On a wet and gloomy Friday, our Unexpected Bath started by having a wonderful coffee at the Society Café located in Kingsmead Square. We were greeted with a warm and welcoming smile, as we always are, from the team. Here we were able to relax and read the assortment of magazines on offer, drink exquisite coffee and take refuge from the rain. This set us on our way to an enjoyable and fun-filled day around the city. 

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The itinerary from Visit Bath's 'Unexpected Bath' was a varied one, with our first stop at Bath Aqua Glass situated on Walcot Street. Here we were able to watch a glass blowing demonstration of a beautiful aqua glass bowl being crafted from start to finish. We were then lucky enough to try our hand at glass blowing, creating a decorative bauble. Choosing from the assorted colours available and interacting with the team as we made them, gave us an experience even more delightful. It wasn't long after that, we received them in the post and we were mesmerised that they were so beautiful and even more special that it gave us a memoire to keep. 

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Our following stop was at the Victoria Art Gallery on Pulteney Bridge. It was here we were able to take some quiet time out to admire Kaffe Fassett's work. The exhibition comprised of flower quilts, tapestries and mirrors which were an array of vibrant colours and magnificent structure. The fine details were something to admire and the clashes of vibrancy within the art pieces were definitely something that screamed out of the walls. 

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Making our way to Royal Victoria Park for Bath on the Beach it was here we realised that it was probably the wrong day for this event. Cocktails, street food and beach games could be found here, however, the weather continued to rain and unfortunately put a stop to play. This little gem of a unique idea certainly seemed like fun and somewhere our Flourish team plan to go back to when the sunshine decides to come back out. 

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Deciding to continue with some well-deserved retail therapy under cover we explored some of the great variety around Bath. We all love our interior design and appreciate the beauty in a well put together store, so finding a tucked away shop called Neptune situated on Walcot Street was a beautiful find. Accepting a welcoming drink we stayed here browsing for some time, admiring the beautiful display of assorted furniture and home accessories. 

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The next item on our itinerary was a visit to Le Vignoble, a wine bar in Milsom Place. Tucked away, yet within easy access of passers by and locals it is in the perfect sun trap if you fancy a spot of lunch or a casual drink. The wine bar was a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Bath. Finally the sun had come out and it was a pleasure to sit outside and sample some of the 32 flavours of wine on offer from their quirky self-service machines. The staff here were friendly, attentive and eager to answer any questions asked, especially about their journey as an independent store and wine culture. I would highly recommend popping by for a baked camembert and a glass of red wine of an evening. We will certainly be popping back. 

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Our last visit of the day was to Framptons located on Pulteney Bridge, in the old Empire Hotel. Watching the world go by from our window seat we were able to capture our day’s activities and reminisce while indulging in a three course meal. The light flooded the room and was gorgeously put together with a rustic yet contemporary style. Their varied menu and selection of drinks made for a difficult choice yet the food here was of such high standard that anything we picked seemed exquisitely created. We will be heading back here as soon as we get an evening off as it was certainly a nice and pleasurable experience to end any day. 

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For more of our images from our Visit Bath 'Unexpected Bath' Day, visit our Instagram page where we will post an array of photographs from each location we visited: 

@magazineflourish

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For more information about Unexpected Bath - www.visitbath.co.uk/unexpected/