A new cafe and restaurant, known as the Roman Baths Kitchen has now opened in Bath bringing a new addition to the Council’s heritage attractions.
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.
