at dawn

Not that most of you need any persuasion to grab your handbags and get out the plastic, but we have taken the trouble of compiling the best of Bath’s independent retailers, high street favourites and beautiful boutiques to make sure your next shopping trip is as relaxed, carefree and productive as possible.

So from street features to shop profiles, next time you fancy popping into the city centre – or out of town – for a browse, grab your guide and get shopping!

Deri

BATH LIFE RESTAURANT GUIDE 8 2009

Taste of Bath

Bath’s culinary scene is thriving. With more than fifty restaurants, delis, farm shops and producers, the city is rapidly becoming a major foodie destination.

And it’s not just to do with the ever-increasing choice of great restaurants; what about all of those regional delicacies, eccentric producers and edible treasures? Take a look at the local larder in all its glory. You can discover where to go for the perfect after-work pint, learn to cook like an Aga expert and meet the man behind Jamie’s Italian, Gennaro Contaldo. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got a two-Michelin tsar restaurant in Malmesbury.

Happy eating!

Deri

BATH LIFE NEW YOU GUIDE FEBRUARY JANUARY 2009

Love the skin you're in...

The new year is traditionally the time for new resolutions, self-improvement and general purging of all bad habits which is why you'll find our first ever New You guide the perfect tool to point you in the right direction.

You'll find the utlimate antidote to the winter blues in our guide to the West's best spas. Once you're feeling pampered and revitalised, how about a new haircut from one of the city's top salons for an instant new look and confidence boost? Okay, so it's not all hard work, we've also been testing the latest in gorgeous beauty products guaranteed to help your skin fight against the chafing winter winds. If this new you involves getting fit and embracing a healtheir lifesyle, our top tips on how to get fit - and stay fit - will have you signing up for that marathon in no time.

Happy new you!

Deri

BATH LIFE WEDDING GUIDE 11 2008

Marrying in Bath

It’s hard to picture a more romantic backdrop for a wedding than Bath. Thos planning a traditional Four Weddings-style ceremony are spoilt for choice, with numerous historic churches in the city centre and surrounding villages. Or, if traditional isn’t quite what you’re looking for, there are plenty of unusual but equally beautiful venues, from the theatre Royal to the Pump Room and the Assembly Rooms, former mills and even a mediaeval tithe barn.

It’s a difficult choice – and that’s before you even start thinking about the catering, the dress, the flowers and the guest list; or should you decide on a guest list first of all…?

The answers to the above, and much more, can be found within the pages of this guide. We offer advice on planning the run-up to the wedding, so you know exactly what you should be doing and when you should be doing it. We talk you through choosing that all-important outfit. Turn for advice on organising your reception, so you can make sure the party goes with a swing, and ensure you look your best not just on the day but for posterity in the pages of your wedding album. Last, but definitely not least, some tips on planning the perfect honeymoon.

This guide is full of ideas to inspire you, and even allow you to enjoy the planning process, however daunting it might seem right now.

Here’s to a wonderful day,

Deri

BATH LIFE WEDDING GUIDE 10 SEPTEMBER 2008

The ultimate wedding planner

Bath is quite arguably on of the most beautiful places to get married in the country. Rich in picture-perfect backdrops, whether you choose mellow Georgian architecture or rolling lush valleys, it's brimming with idyllic locations. And, of course all those fabulous venues and services offering everything you could need for the perfect wedding day.

Once you've decided to become engaged, there are oftern those paradoxical feelings of absolute elation mixed with horror and dread. Planning a wedding can seem a complete nightmare - but the key to a successful day, and a stress-free year's planning, is preparation and thoughtful organisation.

This season's Bath life Wedding Guide includes plenty of useful of tips and advice to keep things running smoothly, as well as a guide to some of the best businesses. We have the ultimate countdown to the big day, giving month-by-month advice. After all that planning, and the ceremony itself, you will deserve, and need, a good party, and our guide to organising the recpetion will esnure you can boogie the night away without any stress or worries.

When it comes to the details, such as wedding outfits, we can tell you what's hot and what's not for your body shape, and whether peach meringues are really the best choice for your bridesmaids. We also have plenty of advice on flowers, photographs and even the honeymoon - so everything will be taken care of.

And, if you are stuck for ideas for potential wedding gifts Bath Life has just launched its very own online shop - full of interesting and local gift ideas, with everything from books to bouquets and clutch bags to champagne cruises. Take a look for yourself at www.bathlifemag.co.uk.

We've done all the hard work for you and found the best of the best, so flick through at your leisure and look forward to your big day.

Deri

BATH LIFE KIDS GUIDE 2 AUGUST 2008

Schools (nearly) out…

…and we all know what that means. On the plus side, the days become miraculous relaxed – no need to rush everyone out of the house first thing in the morning (clean gym kits/brushed teeth/ completed homework being an occasional added bonus). On the negative side there are an awful lot of empty weeks stretching ahead between now and the beginning of September…

Fortunately, after working on this magazine for over five years, we know one of two things about amusing children in Bath. We’ve taken ours to most of the places mentioned in the following places – if we haven’t, they have been recommended to us by other parents, colleagues and local schools.

We haven’t aimed to be comprehensive; we’ll leave that to the Yellow Pages. We’re always delighted to hear back from our readers, so if you’ve been impressed by a service or visitor attraction, or just have a great idea you’d like to share, please get in touch!
In the meantime, enjoy the long summer break…

Deri

BATH LIFE RESTAURANT GUIDE 7 JUNE 2008

Food, glorious food

Every time we come to compile another guide, it seems that another restaurant or gastro pub has joined Bath’s already sterling list of eateries – and most of them will be making appearances at this year’s Tate festival. If you’re as excited as we are about the return of this event then take a look as we give you top tips on making the most out of this four-day foodie spectacular.

One of the chefs taking part this year has recently made quite a name for himself, narrowly missing out on a plce in the final of Great British Menu – the Michelin-starred Chris Horrdige, find out what happens when Laura Rowe goes for a forage with Horridge.

We also take a look at two of the city’s top producers, Eades greengrocers and Mumford’s Vineyard, as well as 50 of Bath’s most diverse eateries.

Happy eating!

Deri

BATH LIFE WEDDING GUIDE 28 MARCH 2008

Bath is quite arguably one of the most beautiful places to get married in the country. Rich in picture-perfect backdrops, whether you choose mellow Georgian architecture or rolling lush valleys, it’s brimming with idyllic locations. And, of course all those fabulous venues and services offering everything you could need for the perfect wedding day.

Once you’ve decided to become engaged, there are often those paradoxical feelings of absolute elation mixed with horror and dread. Planning a wedding can seem a complete nightmare – but the key to a successful day, and a stress-free year’s planning, is preparation and thoughtful organisation.

This season’s Bath Life Wedding Guide includes plenty of useful tips and advice to keep things running smoothly, as well as a guide to some of the best businesses. We have the ultimate countdown to the big day, giving month-by-month advice. After all that planning, and the ceremony itself, you will deserve, and need, a good party, and our guide to organising the reception will ensure you can boogie the night away without any stress or worries.
When it comes to the details, such as the wedding outfits, we can tell you what’s hot and what’s not for your body shape, and whether peach meringues are really the best choice for your bridesmaids. We also have plenty of advice on flowers, photographs and even the honeymoon – so everything will be taken care of.

And, if you are stuck for ideas for potential wedding gifts Bath Life has just launched its very own online shop – full of interesting and local gift ideas, with everything from books to bouquets and clutch bags to champagne cruises. Take a look for yourself at www.bathlifemag.co.uk.

We’ve done all the hard work for you and found the best of the best, so flick through at your leisure and look forward to your big day.

Enjoy,

Deri

BATH LIFE RESTAURANT GUIDE 29 FEBRUARY 2008

Eat, drink and be merry

Another year is past, and we have an even wider choice of eateries and wine bars to tempt us. And – oh fortunate Bath Life editors! – we’ve been busily sampling some of the best of them.

This is our sixth restaurant guide, and this time we’re paying attention both to eating and drinking in the city – as well as looking forward to the second Taste festival in the summer.

It is official: Bath has become the foodie capital of the South West, and local diners and drinkers expect nothing less than the finest, organic, locally-sourced meals and drinks from their British and European restaurants, as well as having their pick of exotic cuisine from all corners of the globe.

Either way we are spoiled for choice – now all you have to do is pick from the selection!

Deri

BATH LIFE SHOPPING GUIDE NOVEMBER 2007

Handbags at dawn

Not that most of you need any persuasion to grab your handbags and get shopping, nevertheless, we have taken the trouble of compiling the best of Bath’s independent retailers, high street favourites and beautiful boutiques, to make sure your next shopping trip is as relaxed, carefree and productive as possible.

And, it is the perfect time of year to do so. Christmas is looming and, let’s face it, there is always that one person in our lives for whom we can never seem to find the perfect gift. But in Bath we’re spoilt for choice – a choice that’s ever growing, thanks now to Milsom Place and the new Southgate development.

Not only do we have a variety of shops to suit all different budgets and tastes, but we also have one of the most glorious backdrops for them, making Bath not just one of the best cities for shopping in the country, but one of the prettiest to walk around too. (Talking of which, we also have a handy map on page 59, just to make sure you don’t get lost.) So next time you fancy popping into the city centre for a browse, grab your guide and get shopping!

Deri

BATH LIFE KIDS GUIDE SUMMER 2007

Our very first Kids’ Guide has a distinctly summery feel – from our designer Bernie’s great pop art cover to the listings pages of things to do and places to visit during the coming months. We’ve broken the listings sections down into six main categories, with easy-to-navigate tabs – even kids will find it fun to use.

We haven’t aimed to be comprehensive; we’ll leave that to the Yellow Pages. Instead, we’ve concentrated on those places and businesses that have either been approved by our own children, or recommended to us by friends, colleagues and local schools – a special thank-you to St Stephen’s children for their input.

We’re always delighted to hear back from our readers, so if you’ve been impressed by a service or visitor attraction, or just have a great idea you’d like to share, do please email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it – I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, have a great summer with your kids,

Deri

Inside this issue out Summer 2007

Schools
From nurseries to secondary school

Kids’ clubs
Stave off holiday boredom, while teaching them a new skill

Days out
Where to go and what to do, from parks to museums to grand days out

Eating out
The most child-friendly eateries in town

Shopping
From cool clothes to beautifully made toys and games

Parties
We’ve moved on from party games and jelly and ice cream