Enjoy a warm welcome at the new Roman Baths
Kitchen
May 2012
The latest addition to Bath &
North East Somerset Council’s heritage attractions in Bath has
arrived with the opening of the Roman Baths Kitchen.
The new café and restaurant is
situated in Abbey Church Yard, right opposite the entrance to the
Roman Baths. It is open for breakfast from 7.30am-12noon; lunch –
including a special children’s menu – is available from
11.30am-5pm; and a dinner menu is served from 5pm.
The Roman Baths Kitchen features a
deli area as well – open 7.30am-6pm for takeaway and eat-in
sandwiches, salads, drinks and cakes. Food is prepared on the
premises by Searcys, with bread from the Thoughtful Bread Company
and top quality pastries from the Pump Room kitchens. Jams,
oils, and other products are also available to buy over the
counter.
The development of The Roman Baths
Kitchen is part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s
long-term investment plan to improve the visitor experience at the
Roman Baths and Pump Room. Sitting at the heart of the ‘City of
Bath’ World Heritage Site, the complex is one of Britain’s busiest
heritage attractions with over one million visitors per year.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem,
Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “The
Pump Room already offers a successful high-end restaurant service
throughout the day. However, visitors to the Roman Baths have said
they also want a less formal, family-friendly café on site.
“Since there was no space available
in the Baths, Bath & North East Somerset Council reclaimed the
lease on a Grade II listed building it owned in Abbey Church Yard,
directly opposite the main Roman Baths entrance. In partnership
with our caterers, Searcys, this has been transformed into The
Roman Baths Kitchen – echoing the theme of our heritage site.
“Visitors leaving the Roman Baths are
encouraged to sample the delights of the Kitchen as a means of
extending their enjoyment of the site, although a significant
proportion of the clientele will be people who have just arrived in
Bath and have yet to visit the Roman Baths. As well as reflecting
the atmosphere of the Baths with Roman-themed décor, the Roman
Baths Kitchen also features copies of beautiful works of art from
the Council’s nearby Victoria Art Gallery.”
The Roman Baths Kitchen is run for
Bath & North East Somerset Council by Searcys, under its
existing catering contract for the Pump Room restaurant – ensuring
that both services are complementary. The project was jointly
funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Searcys.
Rodney Payne, of Searcys, said: “On
the ground floor, visitors can walk into the hustle and bustle of a
busy café and choose from a range of freshly prepared deli
sandwiches as well as a comprehensive lunch and snack menu prepared
to order by the highly trained team. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon
will feature flavoursome teas and barista coffees accompanied by a
range of pastries and cakes to die for.
“Upstairs the pace changes to a more
relaxed casual dining experience where visitors can choose from an
à la carte menu that trades all day. The Roman Baths Kitchen
will be family-friendly by day, turning cool and intimate by night.
The early evening diners will also be offered shared platters and
light tapas options in the bar as an alternative meal option.
“We hope that the space directly
outside the Roman Bath’s Kitchen will become Bath’s equivalent of
enjoying coffee in St Mark’s Square, Venice, which Napoleon once
described as ‘The most beautiful dining room in Europe’.”
Visitors are welcome to drop in to
the Roman Baths Kitchen or make a table reservation by calling
01225 477877.
ENDS