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9th September 2005
LOVE BATH
BATH RETURNS TO ITS GEORGIAN ROOTS AS "THE MOST ROMANTIC CITY " IN THE UK
Bath has returned to its roots as the most romantic city in the UK. In the Eighteenth Century it became a magnet for fashionable society and today is once again attracting romantics from all over the country. Over fifty per cent ( 54 per cent ) of the weddings that take place in Bath are for people who do not live in the city.
As the only city in England to hold the UNESCO designation of World Heritage Site, Bath boasts splendid Eighteenth Century architecture set against a backdrop of some of the most pituresque countryside in Britain. Wandering through the narrow Georgian streets, it is easy to imagine life in a more leisurely era. Then, Bath played a pivotal role in the marriage market and the grand gathering places like the Assembly Rooms and the Pump Rooms were ideal for people watching as they flirted and flaunted their
fine fashions. Historic venues like the Assembly Rooms with their spectacular chandeliers, the Pump Rooms, or even the world-famous Roman Baths themselves, are among the 23 premises in Bath and North East Somerset that currently hold wedding licences. Almost
half (44 per cent ) of couples marrying in Bath opt for a civil ceremony, reflecting the trend towards second marriages.
With its glorious honey-coloured Georgian facades Bath is popular for a "Bridget Jones" style mini-break. With three-quarters of the hotels in Bath offering four poster beds, there are no shortage of magnificent suites and hotels lay on romantic extras like champagne and roses or candles around the bath. Bath offers all the other ingredients for a special occasion including quality restaurants for candlelit dinners, a vibrant and cosmopolitan retail scene with a high proportion of independent shops and a year-round calendar of events for those that want some action between melting moments.
Bath Tourism Plus, the official tourism organisation for Bath, offers a free wedding planning service to help people to find a wedding location and reception venue that suit their needs. They can also book accommodation for the wedding guests and advise on what to do and see during their stay. Hotels with wedding licences are increasingly popular as both the ceremony and wedding breakfast can take place in one location. There are beautiful backdrops for those important photographs in hotels like the Bath Priory and the Bath Spa Hotel, both of which have spectacular gardens.
Many of the people who select Bath for their wedding lost their hearts to the city during their student years in the city. There are some magical places for proposals like the terrace of the American Museum overlooking the verdant Limpley Stoke Valley, in the Botanical Gardens in the Royal Victoria Park or the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park.
For a whole generation, the image of Colin Firth diving manfully into the lake in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice created a new fascination with life and love in the Georgian era and a renewed passion for the work of Jane Austen. The action in two of Jane Austen's novels is set in the city of Bath. Jane Austen's own life was so entwined with Bath that a visitor attraction now tells the story of her connection with the city and the impact that it had on her and her writing. Today, a visitor to the Jane Austen Centre can savour a piece of "Darcy's Crunch" in the newly opened tea rooms overlooking the rooftops of Bath. With the release of a new film version of Pride and Prejudice with an all-star cast, the courtship of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy will be featured once again on the big screen.
Other romantic figures connected with Bath include Lady Hamilton who resided in Edward Street after the death of Lord Nelson and Elizabeth Linley, the famous beauty and singer, who eloped from Number 11 the Royal Crescent with Richard Sheridan in 1772. The fact that Sheridan played a part in one of the most celebrated scandals of the period must have been good background for his plays such as "School for Scandal". Gainsborough set up business in Bath to create portraits of the beauties of the day and the city has always attracted artists and writers. Contemporary artists and musicians still choose to live in Bath like Van Morrison and Peter Gabriel who immortalised nearby Solsbury Hill in his song. Johnny Depp is among the celebrities that frequent Bath's hotels.
The actress Jane Seymour owns an Elizabethan Manor House five miles from the centre of Bath. In her book "The Guide to Romantic Living " she says "our house in England could hardly be more romantic...it lies in a valley near Bath, dreaming of the past". The Manor House is available for rent but just a stroll through St. Catherine's Valley is a romantic experience in itself and comes free of charge. Among her film credits, Jane Seymour starred in "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve, described as the most romantic love story ever filmed.
For many, retail therapy is an essentail ingredient of any weekend away and more than forty per cent of Bath retailers are independent so visitors can track down unique souvenirs of their special time together. This might include a pair of hand blown champagne flutes from Bath Aqua Glass, engraved with the couple's initials or a piece of artwork from one of the many galleries. There are no end of great girly shops selling gorgeous gifts and top fashion boutiques. Retail options for the boys include Great Western Wine which imports quality wines from boutique wineries around the globe, where it would be easy to spend an afternoon browsing and tasting or the Bath Rugby shop selling official memorabilia from the team of which the city is so proud.
For diamonds, a visit to Mallory's on Bridge Street is recommended. This fourth-generation family business buys diamonds directly from Antwerp and designs and manufactures rings but also carries a vast stock of watches, rings and luxury goods. Personal and unhurried service, typical of Bath shops, scores a hit with visitors looking for something very special to remember their wedding anniversary or "big" birthday.
Bath is a manageable and walkable city, ideal for couples to amble hand in hand through its secret alleyways. On every street corner there is a tempting treat with hand-made chocolates at Minerva, numerous delightful delis and colourful flower stands. For dining there are top notch eateries like the Michelin-starred Bath Priory or more informal restaurants like the Beaujolais or the Firehouse Rotisserie.
At Fishworks Seafood Cafe on Green Street, the Fine de Claire Premier Cru Oysters will appeal to the oyster connoisseur or anyone keen to test their aphrodisiac qualities. Fishworks is one of Bath's success stories, with two award-winning sister restaurants in London and a recent opening at Harvey Nichols. Tea in the Pump Room provides a civilised interlude to enjoy the string quartet and even to taste the waters which have played such an important role in the history of Bath since Roman times.
There are many fascinating museums and attractions in Bath. The Assembly Rooms house the Museum of Costume which currently offers a unique opportunity to see Rudolf Nureyev's collection of costumes including his stunning costume from Romeo and Juliet. Number One Royal Crescent transports the visitor back to the Eighteenth Century as it faithfully reflects how a grand town house would have been decorated and furnished at the time. The Royal Crescent, completed by John Wood the Younger, is the highlight of palladian architecture in Bath and one the finest examples of Eighteenth Century Architecture in the world.
For those planning a spectacular treat, reminiscent of the scene in the film Pretty Woman when a helicopter whisks Julia Roberts off to the opera in New York, there is scope for making a splash in Bath. A hot air balloon over the city and adjoining countryside would turn any girl's heart or the Royal Crescent Hotel can arrange a little outing on the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal in their fully catered 1920's launch. With a little forward planning, a box at the charming Theatre Royal or tickets to a concert in the Assembly Rooms during one of the music festivals would make for a truly memorable evening.
At Lucknam Park the fragrant walled garden is a hot bed for proposals and, with their equestrian centre, they can provide a couple of horses to gallop off into the sunset across the 500 acre estate. Romantic couples of all ages come back to Bath to celebrate wedding anniversaries and hotels like Paradise House Hotel with its charming gardens and splendid views of the city greet guests like old friends.
The countryside all around Bath is waiting to be explored with welcoming country pubs and traditional afternoon tea rooms as well as fabulous country house hotels like Ston Easton Park or Homewood Park Hotel. At warm and welcoming Woolley Grange near to Bradford-upon-Avon the children are taken care of, making it possible to re-ignite passion that often has to be surpressed with all the demands of a young family. Now owned by the National Trust, the Bath Skyline creates a green mantle around the city, and the six mile walk by the same name is a great way to appreciate Bath and its surroundings.
Even arriving at Bath Spa station is romantic as you immediately get a sense of the Georgian architecture against a backdrop of beautiful countryside. The station, completed in 1840, was on the route that the pioneering engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel built from Paddington to Bristol in the great age of steam . Now First Great Western trains take 90 minutes and leave Paddington every 30 minutes. The city is 30 minutes south of the M4 and the nearest airport is Bristol with connections to many European cities and daily flights to New York.
For further information on things to do and see and where to stay in Bath please call Bath Tourist Information Centre on 0906 7112000 (calls charged at 50p per minute) or log on to www.visitbath.co.uk.
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Notes to Editors:
1. For further information please contact Nicky Hancock on 01225 332299 (mobile 07956 594113) or by e-mail at nicky@hancockcomm.com or Fiona Humphreys at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477228 or by email on: fiona_humphreys@bathtourism.co.uk
2. Bath Tourism Plus
Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, began trading on 1st October 2003, taking over the management of tourism promotion from Bath & North East Somerset Council and in the process, establishing a ground-breaking partnership between the public and private sector.
Working with the public and private sectors 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 tourism internet site www.visitbath.co.uk. Its primary objective is to optimise the value of tourism for members and partners.
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