Three tasty reasons to come to Bath

11th December 2008

With its excellent reputation for food and a huge choice of places to eat out Bath is a 'foodie' heaven! And now there are three more reasons to explore the city's culinary delights: Jamie Oliver recently added his name to Bath's food map; the best of Bath's pubs will feature in the Michelin guide 2009; and cookery school, The Bertinet Kitchen, was recently awarded 'Tourism Experience of the Year' in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Jamie Oliver
With its history of hospitality, Bath acts as a magnet for chefs wanting to make their mark here and Jamie Oliver, who recently opened up shop in Bath, decided it would make the ideal base for his flagship restaurant, Jamie's Italian. Serving affordable and authentic Italian food the restaurant can be found in the chic shoping area of Milsom Place - a recently developed area of shops, restaurants and cafes between Milsom Street and Broad Street - which has been a huge hit since its opening in October this year. When opening his restaurant Jamie Oliver was asked why he decided to choose Bath. He said, ''I love Bath because it's a beautiful place, full of history, great people, wonderful produce and it's one of those places in the world which makes you feel special just being there.''

Pubs in Michelin Guide 2009
Visitors are spoilt for choice with the number of pubs that Bath and the surrounding area has to offer. A good selection awaits those who want to enjoy traditional or Modern British cuisine and two of Bath's popular inns have been recognised by the Michelin Guide for their good quality food, fine wines and real ales. The Wheelwrights Arms, situated in nearby village Monkton Combe, and the Marlborough Tavern, just around the corner from the Royal Crescent, have both been selected and will appear in the 'Eating out in pubs 2009' guide.

Bertinet Kitchen
Bath is home to The Bertinet Kitchen, a superb cookery school where enthusiasts can learn from experienced chefs. Set up in 2005 by French baker, Richard Bertinet, the purpose-built school runs a range of relaxed and fun demonstrations and hands-on classes for food lovers of all abilities. The Bertinet Kitchen recently won the 'Tourism Experience of the Year' gold award in the prestigious South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2008/09. The Excellence Awards celebrate 'The Best in the South West' and aim to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry. Richard Bertinet says, "We have the most fantastic team working here at the school so I am just so proud of what we have achieved. This is a very prestigious award and by continuing to work together with local businesses it will really put The Bertinet Kitchen and our beautiful city of Bath on the map".

The eating and drinking section of the official tourism website www.visitbath.co.uk/eating-and-drinking gives further details on the above restaurants, pubs and the Bertinet Kitchen, as well as other places to enjoy delicious food in and around Bath.

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Notes to Editors:
For further information or images to illustrate this information, please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk.

Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk

For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk

Travel to Bath
Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world.

High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports. Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre's main shopping and tourist areas. See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Bristol International Airport is just 15 miles from Bath and operates direct flights from New York and Orlando in the USA, as well as most major European and UK airports. An express bus service to Bristol Temple Meads train station operates throughout the day, and Bath is just a 20 minute train journey from there. See: www.bristolairport.co.uk

Bath is also easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales. There are 3243 pubic car parking spaces in Bath with the main long stay car parks at Charlotte Street and Avon Street.

There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre. There is also a Park & Ride service that operates on Saturdays only from the University of Bath.