Hello January! There’s something quietly therapeutic about looking ahead – a positive chance to reset, re-focus and imagine what might come next. Here in Bath, 2026 is already taking shape, and we ask some of the city’s great thinkers for their reflections on the year that has passed and to share their hopes, ambitions and expectations for the coming one. Image above courtesy of Visit West
(music) … accompanied by our own
terrible out-of-tune singalong – is a real antidote in these often difficult times.
Wera Hobhouse, Member of Parliament for Bath
A s we head into this new year, I’ve been thinking about how so much of the news-cycle is distressing and bleak. Global and national challenges, alongside political uncertainties, dominate the agenda, and these issues are in sharp focus for me every day in Parliament.
But then I thought about what helps navigate the negative feelings, and overwhelmingly for me, it’s music. Looking back, many of the brightest moments of 2025 had a musical focus. Most recently, of course, the carol concerts across the length and breadth of the city, that highlighted the unique unity that communal singing brings. November brought The Mozart Festival and the lively am-dram Gilbert and Sullivan productions; May, the Bath Festival and Party in the City. And of course last June we had the spectacular Robbie Williams shows by the Royal Crescent.
There truly is something for every musical taste in Bath. Incredible headline acts like The Lightning Seeds and Reverend and the Makers graced the stage at the Forum and Komedia in 2025, while brilliant venues like Chapel Arts and Burdall’s Yard continued to showcase reliably good and eclectic events week in, week out. Regular live sessions in our beloved local pubs, such as the Bell, the Grapes, the Green Park Brasserie, Flan O’Brien’s, The Nowhere Tavern and many, many more provide a fantastic, uplifting playlist across the whole year.
Music, whether enjoyed alone, reflectively in the tranquillity of our own headphones, or riotously and communally – accompanied by our own terrible out-of-tune singalong – is a real antidote in these often difficult times. No matter your mood before pressing “play”, or entering the venue, it is invariably lighter and uplifted afterwards.
Music unifies, inspires, brings joy. Please join me in exploring all of our city’s musical delights, and creating your own soundtrack in Bath in 2026.
werahobhouse.co.uk
It is fantastic to go into the new year
with two additional displays of art of world-class quality, objects we share in some cases with places like The Met in New York.
Dr Chris Stephens, Director, The Holburne Museum– Arts and Culture
My team at the Holburne ended 2025 exhausted after a manically busy year. On top of the usual eight exhibitions, a programme of talks and concerts, and the extensive range of activities we run with schools, families and vulnerable adults, we completed a major building project and unveiled two new galleries. It is fantastic to go into the new year with two additional displays of art of world-class quality, objects we share in some cases with places like The Met in New York.
Again, in 2026, we will be bringing new offers for our visitors. We are bringing a couple of spaces into public use. On the top floor of the 2011 extension, we are introducing a ‘Space to Be’ where we’ll invite visitors to sit and relax, explore the collection, art and ideas on screen or in books, or simply stare out of the huge plate glass window watching the squirrels jump from tree to tree.
Looking back, last year I wrote about the potential for art to offer solace amongst monstrous world events. This is, sadly, no less true at the beginning of 2026 than it was in 2025. Later in the year, we will be mounting an exhibition about landscape painting between the wars which I hope will offer a platform for us to consider how we can assert our national identity in opposition to an ascendant fascism. As ever, we try to bring great art to Bath both for its own sake and to shed light on our present moment.
holburne.org
Of course, challenges remain. The new business rates regime looks set to increase costs for many, and changes to waste collection and road restrictions test our resilience
Allison Herbert, Chief Executive, Bath BID– Business to Business support
As the year closes, I’ve been reflecting on what Bath BID has achieved and where we’re heading. I’m delighted that businesses voted overwhelmingly to continue Bath BID for another five years from 2026, an endorsement of the work we do together.
It’s pleasing to see Bath’s independents and national brands thrive, supported by initiatives like our new shopping map, city of culture posters, and Welcome Ambassadors who help visitors discover every corner of the city. Shires Yard has been revitalised with new places to eat and shop; Jolly’s and M&S will be significant new stores next year. New coworking spaces continue to appear in the city demonstrating the impressive small business culture we enjoy.
On the ground, our BID Rangers continue their tireless early morning work to keep Bath clean and welcoming and casually bagged the UK Best BID award at the RHS Britain in Bloom National Competition.
Of course, challenges remain. The new business rates regime looks set to increase costs for many, and changes to waste collection and road restrictions test our resilience. My role is to ensure businesses have the information and support they need to adapt.
I’m proud of our impactful work via the Business Crime Reduction Partnership. This year we gained national accreditation for the partnership, delivering day and night marshals, and of course the Safe Bus.
Looking ahead, our five year plan will sharpen focus on cleaning, security, and community events. We will continue to run ReBalance Bath, Bath Waiters’ Race, Bath Restaurant Week, Bath Business Conference and now Bath Boules.
I believe that one of the most important things we do as an organisation is to listen to our business members. Every business, from the smallest retail gem to the largest hotel, deserves a voice in shaping the future of our city centre and we will do our best to amplify their views.
bathbid.co.uk
Viv Kenchington, Solution Focused Hypnotherapist, Wellbeing
This year, many of my clients have shared the same feeling: overwhelm. Throughout 2025 I’ve seen rising anxiety, low mood, and a strong desire for steadiness in a world that feels faster and louder than ever. Adults are juggling work, family, and constant digital noise, leaving little room to rest and reconnect. Children, I’ve noticed, are feeling it too, showing more worry, difficulty switching off, and a clear need for tools that help them feel safe and grounded.
Looking ahead to 2026, the concerns are shifting. People are increasingly anxious about the economic climate, rising costs, and the impact of technology, especially on their children. Parents are seeking ways to support emotional resilience in a world that’s both exciting and unpredictable. Underneath it all is a shared longing for balance, clarity, and calmer ways of being. I hope a hint that the year ahead may invite deeper breath, gentler rhythms, and more meaningful connection.
For me 2025 was filled with deepening, expanding, and reconnecting, both personally and professionally. A standout milestone was completing the CPCAB Level 3 Award in Breathwork Coaching, a training that has already enriched the way I support clients. Breathwork has quietly reshaped my practice this year, offering grounding tools for nervous system regulation, emotional steadiness, and the gentle recalibration so many of us seek.
It was also the year I created The Calm Compass Club, an imaginative, therapeutic subscription-based children’s club designed to help young people navigate their emotions with confidence, creativity, and calm. Drawing on all my skills, my aim is to help children step away from screens, spark their imagination, and build a strong emotional toolkit. This will officially launch in January 2026.
Alongside this, 2025 marked the creation of the Outset Mind App and website, a joint venture offering a 12-week solution-focused programme for time-poor adults that cuts through the noise and brings clarity, confidence, and real results.
As 2026 approaches, I’m excited to weave these threads together, bringing solution-focused hypnotherapy, breathwork, storytelling, and therapeutic tools into even more accessible spaces. The year ahead feels full of possibility: steadier rhythms, deeper breaths, and new ways to support the wellbeing of both children and adults.
hypnotherapyandhealth.co.uk
Philip Cobb, Director, Cobb Farr Estate Agents, Property
At last the budget has happened after so many months of scaremongering and so many suggestions of what was going to occur. And in the end, it was all a bit of a damp squib. Nothing was in it to encourage the growth of the economy and businesses, so desperately needed. Just a series of stealth taxes that in particular will only serve to hit small businesses in particular, again!
The concerns about the Mansion tax were in the end to some extent nullified. It certainly could have been worse, really ending up as an extension to the council tax rather than a tax on capital gains. It is not good for people with higher value properties, but I do not feel it will be enough to put people off buying properties in excess of £2 million.
Now that the budget is over and many people’s concerns have been allayed, we at Cobb Farr have already noticed an increase in viewing levels and many sales that were rather stagnant have suddenly seen an increase in urgency to exchange and completion.
Going forward the demand for property in 2026 will, we believe improve, especially following the Bank of England’s interest rate cut in December to below 3.75%. There is a distinct lack of supply in certain price ranges and prices which have remained on a level playing field in the past 12 months, or in some cases fallen in the Bath and surrounding areas, may now as a result start to see an increase.
Unfortunately, the rental market was hit again with more income tax on rents and dividends. Coupled with the Renters Reform act, there is no doubt many people are thinking twice about continuing with rental as an investment. However, the demand reamains high, and if there is less on the market to rent, guess what? The rents are going to increase. Surely not what was intended? The government do not seem to think these things through. But because the yields are likely to increase with lower priced apartments available and higher rents, for those brave enough, it still is a good investment in my opinion. In fact, now might be the time to get in on this market if you haven’t already.
When it comes to development, the government’s ambition to build all these extra homes, will never be fulfilled until they tackle the absurd planning issues at local level. Developers we act for, say delays have become worse, not better, some of our local councils are worse than others. And the demands they are putting on the house builder in the name of achieving low energy properties, is increasing costs dramatically, which inevitably will increase the costs of property to purchase.
2025 has been a very tricky year in our view. I’m not sure that our economy is going to improve dramatically with this and last year’s budget. However, with interest rates likely to reduce and inflation seemingly on its way down, 2026 we believe will offer a better opportunity to push forward with sales and purchases.
cobbfarr.com
Bath’s appetite for quality hospitality experiences is testament to the pub, bar and restaurantoperators who have created this thirst for the city.”
Alex Peters, Director, Bath Pizza Co and Green Park Brasserie, Food & Beverage
Another 12 months have flown past as we speed into 2026. Bath’s food and drink scene continues to thrive against the backdrop of a much wider national business challenge. Times are tough – but the cream will rise to the top and we are fortunate to be in a city like no other.
2025 marked the inaugural Bath Waiter’s Race ahead of the city’s Bath Restaurant Week – a new event brought to the city by the outstanding Bath BID. We’ve also welcomed new operators to the city with more lined up to come in the coming months. Bath is becoming a key destination for not just aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs but well established and growing brands. If any city can optimise this balance of offering, it is ours.
Bath’s appetite for quality hospitality experiences is testament to the pub, bar and restaurant operators who have created this thirst for the city. A successful city that continues to evolve with exciting projects on the horizon: Stadium for Bath, Bath Quays North and the Gas works site development name a few. Bath is becoming a more competitive city with a wider offering.
From a personal business view, we’ve been honoured to cement ourselves in the city. Bath Pizza Co approaches its tenth year in business alongside Green Park Brasserie. Our Bath Christmas Market chalet next to Bath Abbery received a great reception and we’re fortunate to have a fantastic team leading the charge, delighting our guests and ensuring we’re well positioned for future growth. So here’s a glass to 2026.
bathpizzaco.com; greenparkbrasserie.com
Darrin Christan, Director, Coopers Home Appliances, Retail
Twenty twenty five was a year of steady growth and renewed confidence across the city. There are always moments that test the pace of retail, and the lead-up to the Budget in November last year was one of them. These announcements often prompt consumers to pause and take stock, which can naturally slow activity for a short spell. Even so, footfall through Bath has grown steadily, and we’ve noticed customers increasingly seeking out physical stores again.
When people are making considered purchases, especially for their homes, they want to see, touch and compare. There is a renewed appetite for quality, and bricks-and-mortar retail seems to be regaining some of the ground it lost in recent years.
For Coopers, this shift has coincided with a year of real progress. A major highlight has been establishing our destination showroom at Dunsdon Barn, where we’re joined by Ben Argent Kitchens and Boniti Flooring to offer customers a unified, high-quality experience. Bringing three specialist brands together under one roof has provided a clearer and more inspiring way for people to plan their homes, and it has helped us create new full-time roles within our team. The crossover between the Walcot Street store and the barn has also strengthened staff expertise and broadened how we guide people through their options.
Walcot Street continues to evolve. Our role as the South West’s main agent for Aga, Everhot, Lacanche and Miele, along with many more leading appliance brands, has grown. We’ve seen consistent demand for products that combine longevity with craftsmanship, and we’ve continued developing our website to support customers who cannot visit in person but still want the same level of advice and service they would expect in-store. Together, these strengths show that the premium market remains resilient even in mixed conditions.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are optimistic. This is not blind optimism but grounded in what we have seen: customers willing to invest in good things, a city that draws in purposeful shoppers, and a retail landscape rediscovering the value of personal advice and real spaces. We will continue developing our offer, staying agile, and saying yes to opportunities that help us serve people better.
coopershomeappliances.com; dunsdonbarn.com
