Enjoy a hot date at the Roman Baths
Enjoy a hot date at the Roman Baths
On New Year’s Day visitors to the Bath &
North East Somerset Council-run Roman Baths will receive
complimentary hot dates as they step out beside the Great Bath.
Hot, stuffed and peppered dates were a Roman
delicacy popular at New Year festivities. In 45 BC Julius Caesar
reformed the Roman calendar and in so doing introduced the month of
January in honour of the Roman God Janus, a two faced god who
looked both backwards and forwards.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down),
Cabinet Member for sustainable Development, said: “Bath & North
East Somerset Council welcomes visitors and residents to come and
enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Roman Baths right throughout the
festive season as the steam rises off the water in the fresh winter
air and the torches around the Great Bath illuminate the dusk
sky.”
Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman Baths,
said: “The hot dates are a Roman tradition which has proved very
popular since we introduced them at the Great Bath to celebrate New
Year’s Day.”
Visitors to Bath & North East Somerset
Council’s heritage attractions are reminded that:
- The Roman Baths is open daily during the holidays, apart from
25 and 26 December, from 9.30am to 4.30pm (last exit at
5.30pm)
- The Fashion Museum is open every day, except 25 and 26
December, from 10.30am to 4pm (last exit 5pm)
- The Victoria Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to
5pm, and on Sundays from 1.30pm to 5pm. The Gallery is closed on
Mondays and on 25-27 December and 1 January.
For more information about Bath & North
East Somerset Council’s heritage attractions visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/heritage
or call the Roman Baths on 01225 477774, the Fashion Museum on
01225 477789 and the Victoria Art Gallery on 01225 477233.