Bath Chronicle

Detectorists give charity a funding boost

Fundraising metal detectorists have donated more than £40,000 to help the RUH buy a vital piece of equipment. The team behind the Rodney Cook Memorial Rally (RCMR) have once again turned their love of metal detecting into something extraordinary,...

Ex-addict’s now running the rehab he detoxed in

A man from Bath has turned his life around after going from detoxing in a local rehab to running the place. Jeremy Palmer is a Supported Housing Team Leader at Burlington House in Bath, a dry house run by the charity Developing Health and...

Action amid freeze

Amid sub-zero temperatures this week, Bath homelessness charity Julian House has been working with local councils to ensure the safety of people sleeping rough. When weather or the “feels like temperature” hits zero degrees or lower, local authorities...

Big day for abbey as celebs tie knot

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly and Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Adam Peaty married at Bath Abbey amid tight security on Saturday. Guests were told they had to wear wristbands to gain entry to the venue, the Mirror reported. The...

Calls to review heritage status

Labour councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council say the council should “fully assess” the economic benefits of Bath’s Unesco inscription. The Government has told the council it needs to build 27,000 homes by 2043. In proposals for the...

High flying Peter Pan!

Nothing spells Christmas in Bath as much as the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal. We are so lucky in the city to have our very own Jon Monie, writer, broadcaster, stand up comic and actor who has written the show this year and it is a rollicking...

Music legend lines up one-off gig

Legendary musician Van Morrison has announced a one-off special show on April 29, 2026 at the Bath Forum. Tickets go on sale at 9am tomorrow, Friday, December 12. Tickets cost £85, £65 and £50 and are available from ticketline.co.uk or the venue box...

Shock at child services costs

Bath and North East Somerset Council is spending £8 million a year looking after ten children, a top councillor has revealed. Councils are spending an increasing amount of money on care for vulnerable children as costs skyrocket in what is a largely...

Delight at Bloom win

The Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID) has won the BID category of the Britain in Bloom competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society. Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, said: “This award is a testament to the creativity, collaboration,...

Celebs to wed at abbey

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly and her Olympic swimmer fiance Adam Peaty, above, are reportedly set to tie the knot at Bath Abbey on Christmas Day. The Mirror has reported that the iconic seventhcentury abbey, formerly a Benedictine...

City unites in Remembrance

The city of Bath came together to pay their respects to those who fought in all conflicts on Remembrance Sunday. Veterans, members of the Armed Forces, the Royal British Legion, the Mayor of Bath, Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, council, community and faith...

TV’S Taskmaster shows his softer side

Marco Pierre White Jr has been jailed following a string of burglaries and shoplifting offences in London and Bath. The Big Brother star appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on October 30 via video link as the sentence was handed down, after admitting to...

DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW.

Plans for licensed premises in your neighbourhood could be hidden from view if new government proposals for secret alcohol licensing notices get the green light.

Glory of autumn

Visitors to the National Trust’s Dyrham Park, near Bath, can catch glimpses of the deer and take in the autumnal colours that have arrived across the 270-acre parkland and garden.

Appeal over street assault

The case of a man who was seriously assaulted in Bath in a “life-changing” incident for him and his family has featured on a TV crime programme. The victim, in his 70s, was walking with his wife along Argyle Street towards Pulteney Bridge to catch a...

Just what the doctor ordered! Get your fruit and veg at RUH

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with local grocer Dean Cooper, from Wild About Fruit and Veg, to provide a fresh produce stall at the hospital’s Weston site. Located outside the Brownsword Therapies Centre, Dean and...

Brave soles! Fundraisers hot foot it to help RUH

Parade celebrates Austen landmark

Hundreds of Jane Austen enthusiasts gathered in Bath to parade through the city to celebrate the beloved author. This year’s edition of the annual Jane Austen Festival is particularly special, as 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Austen’s...

Twist in bid for rugby stadium

Film director Ken Loach joined protesters against plans to build a stadium in the centre of Bath. Mr Loach was one of about 30 Bathonians who held a protest against the plans last Friday on Johnston Street, a Georgian terraced street which ends at the...

Mudder mayhem

Nine care workers and their families battled through mud, obstacles and water to raise more than £2,000 for residents at a Bath care home. Amy Jacobs, Emily Millns, Cosmin Dranceanu, Aniz Damani, Fleur Preedy, Jake Grant, Louise Gascoigne, Milly Yiend...

Gaza protest

A Bath Campaigns Network demo saw dozens of people banging pots and pans outside the Guildhall in Bath aiming to draw attention to the reported mass starvation in Gaza. Similar ‘pot banging’ events are taking place weekly in towns and cities across the...

Lily’s a smash hit in play

Hedda at the Ustinov Studio, Bath is a most intense piece of theatrical drama performed with almost painful emotion in the dark confines of the wonderful Ustinov theatre. It is spellbinding at times, and you as the audience - are so close to the drama...

Son, 30, admits dad’s murder

A man has admitted murdering his father at his home, a court heard. Christopher Monro, 30, pleaded guilty to killing 73-year-old Peter Monro, who died following an incident in Bath in February. Monro had been due to stand trial at Bristol Crown Court...

City gets panning for lack of toilets

A lack of public toilets in Bath has left elderly people in tears and pushed people away from local businesses, councillors have heard. Bath and North East Somerset Council unanimously backed a call to review its “very few and far between” public...

Council’s backing for tax on tourists

Councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council have voted unanimously in support of being able to introduce a tourist tax. English councils do not yet have the power to introduce the measure – but councils in Scotland do and Wales is following...

Up, up and away!

The Bath and West Showground was transformed into a colourful spectacle for the Exclusive Cup hot air balloon competition. Around 20 balloons took part in the event, delighting crowds with a series of mass ascents and balloon glows.

Fancy tying the knot Regency style?

Romantics are being offered the chance to step into a Jane Austen novel and tie the knot in full Regency style at one of Bath’s most iconic locations this September. A competition launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council will see one lucky...

Classic car owners rally to care home

Classic car owners came together to save the day at a local care home’s planned car show. Kingfisher Lodge in Chestnut walk Saltford had planned this show for a few months but two days before the event they received the news that the planned cars due...

Allotment gardeners warned to expect the worst

The 64 holders of some 130-year-old allotments in Bath have been told to be “prepared for the outcome no one wants.” The owner of the land which has been used for Combe Down Allotments since 1894 is terminating the lease, and has handed Bath and North...

Treble joy

Thousands of rugby fans took to the streets of Bath on Sunday to celebrate their rugby club’s historic treble winning season. On Saturday, Bath Rugby beat Leicester Tigers 23-21 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to win the Gallagher Premiership for...

Musical youth

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse visited St Michael’s Junior Church School in Twerton to celebrate the transformative work of the Orchestra of Everything Foundation – a Bath-based charity delivering free musical education to children from lowincome families. The...

Show time for TV star Kaleb

This year’s Royal Bath and West Show once again brought animal magic and a host of stands for the crowds to enjoy, writes Rosie Sage. There were three days of watching wonderful livestock, some of the best in the country, with many on show again at...

Fears raised in staff pay blow

Trade union Unison has warned that freezing the pay of more than 100 council workers has had a “dire impact” on some people’s mental health. A new pay structure at Bath and North East Somerset Council lowers the pay for 106 roles at the council....

Victory walk!

More than 350 people took to the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal on Saturday, raising an impressive £52,000 and counting for their local hospital, the RUH Bath. The Walk of Life is organised by RUHX, the official NHS charity of the Royal United...

Teacher jailed for ‘frenzied’ knife attack on woman

A teacher who brutally stabbed another teacher in Bath after failing to accept their on-off relationship was over has been jailed for 12 years. Matthew Jones, 29, stabbed Emma Kirk, 25, around 15 times with a knife, inflicting injuries to her neck,...

Salute to D-day hero on his 100th

A remarkable Somerset D-day veteran who survived his Allied ship being hit by a torpedo has enjoyed a very special 100th birthday party surrounded by his family and friends. Stan Ford, from Bath, suffered a fractured spine and injuries to both legs on...

Young dance stars in classic show

Eight children from a Bath dance school are appearing in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Bristol Hippodrome this week. The Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance youngsters are playing Urchins in the new production, which began on Tuesday and...

Back to school for PM Sir Keir

The Prime Minister spoke to schoolchildren in Bath to launch the rollout of new free breakfast clubs at 750 schools across the country. Sir Keir Starmer was in the West on Tuesday, visiting a school in Bath before meeting his New Zealand counterpart...

Warning after my shock in Hong Kong

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has warned Britain risks getting too close to China after she was turned away from Hong Kong by the Chinese authorities. Mrs Hobhouse said she was concerned about the potential existence of a “hidden blacklist”, which could...

Team catch big break as they net £24,000 boost

A sports club described by its members as “a family” is set to continue to thrive thanks to a £24,045 donation from home contest company Omaze. The funding for Bath Romans wheelchair basketball team is the first time Omaze, a for-profit fundraising...

Hats off as nannies graduate

Norland Nannies toss their hats in the air as they celebrate receiving their BA (Hons) degree certificates at a graduation ceremony at Bath Abbey

‘City key to UK tourism drive’

Chris Bryant, the minister of state for creative industries, arts, and tourism, was exploring the Bridgerton filming hotspots in Bath as part of English Tourism Week. He shared the government’s aspiration to draw 50 million international visitors...

Jolly’s doors to open again

Jolly’s new occupants say the store will be restored to its “former glory” - but there will be a year’s wait for the store to reopen while the council carries out multi-million pound repairs to its roof. The historic store on Milsom Street was closed...

Victory in HGV battle

Lorries and motorway traffic heading to the south coast should avoid Bath and go via Wiltshire instead, a government study says in a victory for the historic city. The A46 and A36 through Bath is the current designated route for traffic heading from...

40% OFF YOUR PAPER FOR SIX MONTHS*

Help City net record crowd for Women’s Day

Football fans are being urged to help Bath City Women’s side smash their attendance record at Twerton Park to help mark International Women’s Day. Tickets bought online in advance are being reduced by 50 per cent to just £1.50 and all advance...

Murder charge after pensioner found dead

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a pensioner in Bath. Christopher Monro, 29, from Oxford, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court last week. Avon and Somerset Police were called to a home in Kelston View at around 12.10am...

Traffic scheme set to go ahead

A controversial liveable neighbourhood in Bath is set to be made permanent – despite three quarters of people being against the plan. Bath and North East Somerset Council installed bollards across Sydney Road in April 2024 on what was officially a...

£101k court bill after trees fight

Members of a conservation group have been ordered to pay an initial £101,000 to a town council after a legal row over tree works in an ancient woodland. The Friends of Becky Addy Wood (Frobaw) took action after Bradford-on-avon Town Council announced...

My horror loss at hospital

A Bath widow has shared the heartbreaking story of how she lost her husband due to a “gross failure to provide basic nursing care” at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, as she calls for no one else to ever have to face such an ordeal. Gaynor and Alan...

Moment car runs amok in street

These dramatic pictures show the moments a car crashes into a building and vehicles in Bath. These still images from video footage captured at the scene show the car reversing into the Sports Direct store at Westgate Buildings before crashing into a...

Have your say on Rec revamp

People are being urged to have their say on updated plans for Bath Rugby’s new stadium – while they can. More than 3,600 people commented on the club’s initial plans to build an 18,000-seater stadium on the Recreation Ground in 2023. But now Bath...

Pair ‘assaulted dad on ground’

Two men from Frome and Bath carried out a joint attack on a festival worker and continued to assault him as he lay unconscious and “defenceless” on the floor, a court has heard. Andrew Main, from Falkirk in Scotland, died in hospital almost a month...

Meet the local wine maker with grape expectations for 2025

Minerva Wine’s story is not just about winemaking; it’s about heritage, innovation, and a deep respect for the land. Eddie and Emily Sauvao, the husband-and-wife team behind this venture, are crafting not only exceptional wines but also an enduring...

New stadium bid proposed

Bath Rugby have announced that the club has submitted plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium. The scheme would see the expansion to an 18,000 capacity stadium at The Rec, the club’s historic home since 1894, from the current capacity of 14,509. The...

Murder probe after burglary

A murder investigation is under way following the death of a man a month after a burglary at his Keynsham home. Avon and Somerset Police said Stephen Ridgeway, 72, answered the door of his home in Tenby Road during the early hours of Sunday, November...

Our nightmare before Christmas

Plans to end a “lifeline” service for people with severe care needs in Bath and North East Somerset have been paused after a public outcry. Newton House in Bath offers “respite care” – short stays for people with severe care needs to allow fulltime...

City ‘in the grip of shoplifters’

A national newspaper columnist has expressed his dismay that his once peaceful home city has transformed into a UK hotspot for shoplifting. The charming Georgian city of Bath, known for Jane Austen dramas, is grappling with a rapidly escalating...

Flood shuts bridge

A village’s parish council has vowed to work with authorities responsible for water after it was hit by dramatic floods. Batheaston found itself next to a lake after Storm Bert saw the Avon flood Bathampton Meadows and the village car park. Avon Fire...

Rethink over recycling site

A controversial proposal for a new recycling hub in Bath has been changed by the council after receiving public feedback. The proposed hub, planned to open on Locksbrook Road in late 2025, had received hundreds of objections during its initial...

Let me entertain you!

Superstar Robbie Williams is to perform in Bath as part of a UK tour in 2025. The 50-year-old, who has had 14 UK number 1 albums and seven UK number 1 singles, will put on a show at Bath’s historic Royal Crescent on Friday, June 13, 2025. And while a...

Warning to ‘scumbag’ killer

Loved ones of a teenager killed on a night out left an anniversary message at the scene: “To the scumbag that killed you this is not over!” Ben Smith, 18, died after he was assaulted in the early hours of November 1, 2021 in Corn Street, Bath, after a...

More roads in city set to close in LTN works

Work to close more roads in Bath to through traffic is set to start tomorrow (Friday) as B&NES Council continues its rollout of liveable neighbourhood schemes. The work will see a major overhaul of Gay Street, which runs between Queen Square and the...

Centre stage to support hospice

Students at a Somerset dance school put on an end of year concert to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West. Members of Little Dancers Bath, supported by pupils from local schools and members of the Bath Light Operatic Group (BLOG), delighted a...

Daughter’s bid on right-to-die

Right-to-die campaigner Tony Nicklinson would be “absolutely fuming” that more progress has not been made in the past 12 years on legalising assisted dying, his daughter said. Lauren Peters, who was 25 when her father died days after his case was...

Charity walkers defy rain

500 walkers turned out in force for the Circuit of Bath Walk, raising £40,000 for Julian House. In its 23rd year, the rain didn’t dampen participants’ spirits of the walkers who trekked 22 miles of Bath’s spectacular countryside. Since its inception...

Smashing time with pumpkins

The pumpkin patch at Avon Valley Adventure Park in Keynsham opened at the weekend with a splendid display of homegrown pumpkins, along with Halloween style entertainment and food and drink to entertain the whole family