Guide to Bath – 7th March 2019

Bath Forum, 1a Forum Buildings, St James Parade, Bath BA1 1UG

The venue is situated in the city centre, to the north of the River Avon and very close to Bath Spa station, just a 5 minute walk from the rail station and a 2 minute walk from the bus station.

Venue Info – The Forum is owned and run by the Bath City Church, and is the largest venue in Bath as well as the 3rd largest seated auditorium in the South-West of England. It was renovated in 1989 and also new sound systems installed in 2010 throughout and has kept much of the beautiful Art Deco fixtures and fittings of the original 1934 cinema, which it was used as until 1969.

The entrance to the venue is on the aptly named St James Parade, on the corner with Somerset Street. The Forum houses its own Independent Coffee House, which is open until 5.30pm and its Box Office will be open from 6.30pm on the day of the performance.

The capacity of the venue is 1640 seated – most of the seats are green cinema style seats, with cup holders, although some of the seating to the side and rear is older style seating that reviews have described as rather uncomfortable and with less leg room.

Reviews have also noted that queues for the bar and toilets can be very long, so bear this in mind. Disabled visitors have level access to the stalls on the ground floor, with wheelchair spaces on the left hand side. There are steps up to the Circle.

Please note that there is no cloakroom at the Forum but you should be able to put coats and bags around your seat.

Parking – The venue does not have its own parking – there is multi storey parking and surface parking within a few minute’s walk:

• Southgate Centre (multi storey) – Southgate Street, BA1 1TP (entrance by New Look)
• Avon Street/Corn Street Car Park (multi storey and surface), BA1 1UF

Accommodation – Bath is quite expensive to stay in and many independent hotels are small – if you are driving, it may be worth looking a little further out for accommodation, to Chippenham (12 miles), Trowbridge (8 miles), Frome (10 miles) or the outskirts of Bristol (10 miles). According to Booking.com, many of the less expensive nearby ones are sold out or almost sold out. There are 3 Travelodges and a Premier Inn at decent prices for this date.

• Premier Inn, Bath Centre, 4 James St West, BA1 2BX
• Travelodge, 6-10 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB (nearest)
• Travelodge, 1 York Buildings, George Street, BA1 2EB
• Travelodge, Rossiter Road, Widcombe Basin, BA2 4JJ (new one with Super Rooms)

Food – The venue does not serve food, but does have a Coffee House that serves light meals and drinks until 5.30pm. Being in the city centre and opposite a shopping mall, there are lots of places to eat and drink. The nearest places to the venue itself are:

• East Meets West – Chinese Restaurant opposite the venue
• McDonalds – Southgate Street, 2 mins walk
• Pizza Express – Southgate Place, 5 mins walk
• Cosy Club – café bar/grill/tapas – Southgate Place, 5 mins walk

Pubs –

• Graze – 9 Brunel Square – Microbrewery by the station with food – 5 mins walk
• Lamb & Lion, 15 Lower Borough Walls – serves food – 5 mins walk
• Wetherspoons – Lamb of Wessex, James St West – 10 mins walk

VIP & Stage Times will be added, along with other information, when available.