‘Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?’ asked Catherine Morland, the heroine of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It’s a question that design enthusiasts are asking themselves again today. This new crowd descending on the ancient Roman city is attracted not by the restorative waters of the spa or the Georgian architecture (although that is magnificent), but by the abundance of new design stores, galleries and stylish restaurants that have appeared in recent years.
And it looks as if 2023 is going to cement Bath’s status even further. The restoration of Cleveland Pools – the UK’s oldest outdoor lido that opened in 1817, and was once run by a man called Captain Evans and his pet baboon before being converted into a trout farm in 1984 – will finally be completed, ready to welcome elegant bathers.
Plus, this year also saw the historical Royal Crescent hotel unveil a more modern look for its 11 suites, with the interiors masterminded by Clayton & Company, while London-based gallery 8 Holland Street opened the doors to its immaculately designed Townhouse on nearby Brock Street.
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Every one of the latter’s four floors (the whole home is available to book, with a three-night weekend stay starting at £3,200) is an ever-evolving shoppable curation of the most covetable design pieces and artworks – expect to find a David Shrigley print or Duncan Grant painting hanging beside furniture icons by the likes of Jean Prouvé, Ettore Sottsass, Charles & Ray Eames… Half of the joy of a visit is seeing how many classics you can spot and name.
From brand-new openings to some of the destinations that kickstarted the city’s recent renaissance, this is an edit of the very best of the new Bath design scene – because, beyond the Bridgerton hype (a new series is expected to drop this year, with Bath again serving as the backdrop), this is a thoroughly modern city…
Shopping
Berdoulat, 8 Margaret’s Buildings, BA1 2LP
Shop, interior design studio, private home… This heart of Bath’s revival is located in a Georgian building lovingly restored by Patrick and Neri Williams. The space they have created is a delight, stocked with homeware, kitchenware and furniture – most of it made by artisans located within an hour’s drive of Bath. berdoulat.co.uk
Atelier Ellis, 98 Walcot Street, BA1 5BG
More than a store selling handmade, VOC-free paint, this is a calming spot to ponder the effect colour can have in the home. The store hosts regular artistic exhibitions which serve, says founder Cassandra Ellis, ‘as a conduit to help people understand what home is’. atelierellis.co.uk
Divine Savages, 5 Margaret’s Buildings, BA1 2LP
Coming soon, the newest addition to the city’s design community is this fantastical wallpaper store and studio run by husbands Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy. Originally from Bath, Jamie was lured back by its growing design scene, with the couple also setting up home nearby. divinesavages.com
Holloways of Ludlow, 37 Milsom Street, BA1 1DN
On Bath’s most well-known shopping street, this stockist of the best design pieces from the likes of Hay, House of Finn Juhl and many more is run by CEO Mark Holloway, and is the place to find inspiration as well as practical interiors advice. hollowaysofludlow.com
Art & culture
Francis Gallery, 3 Fountain Buildings, BA1 5DU
Founder Rosa Park has recently opened a second gallery outpost in Los Angeles, but this Bath space (pictured top) is where Francis Gallery’s aesthetic was born. Featuring a roster of international artists, Park’s aim is to show the often minimalist pieces she curates in a homely setting. francisgallery.co
Hidden gallery, 14A Margaret’s Buildings, BA1 2LP
The gallery purveys limited-edition prints by greats of 20th-century art – think Emin, Picasso, Hockney and Matisse. Branches can also be found in Bristol, Brighton and London, but this gem’s setting makes it stand out. hiddengallery.co.uk
8 Holland Street, 23 Brock Street, BA1 2LW
The Townhouse opened this year, but founder Tobias Vernon launched his second gallery (the first outside of London) in Bath in 2019. Located beneath the guesthouse, this space, with its bold yellow floor, hosts shows, talks and events. 8hollandstreet.com
Hotels
No15 Bath, 15 Great Pulteney Street, BA2 4BS
It’s the details in this guesthouse that set it apart – like the pantries outside rooms (filled with free snacks), the record players and curated vinyls in every room, and the bijou spa that sports a statement copper bathtub for two. guesthousehotels.co.uk
The Milsom, 24 Milsom Street, BA1 1DG
Melding country and city aesthetics, this new gastropub on one of Bath’s swankiest shopping streets also houses nine luxury bedrooms decorated in vibrant fabrics and featuring roll-top baths. themilsombath.com
Food & drink
Town + House, 36 Thomas Street, BA1 5NN
This gastropub and cocktail bar is the creation of Lexi and Tommy Wareham-Dart, founders of homewares store Always Sunday (on nearby Broad Street). Look for the mustard-yellow door – inside, you’ll find cosy, stylish interiors. astownhouse.com
Walcot House, 90B Walcot Street, BA1 5BG
As well as being an inviting bar and restaurant, located in a former bakery, with inviting leather booths, this venue also hosts a dance club and regular yoga and spin classes. walcothousebath.com
Beckford Canteen, 11 Bartlett Street, BA1 2QZ
This sister venue to nearby Beckford Bottle Shop opened at the end of last year, and already has an avid fan base thanks to its nostalgia-tinged, fresh British fare. Set in a former greenhouse, it’s a light, bright lunch spot. We especially love the vast collection of cabbageware. beckfordcanteen.com
The Provenist, 1 Tram Yard, Walcot Street, BA1 5BD
Attached to homeware and furniture brand Neptune’s Bath store, this beautiful café delivers globally inspired vegetarian fare made using only local ingredients by chef Jaq Brewer. theprovenist.com
