Ideas to inspire you to get out of the house in the evenings this winter
On dark winter’s evenings it’s easy to hibernate. But there’s so much going on, so why not leave the fireside and the television and venture forth? We’ve found plenty of activities for adults. You don’t need to be a student to make the most of Bath’s night-time pleasures. And don’t forget, Bath is one of only around 65 towns and cities nationwide to hold Purple Flag status, awarded for urban centres which manage their evening economy and look after the wellbeing of visitors and residents.
LIVE CULTURE
We’re spoiled in Bath with the presence of the Theatre Royal, which regularly previews big shows – and some big stars too – before they go to the West End. But the city also has many more theatres, both professional and amateur. The Ustinov Studio puts on some cutting edge contemporary pieces, while The Mission and Rondo theatres have a rolling programme of amateur and touring professional companies. If you enjoy live drama most weeks of the year there’s usually a production taking place in church rooms, village halls and school theatres.
Bath also has a thriving music scene, if you know where to look. There are legions of choirs, singing all kinds of music across the city. An evening spent listening to uplifting choral music will send your spirits soaring.
Or perhaps you’d prefer a little jazz? St James’ Wine Vaults has regular sessions and Burdall’s Yard, near the traffic lights in London Road, also has jazz as part of its eclectic programme of live entertainment. Chapel Arts in Lower Borough Walls has some great gigs, presenting all types of popular music and both the city’s universities host concerts and contemporary dance performances.
It’s also worth taking a look at The Bell’s programme of visiting musicians as audiences of all ages enjoy raising the roof and throwing a few shapes at the Walcot community owned pub and in its Love Lounge behind the pub.
The latest meeting place and venue for live music is the Igloo bar beneath the Abbey Hotel. At Igloo Live an intimate crowd of around 75 mingle on a Thursday night for a series of free gigs.
Komedia in Westgate Street regularly puts on live music, ranging from cutting edge new acts to what some call heritage acts, that is bands that started out in the 90s, 80s or 70s. It’s also home to Saturday night Krater Comedy Club which is followed by Motorcity, a chance to dance the night away. This is one of the best places in Bath for mature people, as the dancefloor is filled with all ages enjoying some classic Motown, funk, soul and rock and roll.
If you prefer to take your culture sitting down you won’t want to miss out on this month’s Bath Film Festival, or to check out the authors visiting Bath for independent bookshop Topping & Co’s ongoing literary programme. The team at Toppings are brilliant at persuading some of the world’s finest writers to visit our city and also bring politicians, chefs, poets and even astronauts who have written books, so we can hear them speak live.
The elegant Holburne Museum stages regular Up Late evenings, the next being on Friday 25 November from 5pm to 9pm. Relax with friends and a drink in the Garden Café, share some light bites and enjoy some live music, with the chance to explore the museum after hours and see the current exhibitions Silver: Light and Shade and Linda Brothwell: The Missing. There’ll be a silver-themed demonstration by silversmith Adi Toch who will be inviting people to try accessible and fun metal colouring and patination techniques, using items found in our food cupboards. The museum shop will also be open for Christmas shopping.
THE COCKTAIL SET
There are some seriously cool places to enjoy a cocktail in Bath these dark winter nights – we’re talking grown-up drinks, with not a pink umbrella or plastic flamingo in sight. Our favourite haunts include the Canary Gin Bar, the Art bar at the Abbey Hotel, the Old Q bar at the Queensberry Hotel, The Dark Horse in Kingsmead Square, Circo at The Porter and, new to the scene, the cool bar at Combe Grove.
Another favourite haunt, Sub 13 in George Street, which thoughtfully provides heaters and blankets in its night garden, is running cocktail masterclasses throughout December. The sessions – which you’ll want to do indoors – last around an hour and can be held at 1pm or 3pm at a cost of £30 per head.
We recently sampled the wares of Shane Turner, the new bartender – he doesn’t like to be called a mixologist – just out of town at Combe Grove. Shane comes with 18 years’ experience in the industry, including stints heading up the bar service at Gold Brick House and Seven Shed in Bristol, as well as the uber glamorous 131 in Cheltenham. He likes to use homemade bitters, liqueurs, cordials, vermouth and gin to make his cocktails extra special.
Shane believes in the importance of a close relationship between drinks and food and has pushed this beyond the popular matches of wine or beer to create cocktails to compliment chef, Leigh Evans’ tasting menu experience.
Shane’s signature serve is the Dark Manhattan: “The Dark Manhattan is a twist on the classic and very beautiful Manhattan. We replace the usual sweet vermouth with Amaro (an Italian herbal digestif) and add a little cognac to the mix to round it off, with some orange bitters for a depth.”
Circo under The Porter in George Street is currently one of Bath’s coolest hangouts for the cognoscenti. Wednesdays are Cuban nights, from 8pm for a night of Cuban music performed by The Tom Berge Trio. Circo is also offering two for £10 cocktails between 5pm and 9pm.
VOLUNTEERING
Sometimes giving can be more rewarding than taking. Volunteering your time and skills is a great way of making a difference in the world. The Volunteer Centre, Bath and North East Somerset (to be found at Bath main library, if you want to go in person) offers a service that matches willing people with organisations in and around Bath who need their help. At the time of writing there were 158 different volunteer opportunities on the website: vol-centre.org.uk.
Some of these were in the evenings, such as helping out from time to time behind the bar at Greenhill House Leonard Cheshire home for the disabled in Timsbury, so that residents can enjoy social activities.
Other volunteer roles give free access to concerts, talks and other live events. The Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon relies on its dozens of stalwart stewards to hand out tickets, show the audience to their seats and look after the performers backstage. In return these stewards enjoy free shows, seeing bands and musicians that they might not otherwise experience. Similarly, Bath’s many festivals rely on an army of volunteers to look after audiences. There is also a sense of camaraderie among the team who have worked to make an event a success, and for them there is a share in the audience’s applause.
Or you could make a difference to someone’s life in a very positive way. Adult volunteers with Bath charity Mentoring Plus meet their teenage mentees weekly outside school hours.
This gives the young people time to relax, chat and explore their interests, taking them anywhere from a leisurely card game in a café or watching a music performance, to more adrenaline-fuelled activities such as bowling, skating or even surfing. Watching local rugby and football matches is popular and the charity can sometimes provide discount tickets, while others use Mentoring Plus’ premises to cook food or do homework together.
Mentor Tom is in his 30s. He said of the mentoring experience: “I thought my trampolining days were behind me, but my mentee was teaching me new tricks.” Retired teacher Sharon enjoyed the challenge of researching local poetry performance events for her mentee, which they both enjoy. “I was always saying I should get out to things like this, but never did until I had the incentive of mentoring.”
Mentoring Plus needs at least 60 volunteers every year, providing training and support for the year-long programme, which builds skills and confidence. Mentors need to be responsible adults who can commit to meeting up for a couple of hours a week. The charity always needs more working-age male mentors for teenage boys. To find out about becoming a mentor, call Mentoring Plus on 01225 429694 or visit: mentoringplus.net.
PERFORMING
If you crave the limelight, the centre of the stage, or merely the chance to raise your voice in joyful harmony with others, Bath offers plenty of opportunity for cultural involvement.
The best way to decide which choir or theatre group you might wish to join, would be to go and see them in performance. Is there is a genre that you could feel comfortable with and contribute to? To find out about upcoming acting auditions and musical vacancies visit: theatrebath.co.uk.
When we looked at the website the Corsham Windband was in need of a volunteer conductor for its rehearsals and concerts, while the church drama group of St Philip and St James in Odd Down was appealing for a Jesus who can sing for a forthcoming production of Godspell. If your skills lie more in setting up lighting or scene painting, it’s worth asking around to see if there’s a friendly theatre group who would welcome you with open arms.
EXPANDING THE MIND
There are few better ways to keep the old grey cells ticking over than playing bridge. Bath Bridge Club is a thriving community of players at all levels, meeting at Oldfield Old Boys Rugby Club in Combe Down. There are evening sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7pm, to which visitors are always welcome. There will also be workshops for improvers and intermediate players throughout the winter.
The University of Bath and Bath College also offer part-time courses, some of them in the evenings. You could, for instance, learn Arabic or Mandarin Chinese at evening classes at the university.
Bath WI, which meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, invites newcomers to sample its meetings before deciding whether to join. The branch’s motto is live, learn, laugh – and members do all three with a mixed programme of speakers.
A pub quiz is a more interactive way of keeping your mind sharp than sitting at home shouting at University Challenge. Look around the city as several establishments run regular quiz nights.
If the written and spoken word excites you try joining a group such as A Word in Your Ear, a story telling group which hosts open themed readings. The next one, with the theme of war, is from 7.15pm on Friday 11 November at Burdall’s Yard, London Road. All are welcome. And the same welcome extends from the Bath Poetry Café group, which is joining forces with Walcot State Choir to hold a Requiem for the World, photographs and readings from the First World War on Thursday 10 November at 7.30pm at BRLSI in Queen Square. The event is free but a contribution to Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal is encouraged.
EXERCISE AND SPORT
There are many running groups and clubs in the Bath area. Evening routes on dark nights are carefully chosen and running with a group of others is not only sociable but safer than running alone on winter nights.
Or perhaps you’d like to try something new? Bath T’ai Chi club runs regular evening classes for beginners and Bath Sword Club, the south west’s most successful fencing club runs a series of courses for beginners, the next one is in January.
Yoga Bodhi in Bartlett Street runs regular evening classes, with the option of signing up for a full course or paying to drop in to one class.
Whatever your age or inclination we hope this throws a light on things to do in Bath on dark evenings.
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