There are many festive treats in store in the World Heritage City of Bath starting when the Christmas lights are switched on Wednesday 12th November. Queen of cakes Mary Berry who grew up in Bath did the honours last year following on the heels of The Duchess of Cornwall; Hollywood Royalty – Nicholas Cage – and John Cleese.
This year the spotlight will be turned on the star of the Bath retail scene, Jolly’s. This iconic store one of the oldest department stores in Europe has been lovingly restored to its former glory by present owners, House of Fraser. “It seemed appropriate to celebrate the star of our own high street, Jolly’s is an institution in Bath” said Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive of the Bath Business Improvement District which co-ordinates the switch on event with Bath & North East Somerset Council. Jolly’s is located on historic Milsom Street and has always had a special place in the hearts of the people of Bath. After a multi-million pound restoration and with the addition of a whole host of great new brands “it will be on everyone’s list for shopping this Christmas”, according to Andrew. He continued “The switch on marks the start of the busiest time of year for our retailers. Bath is the perfect Christmas shopping destination with all the top high street brands as well as a host of great independents set in a beautiful heritage city.“
Switching on the lights is a favourite family event on the festive calendar. This year the entertainment starts at 5.30 pm on Wednesday 12th November with a special performance by The Fade from City of Bath College followed by Bristol based-singer song writer, Jane Taylor plus the stars of Bath Rugby – the entire squad will be on stage to switch on the lights together with Justin Webb, Presenter of BBC Radio 4 Today Programme who has recently been named Patron of the Bath Rugby Foundation. The highlight of the evening will be a spectacular sound and light show created by Bath company Enlightened with the focus on Jolly’s and historic Milsom Street; a memorable start to the Christmas shopping season.
The Christmas lights, funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council are designed to resemble glittering chandeliers and pay tribute to Bath’s glamorous past. Councillor David Dixon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This year’s Christmas Lights Switch On Ceremony is set to put Bath on the map like never before. Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to provide more than 70 individual Christmas light features around the city centre, which make up this year’s magnificent display. The Council is supporting event in a bid to attract even more shoppers and visitors to enjoy what’s on offer in Bath in the run up to Christmas.”
Jolly’s covers the full spectrum from fabulous home wares to beauty and fashion. The store boasts a magnificent new beauty hall with new brands including Giorgio Armani, NARS, Crème de la Mer and Clarisonic in addition to other luxury brands such as MAC, Aveda, Channel and Estee Lauder. Gift buying is a real pleasure at Jolly’s whether you are looking for lingerie or accessories, candles or cardigans and you can even dress the table beautifully from the new home-wares department on the lower ground floor.
The story of Jolly’s reflects a heritage of retail innovation. In the 1820s James Jolly the company founder, recognised the commercial opportunities offered by fashionable Bath and set up shop. His son, Thomas became the driving force behind establishing the business on Milsom Street and was a pioneer of fixed-price merchandising; before that time customers had to ask the price.
Bath is a city built on consumerism since the days when fashionable Georgian ladies would shop for their fabrics and bonnets on Milsom Street in the 18th Century. Milsom Street was one of Jane Austen’s favourite haunts but today presents a very contemporary shopping proposition with candles by Jo Malone and True Grace, gifts and home wares at Savannah Home, India Jane and Vinegar Hill and fashion at Reiss, Ted Baker, Hobbs, Whistles and Kooples. Milsom Place off Milsom Street has developed over the past five years into a lively hub with restaurants like Cote and Jamie’s Italian and a great retail mix.
Today, Bath is a thriving and cosmopolitan city set against one of the most beautiful historic backdrops in the UK. The switch on marks the start of Bath’s Christmas shopping season. With a frequent Park & Ride service, trains into Bath Spa station from the region and a huge choice of lively cafes and restaurants, you are guaranteed to have a memorable day out. If you want to plan a trip after work, stores will be opening late (visitbathatchristmas.co,uk for opening times). Brands like Hollister and Apple, Urban Outfitters and Topshop are now thriving in the bustling SouthGate area, another retail success story for Bath.
The Bath Christmas Market, operating from 27 November to 14 December 2014, is an 18-day Christmas shopping extravaganza with more than 170 beautifully decorated wooden chalets in the heart of the city. Set in the picturesque streets surrounding Bath Abbey, it is hard to imagine a more magical setting.
Christmas is about creating magical memories for children. The Festive Lantern Procession from The Holburne Museum (20th November at 5.30pm ) is an enchanting spectacle with hundreds of hand crafted tissue lanterns paraded along Great Pulteney Street and excitement is building about the chance to meet Santa with your wish list at the SouthGate Christmas Grotto (22nd November to 24th December). This year’s traditional Christmas Pantomime at The Theatre Royal is Cinderella. Big kids and small will enjoy “Bath on Ice” in Royal Victoria Park which operates from 21 November 2014 to 4 January 2015. The Apres Ski Bar at the Abbey Hotel is back by popular demand bringing an authentic Alpine chalet into the heart of the Georgian city complete with Gluhwein and downhill skiing on screen, the perfect venue to give your Christmas jumper its first outing.
If you are looking to hold your Christmas party in Bath, the city has plenty of ways to help you celebrate the festive season in style, from Christmas lunch is the Royal Crescent Hotel to shared party nights in the grand and glorious Pump Room. Bath boasts everyone’s favourite restaurants from Cote and Jamie’s Italian in Milsom Place to top quality independents like the Firehouse Rotisserie and The Circus Restaurant to lively eateries in the Vaults at SouthGate Bath like Graze and Prezzo.
Watch the City of Bath Bach Choir singing their hearts out at Carols by Candlelight in the Pump Room (17-19th December) or duck into Bath Abbey for Shoppers Carols in this magnificent building known as the Lantern of the West.
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